Located 94955543m above sea level in South India on the Deccan Plateau, Bangalore enjoys a salubrious climate throughout the year. The city boasts of spacious gardens, parks, tree-lined avenues, a profusion of flowering trees, lakes and parks, earning it the sobriquet of "Garden City."
Karnataka, the eighth largest state in India has been ranked as the fifth most popular state in the country for tourism.It is home to 507 of the 3600 centrally protected monuments in India, the largest number after Uttar Pradesh. The State Directorate of Archaeology and Museums protects an additional 752 monuments and another 25,000 monuments are yet to receive protection.Tourism centres around the ancient sculptured temples, modern cities, the hill ranges, forests and beaches. Broadly, tourism in Karnataka can be divided into four geographical regions: North Karnataka, the Hill Stations, Coastal Karnataka and South Karnataka
North Karnataka
North Karnataka is an arid plateau from 300 to 700 metres (980 to 2,300 ft) elevation in the Karnataka state of southwest India. It is drained by the Krishna River and its tributaries the Bhima, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, and Tungabhadra. North Karnataka lies within the Deccan thorn scrub forests ecoregion, which extends north into eastern Maharashtra.
It includes the districts of Belgaum, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Bidar, Bellary, Gulbarga, Yadagiri, Raichur, Gadag, Dharwad, Haveri, Koppal and Uttara Kannada District. Major cities in the region include Hubli, Dharwad, Belgaum, Bellary, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Bidar, Sirsi, Gokak and Karwar.
North Karnataka is known for its freedom fighters, social reformers, Hindustani musicians and figures in literature, law, science and technology. It has many Jain monuments from the Kadambas, Rashtrakutas, Badami Chalukyas, Kalyani Chalukyas, Sevuna and Vijayanagara periods (Karnataka Through Centuries).Aihole is known as the cradle of Hindu rock architecture with over 125 temples and monuments, including Rashtrakuta monuments at Lokapura, Bilgi and Kuknur; Kalyani Chalukyas monuments built in the Gadag style at Lakkundi, Gadag and the Koppal District and the Vijayanagar empire temples at Vijayanagara. Badami Chalukyas monuments at Pattadakal, Aihole, and Badami are also well-known. Hampi, in the Bellary District, has some 54 World Heritage monuments and 650 national monuments.
Hill Stations
The Hill stations in Karnataka are generally unexplored and more pristine than better known ones in South India. Kudremukh, Kemmangundi, Agumbe, Horanadu, Nandi Hills are some of the better known ones. Not much tourism in these areas has kept them free of commercialization. Apart from scenic treks, bird watching, boating and waterfalls, these areas are also close to major coffee producing areas in the state, making a trip all the more interesting. There are many tourist resorts.
Coastal Karnataka
Coastal Karnataka is the stronghold of Hindu and Jain pilgrimage spots with Udupi and its many temples being the centre of Dvaita philosophy, Gokarna is known for Vedic studies, Sringeri has the first of the Shankaracharya mathas and is important for its Advaita philosophy, Karkala and Mudabidri are well known places of Jain worship and Vaishnava rituals. Exquisite Vijayanagar temples built in Chalukya - Malabar region combinational style are seen in Bhatkal, Kumta, Shirali etc. The warm beaches of Karnataka are mostly unspoiled.
Jamboti, 20 km south-west of Belgaum, has popular evergreen hilltop forests.
Karnataka is blessed with over 300 km of pristine coastal stretch. Netrani Island of Uttara Kannada is known for coral reefs. St. Mary's Island, a few kilometers from Udupi has basalt rock formations. Sunny beaches at places like Malpe, Murdeshwara, Maravanthe, Gokarna, Kumta have spectacular mountains to the east. Agumbe, Kodachadri hills, Kemmangundi, are just a few of many hill stations that straddle the coast providing tourists sun and greenery. Unlike many crowded hill stations in South India, the hill stations of Karnataka are still mostly undiscovered and pristine.
South Karnataka
South Karnataka is a unique combination of spectacular vesara style Hoysala architecture, colossal Jain monuments, colonial buildings and palaces of the Kingdom of Mysore, densely forested wildlife sanctuaries that offer some of the best eco-tourism available in the country. Belur, Halebidu in Hassan District, Somnathpura in Mysore District, Belavadi, Kalasa and Amrithapura in Chikmagalur District, Balligavi in Shimoga District offer some of the best of Hoysala architecture dating from the 11th to 13th centuries, while Shravanabelagola in Hassan district and Kambadahalli in Mandya District have well known 10th-century Jain monuments. Scenic forests and the high density of wild animals of this region are a popular attraction for those interested in the wilder side of life. Bandipur National Park, Nagarahole, Biligirirangan Hills, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and Bannerghatta national parks are a few popular places for jungle safaris.
People and Culture
Culture
of Karnataka has rich heritage that encompasses many things together in its
bosom. Karnataka has hosted and continues to host a wide melting pot culture
community. Along with the native Kannadigas, Kodavas, Tuluvas, Konkanis and
several tribal sects have, across the centuries, lent colour and content to the
vibrant culture the state calls its own. The lineages of Indian rulers, like,
Mauryas, Chalukyas, Hoysalas have left behind their embossments in various
elements of culture of Karnataka. Diverse religion and languages of the
indigenes had contributed in its ethnic grandness.
Karnataka
has a particularly rich culture of folk theatre. The most famous forms are
Yakshagana, which features a single narrator, and Bayalata, which has multiple
narrative voices. Carnatic music along with the North Indian Hindustani
tradition makes up the body of Indian classical music. It is a distinctly
different tradition from that of Hindustani music. The stringed tanpura, the
mridangam, the ghatam and violins too usually accompany a vocal music recital. The
three ‘gems of Kannada literature’ are the poets Pampa, Ponna and Ranna. They
lived between the 10th and 12th centuries.
In
dance, drama, theatre, crafts, art, poetry, architecture and scholarly
pursuits, Karnataka brings with it a legacy of learning that predates the
earliest dynasties. Perhaps the reason why the state, even to this date, is
also home to some of the country's best academic institutions. Karnataka
is also home to the largest Tibetan settlement in South India.
Cuisine
Karnataka is a gracious host and offers a spread that appeals to every palate. The cuisine of Karnataka includes many vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisines. The varieties reflect influences from and to the food habits of many regions and communities from the three neighbouring South Indian states, as well as the state of Maharashtra to its north. Some typical dishes include Bisi bele bath, Jolada rotti, Chapati, Ragi rotti, Akki rotti, Saaru, Idli-vada Sambar, Vangi Bath, Khara Bath. The famous Masala Dosa traces its origin to Udupi cuisine. Plain and Rave Idli, Mysore Masala Dosa and Maddur Vade are popular in South Karnataka. Kodagu (Coorg) district is famous for spicy varieties of pork curries while coastal Karnataka boasts of many tasty seafood specialities. Among sweets, Mysore Pak, Holige,Dharwad pedha, Chiroti are well known.
Festivals
Karnataka has a multi-religious and a multi-cultural population. Hence a variety of festivals are held in the state. Karnataka like most of its southern neighbors has several temples which also account for a number of festivals being held each year. Dusshera, the most important Hindu festival is celebrated with extravagance over a period of ten days. This festival was started by the rulers of the Vijaynagar Empire. And then you have the ceremony to end all ceremonies - the once-in-twelve-years larger than life religious ceremony of the Maha Mastakabhisheka has a 52-foot statue of Bahubali is bathed in milk, sandalwood, vermillion, curd and what not. The festivals here are definitely the stuff of spectacular. Makara Samkramana, Sri Ramanavami, Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi and Deepavali are the other festivals celebrated in Karnataka along with the rest of the country.
