Tourism in Karnataka

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 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.

Official Language is Kannada and other languages are Konkani, Kodava, Tulu, Hindi. Karnataka is the eighth largest states in India and Karnataka covers area of 191,990 sq km and is home to 52,000,000 peoples, most of them are Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jains and Tibetan Buddhists. Karnataka is famous to information Technology and No.1 in India.

Karnataka's manifold attractions include everything that interests the tourists. The wild game sanctuaries at Bandipur, Nagarhole and Dandeli, the Ranganathittu Bird's Sanctuary. 5 Kms from Srirangapatna which is itself a well known tourist center, hill stations like Nandhi Hills and Kemmannagundi and Mercara, beach resorts like Karwar, Ullal, Malpe and Maravanthe, the world famous Brindavan Gardens at Krishnarajasagara, the monolithic statue of Gommateshwara at Sharavanabelagola, Gol Gumbaz with its whispering gallery at Bijapur, the Jog falls and other water falls at Shiva Samudram, Magod, Unchelli or Lushington near Siddapur, Lalguli at Yallapur and other places indicate the variety and richness of the attractions that Karnataka State holds out to the tourists.

Tourist Destinations in Karnataka
KSTDC Tour Packages & Tariff

There are many places of historic and religious importance. The great Acharyas, Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhwa, preached in this region. Great reformers like Sri Basaveshwara, mathematicians like Baskaracharaya, commentators like Sayana, saint poiets like Purandaradasa and Kanakadasa, great writers like Pampa, Harihara and Kumara Vyasa have all enriched the heritage of Karnataka.

The temples at Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal in Bijapur district have great significance for all lovers of art. The temples of Halebedu, Belur and Somanathapura are great architectural achievements - the like of which are rarely seen in any part of the world.

The profusion of artistic skill is bewildering in its range and exquisiteness. At Hampi [Bellary district] one can see Indian sculpture in all its richness and vitality.

The Muslims and Christians in ages past have made no mean contribution to the enrichment of art and architecture in Karnataka. The Gol Gumbaz and Ibrahim-Roza at Bijapur, the Daria Daulat Bagh (Summer Palace) of Tippu Sultan at Srirangapatna, the Khwaja Bandenawaz Darga at Gulbarga are someof their remarkable contributions.

The churches at Mysore, Mangalore, Bangalore and Bijapur indicate the contribution of Christians to the great repertoire of Karnataka's culture. With all these manifold attractions a visit to Karnataka State is always memorable.

Karnataka is home to famous Temples like Udupi Krishna Temple, Keshava Temple (Somnathpura), Dharmasthala Sri Manjunatha Temple, Kukke Sri Subramanya Temple and many ancient temples has deep backgrounds such as Hampi and Hassan.

Trekking in Karnataka is also one of the best interesting subject to tourists, there are many trekking places, some of them are Coorg, Kemmanagundi, Agumbe, Western Ghats ranges are the best spot for perfect trekkers. Coorg has many trekking routes which contain lush forest, deep valleys, waterfalls and good landscapes.

Karnataka is the tourists paradise both human and nature efforts here to make Karnataka as a tourist place. It's long sea shore has beautiful beaches and ports. Coastline of Karnataka, called as 'Karavali region' covers 300 Km between Dakshina Kannada District to Uttar Kannada District and has one major and ten monor ports in Mangalroe, Karwar, Old Mangalore, Belekeri, Tadri, Honnavar, Bhatkal, Kundapur, Hangarakatta, Malpe and Padubidri.

Karnataka has Five National Parks, some of the main are Nagarahole National Park, Bandipur National Park and Bannerghatta National Park, and has 25 wildlife sanctuaries, Western Ghats region is home to many rare Animals, fauna and flora. The National Parks has many kinds of wild animal like Deer's, Bison, Tigers, loins, Elephants, Blackbucks, Bear, Wild Dogs, Leopards, Water Buffaloes, and many kinds of animals in this beautiful state. Karnataka is also well known for sandal woods, and for many kinds of Medicine trees.

Major Rivers originates in Karnataka and cross through, they are like this Kaveri River, Krishna River, Kabini River, Tungabhadra River, Krishna River, Sharavathi River, Hemavati River, Palar River, Ghataprabha River, Pennar River, Kali River, Kubja River, Malaprabha River, Chakra River, Honnuhole River, Kumaradhara River, Netravati River, Varahi River. Many Dams and Reserviour built in Karnataka for formers and Electricity, the main Dams are Almatti Dam, Basava Sagar Dam, Gajanur Dam, Gundal Reservoir, Harangi Dam, Hidkal Dam, Kadra Dam, Kanakanala Dam, Kanva reservoir, Kodasalli Dam, Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, Lakkavalli Dam, Linganamakki Dam, Marconahally Dam, Mari Kanive Dam, Narihalla Dam, Nugu Reservoir, Sathanur Dam, Supa Dam, Suvarnavathi Reservoir, Thippagondanahalli Reservoir, Tunga Anicut Dam, Tungabhadra Dam, Vani Vilas Sagar Reservoir

Karnataka is well known place to best waterfalls in India, tallest waterfalls in India is Jog Falls created by sharavathi river (jumps from height of 293m.) is at Shimoga district. Shivanasamudra falls in mandya district has twin jumps (Gaganachukki and Barachukki). Coorg District has a three beautiful falls, Abbey (Abbi falls), Irupu falls (Iruppu falls), Mallali falls. Hebbe falls in Kemmannagundi, and many falls in Karnataka. Karnataka has great history in hampi, Hassan, Mysore, Bijapur, Bidar, Mangalore, Chitradurga, Belgaum, Kolar, and other districts in the state. There are hundreds of historical Temples, Churches, Darghas in Mangalore, Bellary, Badami, Bangalore, Mysore, and in some places in Karnataka. There dozens of Top Hill Stations in Karnataka with many attractive mountain ranges and waterfalls, best for adventurers.