Karnataka, South India

Karnataka derives its name from a kannada word `Karunudu' or the elevated land and has a rich historical background. On the western coastland of India it has many beaches lining the Arabian sea. Rich in temples, sandalwood forests and many hill stations. Karnataka is a state where tourism is much developed. Bangalore is the capital city.

Karnataka, with its capital at Bangalore, is home to a fascinating legacy of richly carved temples, imposing mosques and trappings of a royal past. Bangalore, with its many hotels and fine restaurants, is a good base for exploring the state. At once a modern industrial city, a shopper’s paradise and a gracious legacy of the British. Mysore, the capital of the erstwhile princely state, has a profusion of palaces and museums. Nearby Srirangapatnam is linked to the memory of one of the old state’s best known rulers – Tipu Sultan.

Somnathpur, a few miles away, has a magnificently carved temple. Belur and Halebid have between them a series of carved stone temples. For perfection of finish, wealth of detail and sheer artistry, they are unrivaled specimens of the art of temple sculpture. Hassan, with a comfortable hotel, makes the perfect base from which to explore the riches of Belur and Halebid. Also a short distance away, Shravanbelgola is famous as the pinnacle of the sculptor’s art. A figure 120 meters tall has been carved out of a single piece of granite in 183 AD. Every 12 years, the figure of Gomateswara is ritually bathed by priests and witnessed by millions of devotees in one of the most colorful festivals of the austere Jain religion.

Places to see

Bangalore

A major industrial and commercial centre with scientific and reserch activity, Banglore is multifaceted has modern marvels, historic monuments, bustling shopping baazars, race course, golf course and so on. Known as the Silicon valley of India for its growing software industry it is also known as the city of draught beer.

Belur

Belur is famous for the Chennakesava Temple built in the Hoysala style. Started in 1116 AD it took 103 years to complete this temple. The temple commemorates the victory of Hoysala over the Cholas in the great battle of Talakad. The temple is intricately carved with sculptures, friezes & pillars.

Mysore

Writer R.K Narayan's lovely hometown, Mysore was once the capital of the Wodeyar kingdom and is still one of the finest cities of Souther India. The Chamundi hills, Bandi pur National park, Brindavan gardens, Tipu's fort etc are some of the attractions here.

Hassan

194 kms from Bangalore is the district headquarters town of Hassan. This calm and peaceful town is the convenient base to visit Sravanbelagola, Belur and Halebid.

Hampi

Seat of the Vijayanagar empire though the city was destroyed by marauders much remains of those days. The terrain is dominated by rocky hills and the mighty Tungabhadra river which flows through this rugged landscape.

Madikeri

This place is proud for its beauty of its verdant hillsss and valleys clothed in thick forests of sandalwood and plantains of coffee, pepper and cardamom.

Mangalore

Travesrsing the western ghats and skirting the beautiful Kodagu area along the National Highway 48 west of Bangalore one reaches the Arabian sea coast of Mangalore.

Badami

Badami, the one time capital of the Chalukyas, is noted for several temples, some structural and others rock-cut, of the sixth-seventh century A.D.

Aihole

It is historically famous as the cradle of the Hindu temple architecture. There are almost 125 temples divided into 22 groups scattered all over the village.

Nagarhole National Park

The name Nagarhole is derived from the Kannada `Naga' meaning `snake' and `Hole' meaning `streams'. A number of streams snake through the rich tropical forests of Nagarhole which is situated in picturesque districts of Kodagu and Mysore in Southern Karnataka.

Bandipur National Park

The Moyer River forms a natural boundary between the Mudumalain Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamilnadu and the Bandipur National Park in Karnataka. Nestling at the foothills of the Nilgiris, the Bandipur National Park was formed by extending the Venugopal Wildlife Park which was set up in 1931 by the Mysore Maharajas.

Halebid

Halebid is a small town which is 16 kms from Belur and 216 kms from Bangalore. Halebid means the old capital and was an important time in the ancient times of the Hoysalas when it was called Dwarasamudra.