Karnataka trip planner
Karnataka trip planner
From antiquity to modernity
Created in 1956 from the princely state of Mysore, Karnataka is a transitional area between northern India and the Dravidian deep south. Its name comes from the local language, Kannada, spoken by almost all of its 64 million inhabitants.
Its border with the states of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh is made up of medieval fortified cities where mausoleums and minarets evoke the Muslim heritage. The coastal and mountainous districts, bordering Kerala, reflect the quintessence of Hindu southern India: abundant tropical vegetation and a profusion of temples with pyramidal towers.
Scattered between the two are some of the peninsula's most extraordinary historical sites. Among these is the ruined city of Hampi, whose abandoned temples and palaces stand amid an arid landscape strewn with rocks of surreal beauty.
Generally speaking, the main attractions of Karnataka are concentrated at the opposite ends of the state, with a few lesser-known places dotting the coast between Goa and Kerala. Most tours of Karnataka begin in Bangalore, the state's modern capital that embodies the aspirations of the country's new middle classes. Another major city in the state, Mysore, attracts more for its old-fashioned atmosphere, 19th century palaces and flower and incense markets. Nearby are several important historical monuments, such as the fortified island of Srirangapatnam, site of the bloody battle of 1799 in which the Muslim military genius Tipu Sultan had to surrender the state of Mysore to the British.
Another group of must-see sites is further northwest, around the town of Hassan: Belur and Halebid. Now two villages in the middle of nowhere, they were once the great dynastic capitals of the Hoysala kings (12th-13th centuries). The superb temples they built there are still intact. Equally, and even more impressively, one of India's most extraordinary sacred places is at Shravanabelagola where an 18-metre high Jain colossus gazes serenely over the surrounding Deccan countryside.
Between the borders of Goa and the state of Andhra Pradesh, in an area of little interest, is the ghost town of Vijayanagar, better known as Hampi. Formerly the most powerful capital of the Hindu Deccan (12th-14th centuries), it astonished Portuguese travellers who passed through its bazaars full of bristles, roses, pearls and diamonds. Devastated after a Muslim siege of six months, the ruins of the city today occupy a magical site that is hard to leave.
Also, not far from there, the villages of Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal, lost in the countryside and once capital cities of the Chalukya dynasty (10th-12th centuries) are really worth the visit. The whole region is dotted with ancient rock caves and temples finely carved in stone.
Why a trip to Karnataka ?
Of all the tour options in South India, a trip to Karnataka is an assurance of travelling through time
- the state offers magnificent sites erected over the centuries, from antiquity to the present day,
- the state is off the beaten track compared to its more touristy neighbours,
- nature reserves, beaches, mountains, plantations, palaces... multiple facets to ensure diversity.
Best time to visit Karnataka
Karnataka infos: see the below vacations trip planner for the best time to go
- The climate varies from region to region, so avoid the Ooty region from May to August and the southern part of the state from June to September.
- From June to October, the incessant rains make the tours difficult.
- November to April, the rains are scarce and the weather is clear. This is the best time to travel in Karnataka.