Top 5 places to visit in Karnataka
Imagine serene beaches, dense evergreen forests, UNESCO world heritage sites, and ultra-modern metropolises brimming with skyscrapers, all in one place. Yes, Karnataka definitely lives up to the tagline – “One State, Many Worlds”. The variety of languages, food, arts, crafts, and festivals is stunning. Karnataka is a state that has borders with six other states with their own cultures, and in fact, it is the only southern state to have a land border with every one of the other four southern Indian states.
Each of these borders has had a cultural influence on Karnataka. The Konkani culture from the northern coast, the Tulu culture from the southern coast, the Tamil and Kerala culture in the south, the Telugu culture surrounding the east, and even the Marathi culture in the north, all add facets to Karnataka’s unique culture.
From partying to paragliding, Karnataka has something for every item on your vacation checklist. Here’s a list of 5 must visit places in Karnataka. Be sure to check it out before your next visit to the state.
Bengaluru
Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka and the third most populous city in India, and is referred to as the “Silicon Valley of India” since it is a major IT exporter and the official tech-hub of India. The city is currently known as “Bengaluru,” which means “The City of Guards” in Kannada. The town is well-known for its numerous attractions, which include both modern and historical sites. The rich greenery surrounding Bangalore is dotted with waterfalls, conservation areas, and brooks and rivers just waiting to be discovered. It has earned the moniker “Garden City of India” due to the abundance of beautiful gardens and grassland terrain.
What do I do there?
ISKCON Temple, Cubbon Park, Wonderla Amusement Park, Lalbagh Botanical Garden, UB City, Commercial Street, Visweswaraya Industrial and Technical Museum, etc. are some places to visit .
How do I get there?
Bangalore can be reached by road from almost all cities in India through National Highways.
The two major railway stations that connect Bangalore to the rest of India are the Bangalore Railway Station and the Yeshwantpur Railway Station. From Yeshwantpur Railway Station, take a cab to Bangalore, which will take roughly 30-40 minutes.
Bangalore Foreign Airport connects you to all major international cities as well as all important Indian cities. Domestic flights to Bangalore depart frequently from all major cities, including Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, and Kolkata.
Coorg
Coorg is a fantastic retreat to discover serenity and rejuvenation with your family, spouse, or even alone, surrounded by beautiful coffee farms, tea estates, lush foliage, and breathtaking vistas. It is also a significant agricultural town in Karnataka, well-known for its coffee and paddy crops. The town of Coorg is also well-known for its natural beauty and diverse flora and fauna.
Aside from sightseeing, Coorg offers a variety of adrenaline-pumping activities like trekking and rafting, making it an ideal vacation location for adventure seekers. The best trekking paths in Coorg are found in the Brahmagiri Hills on the Western Ghats. Several species of wildlife, including bison, elephants, and panthers, live here. Coorg boasts a number of Buddhist monasteries that are well worth a visit. The numerous festivals and temples draw a large number of visitors to this city.
What do I do there?
Abbi Falls, Iruppu Falls, The Raja’s Seat, Nagarhole National Park, Madikeri Fort and Tibetan Buddhist Golden Temple are some of the must-visit places.
How do I get there?
The state public bus, KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation), operates daily deluxe buses to Coorg from major cities in Karnataka like Bangalore, Mysore, and Mangalore.
The nearest railway station to Coorg is Mysore Junction, which is approximately 95 kilometres away.
The nearest airport to Coorg is Mangalore Airport, which is roughly 160 kilometres away. There are scheduled flights from the airport to major Indian cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, and Hyderabad.
Hampi
UNESCO has recognized Hampi as a world heritage site for its ancient ruins and remnants of the Vijayanagar kingdom can be found on the banks of the Tungabhadra river. Rocks and stone carvings attest to the skill and mastery of ancient artists. This makes it an ideal tourist destination for history buffs.The environment surrounding Hampi is as enigmatic as the ruins themselves – the city is surrounded by rocks of all sizes, and you can climb them to enjoy a spectacular perspective of the beautiful city and the stunning geography.
What do I do there?
The top places to see are Lotus Mahal, Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple, Hampi Bazaar, Virupaksha Temple, Vijaya Vittala Temple, Hippie Island, Coracle Ride, Queen’s Bath, Matanga Hill etc.
How do I get there?
Buses go regularly from all major cities and towns to Hampi. Private buses, tourist buses, luxury buses, and state buses abound. Road travel is possible to Hyderabad (361km), Bangalore (372km), and Hubli (162km).
Hospet, 13 kilometres away, is the nearest railway station. Tourists can easily access the location via taxi or cab and it is well connected to major cities and towns such as Bangalore and Hyderabad.
Bengaluru is the nearest international airport and is 350 kilometres away from Hampi. The domestic airport near Hampi is Bellary (60 km), which makes it easy for travellers to commute by taxicab.
Mysore
For nearly six centuries, the city served as the capital of the princely state of Mysore (Mysuru), with notable kings such as Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali. The city is also recognised as Karnataka’s cultural centre and is noted for its numerous temples, palaces, forts, and mediaeval churches. The town is well-known for giving birth to diverse forms of Indian arts and crafts.
Mysore is a popular travel destination in India and ought to be visited by anybody interested in learning about the rich culture of this historic town.
Mysore is one of India’s wealthiest and cleanest cities. Mysore not only has magnificent palaces, stately architecture, and expansive gardens, but it also has one of the oldest Indian zoos, the Mysore Zoo. This 157-acre zoo is home to over 168 wildlife species such as birds, mammals, reptiles, and so on.
What do I do there?
Mysore zoo, Karanji Lake, Brindavan Gardens, Mysore Palace, Lalitha Mahal, Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, Chamundi Hills are some must visit places in Mysore
How do I get there?
There are a lot of private and KSRTC bus operators offering various sorts of buses such as private A/C, Volvo, and deluxe buses for tourists visiting Mysore. Some of the cities that are connected by road and can be visited on your trip are Bangalore (148 km), Coimbatore (204 km), and Coonor (147 km).
The railway station in Mysore is located in the middle of the city. The train ride is a convenient choice for travellers.
Mysore Airport, commonly known as Mandakalli Airport, is a domestic airport located 14 kilometres from Srirangapatna. Bangalore International Airport is the nearest international airport.
Gokarna
Gokarna is a small seaside temple town in northern Karnataka in the Uttara Kannad district, noted for its temples and some of India’s most gorgeous beaches. The Mahabaleshwara Shiva temple is a popular pilgrimage destination in this town, housing what is thought to be the original image of Lord Shiva’s lingam. It is one of the most popular vacation spots in the state due to its beautiful, uncrowded beaches. Not only is the area famed for its lush nature, but it is also home to some of the top yoga institutes and Ayurvedic resorts. Parasailing, snorkelling, and banana boat excursions, on the other hand, are some of the adventure activities available.
What do I do there?
Om Beach, Kudle Beach, Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna Beach, Mirjan Fort, Koti Tirtha, Half Moon Beach, Paradise Beach, Namaste Cafe, etc. should be on your list.
How do I get there?
There are public and private buses that connect Gokarna to large and minor cities throughout the country, making it simple for visitors to figure out how to go to Gokarana. Gokarna is well connected to Madgaon (125 km), Mangalore (225 km), Dabolim (140 km), and Bangalore (475 km).
Gokarna has its own train link that connects it to Margao but is not a regular stop. If you are travelling by train to Gokarna, the nearest railway station is at Ankola, which is around 20 kilometres distant from the region.
The nearest airport is at Dabolim, Goa. This airport is around 140 kilometres from Gokarna and can be reached via cab.
Conclusion
Clearly, this list is not exhaustive. There are many worlds within this state which couldn’t be mentioned in this list but are nonetheless beautiful and vacation-worthy. Use this list as your travel starter kit for Karnataka.