About Karnataka
The South Indian state of Karnataka, is situated on the Western half of the
Deccan Plateau. Karnataka is home to a wide array of magnificent forts,
palaces and temples, which attract a large number of tourists. Besides the
state is home to several important national parks, picturesque water falls
and caves. The state is famous for its rich culture and traditional
grandeur. The carnatic music, a peculiar type of Classical Music of
Karnataka, is popular world wide. The people of the state celebrate several
colourful festivals, most of them are temple festivals. The popular
festivals are the Paryaya festival, Vairamudi festival, Karaga Festival,
Keil Poldu, Lakshadeepotsavam and Dussehra etc. Other important festivals
are the Coorg festival, Hampi-Vijayanagar festival and the Hoysala festival.
Karnataka cuisine is characterized by distinct textures, flavours and
tastes. The people like the spicy dishes, Kodava cuisine, Malnad cuisine and
Udupi.
Major Attractions of Karnataka
Bangalore : Bangalore the 'Garden city of India is the
capital city of Karnataka. The city accounts 35 per cent of India's software
exports and is referred to as the 'Silicon Valley of India'. The pleasant
climate of the city draws thousands of tourists throughout the year.
Bangalore Palace : Built by Wodeyar king, in 1887, the
summer palace made mostly of woods, is famous for its beautiful carvings and
paintings. The major attraction of the palace is the gallery, which has the
collection of photos of viceroys, maharajas and other famous personalities.
Lal Bagh : The garden founded by Hyder Ali, is the major
landmark of Bangalore city. The beautiful garden with an area of 2,400
acres, houses more than 1,000 species of flora. The major attraction of the
garden is the glass house, where the bi-annual flower shows are held.
Venkatappa Art Gallery : Venkatappa Art gallery has the
collection of the works of the renowned artist K.Venkatappa. A major
attraction for the art lovers, the gallery houses around 600 beautiful
paintings and an exclusive collections of scenic displays.
ISKCON : The International Society for Krishna
Consciousness (ISKON) temple is a massive temple complex. The temple
building is a blend of the Dravidian and modern architecture. It has the
modern facilities like the multi-vision cinema theatre, computer aided
presentation theaters and the vedic library and a preaching library.
Vidhana Soudha : The Neo-Dravidian building built in
1854, houses the Karnataka State Legislature and the Secretariat. The huge
sandalwood door of the Cabinet room is the major attraction here.
Mysore : The city situated at a distance of 140 Kms from
Bangalore, is known as the city of Palaces. Besides the Palaces, Mysore
houses magnificent temples, pilgrimage centres and scenic spots.
Mysore
Palace : The palace also known as the Amba Vilas, is the main palace of
Mysore. In 1897 the original Palace was destroyed by fire and it was rebuilt
in 1911. The architecture of the Palace is a blend of Dravidian,
Indo-Sarcenic, Roman and Oriental architectural styles.
Brindavan Gardens : The garden situated at the
Krishnarajasagar Dam, is considered one of the finest gardens in South
India. The dancing fountains are the major attraction here, which are
especially built to jump and dance with the tune of music.
Chamundi Hills : Chamundi hills can be reached by a 13
Kms road or by climbing up 1,000 stares. It is famous for a monolithic
statue of Nandi, the sacred vehicle of Lord Shiva and the 12th century
Chamundershwari temple.
Mangalore : The beautiful scenic city, Mangalore is
located amidst the lush green surroundings. Most famous attractions of
Mangalore include Kadri Manjunath Temple, Sultan Battery, St. Aloysius
Church, Light House, Hill-Garden and Kudroli Gokarnath Temple etc.
Hassan : Hassan, lying 194 Kms from the capital city
Bangalore, is the best place to visit the towns of Halebid (27 Kms), Belur
(38 Kms) and Shravanabelagola (51 Kms). The city has the historical
importance, as the region was ruled by Hoysalas from the 11th to 13th
century AD.
Hampi : Located, 343 Kms from Bangalore, Hampi is a
famous tourist destination. The village is popular for housing the ruins of
erstwhile medieval Hindu kingdom of Vijaynagara. Hampi has been designated
as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Major attractions of Hampi include
Virupaksha Temple, Vithala Temple Complex , Hazara Rama Temple, Shivlinga
and King's Balance etc.
Reaching
Air : Bangalore is the main airport of Karnataka. The
airlines operate domestic and international flights
Rail : Bangalore railway station is the major railway
stations. Trains are available from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Guwahati,
Hyderabad, Mangalore, Chennai and Mysore.
Road : Karnataka has good networks of roads. The
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses run within and
outside the state.
