Karnataka
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Karnataka

Ruined empires, coffee hills and quiet coasts

Photo: iMahesh, CC BY-SA 4.0
Capital

Bengaluru

Best time to visit

October to March (Coorg also July to September for monsoon lovers)

Getting there

Bengaluru is the main hub. Overnight trains reach Hampi (Hosapete) and buses run everywhere.

Ideal trip

10 to 14 days to cover the highlights

About Karnataka

Karnataka packs in royal Mysuru, the boulder-strewn ruins of Hampi, coffee estates in Coorg and a laid-back coastline.

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Popular cities in Karnataka

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Belagavi (Belgaum)Bengaluru (Bangalore)Chikkamagaluru (Chikmagalur)GokarnaHampiHubballi (Hubli)Madikeri (Coorg, Kodagu)Mangaluru (Mangalore)Mysuru (Mysore)Udupi

Top places in Karnataka

HampiPhoto: iMahesh, CC BY-SA 4.0

Hampi

The UNESCO-listed capital of the Vijayanagara empire, scattered across a surreal boulder landscape.

Best time: October to FebruaryBase: Hosapete3 daysHeritageAdventure
Directions
From Wikipedia

Hampi or Hampe, also referred to as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the town of Hampi in Vijayanagara district, east-central Karnataka, India. Hampi predates the Vijayanagara Empire; it is mentioned in the Ramayana and the Puranas of Hinduism as Pampa Devi Tirtha Kshetra. Hampi continues as a religious centre, with the Virupaksha Temple, an active Adi Shankara-linked monastery and various monuments belonging to the old city.

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Video by Satshya Tharien on YouTube

Coorg (Kodagu)Photo: Jyotirmoy, CC BY-SA 4.0

Coorg (Kodagu)

Misty coffee and spice estates, waterfalls and homestays with Kodava cooking.

Best time: October to MarchBase: Madikeri3 daysNatureMountainsFood
Directions
From Wikipedia

Kodagu district is an administrative district in the Karnataka state of India. Before 1956, it was an administratively separate Coorg State at which point it was merged into an enlarged Mysore State.

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Video by Praveen Does Travel on YouTube

Mysuru PalacePhoto: Muhammad Mahdi Karim, GFDL 1.2

Mysuru Palace

The opulent seat of the Wadiyars, lit by nearly 100,000 bulbs on Sunday evenings and during Dasara.

Best time: October to FebruaryBase: Mysuru2 daysHeritageCity
Directions
From Wikipedia

Mysore Palace, also known as Amba Vilas Palace, is a historic palace and royal residence located in Mysore, Karnataka, India. It served as the official residence of the Wadiyar dynasty and the seat of the Kingdom of Mysore, and was commissioned by Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV in August 1897 following the destruction of the previous structure in a fire.

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Video by The Wanderlust Bug on YouTube

GokarnaPhoto: Aleksriis, CC BY-SA 4.0

Gokarna

A temple town with quiet beaches such as Om and Kudle linked by cliff-top trails.

Best time: October to MarchBase: Gokarna2 daysBeachSpiritual
Directions
From Wikipedia

Gokarna is a historical temple town located in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka state in southern India, The town is famous for the 4th century Mahabaleshwar Temple, dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva, the Bhadrakali Temple dedicated to Goddess Uma and Maha Ganpati Temple dedicated to Hindu God Ganesha. Gokarna is mentioned in the Hindu epic Mahabharata and by the classical Sanskrit poet Kalidasa in his 4th-century work Raghuvamsha, where he refers to the "Lord of Gokarna".

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Video by Bharath Bykere on YouTube

BengaluruPhoto: DeepanjanGhosh, CC BY-SA 4.0

Bengaluru

Lalbagh, Cubbon Park, Tipu Sultan's palace and a lively craft beer and dosa scene.

Best time: September to FebruaryBase: Bengaluru2 daysCityFood
Directions
From Wikipedia

Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore, is the capital and largest city of the southern Indian state of Karnataka. As per the 2011 census, the city had a population of 8.4 million, making it the third most populous city in India and the most populous in South India. The Bengaluru metropolitan area had a population of around 8.5 million, making it the fifth most populous urban agglomeration in the country. It is located towards the southern end of the Deccan Plateau, at an altitude of 900 m above sea level.

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Chikkamagaluru

The birthplace of Indian coffee, with Mullayanagiri, Baba Budangiri and estate stays.

Best time: September to MarchBase: Chikkamagaluru2 daysMountainsNature
Directions
From Wikipedia

Chikmagalur, previously known as Kiriya-Muguli, is a city, taluka and the headquarters of Chikmagalur district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the foothills of the Chandra Drona Mountain range of the Western Ghats, the city attracts tourists from around the world for its pleasant and favourable hill station climate, tropical rainforest and coffee estates. The pristine Baba Budangiri lies to the north of Chikmagalur, where it is believed that Baba Budan introduced coffee to India.

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Belur and HalebiduPhoto: Karthikbs23, CC BY-SA 3.0

Belur and Halebidu

UNESCO-listed Hoysala temples carved in soapstone with astonishing detail.

Best time: October to MarchBase: Hassan1 dayHeritage
Directions
From Wikipedia

Hoysaleshwara temple, also referred simply as the Halebidu temple, is a 12th-century Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva. It is the largest monument in Halebidu, a town in the state of Karnataka, India, and the former capital of the Hoysala Empire. The temple was built on the banks of a large man-made lake, and sponsored by King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala Empire. Its construction started around 1121 CE and was complete in 1160 CE.

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Jog FallsPhoto: Nikhilb239, CC BY 3.0

Jog Falls

One of India's highest plunge waterfalls, where the Sharavati drops 253 m. Best right after the monsoon.

Best time: August to DecemberBase: Sagara1 dayNature
Directions
From Wikipedia

Jog Falls is a series of large, segmented waterfalls on the Sharavati River in Karnataka state of India, created by the river plunging approximately 253 metres and splitting into four distinct cascades. The waterfalls are situated in the Sagar taluk of the Shivamogga district. Jog Falls is a major attraction for tourists.

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Bandipur and NagarholePhoto: Dineshkannambadi, CC BY-SA 4.0

Bandipur and Nagarhole

Tiger and elephant country in the Nilgiri Biosphere, with safaris and Kabini river lodges.

Best time: October to MayBase: Kabini2 daysWildlifeNature
Directions
From Wikipedia

Bandipur National Park is a national park covering 1,456.3 km2 in Chamarajnagar district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It was established as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger in 1973. It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve since 1986.

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Udupi and MalpePhoto: (WT-en) Ravikiran Rao, CC BY-SA 4.0

Udupi and Malpe

Krishna temple town and birthplace of Udupi cuisine, near Malpe beach and St Mary's Island.

Best time: October to MarchBase: Udupi2 daysSpiritualBeachFood
Directions
From Wikipedia

Udupi is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the administrative headquarters and taluka of Udupi district, and one of the fastest-growing cities in Karnataka. Udupi is one of the top tourist attractions in Karnataka and has various educational institutions. It is notable for the Krishna Temple and is also known as the temple city. It also lends its name to the popular Udupi cuisine, is also known as Parashurama Kshetra, and is famous for Kanakana kindi.

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ShravanabelagolaPhoto: Ananth H V, CC BY-SA 3.0

Shravanabelagola

A 17-metre monolithic statue of Bahubali on a hilltop, one of the great Jain pilgrimages.

Best time: October to MarchBase: Hassan1 daySpiritualHeritage
Directions
From Wikipedia

Shravanabelagola is a town located near Channarayapatna taluk of Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka and is 144 km from Bengaluru. The Gommateshwara Bahubali statue at Shravanabelagola is one of the most important tirthas in Jainism, one that reached a peak in architectural and sculptural activity under the patronage of Western Ganga dynasty of Talakad.

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BadamiHidden gemPhoto: Dineshkannambadi, CC BY-SA 3.0

Badami

Sandstone cave temples of the Chalukyas, close to Aihole and Pattadakal.

Best time: October to MarchBase: Badami2 daysHeritage
Directions
From Wikipedia

The Badami cave temples are a complex of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave temples located in Badami, a town in the Bagalkot district in northern part of Karnataka, India. The caves are important examples of Indian rock-cut architecture, especially Badami Chalukya architecture, and the earliest date from the 6th century. Badami is a modern name and was previously known as "Vataapi", the capital of the early Chalukya dynasty, which ruled much of Karnataka from the 6th to the 8th century.

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Video by thedoubletdiary on YouTube

Food to try

Masala dosa, bisi bele bath, Mysore pak, Kodava pandi curry, Mangalorean fish, filter coffee

Where to stay

Bengaluru as hub, Mysuru for royal sights, Hosapete for Hampi, homestays in Coorg and Chikkamagaluru

Getting around

KSRTC buses are excellent; overnight trains to Hampi; self-drive for coffee country

Good to know

Mysuru Dasara in October is spectacular. Hampi needs at least two days; rent a cycle or scooter there.

Karnataka: quick answers

What is the best time to visit Karnataka?

October to March (Coorg also July to September for monsoon lovers)

How do I reach Karnataka?

Bengaluru is the main hub. Overnight trains reach Hampi (Hosapete) and buses run everywhere.

How many days do I need for Karnataka?

Plan 10 to 14 days to see the highlights, such as Hampi, Coorg (Kodagu), Mysuru Palace.

What food should I try in Karnataka?

Masala dosa, bisi bele bath, Mysore pak, Kodava pandi curry, Mangalorean fish, filter coffee

Where should I stay in Karnataka?

Bengaluru as hub, Mysuru for royal sights, Hosapete for Hampi, homestays in Coorg and Chikkamagaluru

Neighbouring states

Timings, fees, permits and road conditions change. Please check official sources before you travel.