5 Most Amazing Destinations To Explore In Karnataka

It is the richness of Karnataka which will surprise you. You will find ample amounts of it in its beaches, historical ruins, palaces, forests, religious sites and also in its cuisine. One day, the historian in you might lead you to the ruins of Hampi, while on the other, you might be tempted to explore its wildlife in the 27 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries scattered across the state. Sitting down to a meal of udupi sambar and Mysore masala dosa is as satisfying as standing before the Jog Falls or exploring the tea plantations of Coorg. You are transported to different time periods, see the many faces of nature and find sufficient opportunities for unwinding and relaxation when you plan your holiday in Karnataka. In this blog, we tell you the 5 best places to visit in Karnataka and what makes them so special.

* Ruins of Hampi

For lack of a better word, we should refer to it as the ruins of Hampi. This was once a prosperous city, abundant in riches of all kinds. It is from the writings of various travellers over the ages, from Ibn Battuta to Fernao Nunes, that we are acquainted with its immense power and wealth. Today, Hampi stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, still managing to evoke surprise and admiration from visitors. While exploring the temples, elephants stables, chariots, bazaar streets and other parts of the ruins, various images of prosperity and opulence appear in your mind. You could visit Hampi as a solo traveller, or with your family. A backpacking trip here will give you a lot to talk about.

* Coorg

Call it Coorg of Kodagu, it is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Karnataka. You should visit this place for its coffee plantations and its distinct culture. Topographically, it enjoys a high altitude, and is spread out leisurely on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. The richness in its culture is also reflected in its wildlife, as it boasts three wildlife sanctuaries and a famous national park in India called Nagarhole National Park, nowadays popularly known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park. Checking out the traditional costume, known as “kupaya”, is as exciting as trying out the native dishes, kadumbuttu and pandi curry. If the waterfalls don’t interest you, maybe the temples will. If both of them don’t, then you can always explore the coffee plantation and take in the beauty of the countryside.

* Halebeedu

There was a time when Halebeedu was the second capital of the Hoysalas and was called Drawasamudra. Today, its temples tell of its grand past through their incredible architecture. They are the embodiment of excellent craftsmanship and represent the achievements of art and architecture under the Hoysala Empire. It got its present name after being conquered by the Delhi Sultanate in the 14th century. The carvings on the temples don’t just restrict themselves to religious themes. In fact, one of them shows the harmful effects of consuming alcohol. The attention paid to the tiniest detail in the sculptures is really worth praising over and over. An example of this is the depiction of 1200 elephants in different postures.

* Mysore

Mysore is synonymous with the Mysore Palace, an exercise in sheer opulence and extravagance. It is the royal past of this city that will continue to attract tourists, a past wrapped in riches and glory. First ruled by a succession of kings from the Wadiyar dynasty, then by Tipu Sultan, the “Tiger of Mysore”, and finally by the British, Mysore has seen more than its fair share of historical adventures. As a tourist, you will find a lot of opportunities for sightseeing, apart from the Mysore Palace. Religious structures and administrative ones, European classical structures standing alongside Indian ones, palaces, colleges and landmarks, there is much to keep you interested.

* Gokarna

The town of Gokarna would have been just another sleepy little town, just like so many others in Karnataka, had it not been for Gokarna Beach. Fondly called the OM Beach, as it resembles the religious Hindu symbol OM, it is a picture of undisturbed serenity. The shoreline of this famous beach in Karnataka, stretches all the way until it meets a rocky cliff, as is the case with several other beaches here. It is connected to other beaches via a boat ride, apart from walking. Boating is looked forward to enthusiastically, as are banana boat rides. Most of all though, it is dolphin spotting which promises to make your day.