Located in the centre of South India, Karnataka is a true crossroads of influences that forge its identity. While the former State of Mysore does not evoke as many exotic images as some of its neighbours such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu or Goa, the richness and diversity of its sites have an extraordinary tourist potential
Bangalore, the "Indian Silicon Valley"
Located at an altitude of 900 m, Bangalore enjoys a particularly pleasant climate and has well-ordered parks and long avenues lined with flowering trees. If it is nicknamed the "garden city", it remains a large Indian city, with its congested roads, pollution and "organized chaos". Although Bangalore has an ancient origin, it was founded in the 16th century, from which time it has remained an important administrative centre. It has experienced rapid industrial growth that has earned it the nickname Silicon Valley of India. The presence of a golden youth has created an important leisure offer: bars, clubs, cinemas... There is always something going on: music, dance shows, theatre, exhibitions, carnivals... The fine palates will be delighted, the catering offer is overwhelming: it is an opportunity to indulge yourself and taste Indian cuisine in all its diversity. And the high-tech capital has kept the typical charm of an Indian city. Several monuments are worth a visit: the Bangalore Palace, its original architecture and so British style with its golf course, the Tipu Sultan Summer Palace or the impressive Vidhana Soudha, which houses the State's legislative seat. Not to mention its parks, including Cubbon Park and its museums, Hindu temples, markets, major shopping malls and upscale neighbourhoods. The best way to discover it is to participate in a tour organized by the KSTDC, the Karnataka Tourist Office.
Mysore the sweet and her palace of Maharajah
Just 140 km to the southwest, this is one of the most pleasant cities in southern India: Mysore. A true palace city, Mysuru is dotted with monuments, statues, temples, gardens and parks. It exudes an enchanting charm and the delicious smell of sandalwood and jasmine floating in its streets bewitches the visitor. This is an essential step. The city's iconic monument is its authentic Maharajah palace. The former Wodeyar residence is one of the largest of its kind in India. The palace combines different architectural styles. It also houses a museum and several temples. His visit transports the visitor to the splendours of a bygone era... Every Sunday evening, the palace is illuminated with nearly 100,000 bulbs. And the last week of September is the most important festival in Karnataka: Mysore Dasara. The palace is illuminated every night for 10 days and, on the last day, the maharajah leads a wonderfully colourful procession
But the city is not just about his palace. Devaraja Market is one of the most picturesque markets in the country. You will let yourself be caught up in the colourful atmosphere. Mysore is also known as a Yoga Mecca. And just twenty kilometres from the city, do not miss the site of Srirangapatna, which has kept its magnificent monuments
Nagarhole's felines
Further south, 89 km from Mysore, is Rajiv Gandhi National Park, better known as Nagarhole. Considered one of the richest parks in terms of flora and fauna in India, it has a wide variety of animal species: tigers, leopards, wild elephants, gaurs (Indian bison). The other species are the muntjac (barking deer), the four-horned antelope, the wild boar, the hyena, the mongoose or the otter. However, the real attraction of this park is the elegant black panther. It is not uncommon to see one of these felines during a Jeep trek! The Kabini River offers sumptuous landscapes bathed in superb light at dawn. The reservoir formed by the dam crossing the river attracts many migratory birds in winter. Contiguous to Nagarhole, in the shade of the Western Ghats, is Bandipur National Park, with similar characteristics. The best time to visit these two national parks is in May-June and again in September-November.
The Canara coast and its gastronomy
Karnataka has 300 km of coastline from Mangalore to Karwar: the Canara coast. This region has its own cuisine, renowned throughout the country! In Mangalore, the cuisine gives pride of place to seafood products; curry leaves and coconut are omnipresent, and it is very spicy. A little further up, the cuisine of Udupi, a major Hindu religious centre, is famous for other reasons. It is a strictly vegetarian cuisine that adheres to the Sattvic tradition, a diet based on the quality of food according to Ayurvedic and yogic literature, using neither onion, garlic, nor meat, fish or shellfish. This cuisine is made with cereals, beans, vegetables and fruit, favouring local ingredients. There are restaurants serving this cuisine all over the country: the Udupi hotels.
But in addition to its gastronomy, the coast has a rugged coastline, with some wild beaches to discover, especially in Malpe, one of the strongholds of surfers in India. Although they have not been explored for a long time, the beaches of Gokarna remain an enchantment. This town is located south of Goa, and has the same assets: a picturesque village, beautiful beaches, bungalows to live in, and some hippies who discovered this region long before anyone else.
Hampi and the ruins of the Vijayanagar empire
The most fascinating and visited site in the state is undoubtedly Hampi. Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire, one of the largest Hindu empires in India. In the 14th century, the population of Hampi reached 500,000 people. Controlling the cotton and spice routes of southern India, the Vijayanagar empire had become flourishing. However, the glory of Vijayanagar was going to be short-lived, this powerful empire was destroyed in 1565 by the combined armies of five Muslim kingdoms, Bidar, Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar and Berar. Today, visitors can explore nearly 4,000 ruins located in landscapes of pink sandstone, sugar cane fields and rice fields crossed by the Tungabhadra River that contrast with the dryness of the surrounding area and give this site, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a unique magic. The temples of Hampi, its royal enclosure, sculptures and monolithic monuments testify to the exceptional mastery of their distant builders. It takes several days to discover all the richness of this exceptional place. On the other side of the river is the village of Anegundi, which is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage site and has kept a perfectly authentic soul. Protected by a double fortification enclosure, it preserves traces of much earlier habitation. Prehistoric paintings testify to the occupation of the plateau at least 1,500 years BC. The village includes many ruins that bear witness to its glorious association with the Vijayanagar Empire, including temples, the fort and an ancient palace. Several sites are to be discovered on this side of the river. In particular, there is the famous temple where Hanuman was born perched on a rocky hill. The view is absolutely magnificent
Fascinating temples
In the centre of the state are two other architectural wonders: the Chennakeshava temples in Belur and Hoysaleswara in Halebid. The first, built in 1117, is a major legacy of Hoysala art. The second, also called Halebeedu Temple, is massive and compact in appearance. It is unique for the richness of the carved friezes that adorn its exterior walls. There is no other equivalent of such an artistic achievement across the country. Its construction began in 1121 and was completed 80 years later. Further north, the imposing Badami complex, the former capital of the first Chalukya kingdom, well known for its rich history and prestigious monuments, some of which date back to the 6th and 7th centuries, will not be missed. Badami, also known as Vatapi, is beautifully located at the end of a ravine, between two rocky hills. Temples carved into the rock, portals, forts, inscriptions, sculptures that seem to come to life before your eyes... A few steps lead to cave temples carved out of red sandstone on the mountainside
The religious plurality of Karnataka is also found in Shravana-belagola: this charming little town with a somewhat unpronounceable name is an important place of Jain pilgrimage. Finally, in the north of the State, there are a concentration of monuments that are less frequently visited, but which are certainly worth a visit: Vijayapura, the old Bijapur, and Bidar
In short, Karnataka is definitely worth a visit!
Smart info
When? When? The best time is from October to May and the most pleasant months are from December to February. From June to September, it is the monsoon season
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