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Karnataka is a very large state
(India’s eighth largest) with many interesting places on
offer. Most people come to Karnataka to visit the abundance
of ancient sites, which are mostly located in two areas, one
to the north and one to the south of the state. The capital,
Bangalore, is a modern city (the Silicon Valley of India)
with an international airport. Karnataka is scenically
diverse containing sections of both the Deccan plateau and
the Western Ghat mountains. There are five National Parks
and a number of wildlife sanctuaries in the state.
Karnataka’s 320km Konkan coastline has
good unspoilt beaches but there are few hotels along the
coast – yet.
It should be noted that Karnataka has very few airports and
many of the roads are in a poor condition. Rail links are
not always helpful, so travel within this beautiful state
can be long and arduous and visitors must be aware of this,
particularly if they are trying to include the sites in the
north as well as the south.
BANGALORE is a cosmopolitan city and Karnataka’s state
capital. It is large and sprawling and, with a population of
almost 8 million, is one of Asia’s fastest growing cities.
India is the second largest exporter of computer software
and much of this is developed in Bangalore, helping to boost
the city’s wealth. With its botanical gardens, excellent
shopping, international airport and the reputation of being
India’s safest large city, Bangalore is a good starting or
finishing point for a holiday in South India
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WEATHER CHART : BANGALORE |
| MAX °C |
22 |
26 |
32 |
38 |
42 |
41 |
35 |
33 |
33 |
33 |
29 |
24 |
| MIN °C |
7 |
10 |
16 |
22 |
27 |
29 |
27 |
26 |
25 |
19 |
12 |
8 |
| RAIN mm |
16 |
9 |
11 |
5 |
10 |
60 |
210 |
263 |
151 |
23 |
2 |
4 |
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FEB |
MAR |
APR |
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JUNE |
JULY |
AUG |
SEPT |
OCT |
NOV |
DEC |
MYSORE in southern Karnataka is a great city with loads
of charm and is a very popular place with travellers. The
shops and markets offer excellent shopping for sandalwood
carvings, incense, silk etc as well as fantastic
photographic opportunities. Mysore Palace and Chamundi Hill
are well worth visiting. There are also many interesting
places around Mysore including Somnathpur with its famous
temple, Srirangapatnam with its ancient ruins and the Jain
pilgrimage site of Sravanabelagola with its huge statue of
Lord Gomateshvara.
BELUR AND HALEBID can be incorporated in a tour that
includes Mysore. The Hoysala architecture of these two sites
dates back to the 12th century. The carvings are superb and,
because these temples are still in daily use, rather than
purely historical sites, they have a vibrant atmosphere.
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COORG AND THE
WESTERN GHATS OF KARNATAKA |
HOTELS >> |
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COORG AND THE WESTERN GHATS OF KARNATAKA is an attractive
area not much visited by the tourist. There are National
Parks including Nagarhole with its pleasant scenery of
deciduous forest, waterways and plentiful wildlife.
Nagarhole currently offers the greatest chance of seeing
tigers in south India (73 tigers at the last census). Coorg
used to be an independent princely state but since the
creation of Karnataka in 1956 it no longer officially
exists, although many of the traditions (eg the language and
style of dress) remain. The area is now called Kodogu and is
simply a district of Karnataka.
NORTHERN AND CENTRAL KARNATAKA are more easily accessed
from Mumbai (Bombay) or Goa. Places to visit include Bijapur,
Badami, Pattadakal (World Heritage Site), Aihole and Hampi
(World Heritage Site) the former capital of a great Hindu
empire.
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