Karnataka Tourist Places

Located in the heart of the city, Bangalore Palace is one of the main tourist attractions of Bengaluru (Bengalore). It took many years to complete its construction, which started in the year 1862. The construction of the palace took around 2 years. Back then, it was owned by Maharaja of Mysore belonging to the Wodeyar Dynasty. A blend of Tudor and Scottish Gothic styles of architecture is reflected in the structure. The interior of the palace is downright exquisite. The ground floor is an open courtyard with blue ceramic tiles and is mainly used for holding private parties. Gothic glass windows, paintings, fortified towers, wood carvings, elegant furniture and other things have been collaborated to get the look. The Darbar Hall has paintings of Raja Ravi Verma and a massive elephant head.

The lush green forests, the looming mountain peaks, the acres of pruned coffee plantation, serpentine roads, rocky paths, well laid gardens and a plethora of flora and fauna greet any tourist venturing to the dizzy heights of Coorg. The hill station of Coorg offers relief to those grown tired with the mundane nature of city life. The fresh air in the hill sides is a welcome change from the concrete high rises and can rejuvenate you from within.

Amongst the most renowned attractions in Bangalore, Lal Bagh Botanical Garden is an epitome of natural beauty that takes different forms in its every narrow. It is believed that the construction of the beautiful Lal Bagh garden was started by emperor Haider Ali of Mysore, which later on got finished by his legendary son, Tipu Sultan.

One of the magnificent monuments of Karnataka, Mysore Palace Mysore or the Maharajah's Palace is located in the heart of Mysore City in Karnataka India. Counted among the largest palaces in India, Mysore Palace in Mysore Karnataka was the pride of the ancient kingdom of the Wodeyar Maharajas of Mysore. A priceless national treasure, Mysore Palace is an exemplary embodiment of the famous Indo-Saracenic architectural style. Prominent among the historical monuments in Karnataka, Mysore Palace Mysore is revered for housing some exquisite carvings and numerous works of art.

Gokarna Beach in Karnataka is one of the popular beaches of Karnataka where tourists spend days enjoying the scenic beauty of the surroundings, the long stretches of golden beaches and the cool sea breeze. Situated about 56 kms south west to Karwar, Gokarna is a holy place of the Hindus. According to the Puranas, one gets liberated of sins when one visits Gokarna.

60 kms from Bangalore, Nandi Hills of Karnataka is the most popular weekend getaway. Perched at a height of 1455 meters above sea level, Nandi Hills provides an idyllic retreat for many tourists, just as it served as an ideal summer repose for Tipu Sultan and the British. The hill station abounds in natural beauty. Walking along the mountain tracks among innumerable scenic spots can be a very rejuvenating experience for you. The rich mountain valley, sharp hairpin turns along steep slopes, small cottages clinging along the mountain edges, the cool breeze and the clear blue sky above, are reasons enough for you to plan your vacation in this pristine hill station.

One of the most popular national parks in India, Bannerghatta National Park is a man-made wildlife reserve that is home to a vast variety of animals and birds. It is equally popular amid adults and children who are wildlife enthusiasts.

Nestled among the Western Ghats, in a picturesque terrain surrounded with dense evergreen forests, is the roaring Jog Falls of Karnataka. 16 km from Talguppa, the nearest railway station, is the Jog falls village. If you are traveling to the Jog Falls or to Shimoga falls, you can travel by two road routes, the National Highway 48 or 4. While the former route is better the second is a longer one with poor road surface.

Referred to as Sri Chamarajendra Zoological garden, Mysore Zoo in Mysore is one of the most popular tourist attractions, around 3km away from the city center. Established in 1892, the Zoo is put up on a portion of land in summer palace of Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar. The Zoological garden here is considered to be set up by Maharaja himself. It is also believed that Maharaja travelled to different parts of the world, to collect rare species of flora and fauna.

Spread in an area of 150 acres of land, Brindavan Gardens is one of the most popular attractions of Mysore. A haven for nature lovers, it is equally popular as a picnic spot amidst locals as well as the visiting tourists. Placed below the Krishnarajasagar Dam on River Kaveri, this lush garden is a must-visit attraction of Mysore. Known for its symmetric design and layout, it is one of the world’s most beautiful terrace gardens.

Once the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Mysore, Bandipur National Park spreads in a forested jungle of 874 square kilometers. One of the most popular wildlife reserves in the region, it is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Today, the national park is home to more than 100 species of mammals including elephant, tiger, spotted deer, Indian bison, langur, sloth bear, mongoose, sambar and wild dog. It is also ideal for bird watching as around 350 species of birds call Bandipur their home.

A part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Nagarhole National Park has been blessed with a serene lake and rich, exotic wildlife. One of the best wildlife reserves of Karnataka, this national park has the attached Kabini Lake that becomes an important strip for the animals who travel here and there through the adjoining Bandipur National Park. Because of being more popular than Bandipur, it always attracts a higher footfall. Spread in an area of 642.2 square km, Nagarhole has various attractions like thick forests, open sightseeing spaces and a bank of the river. All this offers a wonderful wildlife-viewing experience. Animals like Common langur, Tiger, Gaur, Elephant, Bonnet Macaque, Dhole and Barking deer along with as many as 270 avifauna species call it their home.

The Vidhan Soudha Karnataka, located in city of Bangalore (now Bengaluru), is the seat of the state legislature of Karnataka. It is an imposing structure, built in what is sometimes described as 'Neo-Dravidian' style of architecture; it incorporates into it elements of Indo-Saracenic, Rajasthani Jharokha and Dravidian styles.

Srirangapatna Fort in Karnataka India that Tipu finally lay dead - betrayed by one of his own men. An obelisk in the Fort marks the place where he was killed. After defeating Tipu and his folks, the British went on to loot and plunder Srirangapatna and Srirangapatna Fort (Tipu's Palace).

Popularly hailed as the 'Agra of South India', Bijapur in Karnataka is home to some of the finest Monuments in Karnataka. The ancient capital of the Adil Shahi rulers, Bijapur has, till date, managed to preserve its royal charm and grandeur through its numerous monuments dating back to the 15th-17th centuries. One such outstanding monument is the Ibrahim Rouza Bijapur - a beautiful tomb replete with elegant corridors and interconnected buildings furnished with richly decorated walls and perforated stone windows.

Daria Daulat Bagh is also famous as the Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan. Daria Daulat Bagh is situated on the bank of Cauvery River. Daria Daulat Bagh in Bangalore in Karnataka is an important Monument in Karnataka and a major Tourist Attraction in Karnataka. Daria Daulat Bagh is built in Indo-Islamic style. The lush green garden and the majestic open space stand as an embodiment of the majestic existence of the king Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan used this palace as a retreat from the strenuous life of a king. The vibrant color of the monument and the arabesque work gives the palace a different and attractive dimension. Daria Daulat Bagh at present houses a museum which is better known as the Tipu Sultan Museum. This museum is one of its kinds in the whole country by keeping in mind the fact that this is a museum that is devoted fully to a person.

Call it a floating basket or a boat, the Coracle is a huge traditionally designed craft used to ferry people across the river. These baskets are woven of cane from the inside, whereas the leather on the outside with a fine coating of plastic sheets and bitumen make it a leak proof floating material. Being brought into use by the locals of Hampi since five centuries back, the modern day Coracle looks exactly the same as the old one except a slight change in the list of manufacturing materials. With the addition of plastic and bitumen sheets in its design, these circular floating boats can even ferry horses and other livestocks.

One of the top tourist attractions in Hampi, Queen’s Bath is an ancient royal spot which is simple on outside but incredible within. It is situated in Hampi in Bellary, Karnataka. The name Queen’s Bath itself defines the luxurious bath which includes a big verandah with a rectangular pool surrounded by extended balconies and carved domes where Vijayanagara Kings and Queens used to take bath. Although called Queen’s bath, the pool was used by both Kings and Queens. Tourists can visit the place on all days from 8:00am to 5:30pm and the visiting period is of 40 minutes.

Located at Hampi in the district Bellary of Karnataka, the Archaelogical Museum exhibits a superb collection of sculptures and works of art made by British officers and housed earlier at Elephant stables. In the year 1972, the antiques were shifted to a building at Kamlapur which has four galleries including a model of Hampi valley with a hall all round. Tourists here are welcomed by Krishnadevaraya and his queens which are in ceramic structure. The first gallery demonstrates the Saiva faith consisting of Virabhadra, Bhairava, Bhikshatanamurti, Mahishasuramardini, Shakti, Ganehsa, Kartikeya with his companions and Durga. There is a temple put up in the centre of hallway with the display of Shivalinga, Nandi, Dwaramantapa. The second gallery exhibits arms and armory, copper plate grants, metal objects of religious utility, brass plates and gold and silver coins used during Vijayanagara Era. Therefore, the last gallery has antiques of ancient times, medieval hero stones, sati stones and other stuffs that are excavated at Hampi as well as information’s of current excavations. The museum is open all days except Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and the visiting hours are 2-3 hours along with entrance charge of INR 5.

The state of Karnataka was formerly known as Mysore, after the princely state of the same name. The name Mysore is said to have been derived from a famous demon called Mahishasure, a great warrior and a tyrant who was killed by the goddess Chamundeshwari. Mysore has been the seat of power and the capital of the Wodeyar Dynasty. The Jaganmohan Palace and Art Gallery Karnataka is one of the important monuments in Karnataka and also Mysore

As the name says, this least dilapidated structure and one of the major tourist attractions in Hampi today was once the stable for elephants which where used by royalty. In total there are 11 domed chambers, tall and inter-connected, giving it a grand appearance. These halls have different shapes, such as drum-shape and octagonal. In the middle is an ornate hall that was perhaps used for ceremonial gatherings that included elephant processions. Its towers look similar to those of the temples of that era. Elephant Stables are symmetrical with respect to Central Hall. Each hall has opening for Mahouts to enter the compartments and metal hooks to tie the elephants. The stables are also a gateway to Guard’s Quarter and Ranga Temple, some of the other popular attractions in Hampi.

Around 5km away from the city center, St Philomena church is one of the major tourist attractions in Mysore. The church is dedicated to Philomena, a third century saint from Greece. It is one of the tallest churches in India alluring Indian as well as International visitors.  

A garden of seasonal flowers, Raja’s seat is one of the most popular tourist spots in Coorg. The tourist attraction is actually located in the Madikeri region of Coorg district. Dotted with layers of unspoiled greenery, a strip of low and high  mountains and a mystical blanket covering the region, the garden looks no less than a paradise. Its beauty is so intrinsic that the garden was a favorite  among the Kings of Kodagu. Owing to this favoritism, the garden was named after the kings as Raja’s seat.