Karnataka

It is popularly known for Carnatic Music through out the World has given much more to the World than Carnatic Music, a unique form of Classical Music patroned by many across the continents. Karnataka with all its Richness in Culture and Traditional Grandeur is also one of the fastest growing States in terms of Industries and Facilities. Karnataka is also known as the Capital of Agarbathi (Incense Sticks), Arecanut, Silk, Coffee and Sandal Wood.

All this is apart from the fact that it has been the Culture Center for hundreds of years and its testimony stands spread across the State pulling millions of Tourists from all parts of the World to Karnataka. Whose richness and hospitality can only be felt and never explained better.

The present name ‘Bangalore’ is derived from ‘Bendakalooru’ or the tower of boiled beans. It is situated at an altitude of 3000ft above sea level and is the fifth largest city and administrative capital in India. It enjoys a mild and healthy climate and is termed as the ‘Garden City’ with beautiful parks and wide avenues.

Once of capital of a princely state, Mysore still carries on its placid shoulders the aura and glamour of palaces, the grandeur of festival of times gone by, but all of it with a quiet, unhurried dignity. Mysore is often called the Jewel of Karnataka. It is the meeting place of routes to other tourist centres nearby (Somnathpur, Belur, Halebid, Ooty, Coorg etc).The Wodeyar family ruled Mysore since 14th century except for a short period of 40 years when Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan were the rulers.

Part of the lushly-forested Deccan Plateau, Bandipur, in Karnataka, offers a rich and varied wildlife habitat. It is a part of a larger national park, which also includes the neighbouring wildlife sanctuaries, of Mudumalai Tamil Nadu and Wynad in Kerala. This sanctuary is one of the 15 sanctuaries selected across India for Project Tiger, a scheme launched in 1973, by the World Wide Fund for Nature – India, to save the tiger and its habitat. Covered with a mix of deciduous forests, evergreen forests and scrub, and well – irrigated by the Moyar river, Bandipur has a fairly open forest area, making it easy for visitors to spot wildlife.

This sanctuary sprawls over an area of 874 sq. kilometers. The prominent fauna of this reserve, include the Asian elephant, gaur, sambar, chital, mouse deer, four horned antelope, wild pig, black naped hare and the Indian porcupine. It is warm for most part of the year in this area. During the months of October to March, the weather is cool and pleasant. The ideal time for viewing the wildlife, is during May and June, and again from September to November.

Badami got its name from the erstwhile reigning dynasty of the Badami Chalukyas and is famous for its stone temples and rock cut monuments. The city is historically significant as it has been mentioned in the Hindu mythological texts as well. The cave temples and the Agastya Teerth are few of the most important pilgrimage spots here. What makes the place unique is its peculiar location. It is located in a ravine across the shores of the Agastya Lake and is a marvelous place to visit.

The city was founded by the sultans as their capital in the 14th century. Gulbarga is known for its various temples and Muslim monuments and memorials. The place is also been a home to the ancient kingdoms of the South with monuments and buildings dating back to the reign of the Maurya, Chalukya, Hoysala etc. The local cuisine is amazing and the place should be visited specially to try all of them out.