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Karnataka, the eighth largest state in India, is a veritable treasure trove of tourist delights. By virtue of its varied geography and long and rich history, Karnataka boasts of numerous spots of interest for tourists. Karnataka has been ranked as fourth most popular destination for tourism among states of India.^[1] With its 507 out of the 3600 centrally protected monuments, Karnataka has the second highest number of protected monuments in India, next only to Uttar Pradesh.^[2] In addition the State Directorate of Archaeology and Museums protects 752 monuments. Another 25,000 monuments are yet to receive protection^[3] There is a dazzling array of ancient sculptured temples, modern cities, friendly people, scenic hill ranges, unexplored forests and endless beaches. Karnataka is a place that has all the ingredients for great holiday. Each spot has something special to offer. Broadly, tourism in Karnataka can be divided into four geographical regions. These are North Karnataka, the Hill Stations, Coastal Karnataka and South Karnataka.

Contents

North Karnataka

Hill stations

Coastal Karnataka

South Karnataka

National Parks and Wildlife

Water Falls and Caves

Eco-Tourism

Outdoor Activities

Health care Tourism

See also

References

External links

North Karnataka

North Karnataka is a land of harsh dryness accompanied by majestic cliffs, rocky landscapes and magnificent monuments that date back to 5th century. The greatest Kannada empires that ruled the Deccan had their capitals here. Badami Chalukyan monuments at Pattadakal, Aihole, Badami are a sight to be seen. Aihole is called the cradle of Hindu rock architecture and has over 125 temples and monuments built between 450 - 1100 CE. Rashtrakuta monuments at Lokapura, Bilgi and Kuknur and Kalyani Chalukya monuments built in Gadag style at Lakkundi, Gadag, Koppal District and the famous Vijayanagar empire temples at Vijayanagara are the best that it offers. Hampi in Bellary District is world famous for the ruins spread over an area of 125 km². with some fifty four world heritage monuments and six hundred and fifty national monuments (''ASI''). An additional three hundred monuments await protection. The Deccan sultanate monuments at Bijapur and Gulbarga show unique and discreet Hindu influences and rival the Muslim monuments of North India. Archeologically important locations like Kanganahalli in Gulbarga have thrown more light on Buddhist centers of the 1st. c. BCE. - 3rd c. CE era. The first ever statue of emperor Ashoka with his queens and a Prakrit inscription ''Rayo Ashoka'' (''ASI'') has been found.

Hill stations

The Hill stations in Karnataka are generally unexplored and more pristine than better known ones in South India. Kudremukh, Kemmangundi, Agumbe, Horanadu, Nandi Hills are some of the better known ones. Not much tourism in these areas has kept them free of commercialization. Apart from scenic trekks, bird watching, boating and picturesque waterfalls, these areas are also close to major coffee producing areas in the state, making a trip all the more interesting. Many resorts have sprung up to accommodate those who want to relax.

Coastal Karnataka

Coastal Karnataka is the stronghold of Hindu and Jain piligrimage spots with Udupi and its many temples being the centre of Dvaita philosophy, Gokarna is known for Vedic studies, Sringeri has the first of the Shankaracharya mathas and is important for its Advaita philosophy, Karkala and Mudabidri are well known places of Jain worship. Exquisite Vijayanagar temples built in Chalukya - Malabar region combinational style are seen in Bhatkal, Kumta, Shirali etc. The warm pristine beaches of Karnataka are mostly unspoiled and are only now drawing tourists away from formerly popular places like Goa.
Jamboti, 20 km south-west of Belgaum, is a tourist magnet with its evergreen hilltop forests.
Karnataka is blessed with over 300 km of pristine coastal stretch. Netrani Island of Uttara Kannada is well known for coral reefs. St. Mary's Island, a few kilometers from Udupi is famous for its basalt rock formations. Sunny beaches at places like Malpe, Murdeshwara, Maravanthe,
Gokarna, Kumta are complimented by spectacular mountains slightly to the east. Agumbe, Kodachadri hills, Kemmangundi, are just a few of many hill stations that straddle the coast providing tourists the best of sun and greenery. Unlike many crowded hill stations in South India, the hill stations of Karnataka are still mostly undiscovered and pristine.

South Karnataka

South Karnataka is a unique combination of spectacular vesara style Hoysala architecture, colossal Jain monuments, colonial buildings and palaces of the Kingdom of Mysore, impregnable fort at Chitradurga and densely forested wildlife sanctuaries that offer some of the best eco-tourism available in the country. Belur, Halebidu in Hassan District, Somnathpura in Mysore District, Belavadi, Kalasa and Amrithapura in Chikmagalur District, Balligavi in Shimoga District offer some of the best of Hoysala architecture dating from the 11th - 13th century CE., while Shravanabelagola and Kambadahalli in Mandya District have well known 10th century Jain monuments. Scenic forests and the high density of wild animals of this region are a popular attraction for those interested in the wilder side of life. Bandipur National Park, Nagarahole, Biligirirangan Hills, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and Bannerghatta national parks are a few popular places for jungle safaris.
The river Kaveri flows east from Kodagu District and along its way one finds important tourist destinations like Shivanasamudra and nearby Sivasamudram Falls, Srirangapattana and Melkote etc. Mysore, the cultural capital of the state is famous for exotic palaces, quaint colonial buildings and cultural activities including carnatic music, theatre. Bangalore the capital is the most cosmopilitian city in India and is well known for its parks, pubs, restaurants, shopping and fast paced technology rich lifestyle.

National Parks and Wildlife

Karnataka in all has 21 wildlife sanctuaries and 5 National parks. Well known among them are Bandipur National Park in Mysore District, Bannerghatta National Park in Bangalore district, Nagarhole National Park in Mysore District and Kodagu district, Kudremukh National Park in Dakshina Kannada and Chickmagalur district, Dandeli & Anshi National Park in Uttara Kannada district, Gudavi and Mandegadde bird sanctuaries and Sharavati WLS in Shimoga District, Biligirirangan Hills WLS in Chamarajanagar district, Rangantittu Bird Sanctuary in Mandya district, Brahmagiri wildlife sanctuary and Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary in Kodagu district. Interior dry areas have their own unique wildlife.
There are twenty one wildlife sanctuaries and five national parks in all.
Recently, the government of India has proposed to the UNESCO to include important ecosystems in the Western Ghats as a World Heritage Site. Two subclusters of natural areas occurring in the list are entirely in the Karnataka region covering several wildlife sanctuaries and some reserve forests. Fragile and exotic ecosystems like Kudremukh NP, Brahmagiri WLS, Pushpagiri WLS, Agumbe, Talakaveri WLS, Someshvara WLS figure in this list. As such, the Western Ghats that run south-north through the Karnataka is considered as one among the twenty five bio-diversity hotspots of the world.
The Niligiri Biosphere Reserve (also a designated UNESCO Biosphere reserve) is located at the junction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerela. Nagarahole National Park WLS and Bandipur National Park and Nugu WLS in Karnataka are included in this biosphere reserve.
The state is home to the largest concentration of Asian Elephants along Kabini River in Nagarahole and Bandipur parks. These two parks are also hold among the most viable population of the highly endangered Indian Tiger. Rannebennur Blackbuck sanctuary in Davangere district is home to one of the largest populations of blackbuck anywhere in India. The Doraji wildlife sanctuary and areas in Karnataka like Bellary district, Chitradurga are strongholds of the sloth bear.
Karnataka is home to more than 500 species of birds.^[4]

Water Falls and Caves

Karnataka is famous for its waterfalls. Jog falls of Shimoga District is one of the highest waterfalls in Asia. Some well known waterfalls are Varapoha Falls, Magod falls, Lalgulli falls, Sathodi falls, Unchalli falls, Lushington falls, Shivaganga falls, Ulavi falls, Irupu falls, Sivasamudram Falls near Shivanasamudra, Balmuri falls, Gokak falls, Abbe falls, Achakanya Falls, Chunchanakatte Falls, Hebbe falls, Kallathigiri falls, Vajrapoha falls, Sogal falls, Godchinamalaki falls etc. In fact the waterfalls of Karnataka and Kudremukh National Park are listed as ''must see'' places and one among the 1001 natural wonders of the world.^[5]
Some well known caves in Karnataka are Yana caves and Kavala caves and Syntheri rocks in Uttara Kannada district, Sugriva's cave in Hampi holds similarity to the descriptions of 'Kishkinda' in the epic Ramayana, hundreds of caves in Basava Kalyana in Bidar District.

Eco-Tourism

The districts of the Western ghats and the southern districts have popular eco tourism locations.^[6] Some of the popular locations include Kudremukh, Madikeri and Agumbe. Karnataka boasts of the highest elephant and Gaur bison population (greater than 6000 & 8000 respectively) in India. Its forests hold some of the largest remaining populations of the endangered tiger and leopard.
Eco-tourism is a very popular activity in the state. Karnataka leads other states in eco-tourism. 'Jungle Lodges & Resorts', a state run organization has camping and safari facilities in several wildlife sanctuaries. Private safari providers have sprung up in several places along the western ghats.
Several NGO's (youth groups) are actively involved in birding and other conservation activities.

Outdoor Activities

Karnataka is a rock climbers paradise. Yana in Uttara Kannada, Ramnagara near Bangalore district, Shivagange in Tumkur district and tekal in Kolar district are a rock climbers heaven. A climbing academy has been formed in Ramnagara called General Thimmaiah Rock Climbing Academy. The Nisarga Organisation for Wildlife and Adventure Academy is based in bangalore. It organizes eco-tourism, adventure activities and wildlife tours. River rafting in Dandeli is a tourist attraction.

Health care Tourism

In the last couple of years Karnataka has emerged as a hot spot for health care tourism in India attracting health tourists from all over the world. Karnataka has highest number of approved health systems and alternative therapies. Along with some ISO certified government owned hospitals, private institutions which provide international quality services have caused health care industry to grow upto 30% during 2004-05. Hospitals in Karnataka treat around 8,000 health tourists every year.^[7]

See also

★ Karnataka

References

1. http://news.oneindia.in/2006/05/14/karnatak-ranks-among-top-five-states-in-tourismficci-1147644798.html Karnataka ranks among top five states in tourism: FICCI - OneIndia retrieved on 2006-6-10
2. Alphabetical list of Monuments
3. Plan to conserve heritage monuments, museums Correspondent
4. http://www.karnatakabirds.net
5. Michael Bright, ''1001 Natural Wonders of the World'' by Barrons Educational Series Inc., published by Quinted Inc., 2005.
6. http://www.indianmba.com/Articles_on_Management/AOM6/aom6.html Article in Indianmba. Retrieved on 2006-6-10
7. Karnataka bets big on healthcare tourism

External links

★ http://www.karnatakatourism.org

★ Tourism Information

★ Tourism

★ Karnataka Tours and Travel

★ Karnataka Tourism Information