Karnataka, India Tourism (2024) > Travel Guide, Best Places

Karnataka Travel Packages

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5 Days / 4 Nights

Karnataka Wildlife Tour Package with Jungle Safari

$ 210

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$180 per adult on twin sharing

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5 Days / 4 Nights

Quintessential Karnataka Package: Bangalore, My...

$200 per adult on twin sharing

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6 Days / 5 Nights

Hills & Heritage of Karnataka & Tamilnadu: Ooty...

$228 per adult on twin sharing

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6 Days / 5 Nights

5 Nights 6 Days Serene Chikamagalur, Coorg Package

$166 per adult on twin sharing

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6 Days / 5 Nights

Leisure & Heritage Package: Chikmagalur & Hampi...

$166 per adult on twin sharing

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9 Days / 8 Nights

Experience Karnataka Family Package

$433 per adult on twin sharing

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Karnataka Travel Essentials

Rating:

3.9 /5 Rate This State

Ideal duration: 4 - 12 days

Best Time: October to April Read More

Major Airports: Bangalore, Mangalore

Read more about Airports in Karnataka

"One State, Many Worlds"

Karnataka, India

Ranked the 4th most popular tourist state in the country, Karnataka has a bouquet of attractions to offer you. Expanded from Belgaum in the North to Bangalore in the south, it has something to offer to everybody; from beautiful landscapes to rich cultural heritage, serene beaches and scrumptious food, Karnataka is indeed a world in itself! The Malayalis, the Tamilians, Konkanis, Kannadigas, even the Muslims and Christians have made Karnataka their home.

It has the second highest number of protected monuments in India, Hampi being one which houses the maximum of them, was the capital of Vijayanagar Empire. The world's largest monolith structure, the statue of Lord Gomteshwar in Shravanabelagola sees tens of thousands of pilgrims during Mahamastakabhisheka festival every 12 years. Apart from history, Karnataka is also rich in nature's bounty and wildlife. It has 5 National Parks and over 25 wildlife sanctuaries of which Bandipur and Nagarhole national parks are most famous. Bengaluru, the capital of the state and the "Silicon Valley of India" is known as the city of startups and IT companies and attracts thousands of tourists every year. Coorg is one of the top destinations in Karnataka for its coffee plantations. Mysore, famous for the Mysore Palace, Hampi, famous for the ruins of Vijayanagara Empire and Chikmagalur, a hill station in the Malnad region of Karnataka are a few other popular places among the tourists.

Top Places to Visit In Karnataka

4.2

Coorg

927 Stay options

Packages from $66

4.5

Badami

14 Stay options

4.7

Mysore

714 Stay options

4.4

Hampi

211 Stay options

4.2

Gokarna

257 Stay options

4.7

Udupi

288 Stay options

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Top Hotel Collections

Resorts

Beach Resort

Jungle Resorts

Luxury Hotels

Top Attractions In Karnataka

Abbey Falls

Mysore Palace

Virupaksha Temple, Hampi

Talakaveri

Om Beach

MG Road, Bangalore

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Holidify's opinion on Travel to Karnataka

What's Great about Travelling to Karnataka?

Considered a forerunner in the Information Technology development in the country, Karnataka doesn't just attract leisure tourists. People come here from far and wide for business, wildlife exploration, bird watching, rejuvenation and culture travel.

What's Not So Great about Travelling to Karnataka?

Travelling within the state can be quite a hassle in the absence of a well-placed public transport system.

Who should Travel to Karnataka?

Tourists plan a visit to Karnataka for various purposes including business travel, relaxing getaway in the Western Ghats, Wildlife - bird watching and eco-tourism. As a destination, it's fit for people of all age groups basis on their purpose of visit.

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Karnataka Reviews

Your rating

B Vishwas Reddy

1 year ago

One of The Best state in India. The Heritage, Culture, Land Scape, Tourist spots, Beach ,The coastline, Historical Attractions everything is perfect.

Kovid Kapoor

6 years ago

Karnataka is a beautiful state and has lots of options for travellers. The capital city Bangalore is one of the best places in India to live and it has an amazing weather throughout the year. Bangalo (Read More)re is also probably the best metro in India when it comes for choices of weekend getaways. There are lots of wildlife sanctuaries, riverfront destinations, waterfalls, trekking spots, hill-stations. Places like Coorg, Ooty attract tourists from all over the country. Gokarna is an offbeat destination, but it's beauty is compared to Goa. Mysore is famous for it's palace and other gardens. Beaches on the west coast of India includes Murudeshwar, Mangalore, Udupi, etc. and all of them are really beautiful. Karnataka is also close to other touristy states like Kerala, Goa and Tamil Nadu.

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FAQs on Karnataka

Why is Mysore Silk popular?

Karnataka's Mysore is known across the country for its silk weaving industry. Started as a traditional occupation, silk weaving has been going on for generations in Mysore. This silk is said to be derived from the silkworm cocoons of mulberry leaves and is known to be of superior quality. It is popular for its colour and royal shine.

Why is local handicraft 'Bidriware' popular?

This is a rare form of metal handicraft that originated in Bidar in north Karnataka. The art form has its roots in the 14th century, under the rule of Bahmani Sultans. Blackened alloys of zinc and copper are decorated with sheets of pure silk crafted into beautiful, intricate designs for the making of these exquisite handicrafts. Bidriware is believed to be brought to India from Iran in the medieval ages and today is one of India's major exports, considered a symbol of luxury and wealth.

Which animals are found in Karnataka?

The state of Karnataka is rich in biodiversity. It has five national parks and ten wildlife sanctuaries which can be a delight to wildlife enthusiasts. The sanctuaries make for an excellent exploratory walk in the forests with scenic views, lakes and waterfalls. Some of the animals that can be spotted here are Bengal Tigers, Black Panthers, Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel along with 300 plus various species of birds, reptiles and butterflies. Some of the famous ones are - Brahmgiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Bannerghatta National Park, Peacock Sanctuary, etc.

How are the local people of Karnataka?

People varied ethnic and religious affinities co-exist in Karnataka. Kannadigas, Malayalis, Tamilians, Konkan Marathas, and Marathis have been staying in Karnataka for a long time to have their culture mixed with the state's original culture of Kannadigas. The official language is Kannada though Konkani, Tamil, Urdu, Malayali and Hindi are widely spoken here. Majority of the people are Hindus, closely followed by Muslims and Christians. Tribes like the Kurubas also find their origins here and still are present in most parts of Karnataka. Their main occupation is agriculture, like most middle-class people, in Karnataka too people usually have jobs rather than their own business which is why the popular culture imitates from its counterparts from different cities in India. Due to Bangalore developing into a commercial city and Karwar turning into a port city now which has the second Indian Navy Base(Seabird), Karnataka is now seeing an influx of people from different parts of the country settling in. These people have gladly accepted Karnataka as their home.

What is the history of Karnataka?

The soil of Karnataka has been a witness to the rise and fall of many dynasties which ruled the state over the years. The Nandas, Mauryas, Kadambas, Badami Chalukyas and the Gangas were the chief rulers of Karnataka at various points. Dynasties of rulers including Vijayanagara, Kalyan Chalukyas, Rastrakutas, etc. were responsible for setting raids in the then Kingdom of Karnataka. The latest rulers of the state were the Marathas as they won Karnataka from the Mughals. This had happened before it became a colony under the British rule after the empire of Tipu Sultan was overpowered in the year 1799 and the Marathas in 1818.

Post-Indian independence in 1947, the southern state witnessed an uproar vis-?-vis the debate for the unification of its 20 segments into one state between the period from 1905 to 1920. Even though the struggle got Congress's support in 1924, the unification of the then Mysore did not happen until November 1956. Finally, on 1st November 1973, Karnataka got its new name.

What is the landscape of Karnataka?

Located by the Arabian Sea, Karnataka is bordered by Goa and Maharashtra in the north, Tamil Nadu and Kerala to the south while it shares boundaries with Andhra Pradesh on the eastern side as opposed to the western borders lined by the sea. Geographically, the state has a diverse variety of topography. Two dominant physical divisions within the state are the Deccan Plateau and the Coastal Plains. From the mountains of the Western Ghats to the many waterfalls and forest covering twenty per cent of the state's land, Karnataka sure has a widely varied landscape.

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Karnataka Tourism

Karnataka Travel Packages

Karnataka Wildlife Tour Package with Jungle Safari

Quintessential Karnataka Package: Bangalore, My...

Hills & Heritage of Karnataka & Tamilnadu: Ooty...

5 Nights 6 Days Serene Chikamagalur, Coorg Package