Few places bear such rich testimony to India’s cultural and natural heritage as Karnataka. A perfect blend of ancient ruins, historical cities and picturesque landscape, Karnataka is a sheer delight.
An ideal start to exploring the state would be from the capital Bangalore, that showcases the perfect blend of cutting edge technology and a very ethnic buzz. From here one can head out to Srirangapatnam, the capital of Tipu Sultan’s glorious empire, based on the banks of the River Kauveri. This is where the famous battle of Srirangapatnam was fought between Tipu and the British in 1799.
Next, one can visit Mysore, believed to be the kingdom of ‘Mahishasura’, a buffalo headed monster whom Godess Chamundeshwari killed. Later, it was ruled by the Cholas, Chalakyas, Hoysalyas , Vijaynagar kings and the Wodeyars. The modern day Mysore is famed for the being the ‘City of Palaces’, beautiful temples and the Vrindavan garden.
Known as the ‘Scotland of the East’, Coorg entices the senses like no other. The lush coffee estates, the rolling, misty mountainscape, acres of coffee and tea estates, orange groves, teak wood forests and verdant valleys makes Coorg one of the best hill stations in the country.
If dreams were made of stone, it would be Hampi. This magnificient UNESCO World Heritage site houses the grand ruins of the ancient Vijaynagar Kingdom. Under the able leadership of King Krishnadev Raya, the mighty Vijayanagar empire stretched from Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. This was a golden age in the history of India when the country flourished in arts, music and literature. Protected by the torrential Tungabhadra River on one side and rocky granite ridges on the other three sides, the ruins bear silent testimony to a glorious age gone by!
Shopping:
Mysore is famed for rosewood and sandalwood artefacts, stone sculptures, incense sticks, inlay work with ivory and exquisite silk sarees.
Cuisine:
While in Mysore, one must try out the variety of dosas, bisibelebath, mysore pak, shavige payasa etc.