karnataka tourism office

3.1 Historical
3.2 Waterfalls
3.3 National parks
3.4 Beaches
4.1 History
4.3 Flora and fauna
6.1 By plane
6.2 By train
7.3 By plane
7.4 By train
8.1 Religious sites
8.2 Museums
8.3 Waterfalls
8.4 Adventure sports
8.5 Botanical and rock gardens
9.1 Scuba diving
9.2 Trekking
13.1 Budget
13.2 Mid-range
13.3 Splurge
14 Stay safe

A state in Southern India , Karnataka stretches from Belgaum in the north to Mangalore in the south. It has a coastal region with numerous coconut trees and beautiful beaches and an interior with mountains, valleys and farmlands. It has the largest population of tigers in the world.

Regions [ edit ]

Cities [ edit ]

12.97912 77.5913 1 Bangalore (Bengaluru) — the state capital as well as the information technology capital of India
15.856944 74.504444 2 Belgaum (Belagavi) — the commercial hub in North Karnataka and the second biggest overall export powerhouse in Karnataka after Bangalore
13.164167 75.864722 3 Belur — the former capital of the Hoysalla dynasty; Hale Belur is the older capital
Hubli (Hubballi) — the fastest-growing city in Karnataka after Bangalore
17.333333 76.833333 4 Kalaburagi (Gulbarga) — centre for northern division of the state, with the historical Gulbarga Fort
12.868056 74.8425 5 Mangalore (Mangaluru) — the chief port city of Karnataka and second IT destination in Karnataka after Bangalore
Manipal — in Udupi (district) . home to Manipal University and Syndicate Bank
12.308611 76.653056 6 Mysore (Mysuru) — erstwhile capital of the Kingdom of Mysore that ruled over much of present-day Karnataka, Mysore city is also known worldwide as the 'City of Palaces'
12.716667 77.3 7 Ramanagara — the sericulture (silk) capital in Karnataka, also known as Silk City or Silk Town

Other destinations [ edit ]

Below is a selective list of sites of interest in Karnataka. It is far from exhaustive. For other sites, check regional articles.

Historical [ edit ]

15.9167 75.6833 1 Badami Cave Temples in Bagalakote district — Badami was the capital of the Early Chalukyas, who ruled much of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh between the 6th and 8th centuries. It was founded in 540 A.D. by Pulakesi I (535-566 AD), an early ruler of the Chalukyas.

15.335 76.462 2 Hampi — the ruins of the fabulous Vijayanagar Empire. Considered to be one of the finest cities in its time circa 14th and 15th centuries. Hampi Utsav in the 1st week of November celebrates its history. The ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage site .
Hoysala Structures The Hoysala structures of Shri Chennakeshava Temple at Somanathapura, Belur and Halebeedu are an added attraction in the southern part of the State.

Waterfalls [ edit ]

12.294 77.168 3 Shivasamudram — the walk down to the base of the waterfall is nice, and you can take a coracle ride by paying ?50 per person. You can also swim at the base of the waterfall.
Jog Falls — A beautiful waterfall in Shimoga district, famous for the hydroelectricity project, a major tourist attraction. Raja, Rani, Roarer, Rocket are the 4 splits of the falls, collectively forming the Jog falls
Coorg Various waterfalls like the Abbey Falls, the Cauvery and Lakshmana tirtha dot this district, as its various tributaries flow down to the Plateau.
Belgaum Bordering the Goa/Maharashtra State, this district has various gushing falls like Godachinamulki, Gokak Falls, Dudhsagar Falls formed by the various west-flowing rivers like Kali river and small tributaries like Mallaprabha which join the River Krishna
Sirsi Bordering the Western Ghats, Sirsi and Yellapura have various waterfalls formed by the West Flowing rivers, like Unchalli Falls, Sathod Fallf

National parks [ edit ]

Wildlife in Karnataka is administered under such institutions as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and bird sanctuaries initiatives.

Karnataka has 5 declared national parks that abound in diverse flora and fauna, including:

14.9981 74.35875 4 Anshi National Park — A tiger reserve next to the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary.
11.661667 76.627222 5 Bandipur National Park — 890 km² area wildlife sanctuary in Chamarajanagar district.
12.77012 77.56777 6 Bannerghatta National Park — just 22 km from the heart of Bangalore . A zoological reserve with 104 km², a zoo, safari and butterfly enclosure. The Park is surrounded by the Bannerghatta tropical deciduous forest and an important elephant corridor on the Karnataka-Tamilnadu border
B.R.Hills Forest Range Deriving the name from the Biligiri Ranganna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the area borders the Sathyamangalam Forests of Tamilnadu and is a major elephant Habitat.
13.12951 75.26855 7 Kudremukh National Park — 600 km² area in Dakshina Kannada , Udupi and Chikamaglur district.
12.06 76.151111 8 Nagarhole National Park — 643 km² area in Kodagu and Mysore District.
Jayamangali Black buck Sanctuary — Black Buck Sanctuary, near Madhugiri of Tumkur District, about 140 km from Bangalore
Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary — Sloth Bear Sanctuary in Bellary District, near Tornagallu
Bhadra Tiger Reserve – Bhadra Tiger Reserve is spread over two revenue districts of Chicmagalur and Shivamogga. It covers catchment area of Bhadra river.
Devarayandurga Reserve forest Bordering the Tumkur Ditrict, famous for the Narasimha Temple, this forest is home to the leopards, along with other wildlife and birds. No permission provided for staying in the forest, however sightings possible en route to the Temples depending on luck

Beaches [ edit ]

Coastal Karnataka is dotted along with beaches forming the complete Coastline.

Karwar Bordering the Goa state, this not so crowded beach sees a major inflow from Goa tourism
Gokarna Though famous for the Pilgrim place and Athmalingam Temple, this place is dotted with Beaches far away from the Pilgrim site. Om Beach, Half-moon Beach are most common. Beach treks are a common affair
Murudeshwar Famous for the Lord Shiva temple, in relation to the Gokarna Temple, the beach is one of the safest beaches for play
Maravanthe The beach on the national highway, bordered by the river on the other side of the road
Udupi Malpe Beach, about 7 km from Uudpi, is a famous attraction. St. Mary's Island (Tonsepar), 8 km from the coast, is accessible from ferry from this point. The beach has a walkway
Mangalore A business town. Tannerubhavi, Panamburu, Surathkal, Ullal and Someshwar Beaches form the major attraction.

Understand [ edit ]

Karnataka is the 7th-largest state in India in area and 8th-largest by population. Karnataka is bordered by Maharashtra in the north, Goa in the north west, Tamil Nadu in the south east, Kerala in the south west, Andhra Pradesh in the east and Telangana in the north east.

History [ edit ]

In the 3rd century BCE, the region we now know as Karnataka came under the Maurya emperors of Magadha. Chandragupta, the founder, is said to have spent his retirement in Shravanabelagola as a Jain ascetic. Jainism, introduced by the Mauryas, survives and flourishes to this day in Karnataka, and has given it some of its finest and oldest attractions including the Gomateswara statues that stand tall in their majestic nakedness in multiple places in the state. The Mauryas were followed by the Satavahanas who ruled from Pratishtana in Maharashtra and Amaravathi in present day Andhra Pradesh. Their reign lasted over 400 years, ending in the 3rd century CE They in turn were followed by the Kadambas of Banavasi , and the Western Ganga dynasty that ruled the region that is now Mysore . They are considered the first Kannada rulers. During the time of the Kadambas, the first works in Kannada were written by Adikavi (or first poet) Pampa, who wrote that even torture by an elephant bullhook would not make him forget the beauty of his beloved Banavasi.

The Chalukyas, the Rashtrakutas and the Hoysalas were the other major dynasties who ruled major parts of Karnataka from the 7th to 12th centuries. They are responsible for many of the temples that survive to this day and are considered architectural marvels, These include Pattadakal, Belur and Halebeedu.

The Cholas seem to have had a hold on the Southern Part of Karnataka, with various Dravidian Architecture Temples adorning the regions of Bangalore and Kolar.

Hoysala Dynasty ruled over the Mysore region and have developed structures, majorly a star shaped design occupying their designs in various Temples. The Period around 9th to 11th century seem to have been in the hands of the hoysalas, especially the Mysore region.

The Vijayanagara Empire ruled over much of what's now Karnataka and the larger Deccan Plateau from the mid-13th to the mid-16th century. The ruins of Hampi provide a glimpse into the splendor of the Vijayanagara Empire.

The Kingdom of Mysore in the early 14th century was centered around their capital city of Mysore which was then a small town ruled by the Wodeyar Dyanasty. The kingdom remained small till the 16th Century.

The Bijapur Sultanate rose into prominence after defeating the Vijayanagara Empire in 1565. Bijapur was the capital of the Adilshah Dynasty which ruled the region. Bijapur is a historic place with lots of archaeological sites — most notably Gol Gumbaz, the largest dome in Asia.

After the defeat of the Bijapur Sultanate by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the mid 16th Century the Wodeyar Dynasty expanded the Mysore Kingdom by leasing land from Aurangzeb. This enabled the kingdom to remain prominent.

In 1857 the British took over what is now India , Pakistan and Bangladesh and this period of rule was known as the British Raj .

The Wodeyars continued their rule as an independent kingdom under the British Raj by paying tribute till India's independence in 1947. After India's independence the Kingdom of Mysore became an Indian state. The city of Mysore has so many surviving palaces that it is known today as the "City of Palaces".

The Wodeyars' immense contribution in various fields - education, arts, governance, industry and infrastructure - laid the foundation for the rise of Karnataka after India's independence.

Art [ edit ]

Mysore painting - Mysore is famous for the Mysore style of painting that is well known for its attention to detail. Some of the best examples of this style are inside the Mysore Palace.

Flora and fauna [ edit ]

Karnataka is known for its wealth of flora and fauna. Around 25% of India's elephants and 10% of its tigers are in Karnataka. Many regions in Karnataka are as yet unexplored, leading to new discoveries of flora and fauna. The Western Ghats teem with wildlife and are an acknowledged bio diversity hotspot .

Talk [ edit ]

Kannada is the official language and is spoken by virtually all of the state's inhabitants. Dialects of the language spoken in each of the regions differ from each other. Regional dialects in the state are influenced by the languages of neighbouring states, and sometimes a person from the southern region may find it difficult to understand the Kannada spoken in the northern region.

Like with the rest of South India, Hindi is not widely spoken nor understood, save for a few urban areas. People will respond more readily to English than Hindi.

In the districts along the borders of neighbouring states, people do speak multiple languages and many of them can speak the language of their neighbours across the border. In the Northern Karnataka region, many people can understand Hindi/Urdu in the districts of Bidar , Gulbarga and Yadgir and Telugu in Raichur and Bellary districts, while in the Belgaum and Bijapur districts bordering Maharastra in the Northwestern Karnataka region, people can speak Marathi.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

Kempegowda International Airport ( BLR IATA ) in Bangalore Rural is the 3rd-busiest airport in India, connecting with major state capitals and cities as well as 20 international destinations.

Mangalore International Airport serves primarily the Gulf region, and domestically, the four metro cities– Delhi , Kolkata , Chennai and Mumbai and the state capital of Bangalore .

Hubli Airport at Hubli – Dharwad serves the northern part of Karnataka with regular flights to Mumbai and Bangalore.

By train [ edit ]

Karnataka is served by South Western Railway and connected to all major railway stations across the country. Major junctions are Bangalore , Hubli , Mysore , Mangalore (Served by Konkan Railway & Southern Railway), and Gulbarga .

Rajdhani - superfast fully air-conditioned trains connecting India 's capital New Delhi with Bangalore via Raichur and Secunderabad . This is a long-distance train which takes just under 34 hours to cover the journey.

Shatabdi - superfast fully air-conditioned day trip trains which connects Mysore and Bangalore with Chennai

Jan Shatabdi- Superfast with AC and Non-AC Reserved Accommodation, fastest connection between Hubli and Bangalore

Bangalore is well connected to the metro cities of Kolkata , Chennai , Mumbai , New Delhi , Ahmedabad , Hyderabad , and major other Capital cities across the country.

Hubli falls on the junction of Bangalore Mumbai Line and Vijayawada Vasco railway and is connected to Kolkata , Mumbai Bangalore , New Delhi , Ahmedabad and Hyderabad .

Mangalore falls at junction of Southern Railway and Konkan Railway and is well connected to major northern states of Maharashtra , Gujarat , Rajasthan , Delhi , as well as to Kerala and Tamil Nadu .

Gulbarga falls on the Mumbai- Chennai & Hyderabad Main line and is connected to Mumbai , New Delhi, Hyderabad , Tirupati and Chennai through long distant trains

By car [ edit ]

A number of national highways link Karnataka with the neighboring states of Maharashtra , Kerala , Andhra Pradesh , Telangana , Pondicherry , Goa and Tamil Nadu .

By bus [ edit ]

Karnataka government-owned and -operated Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) connects Karnataka with the neighboring states of Tamil Nadu , Kerala , Andhra Pradesh , Telangana , Maharashtra , Goa and the Union Territory of Pondicherry . KSRTC provides trip planning, hotels and ticketing on KSRTC as well as smartphone apps for Android and IOS. KSRTC reservation counters are available at their bus terminals and their numerous dedicated travel agents located across the state. Discounts are provided for return journeys purchased online. KSRTC has dedicated bus terminals across Karnataka and in other states use dedicated sections of the government-run Inter-State Bus Terminals (ISBT) that are run by respective state governments. Tickets of KSRTC buses can be booked online [dead link]

Other state-owned bus operators from Tamil Nadu , Kerala , Goa , Andhra Pradesh also provide inter-state bus services into Karnataka with dedicated ticketing services on their websites.

The numerous private bus operators also provide inter-state bus services into Karnataka. The private bus operators operate from the ISBT located in the states. They feature their own stops as well as schedules. Ticket booking for the various private operators is available online as well as owned booking offices for most operators. Some larger private operators maintain individual websites for ticketing services. Travel agents across Karnataka provide bus tickets for the private bus operators.

Get around [ edit ]

KSRTC , mentioned in "Get in", also plies intrastate buses connecting most of Karnataka. NWKRTC and NEKRTC [dead link] buses serve the northern part of Karnataka state and to some places of adjoing states.

Services available:

Nagara Sarige : City Bus Services in the major District Headquarters from Central bus stand to important places
Gramanthara Sarige : Rural services operated from the District Headquarters to the nearby Towns for daily passengers livelihood
Karnataka Sarige : Express Services with limited stops connecting Major Towns
Rajahamsa :Non-A/C Semi Sleeper Deluxe buses which are comfortable for short distances and cheapest for longer journeyconnecting important Towns Intra state as well as inter state. Similar Service operated by NEKRTC is named as Suhas
Airavat :Semi-sleeper Volvo a/c buses
Non-AC Sleeper : Operated between major Towns and long distant at a cheaper rate than the AC sleeper buses on Tata and Ashok Leyland Chassis
Ambari : AC Sleeper Bus operated on Corona Chassis
Club Class Airavat : Semi-sleeper Volvo multi-axle a/c buses with B9R & B11R chassis
FlyBus : Volvo multi-axle a/c buses direct connection from Mysore , Madikeri , Kundapura and Salem to Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore . Bus features in-bus Pantry as well as chemical toilets.

The Subsidiaries of KSRTC provide bus services in Karnataka as follows:

Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) - bus services within the city of Bangalore as well as some outlying areas.
North Western Karnataka (NWKRTC) - bus services in North Western Karnataka and the adjoining states of Maharashtra , Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu .
North Eastern Karnataka (NEKRTC) - bus services in North Eastern Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana

Numerous private bus operators like VRL , SRS, Ganesh and SUGAMA provide bus services for interstate areas, as well as to the neighboring states. Travel agents provide tickets as well as private package tours for various destinations across Karnataka. The

All major cities in Karnataka are well connected by a mix of national and state highways. Tolled roads are applicable on the newer highways as well as certain areas within Bangalore such as Bangalore Elevated Tollway located on the outskirts of Bangalore on the way to Hosur .

Kempegowda International Airport serves most domestic routes in India.

Mangalore International Airport also serves domestic destinations.

Domestic-only airports in Karnataka with varying service levels include Hubli , Belgaum , Hampi , Vidhyanagar and Mysore . These airports also connect with the Kempegowda International Airport in the state capital of Bangalore .

There are trains run by Indian Railways originating from major cities of Karnataka like Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubbali and connecting to different places in Karnataka.

See [ edit ]

Thanks to its long and varied history Karnataka has an interesting mix of religious sites, remnants of historical empires, UNESCO World Heritage Sites , national parks, bird sanctuaries, wildlife sanctuaries, palaces, forts, beaches, hill stations, caves and waterfalls.

Religious sites [ edit ]

Owing to the multi-religious influence in Karnataka through its history, there are a vast number of religious sites in Karnataka, some even dating from antiquity. Belur and Hale Belur are home to ancient Hindu temples. Kudalasangama is a pilgrimage center for people of the Lingayat faith and is at the confluence of the Krishna and the Malaprabha rivers. Murudeshwara has a beautiful Shiva statue situated on the tallest place on the Arabian Sea coast, with a colorful panorama. Shravanabelagola is a Jain Pilgrimage centre and home to the biggest monolithic (single stone) statue of Babhubali in Karnataka. The statue is visible from a distance of 30 km. Udupi Krishna matha and Kollur Mookambika Temple are also very ancient Hindu temple in Karavali region.

One of the oldest mosques of Karnataka is in the Kalaburagi Fort, built in 1367 by the Bahmani King Muhammad Shah I. It is the biggest mosque in Karnataka, and when compared in plan and design, the mosque resembles the mosque at Cardova in Spain . The Jamiya mosque in Bijapur is another huge monument built by Adilshah in 16th century. It has a proportionate dome and its mihrab is gorgeously painted. The Malika Jahan mosque in black stone is another notable mosque in Bijapur. Bidar has the famous Solha-kamb mosque with 16 cylindrical pillars built in the year 1423. The Andu masjid of Bijapur, Mahal masjid of Afzalpur in Kalaburgi district and the Khali masjid of Åland in Bidar district built during Adilshahi period are some beautiful examples of Islamic architecture in Karnataka. The Mausoleum of Ahmed Shah Wali, at Ashtur near Bidar is a tall structure with paintings in it. This prince is venerated as a saint by both the Hindus and Muslims. Vijayapura has two princely Mausoleums, Ibrahim Rauza, a twin structure is standing on an arched platform. The Gol Gumbaz is another famous mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah.

Museums [ edit ]

The Government Museum built in the year 1880 in Bangalore has a collection of ancient arms, a sculpture gallery and a collection of old coins. There are exclusive painting collections of noted artists like K. Venkatappa and K.K. Hebbar. Jaganmohan Art Gallery housed in an old palace of Mysore has fine art works (including some by Raja Ravi Varma) in colours, metals, ivory and wood but a huge collection of musical instruments too of yore. The Mysore Palace has a large collection of art works from various countries, besides a gallery of armory.

At the district museum in Shimoga in an old palace, queer items of Keladi rulers are preserved. The Kalaburagi Museum has the items of Bahmanshahi times and huge collection of Buddhist sculptures (Decorative plaques) from Sannati . Museum in Chitradurga has many antiquities connected with the local chieftains, hero-stones, weapons and other items. There are Karnataka State Government Museums at Kittur, Hassan , Keladi, Raichur , Basavakalyana , Huvina Hadagali, Dharwad , Gadag and Srirangapatna .

Waterfalls are one of the major tourist attractions in Karnataka, many of which are primarily located in Malenadu , Cauvery Basin and Karavali regions. Best time to visit these waterfalls would be during rainy season months of June, July, August or post-rainy seasons between September to October months. Jog falls near Sagara in Shimoga district is one of the highest waterfalls in India and Abbey Falls, Achakanya falls, Balmuri falls, Chunchanakatte falls, Gokak falls are some of the other well known falls among the many waterfalls of Karnataka.

Hebbe Falls, Kalhatti Falls, Kallathagiri Falls, Shanti Falls in Chikmagalur district.
Netgodu Falls, Hosagodu Falls, Muktihole Falls, Konala Falls, Vibhooti Falls, Devakar Falls, Vajragundi Falls in Uttara Kannada district.
Onake Abbi Falls, Hidlumane Falls, Dabbe Falls, Bheemeshwara Falls in Shivamogga district.
Hallihole Falls, Thombattu Falls, Kunchikal Falls, Kudlu or Koodlu Falls, Koosali or Kusalli Falls, Belkal theertha Falls in Udupi district.

Adventure sports [ edit ]

Dandeli is popular for trekking, river rafting and wildlife discovery

Botanical and rock gardens [ edit ]

The Brindavan Gardens offer ornamental gardens adjoining the Krishnarajasagara Dam (also known as KRS dam) located in Mandya District near the city of Mysore . In Bangalore Urban District, look for Cubbon Park and Lalbagh Botanical Garden. Tungabhadra dam near Hosapete has also beautiful garden.

Do [ edit ]

Scuba diving [ edit ].

Pigeon Island (Netrani Island) lies about 12 nautical miles (22 km) off the coast of Murudeshwar in Karnataka. It is a 4-hour drive from Goa , or can be reached by Konkan Railway, with Murudeshwar and Bhatkal being the nearest stations. The Dreamz Diving is the only local dives centers here. Please check in advance with them as quite a few times due to Navy training the place is closed for scuba diving.

The visibility here is generally in the 15-20m range and the dive sites are 10-30 m. Marine life is spectacular, with huge schools of jacks, barracuda, triggerfish and fusiliers. Many times giant groupers, black tip sharks, kobias and giant tunas are spotted here, as are whales, whale sharks, orcas, dolphins, have been spotted by many divers at Netrani Island.

Netrani is considered to be the best dive location from main land India which is accessible within a day's trip to Murudeshwar.

There are plenty of companies in Bangalore who arrange for weekend scuba diving trips to Netrani.

Trekking [ edit ]

Trekking is the best way to discover the natural beauty of Karnataka. Trekking is the most popular adventure sport for the nature enthusiasts in Karnataka.

There are many places for trekkers starting from the southern parts of the Sahyadri hills to the Western Ghats of Kodagu. Most of the trekking places are found in Uttara Kannada (North Canara) district, Dakshina Kannada (South Canara) district, Shimoga district, Chikmagalur district and Kodagu district.

Kodagu and Chikmagalur districts cover unknown and very beautiful trekking places. These places are well known for beautiful mountain ranges, national parks, forests, wild animals and waterfalls.

The following are popular places for trekking in Karnataka.

Agumbe and Kodachadri , in Shimoga
Anthargange in Kolar
Kudremukh and Narasimha Parvatha , in Chikmagalur
Kumara Parvatha and Yedakumeri, Ettina Bhuja, Amedikallu, Ombattu gudde , in Dakshina Kannada
Siddara Betta in Tumkur
Tadiyandamol in Kodagu
Makalidurga , Kabbaladurga , Savandurga, Bhairavadurga, Nandidurga, Channarayanadurga, Huthridurga, Huliyurdurga, Devarayanadurga all near to Bangalore city.

Learn [ edit ]

Gokarna , Udupi and Shringeri are well-known centres for the study of Sanskrit and Hindu philosophy.

Eat [ edit ]

Karnataka is known for a wide variety of local fast foods which are available at outlets everywhere. Some are standalone outlets while others are well known names with branch locations. The outlets are self-service where you stand and eat, although some of the newer ones provide sit-down table service for a higher charge. The outlets are open throughout the day and popular during breakfast and lunch. Some outlets specialize, while others have more variety as indicated in their menus.Udupi cuisine (vegetarian) is known worldwide through Udupi hotels and restaurants.

These are a few specialty dishes you can feast on in Karnataka:

Bisibele Baath - As the name suggests, it is served hot. It's made of rice and lentils and a lot of spices.
Chutney - A favourite accompaniment eaten with dosa, idli, vada, chutney can be prepared from virtually anything including vegetables (tomato), fruit (mango), nuts (groundnuts) or chopped coconut. Chutney is prepared fresh every day for optimal taste and can be stored for few days.
Dharwad Peda - A sweet delicacy created in the city of Dharwad . Made from milk, thickened milk and sugar. Also available at Nandini branded milk booths of the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) a milk co-operative in Karnataka.
Dosa - A thin dough fried until crisp, usually served as One Serving. To eat, the pieces are broken off and dipped in the amazing chutney and sambar served in bowls accompanying the dish. Numerous varieties of dosa are found across Karnataka like 'masala dosa', 'set-dosa' (soft spongy fluffy dosa served as a pack of 3 or 4 with vegetable curry, kurma or sambar and tomato-onion chutney), 'benne-dosa (a dash of butter added to standard dosa preparation for distinctive flavor and aroma), rava-dosa (rava - sooji or semolina), etc. Neer or Bajjare dosa is a delicacy unique to coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi .
Idli - Idli, also romanised "idly", is made by steaming batter, that is traditionally made from black lentils and rice into patties using a two to three inch diameter mold. Traditionally a breakfast dish since it is light yet wholesome. The shape and size of the "idli" moulds varies across Karnataka. Always accompanied by steaming hot sambar and fresh chutney that vary in preparation region wise. Variations include 'Tatte idli' (tatte - plate in Kannada), 'rava (sooji or semolina) idli' are a popular specialty in some outlets.
Jolada Roti - A thin tortilla made of jowar (aka jawar, similar to corn / millet / maize) baked on both sides for 2-3 minutes. Jowar is specially grown in the northern part of Karnataka which is the 2nd most arid region of India. Served with brinjal curry (various types of preparations) and chutney (peanuts and garlic variant). A staple diet in Northern Karnataka and the border areas with Maharashtra.
Kesari Bhath - Originally a dessert item, this is now popular as breakfast. Made with sooji (semolina), ghee (for taste), water and milk. Garnished with cashew nuts and dried fruits for added taste. In some parts of Karnataka it is known as Shira .
Mysore Pak - A sweet delicacy created in the Royal Kitchen of Mysore under the Wodeyars. Made with gram (chana) flour, ghee and sugar. Available across Karnataka.
Raagi and Akki Rotis - Similar to tortillas but made of raagi (English: coracan, finger millet) or rice flour and black cumin, asafoetida, fresh coriander, green chillies and finely chopped onions.
Raagi Mudde – A staple food in the interior since preparation is simple. Basically cook raagi flour in water and roll into thick-consistency balls. Raagi mudde is swallowed and not chewed after dipping it in ghee and sambar.
Upma - prepared as a thick porridge from soji (semolina) with cut vegetables and seasonings. Served hot and a popular breakfast item.
Uttapam - a dosa like dish with toppings cooked into the batter during frying. This is thick, unlike Dosas which are crisp.
Vada - A fried savory doughnut. This is consumed along with idli and known as idli-vada .Vada are very popular item at breakfast time since it is light yet wholesome. Vadas are available on Indian Railways and most transport hubs all day. Although deep fried in boiling oil, this is not oily when fried correctly. Served with steaming hot sambar and chutney.

Drink [ edit ]

Badam milk - crushed almond powder mixed with milk and is served hot or cold as preferred.
Filter coffee - unique varieties of preparation, famous across Karnataka. Without chicory.
Tea - grown in the various tea gardens in the mountainous Western Ghats in Karnataka and elsewhere in India provide great variations in taste.
Tender coconut - naturally sterile and available everywhere. The best thirst quencher during the hot Indian summer. An all natural health drink due to its high mineral content.

Sleep [ edit ]

Karnataka provides a wide variety of accommodation to suit the budget of every kind of traveller. The international chains like Hyatt are not limited to the state capital of Bangalore , but are also present at the smaller cities like Hampi as well with a similar experience as checking into London or Paris or for that matter New York City . The well known domestic hotel chains provide accommodation options at various price points with multiple hotels in some cities across the budget range. Home stays are a New and fast growing option for those who would like to experience the native life and are around places as divergent as Chikmagalur or even Nandi Hills .

The Karnataka-Govt owned Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) also runs in-house branded hotels which range from Budget to Luxury at many of the tourist destinations located around the state.

Budget [ edit ]

Budget hotels also called lodges are found near the transport hubs (railway stations and bus stands) as well as the central areas of most cities and towns. Meals are had at the nearby local fast food joint .

Mid-range [ edit ]

Medium range hotels comprise national and notable foreign chains with a range of options to suit the budget. Buffet breakfast is provided as part of the room charges or chargeable separately. In Bangalore for the Upper Medium Range hotels a continental breakfast (chicken variant is provided instead of pork - chicken sausage, chicken ham, chicken salami) and is provided alongside the typical South Indian breakfast of idli , vada , dosa , upma , etc. as well as the local specialty items termed Today's Special . Some properties provide only South Indian buffet breakfast. Most of the district headquarters like Mangaluru, Udupi, Dharwad, Belagavi, Davangere, Shivamogga, Ballari, Vijayapura, Kalburgi, and Bagalkote have medium priced hotels for stay and dining.

Splurge [ edit ]

The high-end 5-star and 5-star deluxe hotels are similar to what's offered across India's major cities with domestic as well as international chains and standalone properties. Multiple properties belonging to the same chain adhering to customer categories are found especially in Bangalore . Additionally in Bangalore breakfast includes continental breakfast, specific menu's typical of their target clientele (Japanese, South Korean, etc.) and the specialties of various Indian Breakfasts like idli , vada , dosa , upma , poha , parantha with Mosaru (curd) including Today's Special . One can try the local breakfasts to get a hang of the varied tastes of India.

Stay safe [ edit ]

People of Karnataka are friendly by nature and will help you in many ways. However, common crimes such as theft and purse-snatching do occur so be careful with your valuables.
When travelling late at night, a group offers better safety and protection.
Police assistance is available by dialing 100 from land line phones or mobiles.
Bangalore City Police provides Mobile Patrol Vans Hoysala and bike patrols Cheetah . These vehicles provide first response in emergency situations.
It is advisable not to venture into sea at certain beaches like Surathkal , Taneerubhavi, Panamburu, Malpe and Ullala.
Before trekking in reserved forests take permission from Karnataka forest department (Forest Range Officers). Also carry Water, Torch, Whistle, Food, Medicine and appropriate clothes before trekking. Medical emergency facilities within and in vicinity of reserved forests and national parks are poor.
Airtel, Reliance Jio, Vodafone-Idea & BSNL mobile phone signals are available at most places in the state.

Go next [ edit ]

Andhra Pradesh
Lakshadweep Islands
Maharashtra

Has custom banner
Has mapframe
Has map markers
City listing with no coordinates
Vicinity listing with no coordinates
Articles with dead external links
Has Geo parameter
Articles Geo different to Wikidata
Southern India
All destination articles
Outline regions
Outline articles
Region articles
Pages with maps

Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC)

The following are the Phone Numbers and Contact Addresses of the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC).

Badami House Main Booking Office & Tour Starting Point: Opp. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Office, N.R. Square, Bangalore 560 002 Tel:080-4334 4334, 4334 4337, 089706 50070 (6.00 am to 8.30pm) Fax: 080-4334 4353 Email: [email protected]

Karnataka Tourism House A One-Stop-Shop No. 8, Papanna Lane, St. Mark's Road, Bangalore 560 001 Tel: 080-4346 4351/ 52/ 53, 089706 50071 (10.00 am to 8.00 pm) Email: [email protected]

Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation Corporate Office 49, 2nd Floor, Khanija Bhavan, Race Course Road, Bangalore 560 001 Tel: 080-2235 2901 / 02 / 03, 2235 2384. (10.00 am to 5.30pm) Fax: 080-2235 2963 Email: [email protected]

KSTDC M.G.Road booking office 2nd Floor,Shrungar shopping Complex, M.G road, Bangalore-560001 Tel: 087222 21000 (10.00 am to 6.00 pm) Email: sales@ Karnatakaholidays.net

Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic) Bangalore Tel: 080- 2235 6246 / 089706 50075 (8.00 am to 9.00 pm)

City Railway Station (Majestic) Bangalore Tel: 080-2287 0068 / 089706 50078 (8.00 am to 9.00 pm)

Bengaluru International Airport, Devanahalli Tel: 089706 50072 (Round the clock)

KSTDC Transport Wing, C/o Karnataka Hotels Yatrinivas Mysore No.2, Jhansi Rani Laxmi Bai Road, Mysore 570 005 Tel: 0821-242 3652, 089706 50116 (7.00 am to 9.00 pm)

KSTDC Transport Wing, Regional Tourist Office Tourism Department, K.R.K.Residency Complex, Station Road, Hospet 583 201 Tel: 08394- 221 008, 089706 50037 (10.00 am to 6.00 pm)

KSTDC Information & Booking, Chennai No.2, Wallajah Road, Near Kalaivanar Arangam, TTDC Complex, Chennai 600 002 Tel: 044 - 2536 0055/ 089706 50118 (10.00 am to 6.00 pm)

www.karnatakaholidays.net

Indian Tourist Offices Abroad

Tourist offices in India

Leading Indian News Papers

Login with Mobile Number

Welcome, happy trekking. continue.

Karnataka Tourism

Mysore (Mysuru)
Mangalore (Mangaluru)
Bangalore (Bengaluru)
Chikkamagaluru
Biligiriranga Hills
Kemmanagundi
Mysore Palace (Ambavilas Palace)
View all 122 places
Things to do
Best time to visit
How to Reach
Tourist Map

Indiatourism DELHI, 88 Janpath, New Delhi, 110 001 Tel: 011-23320342, 23320005, 23320008, Fax: 011-23320109, goitodelhi[at]nic[dot]in

Mr. g.d. bairwa.

Indiatourism JAIPUR

State Hotel, Khasa Kothi, Jaipur, 302 001 Rajasthan Tel: 0141-2372200, Fax: 0141-2372200

indtourjpr-rj[at]nic[dot]in

Mr. Surendra Prasad

Mr. sandeep shukla, mr. s.a. candamurthy.

Indiatourism DELHI

Address : Indiatourism, 88 Janpath, New Delhi, 110 001 Tel : 011-23320342, 23320005, 23320008, Fax : 011-23320109

goitodelhi[at]nic[dot]in

Mr. Amit Kumar Gupta

Indiatourism VARANASI 15-B, The Mall Varanasi, 221002 Uttar Pradesh Tel: 0542 2501784, Fax: 0542 2501784

indiatourvns[at]hotmail[dot]com

Mr. Harish Kumar

Indiatourism AGRA 191, The Mall Agra, 282 001 Uttar Pradesh Tel: 0562-2226378, Fax: 0562-2226368

indiatourismagra[at]gmail[dot]com

Indiatourism CHENNAI, 154, Anna Salai, Chennai, 600002 Tamil Nadu Tel: 044-28461459, 28460285, , Fax: 044-28460193, indiatourism[dot]chn[at]nic[dot]in

Mr. n. velmurugan, ms. s.padmavathy, mr. k r shyam babu.

Indiatourism CHENNAI

154, Anna Salai, Chennai, 600002 Tamil Nadu Tel: 044-28461459, 28460285, Fax: 044-28460193

indiatourism[dot]chn[at]nic[dot]in

Mr. Mohamed Farouk

Mr. a.gopal.

Indiatourism BANGALORE / BENGALURU

10th Floor, Sir Visvesvaraya Kendriya Bhawan, Domlur, Bengaluru,

560 071 Karnataka Tel: 080-29513031/29513032, Fax:

indtour[at]kar[dot]nic[dot]in

Mr. Krupakar Ravipati

Indiatourism HYDERABAD Ground Floor, Balayogi Paryatak bhavan, # 6-3-870, Green Lands, Begumpet, Hyderabad, 500016 Telangana Tel: 040- 23409199, 23409399, Fax:

ithyd-tour[at]nic[dot]in

indtourhyd[at]gmail[dot]com

M. Narendran

India tourism Kochi,

H. No: 1/508F-G, Ground Floor,

Fort Kochi bus stand building

Kochi- 682001

Email: indiatourism-kochi[at]nic[dot]in

Tel No: 0484-2919534

Indiatourism MUMBAI, Air India Building, Ground floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai, 400 021 Maharashtra Tel: 022-22074333 , 022-22074334, Fax: 022-22014496 sagnik[dot]chowdhury[at]gov[dot]in, indiatourism-mum[at]nic[dot]in, touristoffice-mum[at]nic[dot]in

Ms. satarupa datta.

Indiatourism MUMBAI

Air India Building, Ground floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai, 400 021 Maharashtra Tel: 022-22074333 , 022-22074334, Fax: 022-22014496

indiatourism-mum[at]nic[dot]in,

touristoffice-mum[at]nic[dot]in

Mr. Ishrat Alam

Indiatourism GOA Paryatan Bhavan, First Floor, Patto, Panaji, Goa, 403001 Goa Tel: 0832 2438812, Fax: 0832 2438529

info-indiatourism[dot]goa[at]nic[dot]in

Indiatourism AURANGABAD Tourist Reception Centre (1st Floor), MTDC Holiday Resort, Near Goldie Cinema, Station Road, Aurangabad, 431 005 Maharashtra Tel: 0240-2331217, Fax: 0240-2331217

indiatourism[dot]ixu[at]gmail[dot]com,

ad[dot]aur-tour[at]nic[dot]in

Indiatourism INDORE 3rd Floor, PALIKA PLAZA MTH COMPOUND INDORE, 452007 Madhya Pradesh Tel: 0731 4239940, Fax: 0731 4201893

adtourind-mp[at]nic[dot]in,

indiatourismindore[at]gov[dot]in

Indiatourism KOLKATA, 'Embassy', 4 Shakespeare Sarani Kolkata, 700 071 West Bengal Tel: 033-2282 1475, 033-22825813, 033-22827731 pranav[dot]prakash[at]nic[dot]in

Mr. j. biswas, mr. sayak nandi.

Indiatourism Kolkata

Adreess : ' Embassy', 4 Shakespeare Sarani Kolkata, 700 071 West Bengal Tel : 033-22821475, 033-22825813, 033-22827731

sayak[dot]nandi[at]gov[dot]in

Ms. Rashmi Sonia Tirkey

Mr. jagannath behera.

India Tourism, Bhubaneswar Ground Floor, Paryatan Bhawan,

Lewis Road, Bhubaneswar - 751014

Dist- Khurdha, Odisha

Tel: 0674-3525770

rs[dot]tirkey[at]nic[dot]in

jb[dot]jagannath[at]gov[dot]in

itobbsr[at]gmail[dot]com

Mr. Niraj Sharan

Indiatourism PATNA R-Block, Kranti Marg , Institute of Engineering Building Patna, 800001 Bihar Tel: 0612-6570640, Fax: 0612 -2506032

ito[dot]patna[at]gov[dot]in

Mr. S. Ramakrishnan

Indiatourism PORT BLAIR 189 IInd Floor, Junglighat, Port Blair, Islands, 744103 Andaman & Nicobar Tel: 03192-236348 Fax: 03192-233006 indiatourismpb[at]gmail[dot]com indtour-portblair[at]gov[dot]in

ramakrishnan[dot]2020[at]gov[dot]in

Indiatourism GUWAHATI, Assom Paryatan Bhawan, A.K. Azad Road, Paltan Bajar, Guwahati, 781 008 Assam Tel: 0361-2737554, Fax: 0361-2737553, indtourguwahati[at]nic[dot]in

Mr. b.b. mukherjee, v senthur kumaran, ms. meera rani das.

Indiatourism GUWAHATI

Assom Paryatan Bhawan, A.K. Azad Road, Paltan Bajar, Guwahati, 781 008 Assam Tel: 0361-2737554, Fax: 0361-2737553

indtourguwahati[at]nic[dot]in

bb[dot]mukherjee25[at]gov[dot]in

Indiatourism NAHARLAGUN

2nd floor ,Bomseng Apartment, D-Sector, Barapani Market, Naharlagun, 791110 Arunachal Pradesh

Tel: 0360-2244328, Fax: 0360-2244328

Ms. NG. Lilabati

Ms. parijat baruah.

Indiatourism SHILLONG Tirot Singh Sylem Road, Police Bazar Shillong, 793001 Meghalaya Tel: 0364-225632, Fax: 0364-225632

indtour-shillong[at]gov[dot]in

Indiatourism IMPHAL Singjamei Chingamathak, Opposite to UCO Bank, Imphal, 795008 Manipur Tel: 0385-2451131, Fax: 0385-2451131

indiatourism[dot]imphal[at]gmail[dot]com

Karnataka Tourism Trade (Facilitation and Regulation) Act 2015 ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಪ್ರವಾಸೋದ್ಯಮ ವ್ಯಾಪಾರ (ಅನುಕೂಲ ಮತ್ತು ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ) ಕಾಯ್ದೆ 2015

New registration ಹೊಸ ನೋಂದಣಿ, password must contain the following:.

A lowercase letter

A capital (uppercase) letter

Minimum 8 characters

Already have account? Log in Here

Tirupati Mangapura 1 Day Package (VIP Sheegra Darshana)

Pilgrimage holidays | tour packages from bengaluru |.

Sri Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala (Tirupati) is really significant to the Hindus from a religious point of view. … Since it is believed that Lord Vishnu turned Himself into stone in order to help mankind in the Dark Age, devotees often experience a state of bliss after visiting the temple.

Transportation : By A/c Volvo coach

Hotel : Ramee Guest Line or Similar at Tirupathi

Covered Places : Tirupathi|Mangapur and Tirumala

Highlights :

VIP Sheerga Darshan feciliuties at Lord Sri Venkateswara Temple Tirumala.
Well chalked out itinerary, giving enough time to visit all the important sightseeing places.
Professional guide who will engage and enrich your knowledge about tourist spots and
LTC fecilities for State , central and PSUs employees

Departure from BMTC Bus Stand, Yashwanthpur, Bengaluru

Tirupati Mangapura 1 Day Package (VIP Sheegra Darshana)

09.00 pm Departure from BMTC Bus Stand, Yashwanthpur, Bengaluru*

03.00 am to 05.00 am Fresh up at Triupati 05.15 am to 06.00 am Darshan of Goddess Padmavathi, Alamelu Mangapura 06.30 am Breakfast at Triupati 07.30 am Change of bus at Alipiri Transit Bus Stand 11.00 am Darshan of Lord Venkateshwara, Tirumala & Shopping.

After darshana departure back to Bangalore

Deluxe AC Amount

Volvo ac amount, multi - axle amount.

1. The ticket fares are inclusive of applicable Goods & Service Tax (GST).
2. For Mysore trips, Chamundi Hills will not be covered on Friday’s during the month of Ashada only. Mysore Zoo will be closed on every Tuesday. Please note: For Trip code MSS, during Special Pooja Days in Dussehra, will not be possible to enter Chamundi Hills and Palace.
3. All Passengers shall produce the Identity Proof compulsory for the TPT and TKT Trips (Any of the ID proof like, Voter ID (For Resident Indians Only) / Passport / Driving License / PAN Card (For Resident Indians only) / Photo Credit Card / Employers ID card with Photo) Dress Code for Tirupathi – Men: Dhoti and Shirt, Women: Chudidar along with Duppatta or Saree.
4. Only extra Mattress will be provided to the third person in triple sharing accommodation.
5. Tours like Thirupathi, Jog Falls and South Canara, 4 people will be allotted a room for freshening up.

TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR PACKAGE TOUR:

1.The Corporation undertakes no liability in case of cancellation of trips due to breakdown or for reasons beyond the control of the management. However, proportionate refund of fare will be allowed in case of no alternate arrangement is made. During the course of operation of tour, if any sightseeing places are missed on account of sudden unforeseen happenings, the KSTDC is not responsible.
2.Incase of any issues related to booking of ticktes, preponement/postponement of tickets or cancellation of tickets kindly send the mail to [email protected]
3.Tickets are not transferable.
4.Management is not responsible for luggage/baggage and Personal belongings of the tourists.
5.Tourists are requested to take personal care about their Luggage/Belongings.
6.The management reserves the right to cancel the trip in case the numbers of seats booked are less than 12 and for any such other reasons.
7.The ticket is valid for the particular journey to which it is issued.
8.Children above the age of 5 years will be charged full fare. No seats will be given to children below 5 years. (Age proof Required)
9.Passengers are requested to report 15 minutes in advance. The bus will not wait for passenger who arrives late.
10.Smoking and consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited in the coach.
11.Purchasing articles from other than Govt. shops is at their own risk.
12.The Corporation shall neither be responsible nor refund the amount in case the tourists miss the bus on account of late reporting to the pickup point.
13.Tipping the staff including the Guide is strictly prohibited. They are paid by KSTDC except for BHS trip.
14.Pets and Animals not allowed inside the bus while on Journey.
15.The management has all the right to make the passengers to get down from the bus, who are travelling on invalid tickets, disturbing the co-passengers & drunken passengers, without any refund.
16.No postponement of journey will be made within 24 hours. There is no refund on cancellation of one time Preponed/Postponed ticket.
17.Tariff is subject to change without notice.
18.Accommodation is subject to availability of the rooms and they are subject to change without prior notice.
19.Senior Citizens are provided with 20% discount on transportation by default while booking ticket. Hence they must produce valid proof.
20.The management shall not be liable for third party suppliers including arrangements with accommodation providers, activity providers and local guides and other independent parties (Third party suppliers) to provide you with some or all the components of your bookings.
21.The management shall not be liable and will not assume responsibility for any claims, losses, damages, costs or expenses arising out of inconvenience, loss of enjoyment, upset, disappointed, distress or frustration, whether physical or mental, resulting from the act or omission of any party other than Tour Operator and its employees.
22.The management resources all the right to update or alter their terms and condition at any time, and will post the amended terms and condition in the tour package.
24.The package tour tariff includes only accommodation and transportation costs, the other charges like food, entrance tickets, etc.. should be borne by tourists themselves.

Rules for Cancellation

Cancellation from the proposed time of departure before 48 hours – 10% – before 24 hrs. – 25% deducted. within 24 hrs. – No refund or cancellation

Special Terms and Condition for Tirupathi Packages

Piligrims are mandatory to produce either the vaccination certificate(2doses) or Covid-19 negative certificate obtained with in 73hrs prior to date of darshan at the time of availing special entry darshan.
Piligrims to be noted that due to the new guidelines imposed from Tirupathi Tirumala Darshana there will be no cancellations or any modifications allowed before 7 days of departure.
Piligrims to be noted that the data of the tickets booked for Tirupathi darshana is pushed to Tirumala Tirupathi Devastham(TTD) server 7 days in advance before the date of journey, there will be no any modifcations/ cancellations allowed for any unforeseen circumstances (like sudden death of family member, any accidentalissues , etc..)
Rule of Cancellation : Cancellation from the proposed date before 7 days of departure10% cancellation charges is applicable. No cancellations or any modifications allowed before 7 days of departure.
Cancellation from the proposed date before 7 days of departure at 10pm, cancellation charges of 10% would applicable as per cancellation policy.

Special TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR Ambaari Double Decker Packages:

1.U stands for UPPER DECK and L stands for LOWER DECK
2.Incase DASARA Lighting Illumination is not available during the service through AMBAARI, KSTDC would not be responsible.
3. The trip is operated during the rain as well.
4. Ticket once booked cannot be cancelled or postponed.
5. The arrival and departure time depends on the traffic.
6. Publics are not allowed to park in the premises of KSTDC Mayura Hoysala.
7. Passengers must report to the boarding point 30 mins before the departure.
8. Passengers needs to carry valid ID cards and tickets during the trip.
9. The trip route might be changed incase of any restrictions imposed by the Police.
10. Children above 5 years are will be fully charged.

Premium Hotels

Mayura Pine Top Nandi Hills
Mayura Sudarshan Ooty
Mayura Hoysala Mysuru
Mayura Bhuvaneshwari Hampi
Mayura Valleyview Madikeri
Mayura Riverview Srirangapatna
Kumarakrupa Hotel Bengaluru
Mayura Adilshahi Vijayapura
Mayura Krishna Almatti

Budget Hotels

Mayura Nisarga Pearl Valley
Mayura Talakavery, Bhagamandala
Mayura Chalukya Badami
Mayura Shantala Halebeedu
Mayura Vijayanagara TB Dam
Mayura Bharachukki Shivanasamudra
Mayura Sangama Mekedatu
Mayura Durg Chitradurga
Mayura Velapuri Belur
Mayura Gerusoppa Jogfalls
Mayura Kauvery KRS (Brindavan Gardens)
Mayura Biligiri, B.R Hills
Mayura Yagachi Belur

Tour Packages

Heritage Holidays
Pilgrimage Holidays
City Holidays
Nature Holidays
Beach Holidays
Corporate Packages
Women Special Tours
Student Tour Packages
Other Holidays
Tour Packages from Mysuru
Tour Packages from Bengaluru
Customized Package Tours