OT Staff
Karnataka is home to hill stations, beach towns and heritage sites where nature, culture and history blend seamlessly. Its refreshing climate and the hospitality of its people make it a favourite with visitors all year round.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site was once the capital of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire. It is home to more than 450 Hindu temples and monuments. Notable attractions include the Vittala Temple, Lotus Mahal and the Virupaksha Temple.
A place where lush forests meet the Kali River, Dandeli is home to a national park, the Sathoddi Falls and the Ulavi Temple. Adventurers can partake in a variety of activities like mountain biking, trekking, cycling, canoeing, kayaking and river rafting while here.
The coffee plantations of Chikmagalur beckon visitors with their cool and refreshing monsoonal climate. Climb Mullayanagiri, Karnataka’s highest peak, swim in the clear waters of Hebbe Falls, and check out the Baba Budangiri shrine.
Belur is famous for its Chennakeshava Temple, one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. Don’t miss the Sankaresvara Temple, the town’s oldest temple, the Pathaleshwara Temple, and the Amrutheswara Temple ruins.
Nicknamed “the Cherrapunji of South India” due to the amount of rainfall it receives, Agumbe makes for a delightful summer getaway. It is home to a rainforest research station, the Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, a 17th-century Jain Temple in the Kundadri Hills, etc.
This place gets tourists all year round because of its temples, forts and gorgeous lake. Cycling and trekking are the most popular activities with visitors. The hills are also rich in birdlife like the yellow-throated bulbul and Malabar whistling thrush.
No list would be complete without mentioning Coorg, also known as Kodagu. The “Scotland of India” is a hill station abounding in coffee plantations, cascading waterfalls, lakes, ancient temples, monasteries and forts. Trek, river raft, eat the local cuisine and relax when you're here.
This temple town is also a beach paradise. Check out the Mahabaleshwar and Idagunji Ganapati temples, eat sumptuous seafood, relax on one of Gokarna's many beaches, and visit the unique geological formations of the Yana Caves.
Further down the coast is Maravanthe, where you can stroll along the beach while drinking in the gorgeous sunsets of the region. The pristine beauty of its white sands has garnered it the nickname of “Virgin Beach.”
This town is famous for its rock cut monuments like the Badami Cave Temples, where carvings depict Shiva and Vishnu in various avatars. Agastya Lake, the Badami Fort, the two Bhutanatha temples and the Archaeological Museum are some of its must-visit sites.