Karnataka Top 15 Tourist Attractions Details
From picturesque hill stations to some of the cleanest and most beautiful beaches, from famous pilgrimage sites to forests and jungles, Karnataka has it all. Many tourist attractions in Karnataka are World Heritage Sites and people from different countries visit these places. So if you are traveling in India then you cannot miss Karnataka, here are 15 best places to visit in Karnataka to take your breath away.
15 Best Tourist Attractions in Karnataka:
1. Bangalore:
Often referred to as India’s Silicon Valley, Bangalore is the capital of the state of Karnataka. The name Bangalore comes from the Kannada word “Benda Kulluru”, which means the land where beans are boiled. Founded by Kempa Gowda about 400 years ago, the city is today one of the fastest growing cities in the country and one of the best tourist attractions in Karnataka.
Tour Highlights:
- Day 1: Start your day around 10 am after breakfast, visit Banaskari Temple, Bull Temple, Dodda Ganapati Temple, Tipu Sultan’s Palace and more
- Day 2: Visit Bangalore Palace, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Lake Usul and Lalbagh Botanical Gardens.
Places to visit:
- Vishweswaraiah Museum of Industry and Technology
- Lalbagh Botanical Garden
- Iskon Temple
- Bangalore Palace
- Tipu Sultan’s Palace
Best time to visit:
Peak season:
nearest city:
how can I get there:
The capital of Karnataka is Bangalore, which is connected to Karnataka and other cities in India by air, rail and road. You can get to Bangalore by any means of transport depending on your location and budget.
language spoken:
- Kannada, English, Hindi and Telugu
Ideal travel time:
2. Bandipur National Park:
Bandipur National Park is 80 kilometers away from Mysore and 215 kilometers away from the capital Bangalore. It is one of the well-managed national parks in India and one of the important tourist attractions in Karnataka. It is one of 15 protected areas under the Tiger Conservation Program and is home to more than 80 tigers and more than 3,000 Asian elephants. They also feature other wildlife such as leopards, sloth bears, guar and various birds.
Tour Highlights:
- Explore Bandipur National Park by mini bus
- Go on a nature walk to explore Bandipur National Park
Places to visit:
- jeep
- Riding an elephant
- Gopala swamy betta
- Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
- Uti
Best time to visit:
peak season:
- October to December and April and May
Nearest city:
- Mysore (80 km), Bangalore (215 km)
how can I get there:
- The nearest airport is Bangalore Airport, 255 km away
- By rail, Mysore Junction is the nearest railway station, 80 km away
- Many public transport buses to and from Bandipur, connecting major cities in Karnataka
Language spoken:
- Kannada, Tamil, English and Hindi
Ideal travel time:
3. Chikmagalur:
Chikmanglur is a famous hill station in Karnataka and tops the list of tourist attractions in Karnataka. Chikmagalur is located at an altitude of 3400 feet at the foot of the Murayanagiri Mountains and is one of the best hill stations near Bangalore. Chikmagalur is famous for its coffee and is also known as the coffee land of Karnataka. Coffee was first grown here in 1670, when the Muslim saint Baba Budan brought coffee seeds from Yemen.
Tour Highlights:
Day 1: Depart from Bangalore around 6am and visit the following places on the way to Chikmagalur
- Yaga Dam
- Hirekolale Lake
- Kodan Dharama Temple
Day 2: Depart from Chikmagalur after breakfast and visit the following locations:
- murayanagiri
- Kawikar Gandhi view
- Baba Butangiri
- Manigardala Falls
Places to visit:
- murayanagiri
- Baba Butangiri
- Belur
- Kawikar Gandhi view
- Lake Hirekolale
- Tari Falls
- Badra Wildlife Sanctuary
Best time to visit:
peak season:
Nearest city:
- Mangalore (148 km), Mysore (178 km)
how can I get there:
- The nearest airport is Mangalore, 158 km away
- The nearest railway starting points are Kudur Junction (40 km) and Birur Junction (47 km)
- Regular buses run between major cities in Karnataka and Chikmagalur
Language spoken:
ideal travel time:
see more: Famous street food in Bangalore
4. Hampi:
Hampi is an ancient village located on the banks of the Tongabadra River in northern Karnataka, 13 kilometers from Hospet. This is a place rich in history and architecture and one of the best in Karnataka. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, which flourished from 1343 to 1565 and was an important trading center for cotton, spices and precious stones. It was one of the largest and richest cities in the world in the 15th and 16th centuries. The ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire seen in Hampi, covering an area of over 26 square kilometers.
Tour Highlights:
Day 1: Start your day at 9am covering the following locations
- Temple of Vitara
- Virupaksha Temple
- Krishna Temple
- Mahanawa Midiba
- Pattabilama Temple
Day 2: The second day covers all remaining areas mentioned in the list below and others not mentioned here.
Places to visit:
- Temple of Vitara
- Virupaksha Temple
- Krishna Temple
- Mahanawa Midiba
- Pattabilama Temple
- Statue of Ugrana Rasinghe
- Hampi Bazaar
- lotus mahal
Best time to visit:
peak season:
Nearest city:
how can I get there:
- By plane, the nearest airport is Hubli Airport, 160 km away
- By train, the nearest train station is Hospet Junction (13 km)
- The city is connected to other cities by bus.
ideal travel time:
5. Mysore:
Mysore, 140 kilometers from Bangalore, is the second largest city in the state of Karnataka and one of the most famous. It was the capital of the Maharaja of Mysore who ruled Mysore from 1399 to 1947. Mysore still retains the charm of its heritage buildings, temples, palaces and traditions. According to Devi Purans, Mysore was ruled by the demon king Mahisasur. Hearing the prayers of the people, Devi Parvati took the avatar of Chamundeshwari and killed the demon. From then on, the place was called Mahisuru and later Maisure and Mysore.
Tour Highlights:
Day 1: Start your day in Bangalore with a visit to Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hill Temple, Brindavan Gardens.stay in Mysore
Day 2: Visit the Mysore Zoo, Railway Museum, Jaggan Mohan Palace, Lake Kukalahari and other nearby attractions.
Places to visit:
- Mysore Palace
- Chamondi Hill Temple
- Mysore Zoo
- Brindavan Gardens
- Railway Museum
- Jaggen Mohan Palace
- Larissa Maha Palace
- lake kukarahalli
Best time to visit:
peak season:
- April to May, September to October
nearest city:
how can I get there:
- By Air, Bangalore Airport is the nearest airport, which is 182 km away
- The nearest railway station is Mysore Junction which is connected to major cities in India.
language spoken:
- Kannada, Tamil and English
Ideal travel time:
6. Shivanasamudra Waterfall:
Shivanasamudra Waterfall is located in the Mandhya district of Karnataka, 130 km from Bangalore and 80 km from Mysore. It is one of the famous waterfalls near Bangalore. This is a segmented waterfall with many parallel streams flowing next to each other. If you want to experience the magnificent nature near Bangalore, this is the place not to be missed.
Tour Highlights:
- Arrive at Shivanasamudra waterfall and enjoy its magnificence
Places to visit:
- sonathpur
- mysore
- Talakadu
Best time to visit:
Peak season:
Nearest city:
- Mysore (81 km), Bangalore (130 km)
how can I get there:
- By plane, Bangalore airport is the closest
- By rail, the Mysore Junction is the closest
- You can take a bus from the airport or station to Shivanasamudra waterfall
Language spoken:
ideal travel time:
7. Belur:
Belur, 215 kilometers from Bangalore and 154 kilometers from Mysore, is an important temple town in Karnataka. It is famous for its magnificent Hoysala temple and Lord Chennakesava is considered to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is the best of the 3 Khoisala temples declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is one of the best natural attractions in Karnataka and is located on the Bangalore-Chickamaghlur route.
Tour Highlights:
- On your journey from Bangalore to Chikmagruul, Belur fell on the way. Don’t forget to visit Chennakesava Temple and Yagachi Dam before heading to Chikmaglur
Places to visit:
- Chinnaksawa Temple
- Yaga Dam
- Nasimha Pillar
- Salavana Bella Gora
Best time to visit:
peak season:
Nearest city:
how can I get there:
- The nearest airport is Mangalore Airport (174 km)
- The train station is Hassan Railway Station (40 km)
- The nearest bus stop is Belur bus stop (0 km)
Language spoken:
- Kannada, Hindi and English
Ideal travel time:
8. Gokarna:
Gokarna is a town in Kannada district in the northern state of Karnataka, 165 km from Hubli and 163 km from Panjim. It is one of the best natural places in Karnataka. The town is famous for its Mahabaleshwara temple which houses the Atmalinga, the powerful weapon of Ravana bestowed by Lord Shiva himself. Besides being a religious town. Gokarna is also known for its beaches. Gokarna has five beaches, of which Gokarna beach is very famous and very crowded during high season.
Tour Highlights:
Gokarna can be added to any trip in Karnataka. Seek blessings at Mahabaleshwara Temple before heading to Gokarna Beach. Other beaches also offer beautiful views.
Places to visit:
- Sri Mahabaleswar Temple
- Gokana Beach
- Aum Beach
- mirianburg
Best time to visit:
peak season:
nearest city:
how can I get there:
- By air, the nearest airport is Dabolim Airport in Goa (154 km)
- Gokarna Road train station is the nearest train station
- There are regular buses that connect you to different parts of the city.
Language spoken:
ideal travel time:
9. Jogging Waterfall:
Located 400 kilometers from Bangalore, in the Shimoga district of Karnataka, Jog Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in India. It is one of the most picturesque waterfalls in India and one of the top destinations for tourism in Karnataka. So, if you are taking your Karnataka trip, this is the place you cannot miss. The water for this waterfall comes from 4 different waterfalls – Raja, Rani, Rover and Rocket which together form the huge Jog waterfall.
Tour Highlights:
- A visit to Jog Falls should only take 3-4 hours, but there are many other worthwhile destinations along the way that should be enjoyed on the way to Jog Falls. Jogging waterfalls can and should be included in a Karnataka trip.
Places to visit:
- Ancharlie Falls
- Benny Hall Falls
- Yana
- murudeshwar
- Kosali Falls
Best time to visit:
Peak season:
Nearest city:
how can I get there:
- By air, Hubli is the nearest airport (171 km)
- The nearest train station is Shimoga, 105 km away
- Buses often travel to and from Jogging Falls.
language spoken:
- Kannada, English and Hindi
ideal travel time:
10. Nagarhall National Park:
Nagarhole, 88 kilometers from Mysore and 218 kilometers from Bangalore, is one of the famous wildlife sanctuaries in South India. Also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park, this place is a must add to any Coorg tour package. Nagarhole National Park is located in the northwest of Bandipur National Park and is separated by the Kabini Reservoir. With over 250 species of birds and wildlife, Nagarhole National Park is a bliss for any wildlife lover.
Tour Highlights:
- Visit Nagarhole National Park on a three-day trip to Coorg from Bangalore. This will take 4-5 hours, so plan your day accordingly.
Places to visit:
- Irup Falls
- Coog
- mysore
- Wayanad
- Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Best time to visit:
peak season:
Nearest city:
how can I get there:
- By air, Kozhikode International Airport is the nearest (146 km)
- By train, Mysore Junction is the nearest (88 km)
- Regular buses to and from different cities and connections to Nagarhole National Park
Language spoken:
ideal travel time:
11. Sakleshpur:
Sakleshpur is 220 kilometers from Bangalore and is…