MORE OF KARNATAKA :

MYSORE : Mysore is the second largest city in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the headquarters of the Mysore district and the Mysore division and lies about 146 km (91 mi) southwest of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. The name Mysore is an anglicised version of Mahishūru, which means the abode of Mahisha. Mahisha stands for Mahishasura, a demon from Hindu mythology. Mysore has its mention in the Mahabharata as Mahishaka Kingdom in ancient India. The city is spread across an area of 128.42 km2 (50 sq mi) and is situated at the base of the Chamundi Hills.

HAMPI AND NORTH KARNATKA : Hampi is a laid back village that was the last capital of Vijayanagar, one of the greatest Hindu kingdoms in India's history. It has some extremely captivating ruins, intriguingly intermingled with large boulders that rear up all over the landscape.
The ruins, which date back to the 14th century, stretch for just over 25 kilometers (10 miles) and comprise more than 500 monuments. The most striking monument is the Vittala Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Its main hall has 56 pillars that make musical sounds when struck.

NORTH KARNATAKA : North Karnataka is an arid plateau from 300 to 700 metres (980 to 2,300 ft) elevation in the Karnataka state of southwest India. It is drained by the Krishna River and its tributaries the Bhima, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, and Tungabhadra. North Karnataka lies within the Deccan thorn scrub forests ecoregion, which extends north into eastern Maharashtra.
It includes the districts of Belgaum, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Bidar, Bellary, Gulbarga, Yadagiri, Raichur, Gadag, Dharwad, Haveri, Koppal and Uttara Kannada District. Major cities in the region include Hubli, Dharwad, Belgaum, Bellary, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Bidar, Gokak and Karwar.

COASTAL KARNATAKA: Karnataka has 350 kms of pristine coastline and home to one of the famous pilgrim centers and nice beach resorts.

More of Karnataka:

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  Mysore : Mysore, once the capital of the Wodeyars, still remains its old-world charm. Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hills and Brindavan Gardens are the main attractions.
  
  
• North Karnataka
  
  Historic. Majestic. With an austere beauty all its own. Brave its harsh climate and forbidding landscape you'll discover a land of many surprises. Musical pillars, Stone dancers, Elephant stables, Monuments, Temples, Mosques and forts.
  
  Aihole : Famous as the "Cradle of Indian Architecture", Aihole has over a hundred temples scattered around the village. The oldest temple here is, perhaps, the Lad Khan temple dating back to the 5th Century. Not to be missed is the Konthi Temple Complex.
  
  Badami : The capital of the early Chalukyas, Badami is picturesquely situated at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills. Badami is famous for its four cave temples - all hewn out of sand stone on the precipice of a hill.
  
  Bijapur : Think of Bijapur and the first thing that comes to mind is Gol Gumbaz, Jumma Masjid. You can spend days exploring Bijapur.
  
  Hampi : "Vijayanagara is such that the pupil of the eye has never seen a place like it...". You can still glimpse the splendour of Vijayanagara - one of the largest empires in the history of India - in its ruins. Hampi is full of surprises.
  
  Pattadakal : Pattadakal - a World Heritage Centre - has 10 major temples representing early Chalukyan architecture.
  
  The biggest temple here, is dedicated to Virupaksha. Besides this temple is a group of temples remarkable primarily, for representing two chief styles of Indian architecture, side by side.
  
  
  
• COSTAL KARNATAKA :
  

Dandeli : Not exactly in cost but very close to coast.A delight of lovers of wildlife. Ghats can be seen in their natural settings at the sanctury here.

Karwar : Karwar, the district headquarters and port town traces its history to the time of Arab traders. It has chain of five islands protecting it from storms.

Mangalore : Mangalore, District Headquarters of Dakshina Kannada and a modern major port which boasts of a long history of maritime trade. Places of interest are Kadri Hill, Manjunath Temple, St. Aloysius College of Chapel and Jumma Masjid.

Maravanthe : As you drive up north along the coastal road to Maravanthe, 50 Kms from Udupi, a surprise awaits you. The highway bordered on either side by Arabian Sea and Sauparnika River, with a backdrop of Kutachadri hills. This has converted Maravanthe into a fairyland of scenic beauty.

Murdeshwar : Situated between Honnavar and Bhatkal, 1 km off the National Highways is the scenic holy place of Murdeshwar. With the roaring sea to the west, the towering hills to the east and the coconut and area groves nearby the temple attracts a lot of devotees and tourists as well.

Udupi : Udupi, is where Madhwacharya, the propounder of Dwaitha philosophy, lived and taught 700 years ago.