Karnataka Tourism

Karnataka is one of the wettest regions in India with the coastal regions receiving the bulk of the southwest monsoon rains from June till September. The mountainous Western Ghats, which parallel the coast, hinder the rains from moving inland and so the interiors are much drier. The entire state enjoys great weather from October to March with few spells of rain from the northeast monsoons.

Ancient monuments, ruins and other artefacts present in Karnataka are testament to the fact that the state has been ruled by the Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim dynasties. Chalukyas, Kadambas, Cholas, Rastrakutas, Hoysalas, Gangas, Vijaynagar Rajas and Bahmanis are some of the indigenous dynasties to have reigned over Karnataka for centuries and the medieval era saw the Muslim incursion from the north. Of the Muslim rulers, Haider Ali and his son Tipu Sultan have left lasting impressions on the development of the region. When the British invaded Karnataka, the Wodeyar Rajas were the rulers of Mysore, which was at that time a smaller independent territory. After the British killed Tipu in the Battle of Srirangapatnam in 1799, the Wodeyar family was restored to the throne as rulers for the entire region. The Kannadigas, or the people of Karnataka, are very friendly and visitors are treated with respect. It is very likely that if a visitor asks for directions, a well-meaning Kannadiga might well personally escort them to their destination. Kannada, the state language, is one of the oldest languages in India and is spoken by nearly all its inhabitants, irrespective of the religion practiced, and the actual name 'Karnataka' is a derivative of Kannada.

Karnataka has a history steeped in art in all its manifestations. Bharatnatyam, a form of Indian classical dance has strong roots in Karnataka and the Hoysala gueen, Shantaladevi was believed to be a great exponent of the art. It is also considered the birthplace of Indian classical music and it is the only region where Hindustani Classical and the Carnatic tradition thrive. The age-old tradition of Yakshagana - a dramatic song and dance portrayal of the epics in colourful costumes, accompanied by loud beating of drums and pipes - is also intrinsic to the region. Visitors to Karnataka can take home unique gifts and souvenirs in the form of pure silk scarves and wraps, sandal-wood and ivory carvings, aromatic roasted coffee blends and samples of spices such as cardamom and pepper. The cuisine from Karnataka has a vegetarian bias though it should not be perceived as limiting as it is presented in an infinite array of dishes, snacks and the impervious 'tiffin' comprising of idli, vada, dosa and sambar. Non-vegetarian and popular western and Far Eastern cuisine is widely available in the metropolis of Bangalore.