Karnataka Tourism

Karnataka, the eighth largest state in India, has been ranked as the third most popular state in the country for tourism in 2014. It is home to 507 of the 3600 centrally protected monuments in India, the largest number after Uttar Pradesh. The State Directorate of Archaeology and Museums protects an additional 752 monuments and another 25,000 monuments are yet to receive protection. Tourism centres on the ancient sculptured temples, modern cities, the hill ranges, forests and beaches. Broadly, tourism in Karnataka can be divided into four geographical regions: North Karnataka, the Hill Stations, Coastal Karnataka and South Karnataka.

History
The recorded history of Karnataka goes back more than two millennia. Several great empires and dynasties have ruled over Karnataka and have contributed greatly to the history, culture and development of Karnataka The impact of kingdoms of Karnataka origin have been felt over other parts of India also. The Chindaka Nagas of central India, Gangas of Kalinga (Odisha), Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta, Chalukyas of Vengi, Yadava Dynasty of Devagiri were all of Kannada origin who later took to encouraging local languages.

Fairs & Festivals
Every hamlet and village, every town and city has its own calendar of events to be celebrated.The fascinating fairs and festivals of Karnataka are a celebration of life in all its infinite variety. Most of them are exclusive to the state and reverberate with colour and gaiety.

Best Time to Visit
October to April are the best months to visit Karnataka. Summers are hot and due to its proximity to the sea, it is often humid. Likewise, monsoons can get pretty extreme too. Winters are the best time to visit this place unless you want to see the waterfalls or trek, then there is no better time than the monsoons.

How to Reach :-

BY AIR - here are seven cities in Karnataka with airports: Bangalore, Mangalore, Mysore, Hampi, Hubli, Belgaum, and Bijapur. The Bengaluru International Airport or the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) and the Mangalore International Airport are the only two airports that operate international flights to and from Karnataka. One of the busiest airports in India, Bangalore Airport is connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Jaipur with direct flights by Air India, IndiGo, Jet Airways, and Spice Jet. The airport in Mangalore is served by flights from Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Taking a flight from Delhi or Mumbai to Karnataka is the quickest option to travel.

BY RAIL - Rail transport in Karnataka is yet to reach some district headquarters. The train connectivity within Karnataka state is relatively poor. However, all major cities of Karnataka are well connected to other parts of India by a train route. Bangalore railway station is Karnataka’s most important railway terminal. The capital city of Bangalore is connected to only a few district headquarters by railroad. Hubbali is headquarters of South Western Zone of Indian Railway.

BY ROAD - Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is the government operator for road transport in Karnataka. It connects major cities and tourist destinations in Karnataka with both intra-state and interstate buses. KSRTC reservation for bus tickets can be made online in advance. The National Highways in Karnataka run for 3,973 kilometers. As one can see in Karnataka district map, smaller towns and district headquarters are well connected by state highways. For transportation within city or town limits, motorbikes, auto rickshaws, and buses are good options. So, buy a Karnataka road map and start exploring this beautiful state. Travelers can take a scenic coastal drive to Gokarna or find adventures along the hilly road from Mysuru to Coorg.