Karnataka Travel Guide

Location
Karnataka is situated in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent. Bordered by the Arabian Sea in the west, Maharashtra and Goa in the north, Kerala in the south-west, Andhra Pradesh in the East and Tamil Nadu in the South, it is spread over an area of 1,92,000 square kilometers. It lies where the eastern and western ghat hills meet. The location of Karnataka, which is on the western coast of penninsular India, has blessed it with some of the most beautiful beaches in India. The geography of the state provides it with plateaus, hills, mountains and coastal plains.


Climate of Karnataka
The climate of Karnataka is tropical and generally remains pleasant throughout the year with a cool breeze to refresh your senses. The year is divided mainly into three seasons i.e. summer, monsoon and winter. The summer season begins in the month of February and lasts till May. The average temperature during this time of the year remains around 34 degrees and humidity is around 75%. The monsoon season extends from June to October when the average temperature drops a little to 29 degrees while the humidity increases to around 87%. During the winter season, which lasts from November to January, the temperatures can drop to as low as 20 degrees.

Accessibility
The main airport of the state is located at Bangalore which connects it to all the major Indian cities including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram through regular flights. The state's national highways make it easily approachable through every major city of South India. The main railway station of the state is situated at Bangalore which has regular trains operating to many destinations in the state and the rest of the country.


Culture of Karnataka
Karnataka's contribution to Indian culture in the fields of art, dance and music have been admonitory. The carnatic form of music originated and flourished in the state of Karnataka and is one of the main forms of music in South India. Yakshagana, an impressive combination of song, dance and dialogue is a folk theatrical form of Karnataka. The dances were performed in the palaces of kings and men of honour. Botada Kunita, Nagamandala and Demon Dance are some of the rituals involving dance which are celebrated in the coastal areas of Karnataka.

Tourist Attractions of Karnataka
Karnataka is an enthraling place featuring natural splendor, rich cultural heritage and a variety of plant and animal life. The state displays an amazing flux of ruins from yester years and the marvel of modern technology.

» Bangalore
The Silicon Valley of India, Bangalore has lush green parks, gardens, avenues, huge buildings and excellent climate. Inspite of the fast paced technological development taking place, Bangalore still retains the traditional Indian flavour. Some of the must see destinations of Bangalore include the Vidhana Soudha or the state legislature building, Venkatappa Art Gallery, The Bangalore Palace, Cubbon Park, Bull Temple, Ulsoor Lake and Lal Bagh.

» Mysore
The historical city of Mysore forms an important chapter in the Indian history. It is associated with the 'Tiger of Mysore', Tipu sultan. The main tourist spots in and around the city are Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hills, Brindavan Gardens and Mysore Zoo.

» Hampi
Hampi was once the capital of the mighty Vijaynagar empire. The town has many ruins of the past that narrate a story of the glorious past of the place, waiting to be heard.

» Bandipur
Nestled in the Nilgiri hills, Bandipur National Park is home to many endangered wild animals including tiger, elephant, gaur, leopard, chital, sambar and a variety of birds. Besides, some of the beautiful beaches like Karwar, Marwanthe, Murudeshwar and Mangalore add to the attractions of the state.
Some other places of tourist interest in the state include Chikmagalur, Aihole, Sravanbelagola, Srirangapatna, Belur and Halebid.


Business Travel
Karnataka is one of the most technically advanced states in India. The capital, Bangalore is known as the IT city of India and is one of the fastest growing cities of South-east Asia. Karnataka contributes four percent to the national production in the industrial sector. Machine tools, aircraft, electronic products, watches and telecommunication equipment are some of the main products of the state. Hindustan Aeronautics, Hindustan Machines Tools, Bharat Earth Movers, Bharat Electronics, Bhrat Heavy Electricals, Indian Telephone Industries and National Aeronautical Laboratory are some of the important PSU's of the state. The state of Karnataka is rich in mineral resources and is also the largest producer of gold in the country. The capital city of Bangalore saw a boom in the IT sector during the early 1980's. Since then it has become home to more than 250 high tech companies including Wipro and Infosys.