Places To Visit In Karnataka

Waterfalls, wildlife sanctuaries, beaches, hill stations, temple complexes, and heritage sites make up the best tourist places in Karnataka. Travelers flock into the different regions of the state throughout the year. Be it a family holiday or a business visit, there’s plenty to explore on even a one day trip in Karnataka.

Bengaluru, or Bangalore, is an ultra-modern city that beats a cultural heart. Tipu Sultan’s Palace, Bangalore Palace, HAL Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum, Cubbon Park, Bull Temple, and Lal Bagh are top places to visit in Bangalore. Mysore, one of the largest cities in Karnataka, is renowned for its unique Dusshera or Dasara festivities along with colossal Jain monuments, iconic Mysore Palace, and Mysore Zoo.

Take a drive from modern cities of Karnataka to find the natural beauty of Coorg in the Western Ghats. Also known as Kodagu district, Coorg ranks as the best places in Karnataka to plan a honeymoon. Abbey Falls, Nagarahole National Park, Dubare, and Iruppu Falls are major tourist places in Coorg region – a popular destination in Karnataka in winter.

Hampi is home to arguably the most spectacular historical monuments in Karnataka. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, the Group of Monuments at Hampi comprise temples and palace ruins of Vijayanagara Empire. The Group of monuments in Pattadakal, another popular heritage site in Karnataka, features a series of nine Hindu temples and Jain temples. Someshwara temple at Lakshmeshwar, Doddabasappa Temple at Dambal, Basavana Bagewadi near Bijapur, and Badami Cave Temples are some of the other famous temples in Karnataka.

A slice of Goa slipped into Karnataka, Gokarna is like an off-the-grid destination for many travelers searching serenity. Blessed with lush greenery in peaceful surroundings, Gokarna has some of the best beaches in Karnataka such as Om Beach and Kudley Beach. Coming over to the Western Ghats from coastal regions, Coorg and Dandeli are among the best trekking places in Karnataka. Tadiyandamol Trek, Karwar Beach Trek, Mullayanagiri Trek, Savandurga Trek, and Narasimha Parvatha in Agumbe are some of the popular trails in Karnataka.

The tallest waterfall in India, Jog Falls on Sharavati River is a combination of four falls plunging about 253 meters. Varapoha Falls, Magod Falls, Shivanasamudra Falls, and Unchalli Falls are also popular waterfalls in Karnataka worth visiting during the monsoon season. Known as the ‘Cherrapunji of South India’, Agumbe is a beautiful hill station of Karnataka with rich bio-diversity and breath-taking scenery. Kodachadri, Kudremukh, Kemmangundi, and Madhugiri are other famous hill stations in Karnataka.

Make sure to plan a wildlife safari in Bandipur National Park, Bannerghatta National Park, and Nagarhole National Park. The wildlife of Karnataka is rich with animals such as the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, sloth bear, elephants, bison, and gaur. October through April is the best time to visit national parks in Karnataka.