Karnataka Travel Guide & Tips

Food of Karnataka

The varieties in cuisine of Karnataka have influences from the neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Some typical dishes in Karnataka include Bisi bele bath, Jolada rotti, Ragi rotti, Saaru, Idli/vada Sambar, Vangi Bath, Benne dose, and Ragi mudde. Plain and Rave Idli, Mysore Masala Dosa, and Maddur Vade are popular food in South Karnataka.

Among desserts, Mysore Pak, Holige, Dharwad Pedha, Chiroti, and Sajjige are some of the famous items. In South Karnataka or Old Mysuru region, meals are served on Plantain or Mutuka leaves stapled together into a big circular plate. The final course of the meal is rice and curd with pickles. It’s occasionally served with Buttermilk to be eaten at the end. The Kodagu (Coorg) district has its own unique cuisine including spicy meat Pandi, Kadumbutt, and Paputt.

Language of Karnataka

The Kannada language is the official language of Karnataka, as almost two-third of its population speaks Kannada. Tulu, Konkani, and Kodava are other native languages, while Urdu is also spoken widely by the Muslim population. Tulu is spoken in the coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. And, Konkani is usually spoken in the Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada districts.

English is well understood and fluently spoken in urban areas such as Bangalore and Mysore. There should not be any language barrier if English or Hindi is spoken.

Climate of Karnataka

The peak season for traveling to Karnataka is from October to March, The weather of Karnataka is generally pleasant during the post-monsoon and winter months. Months of December and January witness the brief period of winter with sunny days and moderately cold nights. It is the most popular time of the year to visit hill stations, beaches, temples, and waterfalls in Karnataka.

The Western Ghats along with coastal Karnataka is one of the wettest places in India. The seasonal monsoon sweeps in from the southwest in June and dumps almost 4 meters of rain annually before fading out in September.

Festivals of Karnataka

As per religions and customs, there are several festivals celebrated by the people in Karnataka. Mysore Dusshera is an extravagant 10-day festival celebrated in the month of September or October in Navaratri. Gowri Habba festival, a day before Ganesh Chaturthi, is celebrated by married women to honour Goddess Gauri. An annual festival of 3 days, Hampi Utsav is a boisterous event in which artists from all over India perform various folk and classical dance forms, musical performances, and more.

Celebrated mainly in South Karnataka, Kambala is a buffalo race generally held between November and March. Mahamastakabhisheka is a popular Jain festival that is held in Shravanabelagola every 12 years. Padakkal Dance Festival, Ugadi, Bengaluru International Film Festival, Eid, and Bheemana Amavasya are other notable festivals in Karnataka.

Make sure to follow latest weather forecast, travel tips, and other information about Karnataka before planning a trip.