General Information
Area :191,791 Sq km
Capital :Bangalore
Districts :30
Principal Language :Kannada
Population :44,977,201
Males :22,861,409
Females :22,115,792
Literacy : 55.98%
Introduction
Karnataka is the eighth largest state in India in both area and population. It was formerly known as Mysore. On November 1,1973, the name Mysore was changed to Karnataka.
Karnataka lies between 74o and 78o East longitudes and 11o and 18o North latitudes. It is situated on the western edge of the Deccan plateau and is surrounded by Maharashtra and Goa on the north, Andhra Pradesh on the east, and Tamil Nadu and Kerala on the south. On the west, it opens out on the Arabian Sea.
Geographically, Karnataka occupies three natural regions like the Coastal strip, the Sahyadris and the Deccan plateau. They are known in Kannada as Paschima Karavali, Malnad and Maidan respectively.
The topography of Karnataka is largely a reflection of the geology of the state. The Sahyadris are covered with evergreen forests. They drop abruptly towards the Arabian Sea, thus forming a natural barrier between the plateau and the coastal regions. Four passes provide access to the coast. They are the Subrahmanya Ghat, the Charmadi Ghat, the Shiradi Ghat, and the famous Agumbe Ghat. The western Ghats slope gently towards the Bay of Bengal. This is the plateau region drained by the two principal rivers Krishna and the Kaveri. The average elevation of the plateau is about 610 meters above sea-level.
Attractions In Karnataka
The state of Karnataka has many attractions strewn all over its land. These attractions lure tourists from all over the world.
Natural Attractions
Karanataka Tourism offers various natural attractions pulling several visitors. The state has some of the most important wildlife sanctuaries in India . To name a few are Bandipur, Nagarhole and Dandeli, the Ranganathittu Bird's Sanctuary. There are beautiful hill stations like the Nandhi Hills, Kemmannagundi and Mercara. Srirangapatna in Karanataka is also famous for its exotic natural beauty.
The beach resorts like Karwar, Ullal, Malpe and Maravanthe are popular holiday spots for tourists. Besides, the state also has the beautiful Jog falls and other water falls at Shiva Samudram, Magod, Unchelli or Lushington near Siddapur and Lalguli at Yallapur.
Historical and Religious Attractions
The state also has many attractions of historical and religious importance. Places like Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal in Bijapur district are famous for their enchanting temples. The temples of Halebedu, Belur and Somanathapura are also rich in architectural beauty and are one of their kinds in the world. The temples and palaces at Hampi are regarded as world heritage sites because of their exclusive sculptural magnificence.
Architectural Splendor
Karnataka tourism offers some majestic monuments that are contributions of the Muslims and Christians who have ruled it in the past. The Gol Gumbaz and Ibrahim-Roza at Bijapur, the Daria Daulat Bagh ( Summer Palace ) of Tippu Sultan at Srirangapatna, the Khwaja Bandenawaz Darga at Gulbarga are some of their remarkable contributions. The churches at Mysore , Mangalore, Bangalore and Bijapur are some exquisite contributions of Christians to the Karnataka's culture. With all these stimulating attractions, Karnataka invites tourists from all over the world.
Festivals
Known for its culture and traditions, Karnataka celebrates many colorful festivals. Most of these festivals are temple festivals, but Dussehra is the major festival of this state. It is celebrated for ten days in the months of September-October, signifying the triumph of good over evil. This festival is celebrated with great pomp and show in the city of Mysore .
Some of the temple festivals that are celebrated here are the Paryaya festival, Vairamudi festival, Karaga Festival, Keil Poldu, Lakshadeepotsavam.
Besides, many state festivals are also celebrated in Karnataka. Some of the important state festivals are Coorg festival, Hampi-Vijayanagar festival and the Hoysala festival. These festivals celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the state.
Shopping At Karnataka
Karnataka is a shopper's delight. The state is famous for its silks, sandalwood and rosewood carvings, and exquisite handicrafts. Some of the must buys are sandalwood sculptures, agarbattis (incense sticks,) perfumes, sandalwood oil, and other small gifts like pens, letter openers, metal lamps, wood carvings, and inlay work. These products display the dedication of the skilled artisans of the state. They also portray the rich cultural heritage of Karanataka.
Accessibility To Karnataka
Air : The capital of Karnataka, Bangalore has its own airport, which is connected to all the major cities in the country like Thiruvananthpuram, Hyderabad, Goa, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Mangalore.
Bangalore is also directly connected to other countries, cities of the world like Singapore , Dubai , London , Oman , Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia by means of Airways.
Rail : Bangalore is connected to the major cities in India by a good network of railways. There are regular trains from Chennai, Mysore , New Delhi , Calcutta , and Mumbai.
Road : National highways and numerous other roadways connect Karnataka with major cities and important towns. There are regular bus services to and from Bangalore for the nearby cities and towns.
Local Transportation : Auto rickshaws and rickshaws are widely used for local transportation. Apart from this, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) run buses within the city while the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) operates the buses within the state as well as outside.
