Sights & Attractions in Karnataka and Hyderabad

Karnataka and Hyderabad Sights

Karnataka is packed with fascinating places and historic sights. The main transport hub is Bangalore, an inland city in the southeastern corner of the state, so it's easiest to start your trip here. Both Bangalore, which considers itself the Silicon Valley of India, and Mysore (2½ hours to the southwest by train) are worth exploring. Bangalore is a boomtown, with a population that now exceeds 5 million; huge municipal gardens and a teeming old commercial district are interspersed with lively pubs, restaurants, and boutiques. Mysore, in contrast, is an elegant old royal town, center of the princely state that existed from the mid-19th- to the mid-20th centuries. It's small in scale, tropical in appearance, and has India's finest zoo.

The northern Karnataka, including the town of Bijapur, isn't easily accessible by train, and would otherwise take a two-day road journey to get there. It's far easier to explore the southern region, from Hampi (in the east-central part of the state) south. From Mysore, you can make two-day trips to Nagarhole National Park, on the Kerala border, home to elephants and tigers; or to the 11th- and 12th-century temples at Belur and Halebid, which between them hold more than 30,000 intricately carved sculptures; or to Sravanabelagola, with its awesome monolithic statue of the Jain saint Gomateshwara. For a refreshing outdoor stint, try the fishing camp on the banks of the Cauvery River or spend a day or two at a coffee plantation in Coorg district. If you have time and stamina to spare, venture out from Bangalore to the spectacular abandoned city of Hampi. Although this ancient city is not as easily accessible as most other destinations in this guide, it's the single most rewarding historical destination in the state.

View all sights