Karnataka

Vast rural spaces, unexplored mountains, rugged coastlines, rich wildlife and historic sites combine to make Karnataka a state of contrasts – from the natural beauty of its teak and rosewood forests to the thronging city of Bangalore.

Karnataka’s mountains are the wildest in southern India with dense, deciduous forests providing the habitat for elephant, bison, sambar and spotted deer, wild boar and the elusive tiger. Large areas are protected within the National Parks of Bandipur and Nagarhole.

This is an area rich in history as a result of the many dynasties that battled for control. Their architectural legacy remains in the arid Central Deccan Plateau with its fascinating historical sites and superb ruins set in a magical, boulder-strewn landscape. The towering Gomateshvara Statue surveys the distant horizon from his vantage point high above the small town of Sravanabelagola and the intricate carvings of the Hoysala Temples at Belur and Halebid combine to demonstrate the advanced skill of their craftsmen.

‘Better to live one day as a tiger, than a thousand years as a sheep’ was the memorable phrase coined by Tipu Sultan, ‘The Tiger of Mysore’, who ferociously fought the British until his death at Sriringapatnam in 1799. Mysore, with palatial buildings, beautiful gardens and tree-lined boulevards, still retains its stately atmosphere and the ex-Maharajah still lives in a wing of the city’s principal palace. The very essence of the region is captured by the energy and bustle of the market place – pyramids of tikka and fragrant piles of incense are set amidst a multitude of fruit, vegetables, rice and sugar cane.