J N Rao Tours

Karnataka - Theatre of Inspiration

Literally meaning, “the lofty land,” Karnataka offers everything a visitor could want – cool hills, lush forests, rich wildlife, vibrant culture and an unspoilt coastline. An easy mix of the ancient and the modern, it balances the ruined city of Hampi and the hub of the technology revolution, Bangalore – also known as the Silicon Valley of India.

Marvel as the glory of the past comes alive in the well-preserved ruins of Hampi – including palaces, temples, pavilions and fortifications. The 18 metre high statue of Lord Gometeshwara, cut from a single stone, is the tallest in the continent – washed every 12 years with hundreds of pots of milk, honey, curd, vermilion and coconut water.. The Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur is the world’s second-largest unsupported dome, after St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. Meanwhile, the Bandipur Sanctuary and the Nagerhole Natural Park offer an astonishing variety of wildlife – elephants, tigers, panthers, Indian bison, barking deer, wild dogs, macaques and langurs.

See how royalty lived, through a tour of the Maharajah’s Palace in Mysore. Soak in the beaches at Kawar and Ullal or visit through the picturesque coffee country of Coorg. Being sandalwood country also makes shopping an awesome experience; not to mention the famed Indian silks, gold-leaf Mysore paintings, Lambadi crafts and lac-painted wooden toys. At the end of the day, it’s not for nothing that Karnataka is called the ‘Theatre of Inspiration.

Of Tourist Interest

• Hampi Ruins
• Gomateshwara Statue
• Vidhan Soudha
• Bandipur sanctuary
• Nagerhole Natural Park
• Jog falls
• Maharajah’s Palace
• Mysore Museum
• Brindavan Gardens
• Vithala Temple
• Chamundi Hill