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Geographical Zones:
The state has three principal geographical zones, the hilly region of the Western Ghats, the plains of the Deccan plateau and the coastal region. 60% of the state is in the plains. The Mullayanagiri hills in Chikkamagaluru district touch 1900 m plus. The major rivers in Karnataka are the Krishna, Malaprabha, Kaveri, Tungabhadra and the Sharavathi.
How to Get There:
By Air: There is an international airport 40 km out of Bangalore, apart from another domestic airport within the city; airstrips are used in Bidar, Belgaum, Hubli, Mangalore, Bellary and Harihar. The air strips in Mysore and Gulbarga would be strengthened and new ones built in Bijapur, Raichur, Karwar, Shimoga and Gulbarga.
By Rail and Road:
Rail and road connections are extensive and excellent. Private taxis are freely available. |
Climate:
Karnataka has two seasons; summer from April to October, including the monsoons from June to September, and winter. During winter, temperatures record a steady downfall making it the best time to visit Karnataka. The peak season for Karnataka travel is from October to March, covering the post-monsoon and winter seasons, as the climate is generally pleasant over the entire State, which is at an average altitude of 900m above sea level.
Places to See:
Sites worth visiting have been divided into two zones. North Karnataka has Aihole, famous as the "Cradle of Indian
Architecture"; Badami, the capital of the Chalukyas; Belgaum, the district HQ; Bidar; Bijapur, with its Gol Gumbaz and Jumma Masjid; Dharwad; Gulbarga and Hampi. South Karnataka has Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka; Belur; Halebid, the ancient capital of the Hoysalas; Hassan; Karwar; Mangalore; Sravanabelagola, Udupi and Mysore. Perhaps the best-known among Karnataka hill stations, Coorg, in the Kodagu region, enthralls tourists with its breathtaking locales. Miles of luxuriant coffee plantations, misty mountains and lush valleys make this a scenic landscape. It is a must see option. Despite playing host to a number of powerful empires such as the Kadambas, Gangas, Cholas, Hoysalas, and Vijayanagara, the Kodagu region preserved its cultural heritage. Then there are the sanctuaries.
Sanctuaries:
Adichunchanagiri has a peacock sanctuary; Bandipur in Mysore District, spread over 800 km2, famous for its wild elephants; Bannerghatta near Bangalore is about 100 km2 in area and there is an animal safari; The Brahmagiri wild life sanctuary in Kodagu district is more than 2000 to 3000 ft above sea level. Many species of wild fauna and flora can be seen here; Dandeli Wild Life Sanctuary in Uttara Karnataka District is famous for bison, deer and a variety of other wild fauna; The Kudremukh National Park, nestled in the ranges of the Western Ghats, is known for all kinds of flora and fauna spread over an area of 600 km2; The Nagarahole National Park spread over 640 km2 is famous for its tiger population; Gudvi and Mandagadde bird sanctuaries in Shimoga district,Ranganathittu near Srirangapatana and Kokrebellur in Mandya district; Ranebennur Wild Life Sanctuary in Dharwad district is more than 100 km2 and is known for its agile blackbuck population.
Demographics:
83% of the population is Hindu, 11% Muslim, 4% Christian, 0.78% are Jains,
0.73% Buddhist, and with the remainder belong to other religions. The literacy rate is 70%.
Kannada, the official language of Karnataka is also its native language. Karnataka's private sector has state of the art super-specialty health care. It is also India's cyber state, with Bangalore its 'Silicon Valley.'
Arts and Craft:
The crafts of Karnataka straddle the disciplines of rosewood and sandalwood carving, Gokak dolls, Bidar bidriware, Chennapatna lacquerware and Mysore paintings.
Karnataka is also famous for its silk weaving.
Festivals:
Among the many Karnataka festivals, the Mysore Dasara stands out for the opulent display of pomp and pageantry, in direct distinction from the simple Kambala festival, which celebrates the values of rural life. Ugadi is the Kannada New Year. The Kail Poldu festival is exclusive to the Coorg region.
Beaches:
The 320-km long coastline of Karnataka is enriched with picturesque beaches, like
the picturesque Devbagh beach on an island reachable from the Karwar coast; the secluded beach of Karwar; Marawanthe beach, one of the most scenic beaches in Karnataka, is located near Udupi and St Mary's Island Beach, 58 km north of Mangalore.
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