Explore Karnataka Today! Karnataka is an enchanting land abounding in scenic beauty, rich is flora and fauna.

It has pomp and pageantry of glorious traditions and marvels of modern engineering. The State abinet, !hich has decided to bring tourist activities under the priority sector, has come out !ith a host of ne! plans including offering government land to entrepreneurs at "# per cent of the market value to establish resorts and privatising the managements of government guest houses. This !as decided in $pril %##%. The government !ould be creating infrastructure in tourist places so that entrepreneurs could open resorts, hotels, amusement parks etc. &ne of the ma'or attractions offered to entrepreneurs !as to make available government land in all places barring in (angalore ity, at "# per cent of the market value for opening resorts)hotels and for carrying out tourist related activities. The Tourism *epartment !ould be identifying the government land available. If entrepreneurs fail to implement their plans !ithin a stipulated time, then the government !ould forfeit the land. The government !ould be offering four per cent tax concession for three years on aviation fuel to encourage domestic aviation industries to operate flights to district head+uarters in the State. The government !ould be under!riting certain number of tickets so that the industries !ould have assured revenue. The government !ould be using airstrips in (idar, (elgaum, ,ubli, -angalore, (ellary and ,arihar. The air strips in -ysore and .ulbarga !ould be strengthened and the government !ill also build airstrips in (i'apur, /aichur, Kar!ar, Shimoga and .ulbarga. 0andi ,ills, (ridavan .ardens, Kemmanagundi, 1og 2alls, (adami, $ihole, 3attadakal, (elur 4 ,alebedu, Shravanabelagola, (i'apur, ,ampi, .okarna and Kar!ar !ould be treated as ma'or tourist spots. The government !ould be developing (angalore as a tourist destination by promoting adventure sports, creating high5end accommodation and allo!ing private parties to manage tanks like 6lsoor, Sankey, -adi!ala, (ellandur etc. Karnataka7s manifold attractions include everything that interests the tourists. The !ild game sanctuaries at (andipur , 0agarhole and *andeli, the /anganathittu (ird7s Sanctuary. " Kms from Srirangapatna !hich is itself a !ell kno!n tourist center, hill stations like 0andhi ,ills and Kemmannagundi and -ercara, beach resorts like Kar!ar, 6llal, -alpe and -aravanthe, the !orld famous (rindavan .ardens at Krishnara'asagara, the monolithic statue of .ommatesh!ara at Sharavanabelagola, .ol .umba8 !ith its !hispering gallery at (i'apur, the 1og falls and other !ater falls at Shiva Samudram, -agod, 6nchelli or 9ushington near Siddapur, 9alguli at :allapur and other places indicate the variety and richness of the attractions that Karnataka State holds out to the tourists. There are many places of historic and religious importance. The great $charyas, Shankara, /amanu'a and -adh!a, preached in this region. .reat reformers like Sri (asavesh!ara, mathematicians like (askaracharaya, commentators like Sayana, saint poiets like 3urandaradasa and Kanakadasa, great !riters like 3ampa, ,arihara and Kumara ;yasa have all enriched the heritage of Karnataka. The temples at $ihole, (adami and 3attadakal in (i'apur district have great significance for all lovers of art. The temples of ,alebedu, (elur and Somanathapura are great architectural achievements 5 the like of !hich are rarely seen in any part of the !orld. The profusion of artistic skill is be!ildering in its range and ex+uisiteness. $t ,ampi <(ellary district= one can see Indian sculpture in all its richness and vitality.

The -uslims and hristians in ages past have made no mean contribution to the enrichment of art and architecture in Karnataka. The .ol .umba8 and Ibrahim5/o8a at (i'apur, the *aria *aulat (agh >Summer 3alace? of Tippu Sultan at Srirangapatna, the Kh!a'a (andena!a8 *arga at .ulbarga are someof their remarkable contributions. The churches at -ysore, -angalore, (angalore and (i'apur indicate the contribution of hristians to the great repertoire of Karnataka7s culture. @ith all these manifold attractions a visit to Karnataka State is al!ays memorable. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 2alls B 1og 2allsC The 1og in Shimoga *istrict is the tallest !ater fall in India !here the river Sharavati 'umps from a height of %DE mts. into four beautiful cascades . The best time to visit is only during 1uly to &ctober. B The auvery at Shivasamudra falls >in -andya district? has t!in 'umps, .aganachukki and (harachukki, one km a!ay from each other and their !ater has been harnessed for production of po!er from FD#F. The river Shimsha , a tributary of the auvery, has its fall in -alavalli taluk in -andya district. B $bbi 2alls is " km a!ay from -adikeri, Kodagu district !hich is a perennial hill5 station. B The Irrupu falls, GH km from ;ira'pet in Kodagu *istrict, is bounded by scenic locals. hikmagalur district has many !ater falls. The hill stations at Kemmannagundi has the ,ebbe 2alls 'umping do!n from a height of about "## feet. -anikyandhara is yet another !ater falls near the famous pilgrim centre (aba (udangiri *attatreya 3eetha !here !ater spills do!n like small balls giving the visitors a memorable sho!er bath. B Kallatti 2alls, F## km from Kemmanugundi at Kallattipura in Tarikere talu+ is another beautiful fall !ith !ater leaping do!n from a height of G## feet. There is an old ;eerabhadra temple very near the 2alls. B hunchanakatte 2alls The pictures+ue hunchanakatte 2alls in -ysore district is at the place of the same name !hich also has an ancient temple of a 9ord /ama close by 6ttara Kannada is famous for its 6nchalli >9ushington? 2alls. $ghanashini river creates this !ater cascade !hich screams do!n from a height of about G"# feet.It is near :ellapur >FD km. a!ay? in 6ttara Kannada alled I-ini 0iagara7, .okak 2alls is another fall kno!n for its beauty. ascading from a height of FJ# feet, it is famous for its spread and shape. .okak 2alls must be visited in 1uly5$ugust !hen it !ill be in full bloom. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 2orts 0o tourist survey is complete !ithout mentioning about Karnataka7s historical forts. The !hole range of ancient capitals of (idar, .ulbarga, (i'apur, ;i'ayanagara, (adami, (asava Kalyan, Srirangapattan, Keladi, hitradurga, -ysore, etc. had their forts. There are hill forts at the 0andi ,ill >Kolar district?, Savanadurga >(angalore district?, -adhugiri, 3avagada, -idigeshi in Tumkur district, 6cchangi near *avanagere and Sandur >both in (ellary district?, 1amalabad in *akshina Karnataka, -an8arabad near Sakleshpur >,assan district? and Kavaledurga >Shimoga district?, hitradurga Shahapur and Shorapur >.ulbarga district?, 0argund fort built by Shiva'i >*har!ad district? and 3arasgad and ;allabhgad forts >(elgaum district?, also raised by Shiva'i.

(angalore, *evanahalli, -agadi >(angalore district?, $ymangala in hitradurga district, hikbanavar in ,assan district, (elgaum have fortifications round part of the to!ns even no!. The coastal island forts like (ahadurgad, (asavara'a *urga, *evagad and Kurmagad are as strong as they !ere in the heydays. Tourist information on Karnataka is no! available across the country over a toll5free telephone number. The toll free number is FK##5GG5FGFG and the service is provided nine hours a day, from #DC## hrs >IST? FHC## hrs >IST? round the year. The office is closed on Tuesdays. If you need any assistance !ith booking in any hotel in Karnataka or India in general click here (angalore Everyone has a different reason to love (angalore. 9egend goes that King ;eeraballa of ;i'ayanagara once lost his !ay in forest. ,ungry and tired, he came upon a lone hut in the thick forest !here he met an old !oman.@hen he asked for food, she gave him baked beans >7(enda Kalu7 in Karnataka?.The King found this humble meal taste better than the richest fare.To commemorate this incident, he called the place L(enda Kalu &oruL>place of baked beans?. (angalore today is getting popular though for a different variety of (eans51ava(eans. apital of the Southern state of Karnataka, (angalore today is $sia7s fastest gro!ing cosmopolitan city. It is home to some of the most high tech industries in India. The I.T industry vie!s (angalore as the 7byte5basket7 of India. (angalore is also home to some of India7s premier scientific establishments. (lessed !ith a salubrious climate, gardens 4 parks, natural lakes, architectural landmarks, shopping malls, the best restaurants and pubs in this part of the globe, business opportunities, (angalore is the ideal gate!ay to India and beyond. (angalore offers something for everyone5music and dance concerts >@estern and Indian?, dramas, exhibitions, carnivals, conferences and more. .o disco5hopping or pub5cra!ling, shop till your feet give a!ay,relax in the s!ankiest restaurants or !ith your favourite movie stars5in the movie hall or simply tee off to glory. @elcome to (angalore. 9ocal sights The (angalore 3alace 4 2ort The (angalore 2ort !as built by Kempe .o!da and expanded by Tippu Sultan. @ithin its !alls is the !ell preserved FKth century .anapathi Temple. The (angalore 3alace !as built by a @odeyar king in FHHJ. Inspired by the @indsor castle, this palace !as built in the Tudor style, complete !ith .othic !indo!s, foiled !indo!s, battlements and turrets resembling the *aria *aulat 3alace in Srirangapatanam, this summer palace has been constructed largely of !ood and is famous for its carving and paintings. 9al (agh ,yder $li laid out this famous botanical garden and his son added horticultural !ealth to them by importing trees and plants from several countries. The garden today houses over F### species of flora !hich include rare and enchanting collection of tropical plants, trees and herbs. The .lass ,ouse, modelled along 9ondon7s rystal 3alace, is the center of

attraction in this %G## acre park. (i5annual flo!er sho!s attracting participants from all over India is held in the .lass ,ouse. ubbon 3ark This !ooded and beflo!ered park !as laid out in the heart of the cantonment in FHKG. Since then, fairy fountains, an august bandstand and a !ealth of atatury have been added. (ut the most important aspect of ubbon 3ark is its ne!er buildings that have added beauty and cultural !ealth. 9ush green la!ns, shady flo!ering trees, vibrant flo!er beds, make ubbon park an ideal place for morning 'oggers and alike. .overnment -useum &ne of the important buildings, the .overnment -useum is one of the oldest in India>FHHK?. $ special attraction here are the anti+uities from -ohen'odaro period. Situated nearby the museum is ;isves!araya Industrial and Technological -useum named after the great engineer5statesman . 0ext to the ;IT- is the ;isves!araya Industrial Trade enter, the first of its kind in India. In addition to its trade promotional activities, the enter has t!o exhibition floors housing a permanent display of all that is manufactured in Karnataka. 0ear the -useum is the K.;enkatappa $rt .allery !hich has a permanent exhibition of the !orks of the great artist, K. ;enkatappa. The .allery does much to encourage art in the state. $lso in the ubbon 3ark are the Seshadri Iyer -emorial ,all, !hich houses the public library, the ,igh ourt and the 1a!ahar (al (havan. The (havan, !ith its toy train, fairgrounds and theatre, is a recreational, hobby and educational centre for children. The (ull Temple This temple, built by Kempe .o!da, houses the magnificent stone statue of the sacred bull, 0andi. It stands over F" feet tall and is over %# feet long . In 0ov)*ec every year, !hen the groundnuts have been harvested, a groundnut fair is held near the temple. The first groundnuts are offered by the farmers to the sacred bull. The .angadharesh!are Temple Kno!n for its four monolithic pillars and rare idol of $gni, the .od of fire,this temple !as built by Kempe .o!da. $ uni+ue phenomena is !itnessed here on 1an FE)FGth every year !hen the rays of the setting sun enter through the !indo!, pass bet!een the horns of the 0andi and shine on the Shivalingam. The *harmara'a Temple 9ocated at 0a8arethpet in the suburbs of (angalore, this temple is the starting point of the annual Karaga procession. The revered idols of this temple are the Shri *harmara'a S!amy, hero of the -ahabharata and 9ord Krishna. *argah ,a8arath Ta!akkal -astan This -uslim shrine,located in ottonpet, a suburban locality, is associated !ith the ,indu Karaga festival too. The procession annually visits the *argah of this Sufi saint, Ta!akkal -astan. ,is tomb attracts both -uslim and non5-uslim pilgrims. 1umma -as'id The 1umma -as'id is probably the oldest mos+ue in the city. It is an imposing structure !ith tall ornamented granite pillars adorning the elevated prayer hall. Scores of devote

-uslim !orshippers throng this mas'id during the annual festivals of the -uslims. It is located in the busy market area of (angalore, K./.-arket. /avindra Kalakshetra The Kalakshetra, built to commemorate /abindranath Tagore7s centenary, promotes cultural activity in the city. It has a superb theatre and houses the ultural $kademi &ffices. 0ext to it is the .othic styled 3uttannachetty To!n ,all !hose huge auditorium can easily accommodate over F"## persons. St. -ary7s hurch Established by a 2rench missionary $bbe *ubois in FHFF, St.-ary7s church is the only church in Karnataka state to be elevated to the status of a minor (asilica. Every September, The ;irgin -ary7s festival is celebrated !ith a procession that attracts people of all faiths. The church is situated near the Shiva'i 0agar (us Terminal. Indian Institute &f Science >IISc? $lso kno!n as the Tata Institute, is one of the country7s finest research institutions, speciali8ing in advanced science and engineering studies. .andhi (havan The .andhi Smarak 0idhi, housed in the .andhi (havan, houses a comprehensive picture gallery and other exhibits of .andhi'i !hich depict the life and times of .andhi'i. The (havan is open on !eekdays>F#CE# $m to "C## 3-?. 6lsoor lake $ pictures+ue lake !ith several tree5shaded islands in it, is an ideal picnic spot. :ou can go boating or go for a s!im in the nearby s!imming pool that is part of the recreational complex near the lake. :ou can also go to the nearby .urdh!ar, the largest Sikh shrine in (angalore. ;idhana Soudha This splendid neo5*ravidian granite building that dominates the northern boundary of the ubbon park, is the home of the State 9egislature and the Secretariat. The massive sandal!ood door of the abinet room is a spectacular feature of this imposing building. The ;idhana Soudha is bedecked in illuminated glory during special periods and is a sight !orth vie!ing. The building is open for visitors only after E 3-. The (angalore /ace ourse The (angalore /ace ourse is one of the finest in India, !ith racing events almost all year round >-ay to 1une and 0ov to -ar?. Some of the biggest field stakes in the country can be !itnessed here. $round (angalore Several places of tourist interest are located !ithin easy each from (angalore. *istance sho!n in brackets is from (angalore. (annerghatta 0ational 3ark >%% Km? Those interested in natural history can go to (annerghatta. The park situated in pictures+ue surrounding has a !ide variety of fauna. $mong the attractions are crocodiles, picnic corner, serpentarium and pets corner, lion7s safari. &n *ec %", %##F the govt announced plans of starting a butterfly park in (annerghatta >$reaC F% acres, ostC /s E.K% crores? Tipu7s 3alace (uilt in FJDF, this beautiful t!o5storeyed ornate !ooden structure !ith ex+uisitely carved pillars, arches and balconies !as one of Tipu7s favourite summer retreats.

,esaragatta %" Kms a!ay, ,esaragatta is an interesting picnic spot offering !ater sports to the adventurous. (oating and !ind5surfing is the ma'or attraction. It also has a dairy 4 horticulture farm !here you can picnic. /amohalli /amohalli, located %H Kms !est is a popular picnic spot. $ ma'or attraction at /amohalli is the G## year old giant (anyan tree !hich spra!ls over an incredible E acres. -uthyalamaduvu $lso kno!n as the 3earl ;alley, -uthyalamaduvu is G# Kms a!ay. The beautiful cascading !ater falls surrounded by verdant settings provide an ideal picnic geta!ay. /amanagaram /ock5climbers and adventure seekers need look no further. GD Kms south5!est from (angalore, /amanagaram, provides the ideal location !ith landscaped rock faces. $nother ma'or attraction at /amanagaram is the silk cocoon marketing centre. &ne of the most famous ,indi movies Sholay !as shot in /amanagaram. 1anapada 9oka Spra!ling across F" acres, 1anapada 9oka or L2olk5culture @orldL is a !orld of simplicity and art.1anapada 9oka, a subsidiary of the Karnataka 1anapada 3arishath, is dedicated to preserve and promote folk art and culture. The complex has an art gallery, an open5air theatre, a studio and a museum. 1anapada 9oka is located near /amanagaram and is "E Kms a!ay from (angalore. hannapatna $ bustling to!n, K# kms south5!est from (angalore, hannapatna is famous for its eye5 catching lac+uer !are and hand5crafted !ooden toys. It is also a ma'or silk centre of Karnataka. -ekedatu .ushing !aters, imposing landscapes, and untouched picnic spots is !hat -ekedatu is all about. The auvery river s+uee8ing through a narro! gorge before traversing its south5 bound terrain is a breathtaking sight .It is DH Kms south of (angalore. 0andi ,ills &ne of the popular retreats of Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of -ysore, 0andi ,ills offers breathtaking geta!ay of the !eary tourist. Tipu7s *rop, a K##m high cliff face provides a magnificent panoramic vie! of the beautiful terrain. 0andi ,ills is K# Kms north of (angalore. Essentials .etting ,ere (angalore is !ell connected by air, rail and road to all the ma'or cities such as *elhi, -adras, (ombay, alcutta and to most other important cities and to!ns. There are regular train services from -adras>G trains per day?, -ysore>J trains per day?, alcutta>!eekly t!ice?, 0e! *elhi>F service daily?. (angalore $irport is used for both domestic and international flights. Shopping Shopping is a delightful experience in (angalore. :ou7ll find some of the most ex+uisite silks here. :ou can also take home handicrafts in sandal!ood and rose !ood, available in state5o!ned emporia and private stores. 2or gold and 'e!ellery, you can visit the +uaint

1e!eller7s Street. Some of the favourite shopping haunts are -.../oad, (rigade /oad, /esidency /oad and ommercial Street. (argain hunters tend to favour K.../oad, -alles!aram and Shiva'inagar. The main shopping areas of (angalore areC B (rigade /oad B ommercial Street B -... /oad B /esidency /oad Some of the popular Shopping entres at (angalore areC B -... /oadC 3ublic 6tility (uilding, Shrungar Shopping entre, (ombay Store B 1. . /oadC 6nity (uilding B /esidency /oadC 3into To!ers and lots of furniture shops B (rigade /oadC ur8on omplex, St.3atricks omplex,-ota hambers 4 "th $venue. B Infantry /oadC Safia 3la8a and opper $rch B St. -ark7s /oadC Sophia7s hoice B Shoppers Stop B 9ifestyle >near 2ootball stadium? Tourist Information If you need any assistance !ith booking in any hotel in Karnataka or India in general click here B *epartment of Tourism. Fst 2loor,727 (lock, auvery (havan,K.../d. TelC MDF5 H#5%%F"GHD Tourism Information ounter (angalore $irportC MDF5H#5"%KH#F%. /ail!ay StationC MDF5H#5%HJ##KH .ovt. of India Tourist &fficeC KS2 (uilding,GH, hurch Street. TelC MDF5H#5""H"FJ. onducted Tours Karnataka State Tourism *evelopment orporation organi8es a half5day (angalore Sightseeing Tour. 2or details please call the KST* ,ead &ffice5TelC MDF5H#5 %%F%D#F)%%F%D#%)%%J"HHE)%%J"HKD. 2axC MDF5H#5%%EH#FK -:S&/E 9ocal Sights -ysore 3alace The -ahara'a7s 3alace is one of the important sights in -ysore. (uilt in Indo5Saracenic style !ith domes, turrets, arches and colonnades,the 3alace is a treasure house of ex+uisite carvings and !orks of art from all over the !orld. Intricately carved doors open on to luxuriously furnished rooms. The ma'estic *urbar ,all has an ornate ceiling and many sculpted pillars. The magnificent 'e!el studded golden throne of the @odeyars is displayed here during the *asera festival. Illuminated on Sundays and public holidays ,the palace presents a spectacle of breathtaking beauty. hamundi ,ills $ !ell kno!n EE" metres high landmark, hamundi ,ill can be reached by a FE km road or by climbing up the F,### steps laid out by the -ysore -ahara'a in the FJth century.,alf5!ay up along the stone steps is 0andi, 9ord Shiva7s (ull, a ma'estic G.H

metre monolith.$t the top is the F%th century temple of hamundesh!ari, the patron goddess of the @odeyars. lose to the temple is the gigantic statue of the demon -ahishasura. The summit offers a panoramic vie! of -ysore7s lakes, parks and palaces. (rindavan .ardens 9ocated at the K/ Sagar *am <Kannambadi=, (rindavan .ardens is one of the best gardens in South India. Spread over a acre, (rindavan .ardens has since the FDK#s provided the backdrop for many Indian films. Special attractions include the 7*ancing 2ountains7. TimingsC -onday52ridayC KCE# 3- 5 JC%" 3- and Saturday5SundayC KCE# 35 HC%" 3St. 3hilomena7s hurch $ beautiful athedral, reminiscent of medieval architectural style,is one of the largest churches in the country. (uilt in the gothic style,the hurch is an imposing structure !ith stained glass !indo!s and lofty to!ers. -ysore Noo The -ysore Noo !as set up under royal patronage in the nineteenth century. Its fauna includes rare and exotic species !hich are housed in lush, green surroundings. The Noo is famous for breeding some very rare animals in captivity. The $rt .allery The 1aganmohan 3alace !as converted into an art gallery in FHJ" and exhibits paintings !hich date back to that period. The artists of that time used natural vegetable and mineral dyes. The famous traditional -ysore 7gold leaf 7 paintings are also exhibited in the gallery, as are oil paintings of contemporary artist like /a'a /avi ;arma and Svetoslav /oerich. $round -ysore *aria *aulat (agh Tipu7s Summer 3alace,built in FJHG,is located here.-ade of teak,this Indo5Sarcenic structure has ornate and beautiful frescos.It is no! a museum and tells elo+uently of Tipu7s valor and his losing battle against the (ritish. 2ort It is here that Tipu charged at the (ritish soldiers !ith his legendary s!ord.$n obelisk in the fort marks the place !here he fell 5betrayed by his o!n men.The fort holds !ithin it,a mos+ue and the /anganathas!amy Temple.&utside the fort is the .umba8,Tipu7s tomb !ith splendid ebony doors inlaid !ith ivory. ,imvad .opalas!amy ,ills This is a popular hill resort and a trekker7s delight as !ell.It is situated in the verdant !estern ghats of -ysore *istrict.The temple here is dedicated to 9ord ,oysala. -elkote Situated "# Kms.north of -ysore,-elkote is a sacred pilgrim centre,kno!n for its ;airamundi festival in -arch5$pril.-ore than one lakh devotees congregate here for the festival.-elkote is also famous for its handlooms./amanucharya,the Shrivaishnava saint5 philosopher,took shelter here from his persecutors. Talakad GH Kms from -ysore,It is situated on the banks of the river auvery and is completely buried beneath sand dunes.&nly the *ravidian style ;aidyesh!ara temple is visible

above the ground.Its temples are opened for ceremonial !orship on special occasions 5once in t!elve years. Shivsamudra H" Kms east of -ysore,!here the river auvery cascades do!n in t!o pictures+ue !aterfalls,is Shivsamudra.2alling do!n from a height of J" m into a deep gorge,these falls are best during the monsoons.F." kms.a!ay is $sia7s first hydro5electric po!er pro'ect set up in FD#". 0agarhole 0ational 3ark DE kms.from -ysore, in the forest of 0agarhole,is a 0ational 3ark.$bounding in a rich variety of !ildlife,one can find elephants,antelopes and even leopards here. Kabini /iver 9odge Situated H# kms.from -ysore in the Karapur forests is the old hunting lodge of the -ahara'as and ;iceroys.The lodge on the banks of the river Kabini arranges 'eep rides into the 'ungle and coracle rides on the Kabini for bird !atching.$ naturalist guide helps you identify the many varieties of birds and !ild beasts. (./. ,ills This pictures+ue hill range,at a height of "#DF ft.,is F%# kms.from -ysore and is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna.The temple on the hill,dedicated to (iligiri /angas!amy attracts devotees round the year. Essentials .etting ,ere -ysore is !ell5connected by road to (angalore, -adras, -angalore, oimbatore, &oty, annanore, alicut and 3ana'i>.oa? $ccomodation B *asprakash 3aradise, :adavagiri. 3honeC MDF5H%F5%"""" B King7s ourt, 1.9.(./oad. 3honeC MDF5H%F5%EK"%. B ,otel -etropole, 1.9.(./oad. 3honeC MDF5H%F5"%#KHF. B ,otel -ayura ,oysala, %,1hansi 9akshmi (ai /d. 3honeC MDF5H%F5%"EGD. B 9alith -ahal 3alace, Siddharthanagar. 3honeC MDF5H%F5%JK"#)%JJJF B /amanashree omforts, ,arding ircle. 3honeC MDF5H%F5E#"#E. B The .reen ,otel, hittaran'an 3alace, %%J# ;inoba /oad, -ysore "J# #F%. 3honeC MDF H%F "F %"EK, 2axC MDF H%F "F KFED B .overnment $partmentsC ;ish!a Kannada Sammelana omplex, ,unsur /oad, -ysore. 3honeC MDF5H%F5%HFH" ,otel -ayura /iver ;ie!, Srirangapatna,-andya *istrict.3honeC MDF5H%EK5"%E%K Shopping -ysore is famous for carved sandal!ood, pure silk sarees and incense. The best place to shop is the auvery $rts 4 rafts Emporium on Sayya'i /ao /oad, !hich is the -ain shopping area. There are also many other craft shops on *hanavanthri /oad. The shopper7s stopC-ysore is kno!n the !orld over for its exotic sandal!ood and rich silks. $t the .overnment Sandal!ood &il 2actory,you can buy Sandal 3o!der, Sandal &il and scented incense sticks.$t the .overnment Silk 2actory you can see the master

!eavers at !ork. (uy shimmering silks straight off the looms. Shop at auvery ,andicrafts Emporium or in the little back streets and by lanes that offer some exiting bargains. Tourist Information /egional Tourist Information, &ld Exhibition (uilding, Ir!in /oad,-ysore. 3honeC MDF5H%F5%%#DK Karnataka State Tourism *evelopment orporation :atrinivas (uildings, 1.9.(./oad, -ysore. 3honeC MDF5H%F5%KE"% onducted Tours KST* organises sightseeing tours to many of the ma'or sights in and around -ysore. 2or more details call the KST* &ffice. 3honeC MDF5H%F5%KE"%. Sightseeing harter 2lights (angalore based air5charter operator, Tane'a $erospace and $viation 9td >T$$9?, has launched sightseeing charter flights to ,ampi and -ysore in &ct %##%. ontact $n'an /ao at DHGG#5%JKDD or emailC an'anrOtane'aaerospace.com for further details. -angalore -angalore district is a panorama of palm5fringed beaches,lush green fields and enchanting forests. It is sheltered by the soaring !estern ghats on the east and the mighty $rabian sea roaring along its !estern shores.@ith an important port,this coastal to!n is a ma'or commercial centre.The lifeline of the district, the 0ational ,igh!ay 0o FJ almost runs parallel to the sea for over D" kms in the district. 0o!here does the distance bet!een the high!ay and the sea exceed more than a fe! kilometers. -angalore,the district head+uarters, has a long history of maritime trade. Though developed as a business and commercial centres -angalore still retains its old !orld charm5old tile5roofed buildings amidst coconut groves, fishing boats silhouetted against the darkening skyline, fishermen hauling in rich catch of fish,sea food served in spicy coconut curries. -angalore is a remainder of the good times of life. The district offers a !ide range of interesting places for both pilgrimage and pleasure tourists such as *harmasthala, Subramanya, Kollur, 6dupi, Karkala, ;enoor and -oodabidri. .etting ,ere -angalore is E"J kms from (angalore. -angalore is !ell connected by rail, road and air from)to (angalore. -angalore is !ell connected by rail to all ma'or South Indian cities. -angalore is !ell connected by bus to all ma'or to!ns in Karnataka. @here to Stay B @elcome .roup -an'arun &ld port /oad, -angalore , 3honeC DF5H%G5EFJDF, DF5H%G5%KDH#. B ,otel -aurya 0etravati 3honeC DF5H%G5GFFFD%

B -oti -ahal 2alnir /oad 3honeC DF5H%G5%%%FF>F# lines? B ;imlesh International .anapathi Temple /oad, -angalore 3honeC DF5H%G5EEJFF>F# lines?. B ,otel Srinivas ..,.S /oad , -angalore 3honeC DF5H%G5%%EHF>F# lines? B ,otel 0avarathna 3alace K.S./oad, -angalore, 3honeC DF5H%G5E"KH#,E"KHF B Summer Sand (each ,otel, 6llal 3honeC DF5H%G5GKJKD# Srirangapatna :ou !ill come across this island fortress of Tipu Sultan on the (angalore5-ysore ,igh!ay. This history5rich to!n !as the capital of the @arrior5Kings ,yder $li and his son Tipu Sultan 5 The Tiger of -ysore. 2ortC It is from here that Tipu charged at the (ritish soldiers !ith his legendry s!ord. $n obelisk in the 2ort marks the place !here he fell 5 betrayed by his o!n men. @ithin the 2ort is a -os+ue and the Sri /anganathas!amy Temple. *aria *aulat (aghC (uilt in FJHG, this Summer 3alace !as one of Tipu7s favourite retreats. -ade of teak, this Indo5Saracenic structure has ornate and beautiful frescoes. .umba8C,ousing the mortal remains of Tipu Sultan, his father ,yder $li and his mother, the .umba8 has splendid ebony doors inlaid !ith ivory. Tipu7s favourite Tiger stripes cover the !alls. /anganathittu (ird SancturyCG Kms from Srirangapatna, this (ird Sanctury is home to several exotic species of birds. (irds from as far a!ay a Siberia come here every year. .etting hereC /oadC -ost buses that operate form (angalore to -ysore stop at Srirangapatna. @here to stayC B $mbelee ,otel /esort TelC DF5H%EK5"%E%K B ,otel -ayura /iver ;ie! Srirangapatna -andya Shravanabelagola Shravanabelagola in ,assan *istrict is F"J km a!ay from (angalore is an important 1aina centre. There is a pond and t!o stony hills, called handragiri and Indragiri. handragiri has the handragupta basadi of the .angas and the 3arash!anatha basadi here is the biggest. The to!n belo! the hill has the 1aina matha !hose !alls have very old paintings. Indragiri has the .ommata monolith, "H7 tall, installed by a .anga general and scholar havundaraya, and also Siddhara basadi, &degal basadi, hennanna basadi

and hauvvisa Tirthankara basadi, and also the finely engraved pillar called Tyagada (rahma 3illar. The floral designs on it are excellent. To the north of to!n is 1inanathapura !hich has the $regal basadi and the Shantinatha basadi of ,oysala times. Shravanabelagola has over "## inscriptions, and some of them are recording death by starving >Isallekhana7? by 1aina ascetics and laymen. .etting hereC Shravanabelagola is !ell connected by road and rail to (angalore, -ysore and ,assan. /egular buses ply from ,assan. @here to stayC B 3rivate ,otels and 3@* .uest ,ouses (elur (elur in ,assan district >%%% kms from (angalore and EH kms. from ,assan? is famous for its magnificent ,oysala Temple omplex. The hennakeshava temple here !as completed in FFFK by ,oysala ;ishnuvardhana to commemorate his victory over the hola. It took F#E years to complete. The facade of the temple is filled !ith intricate sculptures and frei8es5!ith no portion left blank. Elephants, episodes from the epics, sensous dancers nothing !as left uncarved. The ;eeranarayana temple houses the shrines of Kappe henniga, $ndal, Saumya 0ayaki, and other dieties. .etting hereC (elur is !ell connected by road and rail to (angalore, -ysore and -angalore. /egular buses ply from ,assan to (elur. ,alebidu ,alebidu >former *!arasamudra? in ,assan district is in (elur taluk and %J kms a!ay from ,assan and !as the capital of ,oysala after (elur. It has one of the finest ,oysala temples. The t!in Shiva Temple !ith a common platform and t!o garbhagrihas, one beside the other have a common broad navaranga. &ne of them houses ;ishnuvardhana ,oysalesh!ara 9inga and the other Shanthalesh!ara 9inga. Infront of the ,oysalesh!ara is the 0andimantapa and behind that is a shrine of Surya !ith a t!o5metre5tall image. The temple door!ays are highly ornate and impressive. &uter !alls have ro!s of intricate figures narrating episodes from epics like /amayana, (haratha and (hagavata. The place has a 3arsh!anatha basadi !ith highly polished pillars in !hich on5 lookers +ueer images are reflected. There is a -useum of the $.S.I. The Kedaresh!ara temple is another monument built by Ketaladevi, (allala II7s Pueen. hatchatnahalli >nearby? has a trikuta temple built by hatta *andanayaka in F%%#. .etting hereC ,alebidu is !ell connected by road and rail to (angalore, -ysore and -angalore. /egular buses ply from ,assan. @here to stayC B 3rivate hotels and .uest houses ,ampi and ;i'ayanagar L If dreams !ere made out of stone, it !ould be ,ampiL Saint ;idyaranya established the seat of ;i'ayanagara empire in FEEK $.*, !ith the help of his devotee disciples ,akka and (ukka. The empire later became famous for its support to!ards renovation)reconstruction of temples through out India. It also became reno!ned for re5establishment of Indian culture, its support for music, art and literature. @ith the prime purpose of caring for the people and their !elfare, this empire stretched

physically covering Karnataka, $ndhra and -aharashtra and became a by5!ord for golden rule. ,$-3I, the seat of the famed ;I1$:$0$.$/$ empire !as the capital of the largest empire in post5mogul India, covering several states. The empire reigned supreme under Krishnadevaraya, the Emperor. The ;i'ayanagara empire stretched over at least three states 5 Karnataka, -aharashtra, and $ndhra 3radesh. The destruction of ;i'ayanagar by marauding -oghul invaders !as sudden, shocking and absolute. They reduced the city to ruins amid scenes of savage massacre and horrors beggaring description. $lthough in ruins today, this capital city once boasted riches kno!n far beyond the shores of India. The ruins of ,ampi of the FGth entury lies scattered in about %K s+. km area, amidst giant boulders and vegetation. 3rotected by the tempestuous river Tungabhadra in the north and rocky granite ridges on the other three sides, the ruins silently narrate the story of grandeur splendor and fabulous !ealth. The splendid remains of palaces and gate!ays of the broken city tells a tale of men infinite talent and po!er of creativity together !ith his capacity for senseless destruction. Stre!n over a large area >about nine s+uare miles? the ruins at ,ampi offers to the tourist a remainder of the greatest land in the !hole !orld. Every rock, every path and every monument at ,ampi speak the same languageQ a language of glory and beauty. In -arch %##%, the .overnment of India has announced that ,ampi !ould be developed as an international destination centre. The State .ovt !ill constitute a ,ampi @orld ,eritage $rea -anagement $uthority for integrated development and conservation of ,ampi. ,ampi is a @orld ,eritage entre ,ospet is the main to!n providing the geta!ay for ,ampi. In $pril %##%, Karnataka officially set up the ,ampi @orld ,eritage $rea -anagement $uthority !ith !ide5 ranging po!ers, as !ell as a State 9evel $dvisory ommittee. 9ocal Sights -ost of the ruins are along the road leading from Kamalapura to ,ampi.Three kms do!n the road, on a commanding site, stands the temple of -alyavanta /aghunathas!amy.It is built in the *ravidian style. Strange5looking fishes and marine monsters carved along its outer !alls are !orth noticing. The ,ampi (a8aar, E" yards !ide and nearly H## yards long !as kno!n to be a Lvery beautiful street !ith very beautiful housesL. The ;irupaksha Temple rises ma'estically at the !estern end of the famous ,ampi (a8aar. The temple has a F%# feet tall to!er on its eastern entrance. The temple contains the shrines of Shiva, 3ampa and (huvanes!ari.3arts of this temple are older than the ;i'ayanagar kingdom itself. The !ork of this style dates back to the FFth or F%th century. 0earby is the K.Jm tall monolith of 6gra 0arasimha. $n inscription nearby states that it !as he!n from a single boulder in F"%H during the reign of Krishnadeva /aya. ;ithala Temple omplex The most splendid monument of ,ampi is undoubtedly the ;ithala Temple omplex !ith its "K musical pillars. To the east of the hall is the famous Stone hariot !ith stone !heels that actually revolve. In front of the shrine stands the great mantapa. /esting on a richly sculpted basement, its roof is supported by huge pillars of granite, about F" feet in height, each consisting of a central pillar surrounded by detached shafts, all cut from one single block

of stone. Several of the carved pillars !ere attacked !ith such fury that they are hardly more than shapeless blocks of stones and a large portion of the central part has been destroyed utterly. 0earby is the 73urandra *asara -antapa7 !hich has been also declared a protected monument. ,ouse of ;ictory. It !as built !hen Krishnadeva /aya came back from his victorious expedition against the King of &rissa. The spaces bet!een the ro!s of the plinth5mouldings here are most elaborately and elegantly carved. The kings of ;i'ayanagar used to sit on a grand throne in the ,ouse of ;ictory and !itness the nine5day *asara festival. @est!ards from the ,ouse of ;ictory, leading through t!o ruined gates, the path leads to the ,a8ara /amas!ami temple. This temple is believed to have been the private place of !orship of the royal family. The chief attraction of the temple is the series of scenes from the /amayana carved on t!o of the inside !alls of the mantapa. The genesis of the place kno!n today as ,ampi dates back to the age of the ,indu epic /amayana !hen it !as the site of Kishkinda, a monkey kingdom. King7s (alance ,ampi is also full of surprisesC like the King7s (alance !here kings !ere !eighed against grain, gold or money !hich !as then distributed to the poor, the Pueen7s (ath, a s!imming pool, "# ft.long and K ft.deep, !ith its arched corridors, pro'ecting balconies and lotus5shaped fountains that once sprouted perfumed !ater, the t!o5storeyed B 9otus -ahalC shaped like a lotus flo!er from top, this t!o5story structure has beautiful arc !ays set in geometric regularity. It !as an air5cooled summer palace of the +ueen. B Elephant StablesC This huge stable, a beautiful example of ,indu5-uslim style of architecture, housed about FF elephants in separate compartments. B 3ushkarini Tank B -ahanavami *ibbaC The foundation of a lion story !ooden structure from !hich the royalty vie!ed ,ampi !ith pomp, colour and revelry during the -ahanadu festival. This platform has beautiful carvings. B -ustard .aneshC This is a D feet tall single stone statue !hich is also kno!n as Sasivikalu .anesha. B 0oblemenRs 3alaceC This place !as recently discovered and they suspect this !as for aristocrats and high5ranking officials. 9ocal 2estivalsC The ;i'ayanagar 2estival organi8ed by the .overnment of Karnataka in *ecember recreates the grandeur of the bygone era. Essentials ,o! to get there B $ir F. The nearest airstrip at Tornagallu in Sandur Taluk !hich is E% kms. from ,ospet. (angalore based air5charter operator, Tane'a $erospace and $viation 9td >T$$9?, has launched sightseeing charter flights to ,ampi and -ysore in &ct %##%. ontact $n'an /ao at DHGG#5%JKDD or emailC an'anrOtane'aaerospace.com for further details. %. The second nearest airport is (ellary>JG kms?

E. &ther convenient airports are at (elgaum >FD# kms? and (angalore>E"E kms?. B /ailC ,ospet is the nearest rail head >FE kms?. ,ospet is linked by rail to (angalore, (i'apur,,ubli and .untakal. B /oadC ,ampi is E"# kms from (angalore. KS/T (uses ply regularly from ,ospet. (est time to visitC &ctober to -arch @here to Stay :ou could use ,ospet as your base to visit ,ampi. B ,otel -ayura ;i'ayanagar, Thungabadhra *am ,ospet, TelC#HEDG5GH%J# B ,otel 3riyadarshini, Station /oad, ,ospet, TelC #HEDG5GHHEH. B ,otel -alligi, ,ospet5(ellary road. B ,otel -ayura (huvanes!ri, Kamalapur, ,ampi. TelC#HEDG5"FEJG B KST* ottages.TelC#HEDG5HF#H