KARNATAKA

Karnataka, the eighth largest state in India, has been ranked as the fifth most popular state in the
country for tourism.[1][2] [3] It is home to 507 of the 3600 centrally protected monuments in India, the
largest number after Uttar Pradesh.[4] The State Directorate of Archaeology and Museums
protects an additional 752 monuments and another 25,000 monuments are yet to receive
protection.[5] Tourism centres on the ancient sculptured temples, modern cities, the hill ranges,
forests and beaches. Broadly, tourism in Karnataka can be divided into four geographical
regions: North Karnataka, the Hill Stations, Coastal Karnataka and South Karnataka.
The Karnataka Government has recently introduced The Golden Chariot a train which connects
popular tourist destinations in the state and Goa.

North Karnataka[edit]

North Karnataka Region Tourism

Gol Gumbaz Bijapur

North Karnataka has monuments that date back to the 5th century. Kannada empires that ruled
the Deccan had their capitals here.Badami Chalukyas monuments are located
at Pattadakal, Aihole and Badami. Aihole has been called the cradle of Indian architecture[6]and
has over 125 temples and monuments built between 450 and 1100 BC. Rashtrakuta monuments
at Lokapura, Bilgi and Kuknur andKalyani Chalukyas monuments built in Gadag style of
architecture[7][8] at Lakkundi, Gadag, Itagi (in Koppal District) and the Vijayanagar empire temples
at Vijayanagara are some examples. Hampi in Bellary District has ruins spread over an area of
125 km. With some fifty four world heritage monuments and six hundred and fifty national

monuments (ASI). An additional three hundred monuments await protection. The Deccan
sultanate monuments at Bijapur and Gulbarga show unique and discreet Hindu influences and
rival the Muslim monuments of North India. Archeologically important locations
like Sannati, Kanaganahalli in Gulbarga district have thrown more light onBuddhist centres of the
1st century BCE to 3rd century CE. The first ever statue of emperor Ashoka with his queens and
a Prakritinscription Rayo Ashoka (ASI) has been found.
Badami surroundings important locations are Kudalasangama, Aihole, Pattadakal, Mahakuta and
Banashankari.
Hampi surroundings region, they can be visited from Hampi/Hosapete, or from Hubli. There
are Kuknur, Itagi, Gadag, Lakkundi, Dambal,Haveri, Kaginele, Bankapura.