Tourism in Karnataka

North Karnataka

World heritage centres

• Hampi, Bellary District: The site of the capital of Vijayanagara and formerly the seat of the Vijayanagar Empire. Foreign visitors in the 15th and 16th centuries described Hampi as being bigger than Rome. The city was destroyed and deserted in 1565 by marauding Moghul invaders and its ruins now lie scattered over a 26 sq. km area south of the river Tungabhadra. The rocky area near Anegundi to the north of the river has been identified as Kishkindha of Ramayana times. Hampi is home to a monolithic Narasimha, which was installed by Krishnadevaraya in 1529. The remains of palaces and gateways can be seen.
• Group of 8th-century CE monuments, Pattadakal: Located on the banks of the river Malaprabha, Pattadakal was the second capital of the Chalukyas and contains examples of 7th- and 8th-century temple architecture. Four temples are in the south Indian Dravidian style, four in the North Indian Nagara style and the last one, the Papanatha temple represents a hybrid of the two styles. The oldest temples are the Sangameshwara, Mallikarjuna and Virupaksha Temples.

  Historical locations

Western Chalukya

• Aihole: a former Chalukya trading city. There are around 140 temples including examples of early Chalukya, Rashtrakuta and later Chalukya dynasties from the 6th to 12th centuries. It has a Jain and Vedic rock-cut shrine, both of about the 6th century. It has Tirthankara images and a Durga temple. The meguti on a hill is a jaina basti which has an Aihole inscription of Pulakeshin 2 and also a Buddhist two-storied rock -cut shrine below it. All the other Jain and Buddhist temples are built of stone and resemble Hindu temples. The temples were built during the Middle Ages before any style was established and hence there is a mixture of styles.
• Badami: the capital of the early Chalukyas in the 6th century, is at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills. The town is known for its cave temples. Badami have four caves, the cave temple dedicated to Vishnu is the largest. In front of the cave temple, there is a reservoir called Aghastya Teertha dotted with temples on its bank. Among them, two are dedicated to Vishnu, one to Shiva and the fourth is a Jain Temple. Carvings in the cave temples display the Hindu gods, Narashima and Hari Hara. The temples also have paintings on the ceiling and bracket figures on the piers.
• Basavana Bagewadi: It is 43 east of Bijapur. In the 12th century, Saint Basaveshwara was born here. It was an agrahara. The main temple here is in the Chalukya style and it was called as Sangamantha in records. The Samadhis of Siddharameshwara and Gurupadeshwara of the Inchageri school of spiritual pursuit are seen here.
• Basavakalyana, Bidar District: former capital of the Later Chalukyas. It has an old fort renovated by the Bahamani containing an Archaeological Museum. Few Chalukya or Kalachuri remains exist except the Chalukya Narayanapur temple in the outskirts of the town. There is a modern Basaveshwara temple, Prabhudevara Gadduge, Jurist of the Kalyani Chalukyas period. Vijnaneshwara's Cave, Madivala Machiah's Pond, Akka Nagamma's Cave, fully renovated Siddheshwara temple and a new structure called Anubhava Mantapa, the Qaji's mosque and Raja Bagh Sawar Dargah.
• Annigeri : It has an Amriteshwara temple of the time of the Kalyani Chalukyas. It was the birthplace of great Kannada Poet Pampa and there is a Jain basadi of Parshwanatha. It was once a headquarters of Belvola-300. It was the capital of Chalukya Someshwara 4. In addition to Veerashaiva Mathas; there is a ruined Banashankari Temple and seven mosques and also an ancient Veerabhadra temple.
• Bankapura : Under Chalukya many temples were raised in the city including the Nagareshwara temple in the fort and another chalukya temple called Siddheshwara. Ali Adilshahi destroyed many temples in about 1567. There is a mosque in the fort.
• Dambal : It was a Buddhist centre. There are two notable chalukya temples called Doddabasappa Temple and Somewshwara Temple. Doddabassapa as polygonal star shaped temple garbhagriha and fine sculptural representations and huge nandi Temple. Someshwara could have been an old basati. The temple has a 400-year-old vast tank. There is an old Ganapathi image in old ruined fort. And we can also find a huge Ganapathi image in a small shrine.
• Haveri: This town has Siddheshvara Temple that was built in the 12th century. Siddeshvara Temple situated in the heart of the city of Haveri, inside the well-maintained garden.
• Gadag: It is a twin city municipality and it is 55 km from Hubli-Dharward. It is a great centre of Kalyani Chalukyas art with the large Trikuteshwara temple. It has Sri Lakshmi Venkateshwara temple is situated at Venkatapura Taluk near Sortur, Gadag District. Temple was renovated by Brahmananda Swami, a devotee of Gondavalekar Maharaj a sage from Gondavale. It was later expanded by Kalyani Chalukyas into a vast complex. The complex has triple shrines once housing Shiva, Brahma and Surya. The Saraswathi temple has the shining decorative pillars, and the Saraswathi image, and it is one of the largest examples of Chalukya art. The place has Someshwara and Rameshwara temples of Chalukya style. It has Veeranarayana temple of Chalukya times.
• Lakkundi, 10 km from Gadag, Gadag District: There were 100 temples and 100 wells but now few can be visited. These include Brahma Jinalaya, Kasivisvesvara and Kalyani.
• Someshwara temple complex Lakshmeshwar in the Shirahatti Taluk, Gadag District, North Karnataka. The temple complex has the Someshwara temple of Shiva along with so many Shiva temples inside the fort-like compound.
• Galaganatha Galageshwara temple is located in the Haveri District. The temple has big open hall and pyramidal shaped Garbhagudi. The temple is situated along the Tungabhadra river.
• Chaudayyadanapura Mukteshwara temple, near Ranebennur in Haveri District, North Karnataka
• Mahadeva Temple in the Koppal district, North Karnataka, built during 1112 CE. This temple is an example of dravida articulation with a nagara superstructure. This Temple is also called Devalayagala Chakravarti in Kannada.
• Panchakuta Basadi, Kambadahalli in Mandya district was built in the 8th century. This temple is one of the finest examples of South Indian Dravidian architecture of the Western Ganga.
• Shambulinga Temple, Kundgol is about 15 km from Hubli-Dharwad. This place is famous for Hindustani music and Huge Shambulinga Temple.
• Hooli Panchalingeshwara Temple
• Lakshmeshwar has Someshwara temple complex, Jain Basadis.
• Kudalasangama has Sangamanatha temple which belongs to Chalukya. It is a Karma Bhumi of Basavanna. Kudalasangama development authority has developed this place as one of the International tourism place. From Kudalasangama Almatti Dam is about 12 km, it has got North Karnataka's biggest Rock Garden.

  Rashtrakuta dynasty

• Malkhed, Gulbarga District
• Naregal, Gadag District
• Belgaum Fort

  Kadamba dynasty

• Halasi

• Hangal

• Banavasi

Deccan Sultanates

• Bijapur: The former capital of the Adil Shahi Kings. Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of Muhammed Adil Shah and was built in 1659. It houses the world's second largest dome, unsupported by pillars. Malik-e-Maidan is a 55-ton cannon perched on a platform. The head of the cannon is fashioned into the shape of a lion whose jaws are trying to devour an elephant.
• Bidar: a centre for Bidriware. It is the location of the tombs of 30 rulers including the Chaukhandi of Hazrat Khalil-Ullah Shah and Sultan Ahmed Shah Al Wali Bahamani from the Bahamani dynasty.
• Gulbarga
• Raichur
• Lakshmeshwar: The Jumma Masjid, built during the rule of Adilshahi, has a large crowning onion dome and Koranic scripture written in gold.

  Rattas

• Saundatti: The town proper has a fort on the hill built during the 17th century, by Sirasangi Desai, with eight bastions. It was the capital of Rattas who later shifted their headquarters to Belgaum. There are two temples of Ankeshwara, Puradeshwara, Mallikarjuna, Venkateshwara and the Veerabhadra. The Renukasagar waters touch the outskirts of Saundatti. Tourist attractions of this region are Hooli Panchalingeshwara temple, Renuka temple, Saundatti Fort, Parasgad Fort, Navilateertha.

  Places of worship

• Devala Ganagapura, It is the second incarnation of Lord Dattatreya away from Afzalpur taluk around 25 km, Gulbarga District: It is 651 km from Bangalore. Sri Narasimha Saraswati stayed here for a long time and was granted a jagir by the Bahmani Sultan. The sultan believed that the saint had cured him of a large boil. The saint is treated by his followers as an incarnation of Dattatreya. The Saint has cured the Sultan of a serious boil. The Saint is treated as an incarnation of Dattatreya and devotees from Maharashtra and Karnataka. It is a very holy place.

  Jain Basadis

Buddhist temples

• Tara Bhagavati temples, Balligavi, Shiralkoppa
• Koliwada and Dambal, Gadag district
• Sannati and Kanaganahalli, Gulbarga District: remains of the razed stupas and a Buddhist plaques of Satavahana period were unearthed recently
• Aihole: Viharas
• Badami: Buddhist remains from the Badami Chalukyas period were found between caves two and three
• Mundgod, Uttara Kannada: Tibetan settlements with multi-coloured stupas and painted prayer halls
• Gulbarga: Two new viharas

  Shiva temples

Shakti Sthala

• Chandralamba, Sannati, Gulbarga
• Bagyawanti, Ghattaragi
• Mayavva, Chinchli
• Yellamma, Saundatti
• Banashankari, Badami, Bagalkote district
• Bhuvaneshwari, Hampi
• Varadahalli, Sagara, Karnataka
• Sigandur, Sagara, Karnataka
• Marikamba, Sagara, Karnataka
• Marikamba, Sirsi, Uttara Kannada
• Durga Parameshwari Kateel, Dakshina Kannada
• Mookambika Kollur, Udupi District
• Mysore Karnataka, Mysore District

  Temple tanks

• Agastya Teertha, Badami
• Mahakuta group of temples, near Badami
• Banashankari, near Badami
• Lakkundi, near Gadag
• Hampi

  Coastal Karnataka

• Gokarna: The Coastal town of Gokarna is a pilgrimage centre as well as a centre of Sanskrit learning, 56 km from Karwar. It has the Mahabaleswar Temple with the 'Atmalinga' dedicated to Shiva. There is an enormous chariot, which is taken out in a procession on Shiva's birthday in February. The Tambraparni Teertha here is considered sacred to perform obsequies of the dead. There is a beach called Om Beach.
• Udupi: One of the holy place and it is 58 km from Mangalore. The Krishna temple here is founded by Acharya Madhwa during the 14th century. He founded eight mathas to conduct the services of Lord Krishna in turns. Paryaya festival is held once in two years in January. The place has Kadiyali Durga temple, Ambalapadi Shakti temple, Raghavendra Matha and the Venkataraman swamy temple. Malpe is the port near here. It has a beach and the Vadabhandeshwara temple of Balarama.
• Thantrady : One of the holy place and it is 22 km from Udupi. The brammasthana temple here founded by sri Ramanna bairy. It was an astabanda bramha. The main archaka of this temple is Nagaraj bairy.

• Karkala: 50 km from Mangalore and 20 km from North of Moodabidire, is Karkala, an important centre of Jainism. There are several temples and a 17 metres high statue of Bahubali, situated on a small hill. The statue is a naked figure reached by a flight of rock-cut steps. Some of the temples are Chaturmukha Basti, Neminatha Basti, Ananthapadmanabha Temple dedicated to Vishnu, and Venkataramana temple.
• Venur: Situated 50 km NE of Mangalore, has eight Bastis and ruins of a Mahadeva temple. The largest of them is the 17C Kalli Basti, dedicated to Shantinatha. There is a Gommateshwara Monolith, 11metres high dating back to 1604 in Venur.
• Malpe Beach: Situated 66 km north of Mangalore, near Manipal. It has a tourist beach. The uninhibited St. Mary's Island, accessible by boat, has a beach and an impressive geological formation of basalt rock pillars into the sea.
• Dharmastala: Situated 75 km from Mangalore, Dharmastala is an attractive site surrounded by forested hills, rice fields and by the river Netravati on all sides. The Manjunatha temple here is a pilgrim centre. A Monolithic statue of Bahubali 14metres high was erected here in 1973. Visitors are provided with free boarding and lodging by the temple authorities. There is a small museum, Manjusha Museum located opposite to the temple. There are two temple chariots covered in wooden figures and all types of religious objects including carved and painted panels, bronze sculptures and bells.
• Kollur, 147 km from Mangalore: The temple of goddess Mookambika is located here on top of Kodachadri hill, at the foot of the Western Ghats. The goddess takes the form of a 'Jyotirlinga' incorporating aspects of Shiva and Shakti. It is a pilgrimage centre attracting lot of devotees.

• Moodabidre: Situated 35 km from Mangalore, Moodabidire has Jain temples known as Basti's. There are 18 Bastis, the oldest and the largest is the Chandranatha Basti with its 1000 pillared hall. 'The Jain Matha' near the entrance has an important collection of manuscripts. Other shrines worthy of mention are Shantinatha, Settara, Derama Setti Basti, Guru Basti, Kote and Vikrama Setti Basti.
• Bhatkal: located 135 km from Karwar was the main port of Vijayanagar empire in the 16th century. The ancient town has temples of Vijayanagar style and many Jain monuments. The 17th-century Hindu temple here in Vijayanagar style has animal carvings. 16 km away is the shore temple of Shri Murdeshwar. The temple attracts a lot of devotees and tourists.
• Honnavar: situated 90 km from Karwar, has a Portuguese fort. There is also a fort in Basavaraja Durga Island, amidst the sea which can be reached by a sail upstream on river Sharavathi.
• Ankola: Located 37 km south of Karwar, is a small town with 15th-century ruined walls of King Sarpamalika's fort and the ancient Shri Venketaraman Temple. Near the temple there are two giant wooden chariots carved with scenes from the Ramayana.

• Murdeshwar: The Murdeshwar Temple in Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka now possesses at 249-feet Raja Gopura. The Murdeswar temple complex is renowned for the tallest idol of Lord Shiva in the world, which is 123 feet. The latest addition to the temple, thanks to Mr. RN Shetty an entrepreneur and philanthropist, is the Rajagopuram, which was opened on 12 April 2008. And is it the tallest Hindu Temple Gopuram in the World. If Gopuram can be considered as a unique ornate structure associated with Hindu Temples, then the Gopura of Murdeshwar Temple in Karnataka should be the tallest in the world.

  Beaches

Planetarium

• : Situated near Cubbon park, Bangalore. It organizes the shows in English and Kannada. Moreover, it has science center for educational activities.
• Swami Vivekananda Planetarium: Situated at Pilikula in Mangalore, it is the 1st 3D Planetarium in India.

  South Karnataka

• Bengaluru: the capital of Karnataka has many tourist attractions.
• Mandya: is a city, Sugar factories contribute majorly to the economy of the city. The Mandir of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba popular amongst local Sai Devotees as Mandyada Shri Shiradi Sai Baba Mandir is situated at B.Gowdagere, Gejjalagere village amidsts picturesque natural surrounding in Mandya District of Karnataka. The Mandir is situated at a distance of about 9.3 kilometers from Maddur town and about 12 kilometers from Mandya Town on Bangalore-Mysore State Highway. All the buses playing on Bangalore-Mysore route stops at B.Gowdagere Sai Baba Mandir Entrance situated on the highway. The temple is situated at a distance of just 1 kilometre from the main road. The Mandir is lovingly addressed by everyone as "Namma Tatathana Mane".
• Belur: Home to the Hoysala temple complex. The Chennakeshava temple here was completed in 1116 by Hoysala Vishnuvardhana. The image is 3.7 m tall and the temple standing on a platform has exquisite plastic art work on its outer walls and bracket figures of dancing girls in various poses in perfect proportion. There are shrines of Kappe Chenniga Andal, Saumya Nayaki etc. The temple here is a classic example of Hoysala art, and Belur was one of the Hoysala Capitals.

• Halebidu: It is 27 km from Hassan, was capital of Hoysala and it was formerly called as Dwarasamudra. It has one of the finest Hoysala temples said to have been started by Ketamalla, a commander of Vishnuvardhana in 1121. The twin Shiva Temples, Hoysaleswara Temple and Kedareshwara Temple with a common platform and two garbhagrihas, one houses for Vishnuvardhana Hoysaleshwara Linga and the other for Shanthaleshwara Linga. In front of Hoysaleshwara is the Nandimantapa and behind that is shrine of Surya with a two-meter-tall image. Outer walls have rows of intricate figures narrating episodes from epics like Ramyana, Mahabartha, and Bhagavata. There are also three Jain basadis equally rich in architecture. The temples are proposed to be listed under UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• Arasikere: It is 41 km from Hassan and 176 km from Bangalore. It has coconut gardens. There is a Kattameshwara temple here which is also called Chandramoulishwara and referred to as Kalmeshwara in the records. It is a fine Hoysala monument with a rare polygonal frontal Mantapa with special design. There is a fine Haluvokkalu Temple and also a Sahasrakuta Jinalaya. Malekal Tirupathi near Arasikere has a venkataramana temple visited by many devotees.
• Aralaguppe: There is a Kalleshwara temple in the Ganga-Nalamba style of the 9th century. Its ceiling has a dancing Shiva sculpture with musical accompanists and eight Dikpalas surrounding him with all their paraphernalia. There is a Chennakeshava temple of the Hoysala style. An image of Vishnu lies in the garbhagriha. There are four Ganga temples.
• Madhugiri: It is 43 km from Tumkur and has a large hill fort. The ancient name of the place is Maddagiri. It has the temples of Venkataramana and Malleshwara built by Vijayanagara feudatories. There is also a Mallinatha basadi. The fort has gateways called Antaralada Bagilu, Diddibagilu, Mysore Gate etc. 19 km from here is another hill fort called Midigeshi.
• Madikeri or Mercara: Known as Scotland of India, Mercara known for its climate. It has many places of attraction such as Tala Cauvery, Nagarahole National Park, Abbe Water Falls, St. Mark's Church, Bagamandala, Cauvery Nisargadhama, Belegiri Hills, Thadiyanda Murali Kund, Igguthappa Temple, Irupu Falls And Coffee & Tea Estates.

• Srirangapattana: It is 14 km from Mysore & it is an island in between two branches of the Cauvery. It was also the capital of the Mysore rulers. There is a Ranganath temple here. The fort here was built in 1454. The Mysore rules made it their capital in 1610 in the days of Raja Wodeyar, who took it from the Vijayanagara Governor. The Ranganatha temple is called Adi Ranga. Ganjam has Dariya Daulat palace of Tipu and Gumbaz, the mausoleum of Haider and Tipu. Both are impressive structures of Indo-Saracenic style. The palace has paintings, fine woodwork and it houses a museum.
• Melukote: It is a religious centre which attracts lakhs of people during its annual feast Vairamudi. The temple was reconstructed in the Hoysala style by Visnuvardhana with the guidance of Ramanujacharya, a Visistadvaitist, in the 11th century. There are Cheluvanarayanaswamy temple, Kalyani, Hill shrine of Lord Narasimha, Thottilamadu, Dhanuskoti, Academy of Sanskrit Research and many more to visit. The nearest tourist places are Thondanur, Srirangapatna, Karigatta, Nagamangala etc.,
• Mahadeshwara Betta: It is 220 km from Bangalore and 142 km from Mysore. It is very close to eastern Ghats. It is said that a saint called Mahadeshwara, who could ride a tiger, lived and had his gadduge here during the 14th and 15th centuries. The hill is full of thick forests and thousands of pilgrims visit the place.
• Talakadu: A Holy place on the banks of the Cauvery. It is full of sands, carried by the wind from the dried bed of the river. It was the second capital of the Gangas. They built the Pataleshwara and the Maruleshwara templeshere. Hoysala Vishnuvardhana built Kirti Narayana temple.

• Bhadravathi: It is an industrial town in Shimoga district 256 km away from Bangalore, which was earlier known as "Benkipura". There is a 13th-century Lakshminarayan Temple in Hoysala style. An iron and steel works, a cement factory and a paper factory are located on the banks of Bhadra river.
• Ikkeri: It was a capital town of the Keladi Nayakas from 1512, and a place is 2 km from Sagara City. The Aghoreshwara temple is a 16th-century monument of great attraction. There is also a Paravathi temple nearby. Keladi is another place nearby, the original capital. It has the Rameshwara and Veerabhadra temples. There is also a museum.
• Sravanabelgola: It has a statue of Lord Bahubali. The place is an important Jain pilgrimage center and has a long history. The 17 meter high statue of Bahubali is said to be the tallest monolithic structure in the world. It overlooks the small town of Shravanbelgola from the top of the rocky hill known as Indragiri. One can reach this hill after ascending 614 rock-cut steps.
• Somnathpura: It is the home to one of the best examples of Hoysala temple architecture, the Kesava Temple.
• Jog Falls: the highest waterfalls in India, is located about 30 km from Sagara City, Karnataka. The Sharavati river drops 253 metres in 4 separate falls known as Rani-the Rocket and Raja-the Roarer. The highest is the Raja with the fall of 253 metres and a pool below 40metres deep. The best time to visit is Late November to early January. The 50 km long Hirebhasgar Reservoir and the Linganamkki dam regulates the flow of the Sharavati river to generate the hydro electricity.
• Mekedatu: It is a picnic spot by the river Cauvery. It tumbles down through a deep ravine, on top of which is a chasm around 5 meters wide. Mekedatu is on Kanakapura Road.
• Hesaraghatta: Hesaraghatta has an artificial lake, a dairy and a horticulture farm. Boating and windsurfing are the other attractions. Also here is the Nrityagrama where young dancers are trained in all disciplines of traditional dance.
• Shivagange: A hill with four faces, rising to a height of 4599 ft looks like a Nandi from the East, Ganesh from the West, A Linga from the South and Cobra with it hood spread from the North side. It is accessible by road.
• Shivanasamudram: The waterfalls, the Ganganchukki and the Bharachukki, cascade down 90 meters. These falls are the source of Asia's first Hydro Electric Power Station called "Shimsa". The falls are in full splendour during July–August. The falls are 122 km from Bangalore.
• Hogenakkal Falls: These are also known as the 'smoking rocks' because of the mist. At the bottom of the 90 ft water falls, one can ride in a coracle.
• Devarayanadurga: This is a hill station of Tumkur road perched at a height of 3940 feet. A few kilometres from foot of the hills is a natural spring called Namada Chilume.

  Palaces

• Bangalore Palace
• Mysore Palace,Also known as Ambavilas Palace
• Nalknad Palace
• Rajendra Vilas
• Jaganmohan Palace
• Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion
• Lalitha Mahal
• Rajendra Vilas
• Cheluvamba Mansion, Mysore
• Shivappa Nayaka Palace
• Daria Daulat Bagh

  Forts

• Malliabad Fort
• Jaladurga
• Bahaddur Bandi Fort
• Kyadigera Fort
• Bidar Fort
• Basavakalyana Fort
• Bhalki Fort
• Manyakheta Fort
• Kittur Fort
• Parasgad Fort
• Belgaum Fort
• Saundatti Fort
• Ramdurg Fort
• Bailhongal Fort
• Hooli Fort
• Gokak Fort
• Shirasangi Fort
• Bijapur Fort
• Gajendrgad Fort
• Korlahalli Fort
• Hammigi Fort
• Hemagudda Fort
• Mundargi Fort
• Singatalur Fort
• Tippapura Fort
• Nargund Fort
• Magadi Fort
• Jamalabad Fort
• Barkur Fort
• Daria-Bahadurgad Fort
• Kapu Fort
• Havanur Fort
• Mirjan Fort
• Sadashivgad Fort
• Asnoti
• Sanduru Fort
• Bellary Fort
• Adoni Fort
• Koppal Fort
• Anegundi Fort
• Kampli Fort
• Irakalgada
• Gulbarga Fort
• Sedam Fort
• Shahpur Fort
• Aihole Fort
• Badami Fort
• Bankapura Fort
• Savanur Fort
• Chitradurga Fort
• Devanahalli Fort
• Vanadurga Fort
• Channagiri Fort
• Kavaledurga Fort
• Basavaraj durga fort
• Uchangidurga Fort
• Budikote|
• Fort Anjediva
• Gudibanda
• Wagingera Fort
• Bangalore Fort
• Bhimgad Fort
• Kammatadurga
• Pavagada
• Madikeri Fort
• Savandurga
• Makalidurga|
• Vanadurga
• Sanmudageri
• Vishalgad
• Nagara Fort
• Basavaraja Fort
• Rayadurg
• Huthridurga
• Ambajidurga|
• Manjarabad Fort
• Skandagiri
• Hosadurga
• Nagara Fort
• Sathyamangalam Fort
• Tekkalakote Fort
• Thirthahalli Fort
• Raichur Fort

  Botanical and Rock gardens

• Lalbagh
• Brindavan Gardens
• Cubbon Park
• The Botanical Garden, University of Agricultural Sciences
• Karnataka University Botany Garden, Karnataka University
• Pampavana Garden, Munirabad
• University of Mysore Botanic Garden, University of Mysore
• Curzon Park, Mysore
• Nishat Baugh, Mysore
• Forest Research Centre Botanic Garden
• Utsav Rock Garden, Shiggaon: Sculptural Garden located near NH-4 Pune-Bangalore road, Gotagodi Village, Shiggaon Taluk, Haveri District, Karnataka. is a sculptural garden representing contemporary art and rural culture. A typical village is created where men and women are involved in their daily household activities.A unique picnic spot which delights common people, educated and intellectuals. There are more than 1000 sculptures in the garden of different sizes. It is an anthropological museum. It represents traditional farming, crafts, folklore, cattle herding and sheep rearing.

  Hill stations

• Agumbe, Shimoga District
• Kodachadri, Shimoga District
• Biligiriranga Hills, Chamarajanagar District
• Baba Budangiri, Chikkamagaluru District
• Kemmangundi, Chikkamagaluru District
• Kudremukh, Chikkamagaluru District
• Mullayanagiri
• Pushpagiri
• Nandi Hills, Chikkaballapur district
• Kundadri
• Tadiandamol
• Talakaveri
• Male Mahadeshwara Hills
• Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
• Ambaragudda
• Antara Gange
• Savandurga
• Kurinja
• Yedakumeri
• Siddara Betta
• Bananthimari Betta
• Skandagiri
• Devarayanadurga
• Madhugiri hill station

National parks and wildlife

Wildlife sanctuaries

• Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, near to Hubli-Dharwad, Uttara Kannada: spread over 834.16 km², it is the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka and is contiguous with the Mahaveer sanctuary in Goa.
• Ghataprabha Bird Sanctuary: small bird sanctuary incorporating the wetland along the river. It was established in 1974 and encompasses an area of 29 km².
• Daroji Bear Sanctuary, 15 kilometers from Hampi.
• Peacock sanctuary in Bankapura, Shiggon taluk: Bankpur Fort is the second sanctuary in India exclusively engaged in the conservation and breeding of peacocks. It is also home to a variety of other birds.
• Ranebennur blackbuck sanctuary, Haveri district: declared a wildlife sanctuary on 17 June 1974, with a core area of 14.87 km and a buffer zone of 104.13 km for tourists. It is divided into three blocks namely Hulathi, Hunasikatti and Alageri for administrative purposes. The vegetation comprises mainly scrub forests and eucalyptus plantations. Other resident fauna include wild pigs, foxes, jackals and wolves.
• Deva Raya Wildlife Sanctuary, near Hampi, Bellary District: A privately owned sanctuary, named after kings of the Vijayanagar Empire.
• Attiveri Bird Sanctuary, near to Hubli-Dharwad, Uttara Kannada district: spread over an area of about 2.23 km², the sanctuary is located in and around the Attiveri reservoir.
• Anshi National Park, Uttara Kannada: A habitat for tigers, leopards and elephants, about 340 square kilometres in size. Adjoins the Dandeli wildlife sanctuary.
• Magadi Bird Sanctuary, Shirahatti Taluk, Gadag District
• Bhimagada Sanctuary, Belgaum District
• Adichunchanagiri Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Melukote Temple Wildlife Sanctuary: This is located in Mandya district
• Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary
• Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary
• Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
• Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Sagara Taluk
• Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary:
• Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary: This is located in Udupi district
• Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary: This is located in Kodagu district
• Gudavi Bird Sanctuary: This is located in Shimoga district and is spread over 0.73 km². The tree species that dominate this sanctuary are Vitex leucoxylon and Phyllanthus polyphyllus. 191 species of birds are recorded here including white ibis, pheasant-tailed jacana, purple moorhen and little grebe.
• Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary
• Kaggaladu Heronry: This is located in Tumkur district and is one of the largest painted storks sanctuary in South India. Some of the birds that nest here are painted storks, grey herons, pelicans, black stilts and ducks.
• Kokkare Bellur
• Bankapura Peacock Sanctuary: This is located in Haveri district and spread over an area of. This sanctuary was created mainly for the conservation of peacocks.
• Bonal Bird Sanctuary : This is located about 10 km from Shorapur city in Yadgir district.

Dams and Resorvoir in Karnataka

• Almatti Dam across Krishna River
• Basava Sagara Dam, Lingsugur
• Bennethora Reservoir, near Harsur, Gulbarga district
• Bhadra Dam across Bhadra River
• Chakra Dam on the Chakra river
• Chikahole Dam, Chamarajnagar
• Daroji Reservoir, near Hospet, Bellary district
• Devarabelekere Reservoir, Davanagere district
• Dhupdal Dam, River Ghataprabha: constructed in 1883 with a nearby inspection bungalow
• Dhup Reservoir across Ghataprabha, Gokak
• Gajanuru Dam across Tunga River
• Gayathri Reservoir
• Garura Dam Krishna River
• Gersoppa dam /Sharawathi tailrace
• Harangi Reservoir Kushalnagar, Kodagu Dist
• Hemavathi Reservoir, Hassan Dist
• Hidkal Jalashaya across Ghataprabha
• Iglooru Dam across shimsha river, Mandya Dist
• Kabini Reservoir Beechanahalli, H.D Kote, Mysore Dist
• Kadra Dam, Uttara Kannada district
• Kanva Reservoir
• Karanja Reservoir, Halikhed, Bidar District
• Kempu Hole Dam
• Kodasalli Dam
• Krishna Raja Sagara Dam on Kaveri River
• Lakkavali Dam across Bhadra river
• Linganamakki Dam on Sharavathi River in Sagara Taluk
• Manchinabeli Dam
• Mani Reservoir, near Thirthahalli, Shimoga district
• Munirabad, Koppal District
• Marconhalli Dam, Kunigal, Tumkur Dist
• Nagara Reservoir, near Nagara, Shimoga district
• Narayanapur
• Narayanpur Dam downstream of Almatti Dam
• Nugu Dam, Beerwal, H.D.Kote, Mysore Dist
• Naviltheertha Dam across Malaprabha
• Thumbe Dam across Nethravathi river
• Renuka Sagara Reservoir, Saundatti, Belgaum district
• Savehaklu Reservoir, near Thirthahalli, Shimoga district
• Shanti Sagara or Sulekere Reservoir, Chinnagiri, Davanagere district
• Shirur Dam, near Ankalgi, Belgaum district
• Supa Dam across Kali River, Ganeshgudi near Dandeli and Joida
• Suvarnawathi Dam, Chamarajnagar
• Talakalale Balancing Reservoir, near Sagara, Shimoga district
• Taraka Reservoir, H.D.Kote, Mysore Dist
• Tungabhadra Dam
• Thippagondanahalli Reservoir
• Vani Vilasa Sagara,, Hiriyur, Chitradurga Dist
• Watehole Dam, near Arehalli, Hassan Dist
• Yagachi Dam on the Yagachi River, Belur Taluka, Hassan District
• Gayathri reservoir, Hiriyur taluk, Chitradurga Dist

  Caves

• Aihole
• Badami cave temples
• Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple
• Nellitheertha Cave Temple
• Hulimavu Shiva cave temple
• Pandava caves Mangalore
• Savandurga
• Kavala Caves
• Anthargange

  Waterfalls

• Gokak Falls, Ghataprabha River, near Gokak, Belgaum district: It drops from 52 metres over a sandstone cliff in a gorge. It is known locally as "mini Niagara" Hydro Electric Power has been harnessed at the falls since 1887 to run a cotton mill. Temples near the falls date from Badami Chalukyas to later Chalukya times and Vijayanagara periods. A suspension bridge crosses the river
• Godachinamalki Falls, Markhandeya River, near Godachinamalki, Belgaum district.
• Lushington Falls, Aghanashini River, Siddhapur Taluk: 116 meters in height and named after a district collector who discovered them in 1845
• Magod Falls, Gangavathi River, 125 km from Karwar: 183 metres in height, consists of a series of cascades over cliffs
• Varapoha Falls, Mahadayi River, in the Jamboti forest

  Eco-tourism

Adventure and outdoor activities

• Yana, Uttara Kannada
• Ramanagara, 50 km from Bangalore.
• Shivagange, Bangalore district
• Tekal, Kolar district
• Turahalli Forest
• Hampi
• Kunti Betta
• Anthargange, Kolar
• Skandagiri, Bangalore
• Devarayandurga, Tumkur
• Karadigudda, Magadi

• Dandeli
• Tadiyandamol Trek
• Kodachadri Trek
• Bheemeshwari Trek
• Kudremukh Trek
• Shakaleshpur Trek
• Dabbe falls
• Karwar Beach trek
• Madhugiri Fort Trek
• Sawandurga Trek
• Agumbe Rain Forest trek
• Makalidurga Trek
• Kumara Parvatha Trek
• Green Route

  Healthcare tourism

The Golden Chariot

Administration