Karnataka has been ranked as fourth most popular destination for tourism among states of India. It has the highest number of national protected monuments in India, at 507.
Kannada dynasties like Kadambas, eastern Gangas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagaras and the Kingdom of Mysore ruled from what is today Karnataka. They built great monuments to Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. These monuments are preserved at Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal, Mahakuta, Hampi, Lakshmeshwar, Sudi, Hooli, Mahadeva Temple (Itagi),Dambal, Lakkundi, Gadag, Hangal, Halasi, Galaganatha, Chaudayyadanapura, Banavasi, Belur, Halebidu, Sringeri, Shravanabelagola, Sannati, Nanjangud, Mysore, Nandi Hills, Kolar, Mudabidri,Gokarna, Bagali, Kuruvatti and many more. Notable Islamic monuments are present at Bijapur, Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur and other part of the state. Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur, has the second largest pre-modern dome in the world after the Byzantine Hagia Sophia. Karnataka has two World heritage sites, at Hampi and Pattadakal. Bellary one of the historical place to see and charist, we can see the forts which were built by the great Tippu Sultan for protection.
Karnataka is famous for its waterfalls. Jog falls of Shimoga District is second highest waterfalls in Asia. This state has 21 wildlife sanctuaries and five National parks and is home to more than 500 species of birds. Karnataka has many beaches at Karwar, Gokarna, Murdeshwara, Surathkal. Karnataka is a rock climbers paradise. Yana in Uttara Kannada, Fort in Chitradurga, Ramnagara near Bengaluru district, Shivagange in Tumkur district and tekal in Kolar district are a rock climbers heaven. Utsav Rock Garden in Shiggaon, Uttar Kannada.
List of 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,Shivappa Nayaka
- Daria Daulat Bagh
Hill Stations:
The Hill stations in Karnataka are generally unexplored and more pristine than better known ones in South India.
- Agumbe, Shimoga District
- Kodachadri, Shimoga District
- Biligiriranga Hills, Chamarajanagar District
- Baba Budangiri, Chikkamagaluru District
- Kemmangundi, Chikkamagaluru District
- Kudremukh, Chikkamagaluru District
- Mullayanagiri
- Pushpagiri(or Kumara Parvatha)
- 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
List of Wildlife Sanctuaries:
- Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, near to Hubli-Dharwad (70 km), 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 Kanada 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:
- 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, purplr 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 139.10 acres (0.5629 km2). 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.
