Here are the best places to visit in Karnataka.
1. Bangalore
Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka is the third most populated city in India. It is well known by its nickname the silicon valley of India it is a major exporter of IT in India. Bengaluru is named in Kannada language which literally means the city of guards. Various places, temples, lakes, and forts are good places to visit thus the town is famous for both modern and ancient place to visit.
Antara Gange is about 70 km from Bangalore. If you like adventure and explore nature, then this hill station is the best place that suits you. There are many caves and rock formations that can be surprised. A tour guide is recommended as there are wild animals in the vicinity. Hike in Antara Gange is suitable in the morning because the temperature is very low. When you hike take your food from Kolar town.
Another wonderful place along the beautiful Cauvery River, Muthathi is the perfect place for a picnic. Parfait is one of the most delicious ice cream available in Ideal ice cream or Pabba’s ice cream parlor in Lal Bagh. It is must try for sure.
The Ramakrishna Math in Bangalore is one of the largest and oldest places in India. The center was built in 1908 by some modest followers of Swami Vivekananda, and today it is more than that. The Ramakrishna Math has a temple, a bookstore, a library and an open air auditorium. It is located in Basavangudi, near the Bull Temple and attracts many people seeking answers to spiritual questions. Ramakrishna Math also has a branch in Ulsoor.
The bookstore is full of information about Swami Vivekananda. Ramakrishna Math is not really a tourist place, but a place where you can take your children to introduce them to the concept of spirituality.
Many say that Begur is where Bangalore was born. The small municipality near Bangalore has a fort. The fort is located near a small temple and is a place purely for history buffs. The fort is located on the road to Bangalore-Hosur and is one of the places in the Heritage Intach Walks (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage).
Located on Mysore road in the outskirts of the city, Rasta cafe attracts young crowd who wish to chill out with Hookah and plenty of good food. It just takes about hour and half to drive there from any corner. There is even 24x7 coffee day just beside the cafe if you want to sip some fresh coffee before driving back home.
Bangalore, the Garden City of India, has innumerable places to visit. However, one must plan wisely about which place to go in which month. But you need to filter, as the beauty of the places here is not perennial. Shiva Samudra, Mekedatu, Dodda Alada Mara (Big Banyan Tree), Sivaganga, Innovative film City, Hognekal Falls, Bhimeshwari, Mysore, Tirupati Balaji. These are common destinations and usually remain flooded with tourists.
Surprisingly, there are few places about which even many Bangaloreans are unaware. 80 kilometers from Bangalore and 10 kilometers before Tumkur, Mandargiri Hills blossoms out from June to January. The view from atop the hills seems like the land is glazed with bushes and trees. There is an ancient Jain temple atop, one would like to visit. The climb is about 300 steps with stunning landscape as far as you can see.
Behind the hills, is a lake surrounded by large rocks that has perennial water. The vibes just connect your heart to mother nature.
Read More: Places to Visit in Bangalore
2. Bidar
Easily accessible from Hyderabad, Bidar offers a lot of historical monuments and sites from different periods and showcases the unique craftsmanship of the Hindu, Turkish and Persian artisans who worked on the monuments. Visit the formidable Bidar Fort, Gumbaz Darwaza, Baridi Tombs and the ancient Papanasam temple to Lord Shiva which dates back to the times of Rama.
Do buy souvenirs of the extremely artistic Bidri handicraft works of metal ware inlaid with pure silver. Located on the edge of the Bidar plateau, Bidar Fort is an important historical monument in Karnataka. In the heart of Bidar is Chaubara, an ancient clock tower. Located in Bidar, Narasimha Jhira Cave Temple is one of the main tourist attractions of Karnataka.
The temple is in a tunnel 300 meters below the range of the Manichoola hill. It is believed that the Sanctuary in the cave temple of Narasimha Jharni is a swayambu or self manifests sculpture. A perennial stream of water is said to flow continuously for hundreds of years in this place making it a significant places to visit in Karnataka.
3. Shravanabelagola
For a different kind of romantic experience, you can consider a trip to Shravanabelagola, which is known for high and imposing 2300 year old monolith statue of Bahubali, fist Jain Tirthankara, who is 58 feet tall, 26 feet wide and 10 feet long. Located in the middle of the two hills, Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri, Shravanabelagola is a picturesque city in the Hassan region.
The city attracts millions of tourists from different corners of the world during the Mahamastakabhisheka festival, which is held once every 12 years. The statue of Bahubali is among the must see in Karnataka. Gommateshwara statue is a 57-foot tall statue that stands on a hill in Shravanabelagola, in the Hassan district.
4. Hassan
About 150 kilometers from Bangalore, Holenarsipura is a small village and sugarcane plantation belt. This being a catchment area, faces heavy rainfall. In the mornings, one can behold many different and colorful birds around the dam there. The area faces strong wind too, so much that a small wind farm has been developed there. A drive with the breeze touching your skin and so many windmills on the hills around the road is beyond words.
Shettihalli Rosary Church is one of the famous places in Karnataka. This church remains submerged under water during monsoon but comes out of it during summer season.
5. Gulbarga
Officially known as Kalaburagi, Gulbarga was once a part of the State of Hyderabad under Nizam rule. At the height of its glory, Gulbarga was the capital of the Bahmani Sultans and has a history dating back to the 6th century. Two rivers flow through this town, the Krishna and the Bhima. The Bahmani Fort has 15 majestic towers and the Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah is the tomb of the sacred Sufi saint of the same name.
The sprawling Jama Masjid of Gulbarga Fort, built in 1367 AD, covers an area of 38,000 square feet.This place is well known as it is believed that it was home to ancient kingdoms of south with buildings and monuments. The local cuisine of this place is amazing and we should at least once try them all out.
6. Kudremukh
The Jamalabad Fort is situated in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka and one of the important places to visit near Mangalore. It is an old hilltop fortification which is located in the Kudremukh Hills, 65 km from Mangalore.
The fort is situated at an elevation of 1700 feet and was formerly called the Narasimha Ghada. It is also called the Jamalagadda or Gadaikallu. The Jamalabad Fort was built by Tipu Sultan who was impressed by the large granitic structure which favoured the construction of a strong fort. He named the fort after his mother Jamalabee. The fort boasts of excellent architecture and was built over the ruins of an older structure.
The fort can be reached through a narrow path which has about 1876 steps, cut in granite and leading all the way to the top. This was constructed in order to ensure the safety of the fort from attacks by large armies. Interestingly, there is only one tank to store water inside the fort. The fort is more or less in a shambles now but the remnants of a giant cannon can still be seen.
The fort was captured by the British in 1799 during the fourth Mysore War. It is said that those who favoured Tipu Sultan were thrown to their deaths from the fort walls.
Jamalabad is a very popular trekking destination and has been classified as a medium difficulty trekking site. The view from the top of the fort is extremely rewarding as it presents a panoramic view of the surroundings, which makes it one of the important places to visit near Mangalore.
Visitors can gather their passes from a forest checkpost situated at the base of the hill. Since there is no store or outlet selling potable water, it is advisable that all guests carry enough water with them. Entry into the fort is allowed from 6 am to 6 pm and overnight stay is not allowed. There is a single room at the top of this hilltop fort.
The Hanumanagundi Falls is also known as the Suthanabbe Falls. It is situated in the hilly surroundings of the Kudremukh National Park and is an important tourist place to visit near Mangalore.
The Kudremukh National Park is situated in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka and is known to be apopular trekking and hiking destination. The Hanumangundi Falls is situated between Karkala and the Lakya Dam in the Kudremukh National Park. The Hanumangundi Falls boasts of great natural beauty with a mystical spray that forms a misty cover over the lush green vegetation that surrounds it.
The height of the waterfall is 22 metres.The Hanumangundi Falls is situated at a distance of 32 km from Kalasa. The waterfall is named after the Hindu deity Hanuman. The name is formed from two words Hanuman and Gundi which means a gorge. The site boasts of immense natural beauty and visitors can reach this beautiful waterfall by climbing 400 steps that lead to this amazing spray.
The beautiful Hanumangundi Falls is maintained by the Forest Department of the state government. The Hanumangundi Falls is an excellent site for sightseeing, hiking, trekking, etc. Visitors can also be seen bathing in the warm waters of the waterfall. The waterfall is situated inside the Kudremukh National Park, which is an important conservation ground and tourist place near Mangalore.
Visitors are not allowed to stay inside the Kudremukh National Park and hence only day trips are allowed to the Hanumangundi Falls. You can visit this beautiful waterfall and feast your eyes on the natural beauty of the destination during your trip. If you are an adventure lover, you can also indulge in activities such as trekking and hiking during the trip to Hanumangundi Falls. All trips are led by experienced guides.
7. Vijayapura
What if you spend your romantic vacation with your partners in the historical heritage, against the backdrop for a romantic getaway? Well, such a beautiful background is what you can expect from Bijapur, also known as Vijaypura or the city of Victoria. Among the most popular places to visit in Karnataka, Bijapur is known for its historical remains such as Gol Gumbaz, Archaeological Museum, Ibrahim Rauza, King Edward VII Memorial, Chand Bawdi and many more places. Gol Gumbaz of Bijapur is another important heritage and monument in Karnataka.
8. Venur
Venur is a small village in South Kanara of Karnataka and one of the important places to visit near Mangalore. The village is situated on the banks of the River Phalguni. The village was the capital of the erstwhile capital of the Ajila dynasty and was also the seat of Jainism.
It is one of the important tourist places near Mangalore and an integral part of the Dharmasthala-Moodabidri-Karakal tourist circuit route of Karnataka. Venur had served as the capital of Thimmana Ajila who built a gigantic Gomateshwara statue, which has a height of 38 feet.
The colossal statue of Venur is the shortest among all the three Gomateshwara, which are situated within a radius of 250 km.
The most important tourist attraction in Venur is the colossal statue of Lord Gomateshwara, also known as Bhagwan Bahubali. The statue is believed to have been sculptured by Amarashilpi Jakanchari. The statue is situated on the banks of the River Phalguni and faces the West direction. This beautiful statue is one of the five stupendous statues of Gomateshwara that are over 20 feet and are found in the state of Karnataka.
The other statues are situated in Shravanabelagola, Karkala, Dharmasthala and Gommatagiri. There are also several temples in Venur. Some of the most important of these temples are the Mahalingeshwara temple, the Aiyyapa Swamy temple, and the Shri Rama Temple, among others.The most important event that happens in Venur is the Mahamastakabhisheka.
The Mahamastakabhisheka is held once in every 12 years. Hundreds and thousands of devotees gather at Venur to bathe and anoint the monolith of Lord Gomateshwara with milk, water, saffron, sandalwood, vermilion, etc. The event is one of the five centres where this ceremony is held and tens and thousands of devotees and pilgrims gather at Venur from all over the country and the world.
The coast of Karnataka is fully filled with lovely backwaters, rivers, and lakes. These beautiful places are relatively unknown which is ultimately good nowadays.
Bhatkal beach is as beautiful as Gokarna and Udupi without the crowd of the respective places. This fact Bhatkal the perfect destination for anyone seeking a hidden-away beach experience.
9. Shivamogga
When it comes to deal going for a romantic vacation and honeymoons, there is no better place than a hill station. And when it comes to the hill stations there is nothing better than Shimoga. With varied landscapes and attractive. This impressive hill station getaway has something to offer for everyone! In impressive Shimoga, you can visit the high and mighty Jog falls and jungles of Agumbe.
Take the boat ride in the Honnemaradu and go for a bird watching tour to see the birds of Gudavi. It borders with Kundapur in Udupi. This is in Soraba taluk. Many types of birds visit here during the breeding season, which is from August to October. In its western part, it is almost perpendicular to the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, home of the endangered lion-tailed macaque.
The Sowparnika River flows into the valley beyond the hills and empties into the Arabian Sea near the famous Maravanthe Beach. The river has large tracts of mangrove forests rich in aquatic delights, such as tiger prawns and crabs. Occasionally, it is said that fishermen found crocodiles in these forests.
Davanagere is located at a distance of 260 kilometers from Bangalore. Kundavada kere also known as Mallikarjuna sagara is a picturesque lake. Soole kere also known as Shanti Sagara has a temple dedicated to Siddeshwara near the lake. An important attraction of Davanagere is the Durgambika Devi fair. Murugha Mutt (Shivayogi mandir) is located in the heart of the city and several religious and cultural programs are organized here.
Davanagere benne dose or Davanagere Butter dosa is an icon of Davanagere. It is prepared by adding generous amount of benne (butter) along with coconut chutney and special white alu sabzi (normally alu sabzi are greenish yellow in color). Mandagadde is a small island in Tunga river. During the rainy season, lower parts of trees gets submerged and birds can be seen sitting on top of trees.
Honnemaradu is a small island located in its midst of Linganamakki Reservoir on the backwaters of the Sharavathi River. This region gives the most rugged experience of camping and trekking.
10. Dandeli
Dandeli has the second largest wildlife sanctuary in India. The wildlife sanctuary has tigers, exotic snakes, elephants, black panthers, and leopards, also it has 300 bird species which make this a perfect vacation spot with family. If you are craving for adrenaline pumping adventures, there is no better place than Dandeli.
If you want to enjoy adventure stuff on a tour to Karnataka you can look for river rafting in Dandeli in Uttara Kannada, Dubare and Coorg. Make sure you have experienced and good team who conducts these rafting sessions as it can be too much dangerous if not performed in a proper way as well ensure to wear a life jacket always whenever you go for river rafting.
It has many water sports, almost through out the year, like White Water Rafting, Kayaking, Jacuzzi (my favorite), Zorbing, River crossing etc.
11. Karwar
Located at the crossroads of the Arabian Sea and the Kali River, Karwar is a small town full of pristine beaches and perfect images. Dolphin watching, banana boat rides, scuba diving and kayaking are favorite activities in the area. And the most important thing to experience in Karwar is its delicious cuisine, whose main ingredients are fish, rice and coconut.
Godhi Kadubu made of wheat, rice and urad powder mixed in proper measurement is steamed for about 5–10 min. Its best with Menthe Chutney with bit of ghee on it. Avalakki is similar to poha. Joladh rotti or Jowar rotti made of jowar is best with mulgai palya (brinjal sabsi), kalin palya (pulse sabzi) and with saaru (sambar).
Dharwad peda has been accorded GI tag. The ingredients include milk, sugar and Dharwadi buffalo milk.
Maadhli is a karnataka sweet made in north Karnataka especially in villages. It is prepared during festivals with wheat flour, Rava, bengal gram, jaggery, dry coconuts. It tastes best with milk on it.
Halbai is a popular sweet dish of Karnataka. It is prepared with rice and jaggery.
Hesarbele paysa is one of the traditional payasa with Moong dal and Jaggery. Akki Payas or Akki Huggi is a North Karnataka rice variety, which is usually prepared during festivals along with Kadubu/Holige.
Pumpkin idli is prepared using grated pumpkin and idli rava.
Kattin saaru/holige saaru/obbattu saaru:
Sabsige soppu or sabbasige soppu is a name in Kannada language for dill leaves. Bellulli (garlic) mandakki (puffed rice) and avalakki (flattened rice) is a favorite evening time snack for North Karnataka.
Gudbud Icecream is a famous ice-cream of Mangaluru. The assorted ice-cream was invented in a gadibidi (hurry). Local folklore has it that one day a bunch of customers came late and since portions of one flavour weren’t enough, 3 assorted flavours were mixed and served with fruits, cherries and dry fruits. It became a hit. And the name stuck!
Girmit is a tea time snacks or street food in Hubli Dharwad region of Karnataka.
One more side sweet dish is Kobri Bellada gravy. Otthu savage can be used to prepare chitranna with lime mixed. This dish is famous in Bangalore and old Mysore regions. Halasina Yele Chilmi is unique steamed dessert made with rice past, coconut and jaggery in cones made out of jackfruit leaves. Bellary Cycle Kova is a very special sweet in Bellary which are sold in cycle.
12. Belgaum
Belgaum Fort is the main landmark of the historic city of Belgaum and an important place to keep as a world heritage site in Karnataka. At the entrance of the fort, there are two sanctuaries of Ganapati and Durga. There are two Jinalayas made in the later Chalukya style.
Apart from the temples of Jain and Shiva, there are two mosques, namely Jamia Masjid and Safa Masjid, which are located within the fortress. These mosques are built in Mughal and Deccani styles and have domes and arches.
Scenic romantic getaway closer to Goa, Nersa is unconventional ideal for a long trip with your loved ones. Enjoy bird watching and hiking through the thick foliage. Nersa is located in the Mahadayi valley and seems to be a delight for travel enthusiasts and wildlife birds. In addition, locals say that around 40 bat species have been seen in Nersa.
From rocky escarpments to the undulating countryside, adventure lovers can find here a good variety of excursions such as Kongla Bhimgad, Abnali, Jamgoan and Dongargoan. Cool wind folds the cheeks. Leafy trees dancing in rhythm of the breeze.
Famous in Belgaum, Kunda is prepared purely from milk and khowa. A correct quantity of khowa and sugar has to be mixed in milk before boiling it. Once the mixture starts boiling, it has to be continuously stirred until it takes a solid form. Besides the iconic Belgaum Kunda, Belagavi is known for another sweet – mande or mandige.
A crepe with a thin filling of sugar, ghee and khoa, it is made like a roomali roti on an upturned tava and folded like a dosa.
Traditional Malnad cuisine emphasizes on using many locally available forest ingredients. As such it is very different from the cuisine of interior Karnataka. The best of Malnad cuisine can be enjoyed in rainy season.
Boṇḍa is something very comforting about eating hot and spicy chili or banana bonda while it is raining outside.
Mushroom curry is made using wild mushrooms that grow in Western Ghat forests during rainy season. Many wild mushrooms are not safe to eat, so it should not be harvested by those who do not have good knowledge about which are safe. It is better to buy these mushrooms from trusted villagers.
In rainy season, many seasonal streams are formed due to heavy rains. These are a good place to catch freshwater crabs. They are usually eaten with curry or is roasted. Turmeric plant grows rapidly in rainy season. It’s large, fragrant leaves are used as wrappings for cooking Kaḍubu or Steamed dumplings. They are eaten with Chutney for breakfast. There are different types of this dish like Cucumber Kaḍubu, Pumpkin Kaḍubu and Jackfruit Kaḍubu.
Leaves of hibiscus plant is ground and added to normal idly or dosa batter. It has a nice green color and herby flavor. They can also be made using the flower itself, which gives pink idly and dosa. Mango and Pineapple sāsive is a sweet made from Pineapple, Mango, Black grapes and grated coconut.
Suḷiroṭṭi is a sweet consisting of mashed Jaggery and batter made from rice flour and grated coconut. This is cooked in Turmeric leaves. Plenty of Jackfruits grow in Malnad during the Summer. Jackfruit seeds can be dried and stored for later use. They can used in dishes as a substitute for Potato. Bamboo shoots grow in rainy season.
Kannekuḍi, also known as soralekuḍi, is a plant that grows in Malnad region. Chutney is made from its leaves in rainy season. Koṅkaṇi khīr is a rice porridge made with Turmeric leaves for aroma. It is usually eaten with bitter gourd or ridge gourd curry.
13. Mudbidri
Mudabidri or Moodabidri is a small town in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. The town gets its name from the words Moodu, meaning East, and Bidiru, meaning bamboo. Because of the luxuriant growth of bamboos in the region, the town was named Moodabidri. Situated at an elevation of 482 feet, the town is situated on National Highway 13 and is accessible from Mangalore by bus. It is situated at a distance of 31 km from Mangalore.
Other places situated near Moodabidri include Udupi, Karkala, Kudremukh and Venur. The nearest railway station is the Mangalore Railway Station and the nearest airport is the Mangalore Airport. Moodabidri is best known for its Jain heritage. Jainism was and is widely practised in Moodabidri. The Thousand Pillars Temple, also known as the Saavira Kambada Basadi, is one of the most famous tourist places near Mangalore situated in Moodabidri.
There are several other Jain temples situated in the town of Moodabidri such as the Leppada Basadi, the Ammanvara Basadi, the Guru Basadi, and others. The town of Moodabidri also has a sizeable population of Hindus and Hindu temples. There is also the presence of a sizeable number of Roman Catholics. Moodabidri has about 11 churches in and around the town.
Among these the most famous is the Igreja da Santa Cruz Hospet or Hospet Church built by the Portuguese in the 16th century.The traditions and festivals of Moodabidri are a major draw for tourists from all over the country and the world. Some of the important festivals celebrated in the town include the Hulivesha, Navaraatri, the Rashi Pooja or the Mari Pooja, the Bhuta Kola, the Kambala, the Korikatta, and the Rathotsava.
One of the most important festivals celebrated in Moodabidri is the Lakshadeepotsava. This festival is situated by the Konkani speaking population. It is a five day festival and marks the start of the Utsava.
Situated on the banks of the River Nethravati, the quaint little town of Dharmasthala is located in the Dakshin Kannada region of Karnataka and is one of the important places to visit near Mangalore. The town is best known for the Dharmasthala temple which is known for its architectural splendour and religious significance.
Interestingly, the Dharmasthala temple administration is run by Jains while all poojas and rituals are carried out by Hindu priests belonging to the Madhava order. The most important festival celebrated in the town is the annual Lakshadeepa. The festival is celebrated in the months of November and December.
The Dharmasthala temple receives as many as 10,000 pilgrims every day. The Dharmasthala temple is an excellent example of religious tolerance. The guardian of the temple is a Jain Heggade, while all priests are Vaishnavite Brahmins. Furthermore, amidst the idols of Daivas and Lord Manjunath, offerings, poojas and rituals are performed for Jain Tirthankaras too.
There is a very interesting story about how the Shiva linga was installed in the Dharmasthala temple. The linga is believed to have been installed by a pious man called Annapa. Annapa worked for a Heggade family. One day his master told Annapa that he wished to worship Lord Shiva and he needed a Shiva linga for the purpose.
Annapa got a Shiva linga from a place called Kadri near Mangalore and established it in Dharmasthala. Today, the temple is a very popular tourist and pilgrimage site and Annapa is worshipped by the locals in the form of Annapa Panjurli.
Other important tourist attractions in Dharmasthala include the colossal statue of Bahubali, which has been carved out of a single rock and is installed on a hill near the Manjunatha Temple. The statue is one of the five statues in Karnataka and measures about 39 feet in height. Dharmasthala is well connected by rail and road and can be easily reached from Mangalore via private and public buses.
Situated in the beautiful environs of the Western Ghats, the Kukke Subramanya temple is dedicated to Lord Subramanya. The temple is situated in the village of Subramanya in Karnataka and is one of the important places to visit near Mangalore. Subramanya is worshipped as the Lord of Serpents in the temple. It is believed that the divine serpent Vasuki and other serpents found refuge in the Lord when threatened by the divine eagle Garuda.
The temple overlooks the Kumara Parvat and the Shesha Parvat. The temple is surrounded by lush green forests and presents an extremely beautiful picture. The town of Subramanya is situated at a distance of 105 km from Mangalore and can easily be reached through buses, taxis and cabs.
The temple is of great religious significance and attracts a large number of tourists and devotees from all over the country and the world. All devotees must cross the Kumaradhara River to reach the temple. On reaching the temple, all are required to take a holy dip in the river before entering the temple. The entrance into the temple is from the back. The worship begins with circumambulation of the deities.
Situated in between the sanctum sanctorum and the portico is a silver covered pillar of Garuda. It is believed that the pillar was installed here to protect devotees from the raging flames that arise out of Vasuki’s breath. Inside the sanctum sanctorum, the idols of Sri Subramanya, Vasuki and Shesha are placed.
Daily rituals and pujas are conducted at the temple. However, the most important pujas are the Ashlesha Bali and the Sarpa Samskara pujas. The Ashlesha Bali is an important puja conducted to ward off Kaalasarpa dosha and Kuja doshas. The Kukke Subramanya temple is the most popular temple for Sarpadosha pujas and hence is one of the important places to visit near Mangalore. The Sarpa Samskara puja is also conducted to ward off sarpa dosha and involves rituals and offerings.
Flitting from tree to tree, hovering over fragrant and wonderful flowers and sometime even sitting on your shoulder to give you a sense of happiness at Sammilan Shetty’s Butterfly Park, where you can experience all this and more. Butterfly Park is one man’s effort that has led to a strong ecological balance and immense beauty of surroundings.
Though inaugurated recently, the Butterfly Park now holds over 118 species of these winged beauties and the numbers are expected to grow even further. A first of its kind private initiative in the state, the park attracts a number of curious onlookers, researchers and students when it opens to public on every Sunday. Located at Belvai, the campus lies on about 7.5 acres of Land. The park has several rare species of butterflies right from the local to the international varieties.
A drive through the western ghats is a must! Take the route from Bangalore to Mangalore via Sakleshpur. This is one of those stretches that will prove to you that the journey is more beautiful than the destination. Stop anywhere in the middle of the ghats at night for the best star flecked skies you would have witnessed in your life.
The dense foliage and lively greenery of the ghat forest, along with the continual hum of chirping birds, sudden unexpected glimpses silvery waterfalls trickling down the steep rocky ledges will fill your heart with the kind of peace and joy not found in cities. You might even spot an animal or two along the drive if you’re lucky!
The cherry on the pie is that the end of the journey would bring you to breathtaking, blue, clean and empty beaches around Mangalore with some of the best sunsets. Between the Western Ghats and its forest, Arasinamakki is a lush green foliage through which river Kapila passes. One can now easily imagine what a tranquil place it must be. This piece of nature is 300 kilometers away from the cacophony of city life. The river is usually flooded with water.
To spend a day or two in a rustic cottage in the middle of a quiet nature at homestay is a privilege in itself. If you are non vegetarian then this is the best place for local sea food. It has a very different St Mary’s Island and beautiful churches. Surfing is one of the different things to do here.
The Konkan coast is so rich in its culture, food and beaches. The route starting from Mangalore via Udupi, Murudeshwar, Gokanra, Karwar and finally Goa is dotted with numerous lovely beaches. Just a long drive is enough to savor.
The Murudeshwar Temple has Shiva's second-highest statue. Legend has it that it is connected to the Gokarna Temple. The Arabian Sea and the gleaming Murudeshwar beach are spread out behind the Temple. As a notable tourist destination near Mangalore, it offers a variety of cuisines as well as comfortable hotels. This location is regarded as one of the most popular tourist attractions in Mangalore.
The thousand-pillared Jain temple known as BASADI is a glory of the Vijayanagar Empire. This temple is the most important of the area's 18 temples. The temple contains a thousand pillars, each with a unique sculpture. Back in the 14th century, it features sculptures of dragons, giraffes, and African and Chinese links!
There's no mistaking it when they name it the Coconut Islands! This is a collection of four islands in the Arabian Sea. According to scientific evidence, these islands were produced by subvolcanic activity. True, time flies. There is a lot of interest in visiting this magnificent island near Mangalore.
