Karnataka is a state on the southwestern coast of India. It was formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, and renamed Karnataka in 1973. The state is bordered by the Lakshadweep Sea to the west, Goa to the northwest, Maharashtra to the north, Telangana to the northeast, Andhra Pradesh to the east, Tamil Nadu to the southeast, and Kerala to the southwest. With 61,130,704 inhabitants recorded in the 2011 census, Karnataka is the eighth-largest Indian state by population; administratively, it is divided into 31 districts. With over 15 million residents, the state capital, Bengaluru, is the largest city in Karnataka. Karnataka sits at an elevation of 920 m and is typically explored in about 6-7 days. The most favourable months to visit are January, December, November, and February, when conditions are best suited for sightseeing. Nearby points of interest include Belur – Chennakeshava Temple, Mysore Palace, and Hampi. Other notable highlights include the UNESCO ruins of the Vijayanagara empire at Hampi, mysore Palace, illuminated on Sunday evenings, and misty coffee estates and hills of Coorg. It falls within Huvina Hadagali taluk district.
State: Karnataka
Ideal Duration: 6-7 Days
January, December, November, February
A week lets you combine Hampi, Mysore and Coorg comfortably; shorter trips can focus on one or two regions.
Mysore and Coorg are comfortable and well set up for groups; Hampi’s rocky terrain involves more walking.
October to February offers pleasant weather across most of the state; visit Jog Falls just after monsoon (September-November) for maximum flow.
Bengaluru (BLR) is the main gateway; Hubli and Mangalore airports are useful for Hampi and the coast respectively.
The Vijayanagara ruins of Hampi, Mysore’s royal heritage, Coorg’s coffee country, and a laid-back coastline around Gokarna.