Here are 100 spectacular tourist spots in the incredibly diverse state of Karnataka, organized by their respective districts (zillas). This list covers the state's magnificent heritage sites, pristine beaches, lush hill stations, breathtaking waterfalls, and vibrant cities.
Bengaluru Urban Zilla
Lalbagh Botanical Garden: A historic garden with a rare collection of tropical plants, a glasshouse, and a serene lake.
Cubbon Park: A vast green oasis in the heart of the city, perfect for walks and relaxation.
Vidhana Soudha: The magnificent seat of the state legislature of Karnataka, an imposing granite building in the neo-Dravidian style.
Bangalore Palace: A royal palace of the Wodeyar dynasty, known for its Tudor-style architecture and beautiful interiors.
Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace: An elegant Indo-Islamic palace made mostly of teakwood, once the summer residence of the Mysorean ruler.
ISKCON Temple Bangalore: A grand modern temple dedicated to Radha and Krishna, located on Hare Krishna Hill.
Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum: An interactive science museum, great for families and science enthusiasts.
National Gallery of Modern Art: Houses a superb collection of modern Indian art.
Bull Temple (Dodda Basavana Gudi): Famous for its massive monolithic statue of Nandi, the sacred bull.
Mysuru (Mysore) Zilla
Mysore Palace (Amba Vilas Palace): The opulent and grand seat of the former ruling Wodeyar dynasty, famous for its Indo-Saracenic architecture.
Chamundi Hills & Chamundeshwari Temple: A prominent hill with a revered temple at its peak, offering panoramic views of Mysore city.
Brindavan Gardens: Famous terraced gardens located below the Krishnarajasagara Dam, known for their musical fountain shows.
St. Philomena's Church: A majestic church built in the Neo-Gothic style, one of the tallest in Asia.
Jaganmohan Palace Art Gallery: A former palace that now houses a vast collection of traditional Mysore paintings.
Mysore Zoo (Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens): One of the oldest and best-maintained zoos in India.
Karanji Lake: A picturesque lake with a butterfly park and a walk-through aviary.
Chikkamagaluru Zilla
Mullayanagiri Peak: The highest peak in Karnataka, a paradise for trekkers offering stunning sunrise and sunset views.
Baba Budangiri: A sacred mountain range for both Hindus and Muslims, known for its scenic beauty and trekking trails.
Hebbe Falls: A magnificent waterfall located inside a coffee estate, cascading down in two stages.
Kudremukh National Park: A vast expanse of rolling green hills and grasslands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site contender.
Kemmangundi: A beautiful hill station with ornamental gardens, mountain streams, and waterfalls.
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary: A protected area and tiger reserve, home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.
Kodagu (Coorg) Zilla
Abbey Falls: A spectacular waterfall cascading down rocky slopes amidst coffee plantations and spice estates.
Raja's Seat, Madikeri: A seasonal garden offering breathtaking sunset views and a panoramic view of the Western Ghats.
Talakaveri: The origin of the sacred River Kaveri, located on the Brahmagiri hills.
Namdroling Monastery (Golden Temple), Bylakuppe: The largest Tibetan settlement in South India, with a stunning golden temple.
Dubare Elephant Camp: A camp on the banks of the River Kaveri where visitors can interact with elephants.
Nagarhole National Park and Tiger Reserve: A premier wildlife reserve, home to tigers, leopards, elephants, and a variety of bird species.
Iruppu Falls: A picturesque waterfall believed to possess cleansing powers.
Mandalpatti: A scenic viewpoint offering stunning panoramic views of the surrounding hills.
Shivamogga (Shimoga) Zilla
Jog Falls: India's second-highest plunge waterfall, where the Sharavathi River drops magnificently in four distinct cascades.
Kodachadri Hills: A beautiful mountain peak in the Western Ghats, a designated natural heritage site.
Agumbe: Known as the "Cherrapunji of the South," famous for its rainforests, sunset views, and association with the TV series 'Malgudi Days'.
Keladi: A temple town known for the magnificent Rameshwara Temple, showcasing a blend of architectural styles.
Ikkeri: Famous for the Aghoreshwara Temple, a large granite structure dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Tyavarekoppa Lion and Tiger Safari: A safari park located near Shimoga town.
Dakshina Kannada Zilla
Panambur Beach, Mangaluru: One of the cleanest and most well-maintained beaches in India, famous for its carnival.
Kukke Subramanya Temple: A famous Hindu temple dedicated to the serpent god Subramanya.
Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple: A major pilgrimage site known for its charity and the unique practice of being managed by a Jain family.
St. Aloysius Chapel, Mangaluru: Famous for its stunning interior paintings that cover nearly all the walls and ceilings.
Jamalabad Fort: A hilltop fortification built by Tipu Sultan, offering a challenging trek and panoramic views.
Udupi Zilla
Sri Krishna Temple, Udupi: A world-renowned temple famous for its unique philosophy and the practice of worshipping the deity through a silver-plated window.
Malpe Beach & St. Mary's Island: A popular beach and a nearby island famous for its unique hexagonal basaltic rock formations.
Kaup Beach: Known for its scenic beauty and a historic lighthouse that offers panoramic views.
Maravanthe Beach: A unique beach where a highway runs parallel to the sea on one side and a river on the other.
Mookambika Temple, Kollur: A revered pilgrimage center dedicated to the goddess Mookambika.
Uttara Kannada Zilla
Gokarna: A sacred town with beautiful beaches, famous for the Mahabaleshwar Temple.
Om Beach, Gokarna: A beach naturally shaped like the auspicious 'Om' symbol.
Murudeshwar: Famous for its massive statue of Lord Shiva, the second tallest in the world, and a temple with a towering gopura.
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary: A paradise for adventure lovers, offering white-water rafting, kayaking, and wildlife safaris.
Yana Rocks: A unique natural wonder of two massive crystalline rock outcrops in the middle of a dense forest.
Unchalli Falls (Lushington Falls): A spectacular waterfall created by the Aghanashini River, dropping from a height of 116 meters.
Karwar: A port city with beautiful beaches, including the famous Rabindranath Tagore Beach.
Ballari (Bellary) & Vijayanagara Zilla
Hampi: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the magnificent former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, with stunning ruins, temples, and palaces.
Virupaksha Temple, Hampi: The main functioning temple in Hampi, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Vittala Temple, Hampi: Famous for its iconic Stone Chariot and musical pillars.
Hampi Bazaar: A historic marketplace in front of the Virupaksha Temple.
Matanga Hill, Hampi: Offers the best sunrise and sunset views over the Hampi ruins.
Bellary Fort: A historic fort built on a massive rock monolith.
Bagalkote Zilla
Badami Cave Temples: A complex of four stunning rock-cut cave temples dedicated to Hindu and Jain deities.
Aihole: Known as the "Cradle of Indian Temple Architecture," with over 125 ancient temples.
Pattadakal: A UNESCO World Heritage Site with a beautiful complex of 7th and 8th-century Hindu and Jain temples.
Mahakuta Group of Temples: A pilgrimage site with a cluster of Shaivite temples surrounding a sacred tank.
Vijayapura (Bijapur) Zilla
Gol Gumbaz: The magnificent mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah, famous for its colossal dome and whispering gallery.
Ibrahim Rauza: A beautiful tomb and mosque complex, often called the "Taj Mahal of the Deccan."
Jama Masjid: One of the finest mosques in India, built by Ali Adil Shah I.
Bidar Zilla
Bidar Fort: A massive fort with numerous palaces, mosques, and gardens inside, showcasing Persian influence.
Mahmud Gawan Madrasa: The ruins of an ancient Islamic university.
Gurudwara Nanak Jhira Sahib: A historic Sikh shrine where Guru Nanak is believed to have created a spring of sweet water.
Belagavi (Belgaum) Zilla
Belgaum Fort: One of the oldest forts in Karnataka, with temples and mosques showcasing a blend of architectural styles.
Gokak Falls: A picturesque waterfall on the Ghataprabha River, known for its horseshoe shape.
Kittur Fort: The historic fort of Rani Chennamma, a symbol of resistance against the British.
Chitradurga Zilla
Chitradurga Fort: A massive and impregnable hill fort with seven concentric fortification walls, temples, and palaces.
Chandravalli Caves: An archaeological site with prehistoric caves and a serene lake.
Hassan Zilla
Belur: Famous for the magnificent Chennakeshava Temple, a masterpiece of Hoysala architecture.
Halebidu: Known for the Hoysaleswara Temple, with incredibly detailed sculptures depicting Hindu mythology.
Shravanabelagola: A major Jain pilgrimage site, home to the colossal monolithic statue of Gommateshwara (Bahubali).
Mandya Zilla
Srirangapatna: The historic island capital of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan.
Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna: A grand temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Tipu Sultan's Gumbaz: The mausoleum of Tipu Sultan, Hyder Ali, and Fatima Begum.
Shivanasamudra Falls: Twin waterfalls, Gaganachukki and Bharachukki, on the Kaveri River.
Melukote: A sacred pilgrimage town known for the Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple and Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple.
Ramanagara Zilla
Ramanagara Ramadevara Betta: The famous rocky hills where the iconic Bollywood movie 'Sholay' was filmed.
Janapada Loka: A folk museum showcasing the art, music, and culture of rural Karnataka.
Channapatna: Famous for its traditional wooden toys.
Chamarajanagar Zilla
Bandipur National Park: A premier tiger reserve, part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Biligirirangana Hills (BR Hills): A hill range that is a protected tiger reserve, acting as a bridge between the Eastern and Western Ghats.
Shivanasamudra Falls (partially in this district): The Bharachukki falls are located here.
Male Mahadeshwara Hills (MM Hills): A sacred pilgrimage center dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Tumakuru (Tumkur) Zilla
Devarayanadurga: A hill station with temples and a forest reserve.
Madhugiri Fort: Asia's second-largest monolithic rock fort, offering a challenging trek.
Kolar Zilla
Kolar Gold Fields (KGF): The site of India's historic gold mines.
Kotilingeshwara Temple: A temple famous for its aim to install one crore (ten million) Shiva lingas.
Bengaluru Rural Zilla
Nandi Hills (Nandidurg): A popular hill fortress and weekend getaway, offering stunning sunrise views.
Savandurga: One of the largest monolith hills in Asia, popular for trekking and rock climbing.
Makalidurga: A hill fort offering a popular trekking trail with a railway track at its base.
Gadag Zilla
Trikuteshwara Temple Complex: A beautiful temple with intricate carvings.
Lakkundi: A village known for its numerous Chalukyan temples and step wells.
Dharwad Zilla
Nrupatunga Betta: A hillock in Hubballi offering panoramic views of the city.
Kalaburagi (Gulbarga) Zilla
Gulbarga Fort: A historic fort with the magnificent Jama Masjid, designed on the lines of the Cordoba Mosque in Spain.
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