What to See in Karnataka, India

Karnataka is a state in southern India where ancient kingdoms, living traditions, major cities and contrasting landscapes meet. The best things to do in Karnataka range from exploring historic sites in Hampi and Mysore to discovering Bengaluru’s cultural and technological identity, with coasts, forests, hills and dry plains in between. Neywo offers free audio guides for 4 cities in Karnataka, covering 84 narrated places through 8 walking tours.

What to see and do in Karnataka

Explore Karnataka’s long history

Karnataka’s human story reaches back to the Paleolithic period, with hand axes and cleavers found in the region. Evidence of Neolithic and megalithic cultures adds further depth to its past, and scholars have suggested contact between ancient Karnataka and the Indus Valley Civilisation. Gold found at Harappa was imported from mines in Karnataka.

Before the third century BCE, much of the region belonged to the Mauryan Empire of Ashoka. The Satavahanas later ruled large areas for four centuries. After their decline, early kingdoms rooted in Karnataka emerged, including the Kadambas, who ruled from Banavasi, and the Western Gangas, whose capital was Talakad.

These kingdoms also helped shape the language of the region. They were the first to use Kannada in administration, as inscriptions and coins show. Kannada remains Karnataka’s principal official language and is one of India’s classical languages.

For a journey through the state’s historic cities, start with Hampi, whose narrated places include the Vitthala Temple, the Vijayanagara Empire and Hosapete. Mysore offers another view of Karnataka’s past, with the Mysore Palace among its narrated places.

Discover Karnataka’s many languages and traditions

Karnataka is shaped by many communities and traditions, with Kannada at the centre. Tulu also has official status, while Urdu, Konkani, Kodava and Beary are among the other languages spoken in the state. Some villages even use Sanskrit as their primary language.

Kannadigas live alongside Tuluvas, Kodavas and Konkanis, as well as smaller communities and tribal groups. Their histories have created a rich culture of music, dance, drama and storytelling.

Yakshagana is one of Karnataka’s major theatrical forms. This classical dance drama is associated with Tulu Nadu, Uttara Kannada and Malnad. Other popular dance forms include Veeragase, Kamsale, Kolata and Dollu Kunitha. Theatre also remains an active part of public life, with organisations continuing the state’s living stage tradition.

Festivals add another shared rhythm. Mysore Dasara is celebrated as Karnataka’s state festival, or Nada habba, with major festivities in Mysore. Bengaluru Karaga is celebrated in the heart of Bengaluru and is another important festival.

Experience the landscapes of the state

Karnataka brings together three very different geographical regions. The coastal areas of Karavali and Tulu Nadu meet the Lakshadweep Sea. Inland, the hills of Malenadu form part of the Western Ghats. Beyond them lies Bayaluseeme, the plain country of the Deccan Plateau, which covers most of the state.

Northern Bayaluseeme contains the second-largest arid region in India, while other parts of Karnataka are marked by forests and hills. The state’s climate follows a distinct annual rhythm: winter comes in January and February, summer runs from March to May, and the monsoon lasts from June to September. A post-monsoon season follows through the end of the year.

The coastal, northern interior and southern interior regions each have their own meteorological character. This variety makes Karnataka a state of coasts, hills, dry plains and forests rather than a single landscape.

Look for Karnataka’s wildlife

Karnataka’s forests support a remarkable range of wildlife. They hold a quarter of India’s elephant population and a tenth of its tigers. Many areas remain unexplored, and new plant and animal species are still found from time to time.

The state’s forests are part of the wider contrast between its natural regions. The Western Ghats bring wooded hills, the coast opens towards the sea, and the Deccan Plateau creates broad inland plains. Together, these environments give Karnataka an unusually varied natural character.

Visit Bengaluru, the state’s technology capital

Bangalore, also known as Bengaluru, is Karnataka’s largest city and is known as the Silicon Valley of India because of its major contribution to the country’s information technology sector. It has more than 15 million residents and exerts an influence across the state.

The city also has an important cultural and architectural side. Neywo’s narrated places in Bengaluru include Bengaluru Palace, the National Gallery of Modern Art, Kote Venkataramana Temple and St. Mark’s Cathedral. Bengaluru is also home to major centres of education and research, including the Indian Institute of Science and the Indian Institute of Management Bengaluru.

See Karnataka beyond its largest city

Karnataka’s economy and public life extend well beyond Bengaluru. Agriculture and related work engage nearly 56 per cent of the workforce, and much of the state’s land is cultivated. Dakshina Kannada, Hubli-Dharwad and Belagavi are also important revenue-contributing districts.

The state has airports, ports and an extensive railway network. Bengaluru and Mangalore have international airport operations, while New Mangalore Port is a major port. Railway lines connect Bengaluru and other cities with destinations within and beyond Karnataka.

To explore more of the state’s urban heritage, Vijayapura is also included among Neywo’s Karnataka destinations. The wider country context is covered in the India destination guide.

Explore Karnataka with Neywo

Neywo has free audio guides for 4 cities in Karnataka, with 84 narrated places in total and 8 walking tours. The cities are Bangalore, Hampi, Mysore and Vijayapura. Narration is available in 11 languages.

The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. Download Neywo and explore Karnataka while the places themselves guide your route.