THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

The state of Karnataka which was once the domain of emperors like Ashoka and the Kadambas, the Hoysalas and the Vijayanagara rulers, today is an amalgamate of rich tradition and modern ideas. Most of the area of the state lies on the Deccan Plateau with the state of Maharashtra in the north, State of Andhra Pradesh in the east, State of Tamil Nadu and Kerala on the south. It has a long beautiful, lush green, unexplored coastline with the Arabian sea.

With Bangalore, the silicon city of India, as its capital, ruins of Hampi, palace of Mysore – Karnataka is an amalgamate of old and new twined perfectly.

History - Karnataka's history dates back to the Stone Age period in India. Many dynasties like the Chalukyas, the Hoysalas, Vijayanagara empire etc. were established and these left their imprint on the state. The state of Karnataka came into being in 1973 only. Previously the Kannada speaking areas were grouped under the state of Mysore.

Culture – The cultural heritage of Karnataka is very rich. The folk theatre has two principal forms of dance drama namely Yakshagana (almost similar to Kathakali of Kerala) and the puppet theatre. Some other forms of dance are prevalent in the coastal belt of South Karnataka like Nagamandala, Bhootada Kunita etc.

Handicrafts – It is worth mentioning when it comes to Karnataka. The craftsmanship in sandalwood and rosewood is very famous in Karnataka. Sandalwood carved images, furniture and wall hangings are just marvelous here.

Best time to visit – September to February