Bandipur National Park: Situated among the broken foothills of the Western Ghats mountains, Bandipur National Park, 80 km south of Maysore, cover 880 sq.km of dry deciduous forest, south of River Kabini.On the plus side, Bandipur is one of the few reserves in India where you stand a good chance of sighting wild elephants.

Nagarhole: Bandipur’s northern neighbour, Nagarhole National Park extends 640-sq.km norths from River Kabini dammed to form a picturesque artificial lake. During the dry season, this perennial water source attracts large number of animals, making it a potentially prime spot for sighting wildlife.

Mercara – Madikeri
252 km from Bangalore and 120 km west of Mysore lies Mercara, the district headquarters of Coorg known as “The Scotland of India”. Mercara has enchanted the visitors with its misty hills, lush forests, coffee plantations, undulating streets and breath taking views. It is also a trekker’s delight with lovely mountain trails. Coorg district is in the south west of Karnataka bordering with Kerala.

Places of Interest

(1) The Fort (2) Raja’s Seat (3) Sri Omkareshwara Temple (4) Abbey Falls (5) Bhagamandala (6) Talacauvery.

Chikmanglur

The district takes its name from the headquarter town of Chikmanglur which literally means youngest daughter’s town. The Chikmanglur district is full of scenic surprises – hills, valleys, streams and snow –white coffee blossoms. It is also trekker’s territory.

Places of Interest

(1) Ishwara Temple (2) Lodandarama Temple (3) Kemmangudi (54 Km).

Shimoga

The town Shimoga, on the banks of the Tunga River, lies about 274 km south west of Bangalore was the stronghold of the Keladi Nayakas during 16 th century AD

Places of Interest

(1) Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (2) The Government Museum (3) The Shimoga Fort (4) Tavarekoppa (10 Km) (5) Bhadravati (18 km) (6) Agumbe (70 Km) (7) Jog Falls (88 Km) (8) Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary (9) Gajanur

Mangalore

357 km from Balgalore, this town is located near the backwaters formed by converging the Netravathi and Gurpur rivers. Mangalore city derives its name from the presiding deity Mangaladevi the goddess of fortune. The city has acquired importance due to completion of the new port. Main places of interest are the 10 th century Mangala Devi temple, Kadri temple, St.Aloysious College Chapel, Mangalore Harbour, Light House and the Government Museum.

Karwar

520 kms north west of Bangalore Karwar has one of the most beautiful beaches in the country, which is said to have inspired Tagore to pen his first drama. The drive of 160 km from Hubli takes one through hills and valleys covered with dense tropical jungle and plenty of wildlife.

Hospet

330 km from Bangalore lies Hospet.Its tourist importance lies in its proximity to Hampi, the site of the medieval Vijaynagara empire situated about 13 km from Hampi.Tungabhadra Dam here harnesses the sweet waters of Tungabhadra river.

Hampi

Hampi Vijaynagara-was once the capital of the largest Hindu empires in the Indian history. Founded by the Telugu princes Harihara and Bukka in 1336, it reached the height of its glory under Krishnadevaraya (1509-29) when it controlled the whole of peninsula, except for a string of commercial principalities along the Malbar coast. Hampi had trade connections with international markets. Hindu, Muslim and Jain religions were practiced. The Brahmins were a privileged class. Sati (burning of the wife on husband's pyre) and Devdasi system (temple prostitution) were common and widely practiced. Brahmini inscriptions discovered on the site date the first settlement here back to the 1" century AD and suggest that there was a Buddhist center nearby. The empire came to a sudden end after the battle of Talikota when the city was ransacked by the confederacy of the Deccan Sultans.

A world heritage centre, Hampi is the most beautiful and evocative of all ruins in Karnataka. The erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagara kingdom, Hampi is full of delightful surprises like the King's Balance where Kings were weighed against grain, gold or money which was then distributed amongst the poor, the Queen's bath with its arched corridors projecting balconies and lotus-shaped fountains that once sprouted perfumed water, the two storied Lotus Mahal with recessed archways, the huge Elephant Stables, the Splendid Vithala temple with its 'Musical pillars' and the stone chariot, the Vrupaksha Temple, still used for worship, Ugra Narasimha, the 6.7 m tall monolith and the Pushkarini ­the Mahanavami Dibba.Once-powerful Vijaynagara empire was compared to Rome by the Portuguese traveler Paes.

Chitradurga

Chitradurga is situated on an umbrella shaped lofty hill and in the valley of the Vedavati river,with the Tungabhadra flowing in the north west. Many ancient temples can be found inside the fort Harihar, a town located 78 km has the temple of Harihareshwara built in the Hoysala style.

Bijapur

Bijapur,a medieval Muslim walled city,530 km north west of Bangalore,is characterized by domes and minarets.Bajapur itself has over 50 mosques, more than 20 tombs and a number of palaces.

Places of Interest

(1) Gol Gumbaz (2) Gagan Mahal (3) Asar Mahal (4) The Fort (5) Jumma Masjid (6) Ibrahim Roza

Aihole

Known as Ayyavvole in inscriptions, it was the earliest capital of the ChalukyasThe cradle of Indian temple architecture has 125 temples-intricate carved, rich in details. The Meguti temple is built of 630 small stone blocks. The Arvanaphadi cave has some beautiful carvings.

Pattadakal

Located on the banks of the Malaprabha, 29 km from Badami, Pattadakal functioned as a royal commemorative site and a place for coronation ceremonies. Padmanatha temple in the northern style has impressive carvings on pillars and on the ceiling. Archaeological Survey of India maintains a gallery in the temple.

Badami

Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal are standing close to each other (within 13 km radius) these temple towns represent Chalukyan architecture at its best. Badami was the capital of the Chalukyas in the 6 th and 7 th centuries and is noted for 4 rock caves excavated in the sand stone cliff. The place is also known for the earliest group of Chalukyan structural temples. Badami Fort, on the top of a hill, encloses large granaries, a treasury and a watchtower.

Belgaum

This was once the capital of Rattas, chieftains of Soundatti in the 12 th and 13 th centuries. Today it is a modern cantonment town. The ancient fort, oval shaped stone structure enclosed an area about 40 hectare and has two gates. Mahatama Gandhi was once imprisoned here.