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Karnataka
The name 'Karnataka' derives from 'karunadu' - literally the 'lofty land',
referring to the Deccan plateau
on which much of the State lies. The language of the people is
Kannada.
 Karnataka
is endowed with great natural beauty - a 260 km coastline in the West from
Karwar to Bangalore with numerous silver beaches
waiting to be explored, and running more or less parallel to
the coast after a narrow plain, the Sahyadri ranges of the Western Ghats.
These hilly tracts have
dense teak and sandalwood forests, rivers cascading down in
stunning waterfalls (among them Jog Falls, 292m, the highest
in india), national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, coffee and tea plantations
set in rolling hills, and
peaceful hill stations like Madikere and Kudremukh. Karnataka
has all the ingredients for a lovely holiday.
During its 2000 year history
Karnataka has come under predominantly Hindu influence, having been ruled
successively by the Satavahanas, Kadambas, Gangas, Chalukyas and Hoysalas, and
culminating in the great Vijayanagar empire in the 14th century AD. The Hindu
heritage is seen to this day in the magnificent architectural monuments dotted
across the State. In the North there are splendid stone temples at Aihole,
Badami and Pattadakal built during the 3rd to 8th century by the
Chalukyas, some of which are prototypes for the later architectural styles of
North and South India.
The temples at Belur, Halebid and Somnathpur in
the South, built by the Hoysalas, are unmatched anywhere in India for their
ornateness and intricate carvings. And near the heart of Karnataka lie the vast
400-year old ruins at Hampi,
believed by many to be one of the most evocative and beautiful architectural
and archaeological sites anywhere in the world. Now a World Heritage Centre
Hampi is a sombre reminder of the glory of Vijayanagar.
The 17th century
Islamic influence in the State is seen in the Gol Gumbaz, the mausoleum
of Mohammed Adil Shah, at Bijapur, whose 44m diameter dome is the
second-largest unsupported dome in the world (only St. Peter's in Rome is
bigger).
Karnataka has its own folk theatre, Takshagana (similar
to the Kathakali of Kerala), and traditional dance
form, Yakshagana. The fragrant sandalwood oil and beauty soap indigenous
to the State are well known in world markets. Sandalwood and rosewood carvings
from here are much sought after. So also are the beautiful silk fabrics and
sarees.
Bangalore: The Garden City -
Bangalore was the cynosure of all eyes across the world in 1996 when it hosted
the Miss World Pageant. Every Indian watching the proceedings on the television
fervently hoped that the Indian representative would wear the crown as
Aishwarya Rai had done before. While that was not to be, the people of
Karnataka had yet another reason for being proud of their Capital. More
recently, Bangalore has pioneered a new phase in the digital revolution by
becoming the first city in the country to use the TV cable network for the
convergence of computers, television and telecommunications.
Although in
recent years it has grown into one of India's premier industrial centres,
Bangalore still lives up to its well-known epithet as the Garden City. Lying
1000m above sea level, it has a pleasant and cool climate - almost perpetual
and perfect picnic weather! Little wonder then that the hustle and bustle of
industrial growth has not been able to replace the relaxed and easygoing
atmosphere which remains its hallmark. The many pubs that have come up in
recent years on the posh MG Road and Brigade Road, each with its own special
ambience, are the favourite haunts of both the young and the not so
young!
Lying near the southern boundary of the State, Bangalore was
founded by Kempe Gowda, a local chieftain, in 1537, and further developed by
Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan in the 18th century. The centre of the city
is dotted with beautifully laid out, well-maintained parks and gardens,
tree-lined avenues and dazzling shopping plazas & malls. One of India's
best botanical gardens, the 96-hectare Lalbagh, was laid out in 1760 by
Hyder Ali. It is home to numerous centuries-old trees, lotus ponds, lakes and
some very rare species of tropical plants. The Glass House in the centre
of Lalbagh, is inspired by the Crystal Palace, London and is the venue of the
annual flower shows.
The even bigger (121 hectares) Cubbon Park,
full of beautiful flowering and shady trees, lies right in the heart of the
city. It is a favourite haunt for many residents providing them solitude from
the hectic pace of life. And close to the park, on Kasturba Road, are the
Government Museum & Venkatappa Art Gallery as well as the
Visveswaraya Industrial and Technological Museum both well worth
visiting.
The city's most spectacular modern building, the four storeyed
Vidhan Soudha, lies on the northern side of Cubbon Park. It houses the
State Legislature and Secretariat. Built of granite in the neo-Dravidian style
in 1956, its largest central dome is crowned by India's national symbol of four
lions. Its Cabinet room is famous for the massive door made of pure sandalwood.
The building presents a truly enchanting sight when floodlit in the
evenings.
The Bangalore Palace, an unusual granite structure
inspired by the Windsor Castle, was built by the Wodeyar rulers in the 19th
century and is a popular monument among tourists and filmmakers. Another
popular spot is the 16th century Bull Temple, dedicated to Nandi, the
celestial Bull. An excellent example of Dravidian architecture, the temple has
a gigantic 15-foot high sacred bull carved in grey granite.
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