Karnataka

Karnataka, in south-western India, brings together the tech capital of Bengaluru, the royal city of Mysuru, the coffee hills of Kodagu, the beaches of Gokarna and the ruins of Hampi. With forests that hold one of the largest tiger and elephant populations in India and more World Heritage Sites than most states, it rewards every kind of traveller.

Great dynasties ruled here: the Kadambas, the Chalukyas of Badami (whose monuments at Pattadakal are a World Heritage Site), the Rashtrakutas, the Hoysalas – builders of the temples of Belur, Halebidu and Somanathapura – and the Vijayanagara Empire. Later came the Wodeyars of Mysore and Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. The state was formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956 and renamed Karnataka in 1973.

Karnataka has a narrow coastal strip, the Western Ghats (Malnad) with heavy rainfall and dense forests, and the drier Deccan plateau to the east. The Krishna, Kaveri, Tungabhadra and Sharavathi rivers flow through it; the Sharavathi drops over Jog Falls, one of India's highest waterfalls.

Bengaluru is India's leading hub for information technology, start-ups, aerospace and biotechnology. The state is also a major producer of coffee, silk, sandalwood and ragi.

Kannada is the official language and has one of the richest literary traditions in India. Mysuru Dasara is a grand royal festival, Yakshagana is a vibrant theatre form of the coast, and Mysore silk, sandalwood carving and Channapatna toys are famous crafts.