Karnataka

Come to the enchanting and mystic land of Karnataka to get engulfed in a forgotten time. You will stand witness to myriad life patterns and a fascinating culture. This south Indian state gives you the peaceful setting that you have been looking for.

Demographics

Karnataka has a total population of 52,850,562 of which 26,898,918 are males and 25,951,644 are females. The bulk of the population – about 83% are Hindus, 11% are Muslims, 4% are Christians, and the remaining are Jains, Buddhists and tribals.

The official language of Karnataka that is spoken by 64.75% of the people is Kannada. Other languages that are spoken in Karnataka include Telugu, Urdu, Marathi, Tamil, Tulu, Konkani, Hindi, Malayalam and Kodava Takk.

Geography

There are 3 main geographical zones, which are the coastal region of Karavali, the Bayaluseeme region comprising the plains of the Deccan plateau and the hilly Malnad region which has the Western Ghats. The important rivers in Karnataka are the Tungabhadra, the Kaveri, the Sharavathi as well as the Krishna. 20% of the total area of Karnataka is covered with forests. The forests are private, reserved, protected, unclosed and village forests.

Climate

Karnataka has four distinct seasons. The brief winter starts from January and stays back to the end of February, while the long and dry summer continues from March to May. The monsoon between June and September and the post-monsoon from the month of October to December makes up the other two prominent seasons. The coastal zone of Karnataka receives the highest rainfall in the rainy months with the average rainfall amounting to 3,638.5 mm annually.

The highest temperature that has been recorded in Karnataka is 45.6 degree Centigrade at Raichur and the lowest temperature ever recorded is 2.8 degree Centigrade at Bidar. The best time to visit this south Indian state is the months of September to May.

Flora and Fauna

The forest area at Karnataka occupies a neat 38720 square kilometers. The common species of flora that you are likely to find at the forests of Karnataka include Adina cordifolia, Lagerstromia Lanceolata, Dalbergia Latifolia, and vitex altissima. Other tree types include Derris indica, Iphigenia mysorensis, and Zizyhus Mauritania. The Western Ghats region is rich in Eucalyptus trees.

Karnataka’s forests share 25% elephant population and 10% tiger population of India. The mammals include leopard, elephant, slender loris, tiger, the Malabar giant squirrel, wild pig, pangolin, common langur, bonnet macaque, and barking deer. The bird population includes Indian Shama, Malabar whistling thrush, ruby throated bulbul, paradise flycatcher, orange Headed Trush, cormorants, darter, the great Indian Hornbill, and many other colorful and lovely birds creating a paradise for ornithologists.

Major attractions

The attractions at Karnataka bring in tourists from all over the world. You can go for the many wildlife sanctuaries the state flaunts like the Ranganathittu Bird´s Sanctuary, Nagarhole and Dandeli, and Bandipur sanctuaries. A visit to the lovely hill stations like Kemmannagundi, Nandhi Hills, and Mercara should also be in your cards.

The voluminous Jog Falls and the other smaller waterfalls are something that the tourists should take their turns in grabbing good glances.

Karnataka is famous for its religious, cultural and historical significance. A visit to Badami, Hampi, Aihole, Belur, Halebid, Somanathapura and Pattadakal for their lovely temples and mosques with breathtaking architectural beauty would make a memorable trip. Most of these temples and historical sites are considered as UNESCO world heritage sites.

Tips

- Karnataka is a place of warm climes so you should be carrying comfortable clothing. It is advisable for you to carry a good number of cotton clothes, and in case you are traveling in the winter months, it will be advisable for you to carry light woolen jackets and shawls. Remember that going nude in the public places is a punishable offence at Karnataka.
- The currency that you must be carrying here is Indian Rupees. Have your ATM cards with you as liquid money will not do. The traveler´s can make use of their cheques for paying their dues as traveler´s cheques are widely accepted here in Karnataka. Be aware of the frauds and touts and do not change money with the local traders.