12. Karnataka State

Tourism in Karnataka and Times of India's list of seven Wonders of India

Karnataka has been ranked as fourth most popular destination for tourism among states of India. It has the highest number of national protected monuments in India, at 507.

Kannada dynasties like Kadambas, Western Gangas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagaras and the Kingdom of Mysore ruled from what is today Karnataka. They built great monuments to Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. These monuments are preserved at Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal, Mahakuta, Hampi, Lakshmeshwar, Sudi, Hooli, Mahadeva Temple (Itagi), Dambal, Lakkundi, Gadag, Hangal, Halasi, Galaganatha, Chaudayyadanapura, Banavasi, Belur, Halebidu, Sringeri, Shravanabelagola, Sannati, Nanjangud, Mysore, Nandi Hills, Kolar, Mudabidri, Gokarna, Bagali, Kuruvatti and many more. Notable Islamic monuments are present at Bijapur, Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur and other part of the state. Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur, has the second largest pre-modern dome in the world after the Byzantine Hagia Sophia. Karnataka has two World heritage sites, at Hampi and Pattadakal.Bellary one of the historical place, we can see the forts which were built by the great Tipu Sultan for protection.

Karnataka state has several palaces such as Bangalore Palace, Mysore Palace (also known as Ambavilas Palace), Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace, Nalknad Palace, Rajendra Vilas, Jaganmohan Palace, Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion, Lalitha Mahal, Rajendra Vilas, Cheluvamba Mansion, Shivappa Nayaka Palace and Daria Daulat Bagh. Karnataka is famous for Jog falls of Shimoga District is second highest waterfalls in Asia. Karnataka has many beaches at Karwar, Gokarna, Murdeshwara, Surathkal. Karnataka is a rock climbers paradise. Yana in Uttara Kannada, Fort in Chitradurga, Ramnagara near Bengaluru district, Shivagange in Tumkur district and tekal in Kolar district are a rock climbers heaven. Utsav Rock Garden in Shiggaon, Uttar Kannada.

Shola Grasslands in Kudremukh, Karnataka.

Hill stations in Karnataka are generally unexplored and more pristine than better known ones in South India. Major Hill stations in the state are Agumbe and Kodachadri in Shimoga District ; Baba Budangiri, Kemmangundi, Kudremukh in Chikkamagaluru District ; Biligiriranga Hills in Chamarajanagar District and Kodagu district (also known as Coorg). Other hilly town and regions are Mullayanagiri, Pushpagiri(or Kumara Parvatha), Nandi Hills, Chikkaballapur district, Kundadri, Tadiandamol, Talakaveri, Male Mahadeshwara Hills, Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, Ambaragudda, Antara Gange, Savandurga, Kurinja, Yedakumeri, Siddara Betta, Bananthimari Betta, Skandagiri, Devarayanadurga and Madhugiri.

Wildlife Sanctuaries & National Parks Karnataka has several wildlife sanctuaries and national parks such as, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Dandeli ; Ghataprabha Bird Sanctuary ; Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary ; Peacock sanctuary in Bankapura ; Ranebennur blackbuck sanctuary, Haveri district ; Deva Raya Wildlife Sanctuary, near Hampi ; Attiveri Bird Sanctuary, near Hubli-Dharwad, Uttara Kannada ; Anshi National Park, Uttara Kannada ; Magadi Bird Sanctuary, Shirahatti ; Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary; Adichunchanagiri Wildlife Sanctuary; Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary ; Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary ; Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary; Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary ; Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary ; Melukote Temple Wildlife Sanctuary ; in Mandya district ; Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary ; Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary ; Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary ; Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary ; Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary ; Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary ; Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary ; Gudavi Bird Sanctuary ; Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary ; Kaggaladu Heronry ; Kokkare Bellur ; Bankapura Peacock Sanctuary and Bonal Bird Sanctuary