Karnataka is an enchanting
land abounding in scenic beauty, rich is flora and fauna. It has
pomp and pageantry of glorious traditions and marvels of modern
engineering.
The State Cabinet, which has decided to bring tourist activities
under the priority sector, has come out with a host of new plans
including offering government land to entrepreneurs at 50 per cent
of the market value to establish resorts and privatising the managements
of government guest houses. This was decided in April 2002. The government
would be creating infrastructure in tourist places so that entrepreneurs
could open resorts, hotels, amusement parks etc. One of the major
attractions offered to entrepreneurs was to make available government
land in all places barring in Bangalore City, at 50 per cent of the
market value for opening resorts/hotels and for carrying out tourist
related activities. The Tourism Department would be identifying the
government land available. If entrepreneurs fail to implement their
plans within a stipulated time, then the government would forfeit
the land. The government would be offering four per cent tax concession
for three years on aviation fuel to encourage domestic aviation industries
to operate flights to district headquarters in the State. The government
would be underwriting certain number of tickets so that the industries
would have assured revenue.
The government would be using airstrips in Bidar, Belgaum,
Hubli, Mangalore, Bellary and Harihar. The air strips in
Mysore and Gulbarga would be strengthened and the government
will
also build airstrips in Bijapur, Raichur, Karwar, Shimoga
and Gulbarga. Nandi Hills, Bridavan Gardens, Kemmanagundi,
Jog
Falls, Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal, Belur & Halebedu,
Shravanabelagola, Bijapur, Hampi, Gokarna and Karwar would
be treated as major
tourist spots. The government would be developing Bangalore
as a tourist destination by promoting adventure sports,
creating high-end accommodation and allowing private parties
to manage
tanks like Ulsoor, Sankey, Madiwala, Bellandur etc.
Karnataka's manifold attractions include everything that interests
the tourists. The wild game sanctuaries at Bandipur, Nagarhole
and Dandeli, the Ranganathittu Bird's Sanctuary. 5 Kms from
Srirangapatna which is itself a well known tourist center,
hill stations like Nandhi Hills and Kemmannagundi and Mercara,
beach resorts like Karwar, Ullal, Malpe and Maravanthe, the
world famous Brindavan Gardens at Krishnarajasagara, the monolithic
statue of Gommateshwara at Sharavanabelagola, Gol Gumbaz with
its whispering gallery at Bijapur, the Jog falls and other
water falls at Shiva Samudram, Magod, Unchelli or Lushington
near Siddapur, Lalguli at Yallapur and other places indicate
the variety and richness of the attractions that Karnataka
State holds out to the tourists.
There are many places of historic and religious importance.
The great Acharyas, Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhwa, preached
in this region. Great reformers like Sri Basaveshwara, mathematicians
like Baskaracharaya, commentators like Sayana, saint poiets
like Purandaradasa and Kanakadasa, great writers like Pampa,
Harihara and Kumara Vyasa have all enriched the heritage of
Karnataka.
The temples at Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal in Bijapur district
have great significance for all lovers of art. The temples
of Halebedu, Belur and Somanathapura are great architectural
achievements - the like of which are rarely seen in any part
of the world.
The profusion of artistic skill is bewildering in its range
and exquisiteness. At Hampi [Bellary district] one can see
Indian sculpture in all its richness and vitality.
The Muslims and Christians in ages past have made no mean
contribution to the enrichment of art and architecture in Karnataka.
The Gol Gumbaz and Ibrahim-Roza at Bijapur, the Daria Daulat
Bagh (Summer Palace) of Tippu Sultan at Srirangapatna, the
Khwaja Bandenawaz Darga at Gulbarga are someof their remarkable
contributions. The churches at Mysore, Mangalore, Bangalore
and Bijapur indicate the contribution of Christians to the
great repertoire of Karnataka's culture. With all these manifold
attractions a visit to Karnataka State is always memorable.
In August 2004, the State Government decided to form Kaginele
Development Authority (KDA) to protect all the monuments and
the documents related to Kanaka Das. KDA will be formed on
the lines of Koodal Sangam Development Authority which was
formed to save and protect all the monuments of 12th Century.
Also, Kaginele, which is the birth place of Kanaka Das a great
saint from Kuruba community, will be developed. The govt has
decided to form Basava Kalyan Development Authority to protect
the ruins of 12th Century.
Jog Falls: The Jog in Shimoga District is the tallest water
fall in India where the river Sharavati jumps from a height
of 293 mts. into four beautiful cascades . The best time
to visit is only during July to October. (See Surviving the
death-defying 960-feet fall from Jog Falls !)
The Cauvery at Shivasamudra falls (in Mandya district) has
twin jumps, Gaganachukki and Bharachukki, one km away from
each other and their water has been harnessed for production
of power from 1901. The river Shimsha , a tributary of the
Cauvery, has its fall in Malavalli taluk in Mandya district.
Abbi Falls is 5 km away from Madikeri, Kodagu district which
is a perennial hill-station.
The Irrupu falls, 48 km from Virajpet in Kodagu District,
is bounded by scenic locals.
Chikmagalur district has many water falls. The hill stations
at Kemmannagundi has the Hebbe Falls jumping down from a
height of about 500 feet. Manikyandhara is yet another water
falls
near the famous pilgrim centre Baba Budangiri Dattatreya
Peetha where water spills down like small balls giving the
visitors
a memorable shower bath.
Kallatti Falls, 100 km from Kemmanugundi at Kallattipura in
Tarikere taluq is another beautiful fall with water leaping
down from a height of 400 feet. There is an old Veerabhadra
temple very near the Falls.
Chunchanakatte Falls
The picturesque Chunchanakatte Falls in Mysore district is
at the place of the same name which also has an ancient temple
of a Lord Rama close by Uttara Kannada is famous for its
Unchalli (Lushington) Falls. Aghanashini river creates this
water cascade
which screams down from a height of about 450 feet.It is
near Yellapur (19 km. away) in Uttara Kannada Called `Mini
Niagara',
Gokak Falls is another fall known for its beauty. Cascading
from a height of 170 feet, it is famous for its spread and
shape. Gokak Falls must be visited in July-August when it
will be in full bloom.
No tourist
survey is complete without mentioning about Karnataka's historical
forts. The whole range of ancient capitals of
Bidar, Gulbarga, Bijapur, Vijayanagara, Badami, Basava Kalyan,
Srirangapattan, Keladi, Chitradurga, Mysore, etc. had their
forts.
There are hill forts at the Nandi Hill (Kolar district),
Savanadurga (Bangalore district), Madhugiri, Pavagada,
Midigeshi in Tumkur
district, Ucchangi near Davanagere and Sandur (both in Bellary
district), Jamalabad in Dakshina Karnataka, Manzarabad near
Sakleshpur (Hassan district) and Kavaledurga (Shimoga district),
Chitradurga Shahapur and Shorapur (Gulbarga district), Nargund
fort built by Shivaji (Dharwad district) and Parasgad and
Vallabhgad forts (Belgaum district), also raised by Shivaji.
Bangalore, Devanahalli, Magadi (Bangalore district), Aymangala
in Chitradurga district, Chikbanavar in Hassan district, Belgaum
have fortifications round part of the towns even now. The coastal
island forts like Bahadurgad, Basavaraja Durga, Devagad and
Kurmagad are as strong as they were in the heydays.