City: Karnataka
Top Things to do in Karnataka
Top Hotels in Karnataka
- 1. Grand Mercure Mysore
- 2. Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Mysore
- 3. The Chancery Pavilion
- 4. The Liverpool Hotels Outer Ring Road Marathahalli
- 5. ibis Bengaluru City Centre
- 6. Heritage Resort Coorg
- 7. Aishwarya Residency
- 8. Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru
- 9. Sterlings Mac Hotel & Suites
- 10. Palm Meadows Club
The 6 Best Castles in Karnataka, India
Karnataka is a state in the south western region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as the State of Mysore, it was renamed Karnataka in 1973. The state corresponds to the Carnatic region. The capital and largest city is Bangalore (Bengaluru).
Restaurants in Karnataka
1. Mysuru Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,222 reviews
This 1912 structure is one of the largest palaces in the country and contains art from around the world.
Reviewed By monideepad - Bangalore District, India
We reached the Mysore Palace at 1pm sharp and after parking the car in the parking lot, we proceeded to buy the tickets at the counter by the side of the gate, the South Entrance. There are different categories of entrance fares with concessions for students and large groups. For Indian adults it is ₹50/- per ticket whereas for foreign nationals it is ₹200/- per ticket. The Palace, which is presently converted into a museum is one of the most visited tourist destinations of the country. Being a Sunday, there was a huge influx of tourists, predominantly large groups and we had to elbow our way to where we needed to obtain bags, to put our footwear into them and then deposit the bags at the counter after obtaining a token. Before entering in the palace, we spent some time trying to absorb the magnificence of its exterior and to know a bit about it. The historical Mysore Palace, also known as the Amba Vilas Palace, is a royal residence and also the official residence of the Wadiyar dynasty at Mysore, Karnataka. It is located in the heart of Mysore and since the Kings of Mysore were devotees of Goddess Chamundi, the palace faces the Chamundi Hills in the eastward direction. The three storey stone structure with a five storey tower rising to the height of 145feet is made of fine grey granite with pink marble domes. It is said to be in the lines of the Inso-Saracenic style of architecture which is a blend of Hindu, Mughal, Neo-Classical and Gothic styles. The construction of the palace took place between 1897 and 1912, in order to replace the old wooden palace that was destroyed by fire.. Set amidst a large, lovely garden, the palace has three entrances, the East Entrance is opened for VVIPs and dignitaries and during Dasara while the West Entrances is opened only during Dasara and the South Entrance which is used by the public. The facade of the palace has several wide and beautiful arches adorning it with a central arch, supported by tall pillars and flanked by two smaller ones. A sculpture of Gajalakshmi with her elephants, the Goddess of wealth, fortune, prosperity, abundance is placed above the central arch. The entrance gate and arch hold the emblem and coat of arms of the Kingdom of Mysore. The magnificent palace houses two ornate durbar halls, several colossal courtyards and sprawling, splendid gardens. After the preliminary security formalities of passing through metal detectors and baggage check, we entered through a large door and went through the display of gold and silver statues, and many other stately artefacts. We went through the finely chiselled, beautifully embellished doors that led us through wide corridors which had on the walls, beautiful paintings on the wall depicting many processions and elaborate rituals of Dasara celebrations to richly and elegantly ornate rooms. The ceilings and the posts had beautiful patterns crafted on them. The large Durbar Hall with large with exquisite columns richly painted with gold and subtle colours, large candelabras and chandeliers hanging from ornate ceilings, the solid silver doors, the intricately carved mahogany ceilings and many other embellishments of the palace are overpowering in its magnificence and splendour. while giving an idea of the exuberant lifestyle of the royals. Displays in the palace include an array of superb paintings mostly of the kings, queens and their children, gift boxes received from other kings and dignitaries, royal dresses, souvenirs, musical instruments and weapons used by the Wodeyars. At the end of the tour, we come to where the Mysore Dasara Elephants Ornaments that adorn the elephants at the time of the Dasara celebrations are displayed. The size and splendour of the palace far exceeded my expectations... and after strolling through all the rooms open for viewing for almost two hours, we made our exit. Having had the opportunity of visiting some palaces and castles during my recent trip to the United Kingdom, I personally feel that the richness and opulence of the Mysore Palace is at par or even more. But we can go a long way and do much better in terms of managing the tourists, maybe with more manpower, offer better audio-visual aids and professional guides.
2. Basavaraj Durga
3. Gulbarga Fort
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By ksvn - Guntur, India
Worth seen. There is LIFT facility for those who cannot climb like Senior Citizens, Patients and children. Steps are about 125 but easily climbable.
4. Rajhansgad Yellur Fort
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By W7927SH_ - Fujisawa, Japan
Yellur fort outskirts of Belgaum, Karnataka has become my fort visit of 112th in India, and 337th in the world. Great view. You can take a car to the hill top.
5. Bangalore Palace
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 1,662 reviews
The Bangalore Palace was the private residence of the royal Wodeyar family. Built to resemble Windsor Castle, this quirky palace is filled with an interesting and eclectic collection of art and paraphernalia from a bygone era. The palace grounds are a popular venue for rock concerts and other music events.
Reviewed By 543jayap - Lucknow District, India
It was lovely to see the beautiful Bangalore Palace which is one of the eye catching tourist attractions of the city. The architecture is Tudor style and looks European. It was built by Maharaja Chamraja Wodeyar. It has been the summer residence and it is just beautiful. Lovely paintings and artifacts are displayed. The Maharaja courtyard is the best. The garden is also nice
6. Yadgir Fort
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 3 reviews
