Whether you’re a fan of historic attractions or prefer to spend your vacations in natural areas, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Karnataka. The South Indian state is packed with sights, from ancient ruins to modern cities, and from wildlife parks with tigers to seaside cities known for tasty cuisine. The state is home to the big city of Bangalore, equally known for its tech scene as it is for its gardens, and to Mysore, famous across India for its gargantuan palace.
The best time to visit Karnataka, weather-wise, is between mid-October and March when there's less rain and temperatures are manageable. If you're interested in immersive cultural experiences, come for the annual Ugadi celebrations, which take place in March or April in honor of the Hindu new year. During this time, people across the state adorn their homes with flowers, mango leaves, and decorative floor drawings.
Karnataka is easy to get around, with excellent train and bus connections between major destinations. You can also fly from Bangalore to the coastal city of Mangalore (officially called Mangaluru). Renting cars isn’t common, but finding private taxis for both day trips and multi-night, multi-destination tours is. Most “out-of-station” (out-of-town) packages include road tolls, fuel, and driver allowances, but not tips.
For an off-the-beaten-path alternative to some of Karnataka’s more famous historic attractions, head to the town of Ashtoor in the northeastern part of the state to check out the ruins of the Bahmani Tombs. Built in the 15th and 16th centuries as a necropolis for rulers from the Bahmani Sultanate, these tombs are an excellent example of Indo-Islamic architecture, and they don’t get nearly the number of visitors as some of the state’s more famous sights.
