KARNATAKA

BANGALORE - Asia's Silicon valley, Known as the Garden city, Govt. museum at Cubbon park (300 acre), Lalbaug and glass house, Vidhana Soudha, St. Mary's cathedral, Govt. museum and Venkatappa art gallery, Visvesvarya industrial and technological museum, Bull temple at Basavanagudi (6.1 m long and 4.6 m high Nandi), Bangalore palace (4 km, fort like), Whitefield (16 km) - Satya Sai Baba ashram, Ramohalli (28 km) - Giant Banyan tree spread over 4 acres of land, picnic spot; Nandi hills (60 km) - Hill station, Gandhi nilaya, Yoganandeswara temple, Tipu's palace.

KOLAR GOLD MINES - Deepest man made pit : 3030 m deep, can be visited from Oct to Feb.

MYSORE - Jagan Mohan palace (3 storied) and Sri Chamarajendra art gallery, garden, zoo, St.Philomina's church, museum of art & archaeology and folklore museum at University of Mysore, Rail museum, Lalith Mahal palace now a 5 star hotel, Chamundi hills (13 km, temple, 4.8 m Nandi statue half way up), BRINDAVAN GARDENS (19 km) - Krishna Rajendra dam, garden, dancing fountain, picnic spot, SRIRANGAPATANA (16 km) - Tipu Sultan's capital, museum, palace, fort, Sangam, mosque, Shri Ranganatha temple; RANGANATHITTU bird sanctuary (19 km), NANJANGUD (22 km) - Nanjundeswara temple, SOMNATHPUR (38 km) - Hoysala temple, Shivsamudram water falls (85 km) - Asia's first hydro electric project, MERCARA/COORG (120 km) - Hill station.

SHRAVANABELGOLA (52 km from Hassan) - Jain pilgrim centre, Gomateswara statue of 300 BC (17 m) by 640 steps. Head annoying ceremoney once in 12 years (2006); BELUR (near Hassan) - Channakeshava temple, Veeranarayana temple. HALEBID (17 km from Belur) - Hoysaleswara temple, archaeological museum.

HAMPI - World heritage centre, archaeological museum, Vijayanagara ruins - Vithala temple with monolithic chariot, Vrupaksha temple, Hazara Ramaswami temple, fort, Elephant stable and Lotus Mahal.

BADAMI - Fort, 4 caves, Malegitti Shivalaya temple, rock climbing. 163 km from Bijapur.

PATTADAKAL - World heritage centre, 30 km from Badami, Sangameswara temple, Mallikarjuna temple, Virupaksha temple, Padmanatha temple, Papanatha temple, Dance festival in Jan.

AIHOLE - Meguti temple with inscriptions, Lad Khan temple group, Durga temple, Ravanaphadi cave. 40 km from Badami.

BIJAPUR (100 km from Solapur) - Archaeological museum, Gol Gumbaz - world's fourth largest dome (37.92 m in diameter, 51 m in height and 3 m thick walls, A single minute whisper will be echoed 9 times), fort, Jami masjid, Asar Mahal, Gagan Mahal, Upli Buruj (Watch tower), Mallik e Maidan (a 55 tonne, 14 feet cannon), Bara Kaman, Ibrahim Roza tomb.

CHITRADURGA - Harihar fort.

GERSOPPA/JOG FALLS - Largest/highest waterfall in India, 292 m high Jog falls is in Shravati river, it has four distinct falls named as Raja, Rani, Rocket and Roarer. Season Oct to Dec. Magod falls (183 m is 80 km from Honavar).

MANGALORE - Mangaladevi temple, Kadri temple, St.Aloysious college chapel, light house, Govt. museum, Ullal Jama masjid (12 km), Moodabidri Jain temples (35 km, 18 number). Sringeri - Monastery by Shankaracharya, Vidya Shankara temple. Kudremukh - Deep valleys and steep precipice with natural beauty, trekking.

UDUPI - Sri Krishna temple, pilgrim centre, Malpe beach (6 km), Manipal health resort (5 km). DHARMASTALA - Manjunatha temple and Gomateswara statue.

FESTIVALS - Dussera (Sept/Oct), Sankranti (Jan).