Travel to Karnataka – An undiscovered gem in Asia

In recent decades, with the rise of computers, the city of Bangalore, the Karnataka state capital, has emerged as one of the major centers of technological innovation worldwide, especially in the field of communication and information. Large multinationals, including Microsoft’s powerful major centers have settled there. One of the reasons for the success of the «Indian Silicon Valley» has been the intellectual and scientific ability of computer scientists and mathematicians of the place. But if at the present time the city Bangalore is leading this area of the Indian subcontinent, in a not too distant past was the cities that stood out and Halebid Mysore (135 km southwest and 200 km west of Bangalore, respectively).

Photography by www.zoqy.net

Mysore was the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore and occupied a third of what is now the state of Karnataka. The history of the region is complex and goes back to the third century AD when the Mauryan empire of Chandragupta Maurya’s hand occupied much of India. The emperor ended jaimista embracing religion, left office and retired to Sravanabelgola, near Mysore, until the end of his days. With the passage of time the succession struggles for power led to the rise and fall of various dynasties. The most important were the Chalukyas, in the sixth century, the Ganges, until the year 1024 and especially the Hoysala. These last in power until 1327. The Hoysala have left some of the most important monuments of South Indian, with the temples of Halebid and Belur. The arrival of Islam, from the hand of Mohammed Tughlaq Hoysala Empire ended, but not for long held the power. In 1346 the Vijayanagar kingdom took control of the region. The Hindu lineage remained in power until 1565, when the dynasty of Mysore Wodeyar’s relieved. The Wodeyar dynasty’s foundation dates back to 1399, but has long been a vassal of the Vijayanagar. Until India’s independence in 1947 continued sending Wodeyar in the region, with a brief interruption between 1761 and 1799 when Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, aided by the French wrested the throne, the British aid restored back home to Mysore to their former owners. With Independence the Maharaja of Mysore became the governor and the capital of Mysore state was dissolved, and the new state of the Great took as capital Mysore to Bangalore. In 1972 the state was renamed Karnataka. For tourism landmarks are concentrated in the towns of Halebid, Belur, Mysore, Srirangapatna and Sravanabelgola site.

Photography by ranavikas

In Halebid is essential to visit the temple Hoysaleswara, the best example of Hoysala art, a masterpiece of sculpture in stone, built between 1121 and 1200. In the jewel to visit Belur temple is Channekeshava, built in 1116 to commemorate the victory of Hoysala dynasty of the Chola.

In Mysore the main attraction is the vast palace of the Maharaja Wodeyar. The current building is the work of the English and goes back only to 1912, the previous building burned in a fire in 1897. The market is another must see, with the attractive and colorful flower market sector and the spices. In the hills overlooking Mysore Chamundi temple stands, always saturated with pilgrims.

In nearby Srirangapatna, Tipu Sultan chose to build its headquarters. Here you can visit the palace of clear Persian influence, several mosques, temple Ranganathaswamy and the same tomb of the Sultan.

Photography by exfordy

Sravanabelgola The site is spectacular. A great rock, 110 feet high was transformed into one of the most sacred places for Jains. A staircase carved into the rock leads from the base to the summit of the rock. There in the interior of a temple statue stands naked Gomateshvara. Near the top there are other Jain temples.

Belur keeps Channekeshava the extraordinary venue. Temples, temples, columns worked, reliefs carved with exquisite quality. This is what you will find travelers and tourists who come to this part of Karnataka. Surely not disappoint them.

Good Luck!