Karnataka with all its charm and richness
in culture and traditional grandeur is a treasure trove of heritage sites.
Termed as "The Priceless Gift of Indulgent Nature", Karnataka is a
unique blend of a glorious past and a rich present. Known as the Capital of
Agarbathi (Incense Sticks), Arecanut, Silk, Coffee and Sandal Wood,
Karnataka carries numerous charms which no place can rival in the world. All
this is apart from the fact that Karnataka has been the cultural heritage
center for hundreds of years and its testimony stands spread across the
state, which attracts millions of tourists from all parts of the world to
Karnataka.
Karnataka has contributed so much that it far exceeds that of the other
regions individually. Music, Religion and Philosophy are some of the fields
where Karnataka had excelled very much. The folk theatres have an ancient
and rich tradition, the two principal forms being Yakshagana and the
Puppet-theatre. 'Yakshagana' is the equivalent to the Kathakali of Kerala in
terms of the dresses and the style of dancing. Open-air folk theater or "Bayalata"
of Karnataka is a famous dance form, performed at religious festivals and
family celebrations. The Pattadakal Dance Festival is a festival of dance
held at Pattadakal. Doddata, a less refined dance form than Yakshaganna,
pics stories from "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata" and enact
them. Heavy costumes, loud make-up, vigorous facial expression accompanied
with loud noises and war cries make the real sense of this dance.
The state's long and colourful history, and the several forts, palaces,
temples, mosques, and churches make it an interesting place to explore.
Travel to Hassan, Hampi, Mysore and Belur and see the past glory of India,
which is very much evident in their monuments and ancient structures.
Karnataka has a variance of interests such as the ruins of Vijaynagar,
sculptures of Belur and Halebid; Mausoleum of Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur; golden
sands of Karavalli, proud hills of Kodau; majestic mysore world's tallest
freestanding monolith of Bahubali. There is a 17 m statue of Jain Saint
Gomateshwara in Sravanabelagola, near Mysore. Huge monolithic Jain statues
are peculiar to the Kannada culture.
The cuisine here in Karnataka is also very special. Karnataka is famous for
dosas, idlis, and Coconut milk. The Udupi cuisine is the school of South
Indian vegetarian cuisine, which takes its name from the town of Udupi.
To the combined culture of India, the contribution of Karnataka, is in no
way inferiors to that of any other part of India. The richness and
hospitality of Karnataka can only be felt and never explained better.
