Places to Visit in Karnataka: Explore One District at a Time
Discover the best places to visit in Karnataka: palaces and Hoysala temples, coffee hills and waterfalls, beaches and rainforest. Our Karnataka travel guide gives you timings, distances, seasons and ready-made itineraries for all 31 districts.
Looking for the best places to visit in Karnataka? Explore Karnataka is a free Karnataka travel guide covering every district, from the royal heritage of Mysuru and the ruins of Hampi to the coffee hills of Chikkamagaluru and the beaches of Udupi. Each page lists the top Karnataka tourist places with timings, distances, the best time to visit and ready-made itineraries, so you can plan a weekend or a week.
Places to Visit in Karnataka: Destination Guides
Each guide covers the best places with timings and distances, a season table, food, stays, how to get there and ready itineraries.
Mysuru
The palace, Chamundi Hills, Dasara 2026 and day trips to Srirangapatna and Somanathapura.
Read the Mysuru guideKodagu (Coorg)
Abbey Falls, Raja’s Seat, Talakaveri, Dubare, the Tadiandamol trek and plantation stays.
Read the Kodagu guideUdupi
The Krishna Matha, Malpe Beach, St. Mary’s Island, ferry seasons and temple etiquette.
Read the Udupi guideMangaluru
Mangaladevi, Kadri, St. Aloysius Chapel, Panambur and Pilikula, plus Mangaluru Dasara.
Read the Mangaluru guideUttara Kannada
Gokarna’s beaches, Murudeshwar, Yana Caves, Dandeli rafting and Magod Falls.
Read the Uttara Kannada guideShivamogga
Jog Falls, Sakrebailu elephant camp, Keladi, Kavaledurga and Kodachadri.
Read the Shivamogga guideChikkamagaluru
Mullayanagiri, Hebbe Falls, Kudremukh, Horanadu and coffee estate walks.
Read the Chikkamagaluru guideHassan
Belur, Halebidu, Shravanabelagola, the once-a-year Hasanamba temple and Sakleshpur.
Read the Hassan guideMandya
Srirangapatna, Ranganathittu, Brindavan Gardens, Melkote and Shivanasamudra Falls.
Read the Mandya guideBengaluru
Lalbagh, Cubbon Park, Bangalore Palace, museums, Bannerghatta and Nandi Hills.
Read the Bengaluru guideBagalkot (Badami)
Badami’s cave temples, UNESCO Pattadakal, Aihole and Banashankari.
Read the Bagalkot guideChamarajanagar
Bandipur safaris, Gopalaswamy Betta, BR Hills and Male Mahadeshwara Hills.
Read the Chamarajanagar guideChikkaballapur
Nandi Hills sunrise, Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple, Skandagiri and Muddenahalli.
Read the Chikkaballapur guideRamanagara
Savandurga, Ramadevara Betta, Janapada Loka and Channapatna’s wooden toys.
Read the Ramanagara guideBelagavi
Belagavi Fort, Gokak Falls, Saundatti’s Yellamma Temple and Kittur Fort.
Read the Belagavi guideBengaluru Rural
Devanahalli Fort, Ghati Subramanya, Makalidurga and Shivagange, all within about 60 km of the city.
Read the Bengaluru Rural guideHampi (Vijayanagara)
The great ruined capital, with its best ruins, timings and ready-made itineraries.
Read the Hampi guideKalaburagi (Gulbarga)
Twelve best sights with timings and itineraries in the old Bahmani capital.
Read the Kalaburagi guideVijayapura (Bijapur)
Gol Gumbaz and ten best sights in the Adil Shahi capital.
Read the Vijayapura guideRaichur
Raichur Fort, Maski, the Mantralayam road and ten best sights.
Read the Raichur guideBallari (Bellary)
Ballari Fort, Sanganakallu, Daroji and eight best sights.
Read the Ballari guideDharwad and Hubballi
Eight best sights in the twin cities of the north-west.
Read the Dharwad guideHaveri
Hangal, Bankapur, Galaganatha and the peacock and blackbuck sanctuaries.
Read the Haveri guideAll 31 district guides are now live. Browse by interest or season below to plan your route.
Karnataka Tourist Places by Interest
HAPPENING THIS MONTH
Dasara 2026 Is On
Mysuru Dasara runs from 11 to 21 October 2026, with the palace lit every evening and the Jamboo Savari elephant procession on 21 October. Mangaluru Dasara at the Kudroli temple began on 11 October, and its grand procession falls on Vijayadashami. Dates differ slightly between sources, so confirm with the official programmes. The Hasanamba temple in Hassan opens once a year around Deepavali.
Mysuru Dasara guide | Mangaluru Dasara guide | Hasanamba temple
Best Time to Visit Karnataka: Plan by Season
October to February
The main travel season. Cool, clear weather suits temples, beaches, treks and rafting, and the coffee harvest begins. Expect crowds and higher rates from December to February.
June to September
The monsoon. Waterfalls such as Jog, Abbey and Gokak are at their fullest and the hills are green, but expect slippery trails, rough seas, landslide risk on ghat roads and suspended water sports.
March to May
Hot and dry. Plan early-morning and evening sights, favour the hills and indoor heritage, and expect low water at most waterfalls. Coffee blossom appears in the hills around February and March.
Weekend Trips from Bengaluru: Karnataka Tourist Places Nearby
| Trip | Distance by road | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Devanahalli Fort, Ghati Subramanya, Makalidurga and Shivagange (Bengaluru Rural) | About 35 to 60 km | Forts, temples, granite treks |
| Savandurga and Channapatna (Ramanagara) | About 50 to 60 km | Granite treks, wooden toys |
| Nandi Hills and Skandagiri | About 60 to 65 km | Sunrise, treks |
| Srirangapatna and Ranganathittu | About 125 km | History, birds, an easy day trip |
| Mysuru | About 145 km | Palaces, Dasara, food |
| Hassan (Belur and Halebidu) | About 180 km | Hoysala temples |
| Bandipur (Chamarajanagar) | About 230 km | Safaris, forest hills |
| Chikkamagaluru | About 250 km | Peaks, coffee, waterfalls |
| Kodagu (Coorg) | About 250 to 270 km | Estates, falls, Kodava food |
Distances are approximate and travel times stretch on weekends and festival days. For the city itself, see the Bengaluru guide.
How We Write Our Karnataka Travel Guide
Practical first
Timings, distances, closing days and time needed come first, so you can build a day without opening six other tabs.
Cross-checked sources
Facts are checked against Karnataka Tourism, government and recent news or travel sources, and each guide lists its sources at the bottom.
Honest about change
Timings, prices and festival dates change. Where sources disagree, we say so and tell you to confirm before you travel.
Karnataka Travel FAQs
What are the best places to visit in Karnataka?
Popular choices include Mysuru for palaces and Dasara, Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru for coffee hills, Hassan and Bagalkot for temple architecture, Udupi, Mangaluru and Gokarna for the coast, Shivamogga for Jog Falls, and Hampi for ruins. Each has a detailed guide on this site.
Which Karnataka tourist places are best for a weekend trip?
From Bengaluru, popular weekend trips include Chikkamagaluru, Tumakuru, Mysuru and Ramanagara.
What is the best time to visit Karnataka?
October to February is the best time for most of the state. The monsoon from June to September is best for waterfalls and green hills, and March to May is hot except in the hills.
How many days do I need for a Karnataka trip?
Plan two to three days for each district guide. A first trip might pair Bengaluru, Mysuru and Hassan, or Mangaluru, Udupi and Gokarna on the coast.
Are the timings and prices on this site up to date?
Each guide was cross-checked in October 2026, but timings, prices and festival dates change often, so confirm locally before you go. Where sources disagree, the guide says so.
Which district guides are available?
Guides are live for all 31 districts, from Mysuru, Kodagu, Udupi and Mangaluru to Hampi, Bidar, Vijayapura, Gadag, Haveri, Yadgir and Bengaluru Rural. Use the destination cards on this page to find yours.
Which destinations are good for a weekend trip from Bengaluru?
Nandi Hills, Savandurga, Srirangapatna, Mysuru and Hassan are all within about 180 km. See the weekend trips table on this page for distances.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Start with Mysuru for heritage or Kodagu for hills and coffee, then build outwards.