Karnataka is one of the oldest states in India, that showcases the best of cultural and architectural history. From the historical temples to grand forts, these historical places in Karnataka have much to unleash pertaining to their glorious past. In this blog, we will take you on a tour to the 17 remarkable historical places in Karnataka, each having its own charm and significance, that one should visit during their Karnataka tour.
17 Historical Places in Karnataka
- Hampi
- Badami
- Aihole
- Pattadakal
- Bijapur
- Mysore
- Chikmagalur
- Gokarna
- Srirangapatna
- Bellary
- Shravanabelagola
- Hassan
- Kolar
- Sagara
- Bidar
- Raichur
- Udupi
Hampi
Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features the remains of the Vijayanagara Empire. It accommodates the amazing Virupaksha Temple, the grand Vittala Temple, and the intricate Hazararama Temple. Walking through Hampi’s ruins is strolling through greatness gone by.
| Places to stay: | Hotel Malligi, Hampi’s Boulders, Hyatt Place Hampi |
| Places to visit: | Virupaksha Temple, Vittala Temple, Stone Chariot |
| Things to Do: | Exploring the ruins, Visiting local markets, Take a coracle ride |
| Best time to visit: | October to March |
Suggested Read: Historical Places in India to Explore
Badami
Renowned for its rock-cut temples, Badami is an archaeologist’s delight with Chalukyan architecture. Majestic carvings and detailed sculptures are depicted in the four cave temples, which are carved into sandstone hills, and this makes it one of the most interesting historical places in Karnataka.
| Places to stay: | Hotel Badami Court, Clarks Inn Badami, Krishna Heritage |
| Places to visit: | Badami Cave Temples, Agastya Lake, Bhutanatha Temple |
| Things to Do: | To visit the caves, Agastya Lake boat ride, Visit to the nearby forts |
| Best time to visit: | November to March |
Aihole
Place described to be the “Cradle of Indian Architecture”, Aihole is an abode to several ancient temples built by the Chalukyas. Within the complex, more than 125 temples exist with each boasting different styles of architecture.
| Places to stay: | Hotel Keshava, Hotel Mayura, Hotel Malaprabha |
| Place to visit: | Durga Temple, Lad Khan Temple, Meguti Temple |
| Things to Do: | Significant temples to see, Ancient ruins to check, Taste local food |
| Best time to visit: | November to February |
Pattadakal
This is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is famous for its Chalukyan architecture. A set of beautiful temples depicts the glory of the Chalukyan Empire. One such famous structure is that of the Virupaksha Temple.
| Places to stay: | Hotel Mayura, Hotel Krishna, Hotel Keshava |
| Places to visit: | Virupaksha Temple, Jain Temple, Galaganatha Temple |
| Things to Do: | Study the temple complex, Guided tour, Archaeological museum |
| Best time to visit: | November to March |
Bijapur
Bijapur, with its magnificent monuments, is reputed for its Indo-Islamic architecture. Gol Gumbaz, with its massive dome, and Ibrahim Rauza, considered comparable to the Taj Mahal are among the most famous historical places in Karnataka.
| Places to stay | Hotel Pearl, Hotel Ajanta, Basava Residency |
| Places to visit: | Gol Gumbaz, Ibrahim Rauza, Bijapur Fort |
| Things to Do: | Exploring the historical sites, Local markets, traditional Bijapur cuisine |
| Best time to visit: | October to March |
Suggested Read: Best places to visit in Karnataka during monsoon
Mysore
Mysore, with the grand Mysore Palace, is a city drenched in royalty. The palace itself is one of the awaited locations in the most historical places in Karnataka, with its grand architecture and opulent interiors. The city is famous for the vibrant festival of Dussehra.
| Places to stay | Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Hotel Metropole, Hotel Dasaprakash |
| Places to visit: | Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hill, St. Philomena’s Church |
| Things to Do: | Mysore Palace, Dussehra festival, Chamundi hill |
| Best time to visit: | October to March |
Chikmagalur
The historical places in Karnataka are famed for its coffee plantations, and its beauty features historical places such as Veeranarayana Temple and the Hoysala era temples. Its rich history combines with natural beauty to make this place unique.
| Places to stay | The Serai, Coffee Bean Homestay, Vama Retreats |
| Places to visit: | Veeranarayana temple, Hoysala temple, Mullayanagiri peak |
| Things to Do: | Coffee plantation tour, exploring historical temples, Trekking in the Western Ghats |
| Best time to visit: | September to March |
Gokarna
Gokarna has ancient temples and beautiful beaches. The Mahabaleshwar temple and Mirjan Fort represent two important historical places in Karnataka, offering a blend of spirituality and history.
| Places to stay | Namaste Yoga Farm, Om Beach Resort, Hotel Namaste |
| Places to visit: | Mahabaleshwar Temple, Mirjan Fort, Om Beach |
| Things to Do: | Visit the temples, Lay back on beaches, Mirjan fort |
| Best time to visit: | October to March |
Srirangapatna
Srirangapatna, the former capital of Tipu Sultan, is home to many historical places like the Ranganathaswamy Temple and the Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace. It is a town full of history and architectural beauty.
| Places to stay | Hotel krishna, Mayura Riverview, Hotel Shree Durga |
| Places to visit: | Ranganathaswamy temple, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, Daria Daulat Bagh |
| Things to Do: | Insight of the historical sites, local markets, boat ride on the river |
| Best time to visit: | October to March |
Bellary
Bellary is a city famous for historical forts and temples, of which the Bellary FOrt and the Virupaksha temple are leading monuments of the history of Karnataka, showing the rich heritage of the region.
| Places to stay | Hotel Shree Sagar, Hotel Priya, Hotel Mayura |
| Places to visit: | Bellary Fort, Virupaksha temple, Kuntegadda |
| Things to Do: | Bellary Fort exploration, visit the temples, take a heritage walk |
| Best time to visit: | October to March |
Suggested Read: Bannerghatta National Park
Shravanabelagola
Shravanabelagola, a holy place for Jains, having the giant statue of Gomateshwara. This town houses several historical places in Karnataka that include temples and inscriptions.
| Places to stay | Hotel Shri Ram, Jain Dharamshala, Hotel Sree Vishnu |
| Places to visit: | Gomateshwara Statue, Chandragiri hill, Vindhyagiri hill |
| Things to Do: | Visit Gomateshwara Statue, Visit the Jain temples, Climb the hills |
| Best time to visit: | October to March |
Hassan
This city is known for its Hoysala architecture and hosts many historical temples. The Chennakesava Temple and the Hoysaleswara Temple are the two major places of interest in this historic city.
| Places to stay | Hotel Hassan Ashoka, Hotel Sushree, Hotel Karnataka |
| Places to visit: | Chennakesava temple, Hoysaleswara temple, Shravanabelagola |
| Things to Do: | Hoysala temples exploration, historical places, trying local food |
| Best time to visit: | October to March |
Suggested Read: Places to visit in Coorg
Kolar
Kolar is famous for its ancient temples and mining history. Some of these remarkable sites are the Kolaramma Temple and the Someswara Temple. The city is one of the important destinations among the historical places in Karnataka.
| Places to stay | Hotel Akash, Hotel Udupi, Kolar Residency |
| Places to visit: | Kolaramma temple, Someswara temple, Kolar Gold Fields |
| Things to Do: | Checking out temples, visiting gold fields, getting a feel of local history |
| Best time to visit: | October to March |
Sagara
Sagara is a small town in the state of Karnataka. This town is well-known for its historical temples and forts. Sagara Fort and the Jog Falls are the two main attractions to this place, hence making this place an interesting one among the historical places in Karnataka.
| Places to stay | Hotel Surya, Hotel Ashoka, Hotel Anand |
| Places to visit: | Sagara Fort, Jog Falls, Banadi temple |
| Things to Do: | Visiting the fort, Witnessing the falls, Visiting local temples |
| Best time to visit: | October to March |
Suggested Read: Explore Ananthagiri Hills
Bidar
The forts and monuments that are in good condition at Bider reflect the glory of the Bahmani Sultanate. The Bidar Fort and the Bahmani Tombs are the two of the most important historic monuments in Karnataka.
| Places to stay | Hotel Nandi, Hotel Sree Krishna, Hotel Maurya |
| Places to visit: | Bidar Fort, Bahmani Tombs, Guru Nanak Jhira Sahib |
| Things to Do: | Visiting the Bidar Fort, Visiting the Bahmani Tombs, trying local food |
| Best time to visit: | October to March |
Raichur
Raichur is famous for its historic forts and temples that include the Raichur Fort and the temple of Bhima. Depicted through its remarkable architectural heritage, the plethora of history that this city holds makes it one of the notable destinations.
| Places to stay | Hotel Pooja, Hotel Mahalakshmi, Hotel Surabhi |
| Places to visit: | Raichur Fort, Bhima Temple, Alampur Temples |
| Things to Do: | Fort visit, Visit temples, Exploring local history |
| Best time to visit: | October to March |
Suggested Read: Best Street food of Raichur
Udupi
One of the oldest temples dedicated to Krishna, resplendent cultural heritage, puts Udupi on the map. The Udupi Krishna Temple and the Malpe Beach combine spirituality with natural beauty.
| Places to stay | Hotel Swathi, Hotel Sri Krishna, The Ocean Pearl |
| Places to visit: | Udupi Krishna Temple, Malpe Beach, St. Mary’s Island |
| Things to Do: | Visiting the Krishna Temple, Beach relaxation, Local Attractions |
| Best time to visit: | October to March |
Make Your Trip to Historical Places in Karnataka
These 17 historical places in Karnataka are indeed a heady cocktail of the rich cultural and architectural history of the state. Right from these places, Karnataka has been celebrating its historical greatness and demands a visit from anyone seeking out the historical monuments of Karnataka during a trip to Karnataka.