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- Tourist Attractions |
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Legend : It goes that King Veeraballa of Vijayanagara once
lost his way in forest. Hungry and tired, he came upon a lone hut in
the thick forest where he met an old woman.When he asked for food,
she gave him baked beans ('Benda Kalu' in Karnataka).The King found
this humble meal taste better than the richest fare.To commemorate
this incident, he called the place "Benda Kalu Ooru"(place of baked beans
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Capital of the
Southern state of Karnataka, Bangalore today is
Asia's fastest growing cosmopolitan
city. It is home to some of the most high tech
industries in India. The I.T industry views Bangalore
as the
'byte-basket' of India. Bangalore is also home
to some of India's
premier scientific establishments. Blessed with
a salubrious climate, gardens & parks, natural
lakes, architectural landmarks, shopping malls,
the best restaurants and
pubs in this part of the globe, business opportunities,
Bangalore is the ideal gateway to India and beyond.
Bangalore offers something for everyone-music and
dance concerts (Western and Indian), dramas, exhibitions,
carnivals, conferences and more. |
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Pearl Valley (38km) situated down a deep valley in the midst of hills, the main attraction of this fascinating picnic spot is its waterfall, formed by thin jets of water spurting down from a height of 90m. These jets of water converge at the bottom to resemble pond of pearls, hence the name Pearl Valley. Overlooking these falls is a small shrine dedicated to Shiva, adding a religious aura to the place.
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Bangalore Fort :
The Bangalore Fort was built by Kempe Gowda and
expanded by Tippu Sultan. Within its walls is
the well preserved 16th century Ganapathi Temple.
The Bangalore Palace was built by a Wodeyar king
in 1887. Inspired by the Windsor castle, this palace
was built in the Tudor style, complete with Gothic
windows, foiled windows, battlements and turrets
resembling the Daria Daulat Palace in Srirangapatanam,
this summer palace has been constructed largely
of wood and is famous for its carving and paintings.
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Lal Bagh : Hyder Ali laid out
this famous botanical garden and his son added
horticultural wealth to them by importing trees
and plants from several countries. The garden
today houses over 1000 species of flora which
include rare and enchanting collection of tropical
plants, trees and herbs. The Glass House, modelled
along London's Crystal Palace, is the center
of
attraction in this 2400 acre park. Bi-annual
flower shows attracting participants from all over
India is held in the Glass House.
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Cubbon Park : This wooded and
beflowered park was laid out in the heart of the
cantonment in 1864. Since then, fairy fountains,
an august bandstand and a wealth of atatury have
been added. But the most important aspect of
Cubbon Park is its newer buildings that have added
beauty and cultural wealth. Lush green lawns,
shady flowering trees, vibrant flower beds, make
Cubbon park an ideal place for morning joggers
and
alike.
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Government
Museum :
One of the important buildings, the Government
Museum is one of the oldest in India(1886). A
special attraction here are the antiquities from
Mohenjodaro
period. Situated nearby the museum is Visveswaraya
Industrial and Technological Museum named after
the great engineer-statesman .
Next to the VITM is
the Visveswaraya Industrial Trade Center,
the first of its kind in India. In addition to
its
trade promotional activities, the Center
has two exhibition floors housing a permanent
display
of all that is manufactured in Karnataka.
Near the Museum is
the K.Venkatappa Art Gallery which has a
permanent exhibition of the works of the great
artist,
K. Venkatappa. The Gallery does much to encourage
art in the state.
Also in the Cubbon
Park are the Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall, which
houses the public library, the High Court and
the Jawahar Bal Bhavan. The Bhavan, with its
toy train, fairgrounds and theatre, is a recreational,
hobby and educational centre for children.
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The Bull Temple :
This temple, built by Kempe Gowda, houses the magnificent
stone statue of the sacred bull, Nandi. It stands
over 15 feet tall and is over 20 feet long .
In Nov/Dec every year, when the groundnuts have
been harvested, a groundnut fair is held near
the temple. The first groundnuts are offered
by the farmers to the sacred bull.
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Vidhana Soudha :
This splendid neo-Dravidian granite building that
dominates the northern boundary of the Cubbon
park, is the home of the State Legislature and
the Secretariat. The massive sandalwood door
of the Cabinet room is a spectacular feature
of this imposing building. The Vidhana Soudha
is bedecked in illuminated glory during special
periods and is a sight worth viewing.
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Tipu's
Palace :
Built in 1791, This beautiful two-storeyed ornate
wooden structure with exquisitely carved pillars,
arches and balconies was one of Tipu's favourite
summer retreats.
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Janapada
Loka : Sprawling across 15 acres,
Janapada Loka or "Folk-culture
World" is a world of simplicity and art.Janapada
Loka, a subsidiary of the Karnataka Janapada
Parishath, is dedicated to preserve and promote
folk art and
culture. The complex has an art gallery, an
open-air theatre, a studio and a museum. Janapada
Loka
is located near Ramanagaram and is 53 Kms away
from
Bangalore.
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Dargah Hazarath Tawakkal Mastan
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This Muslim shrine,located in Cottonpet, a suburban locality,
is associated with the Hindu Karaga festival too. The
procession annually visits the Dargah of this Sufi
saint, Tawakkal Mastan. His tomb attracts both Muslim
and non-Muslim pilgrims.
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| Coorg : located in the Western Ghats, Kodagu (also known as Coorg) is noted for its natural scenic beauty. On a clear day, one can even view the distant Arabian Sea from Tadiyendamol, the tallest peak in Kodagu. A rugged mountain terrain interspersed with lush cffee and cardamom plantations, paddy fields, and scattered hamlets, Kodagu is the birth place of river Cauvery. In the days of the Raj, home-sick Britishers called it ‘Scotland of India’. |
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Madikeri : The district headquarters provides an excellent base from which to explore Kodagu. Situated at 1525m elevation, it is a charming, old-world town with a bustling bazaar and a panoramic view of the plantations. The 19th century Madikeri Fort with its stone ramparts was built by the reigning kings of the time. While the palace houses all the important government office; the fort now accommodates the prison, a temple, a chapel, a small museum, the district central library and court. Virajpet, another small town in Kodagu is reputed to be the largest producer of honey in Asia.
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Harangi Dam : also near Kushalnagar, is ideal for weekend picnics and short walks. On the banks of the river Cauvery, is the Valnur Fishing Camp. Fishing permits are issued by the Coorg Wildlife Society. Valnur is also great place for bird watching |
Hampi : At Hampi, the past comes alive. Whispering winds, magnificent ruins, races and scents of a bygone era all linger fresh here. And they virtually transport you to a world of kings, battles and long forgotten marvels. Welcome to the world’s largest open-air museum- Hampi, Karnataka.
Hampi was the capital city of magnificent Vijayanagar Empire. Founded by Harihar and Bukka in 1336, it fell to the rulers of Northern India in 1565 after the battle of Talikota, and subsequently lapsed into decline and abandonment.
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Mysore : is the perfect place to start exploring Karnataka. Positioned at a strategic location geographically, Mysore offers an unbelievable variety of places to visit and explore. The city itself has a good chunk of the state’s royal history, having been the state capital for several dynasties. A few hours drive from Mysore will take you to wildlife sanctuaries, heritage centers, rivers, temples, the coast and hill stations; all you have to do is pick your destination. |
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