Ruined empires, coffee hills and a modern capital
Karnataka travel guide
Hampi's boulder landscape and Vijayanagara ruins are among the most atmospheric historic sites in Asia. Add Coorg's coffee estates, Mysore's palace and the Hoysala temples and you have a full, uncrowded two-week region.
Why visit Karnataka
- Hampi — a 30 sq km ruined city you explore by bicycle and on foot.
- Belur, Halebidu and Somnathpur: Hoysala stone carving at a level of detail that is hard to believe in person.
- Coorg and Chikmagalur coffee estates for two or three slow days.
- Bengaluru as a comfortable, well-connected arrival point with excellent food.
Best time to visit
October to March
Best all round. Hampi is punishing in the heat, so this matters.
April to May
Very hot inland; the coffee hills stay bearable.
June to September
Monsoon, spectacular on the Western Ghats coast and in Coorg.
Highlights
Hampi
Two full days minimum; sunrise at Matanga Hill.
Mysore Palace
Sunday evening illumination if your dates line up.
Coorg
Estate stays, plantation walks and Kodava food.
Itineraries
Suggested routes through Karnataka
Karnataka travel FAQs
How do I reach Hampi?
Overnight train or bus from Bengaluru or Goa to Hospet, then a 30-minute drive. There are also flights to Hubballi and Vidyanagar with onward road transfer.
Is two days enough for Hampi?
Two full days covers the royal centre and the sacred centre without rushing. Three lets you cross the river and explore the quieter side.
Talk to a planner