13 Road Trips to Famous Historical Places in Karnataka
Whether you are a history aficionado or fond of witnessing various landforms, flora and fauna, you will get to see everything in Karnataka. The state was ruled by many empires and dynasties, which include Badami Chalukyas, Rashtrakuta Empire, Mauryan Empire, Nanda Empire, to name a few. The reminiscence of these empires can still be found in various cities in Karnataka. All that you need is few days and car to visit the several places in this state. Here are some of the historical places in Karnataka where you can take a road trip to over any weekend.
13 Famous Monuments of Karnataka
- Hampi
- Mysore
- Bijapur
- Shimoga
- Bangalore
- Badami
- Halebidu
- Srirangapatna
- Aihole
- Hassan
- Bidar
- Talakadu
- Mirjan Fort
1. Hampi
As you are planning road trips to must see historical places in Karnataka, Hampi should be the one topping the list. Hampi is also called as the ‘City of Ruins’, and the city is listed under UNSECO. You will be able to see more than 500 temples, treasury building, archeological monuments, and bastions in Hampi. You can also do a lot of shopping here at the vibrant street markets. Your interest in history will only get deeper when you are in Hampi.
Ideal time to visit: October to February
2. Mysore
From Lalitha Mahal to Jagmohan Palace, from Brindavan Gardens to Mysore Zoo, there are numbers of attractions in Mysore that you can witness. Mysore in fact is one of the most sought after destinations of travelers, especially who prefer road trips. When you are in this city, you can do a lot of things such as historical tours, silk shopping, visiting theme parks, and exploring wildlife. Try Mysore Pak, which is one of the most famous sweets you will find here.
Ideal time to visit: July to February
3. Bijapur
If you have heard about Gol Gumbaz, you need to be in Bijapur. It is one of the biggest domes in the country, which is regularly visited by tourists. The other attractions which you can take a tour of include Bara Kaman, Jama Masjid, and Shivagiri. You can also take tour of various gardens here.
Ideal time to visit: October to February
4. Shimoga
While you look for top 7 historical places in Karnataka for road trip, you need to count Shimoga in. Shimoga was a significant seat for several dynasties for many years. Apart from the historical attractions, there are various falls that you can visit, flora and fauna you can explore, and things like trekking you can do here.
Ideal time to visit: October to March
5. Bangalore
Historical places in and around Bangalore are many in numbers. However, since you are in Bangalore, you can start your tours within the city. Some of the attractions you can visit here are Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, Bangalore Fort, Bangalore Palace, Devanahalli Fort, etc.
Ideal time to visit: Throughout the year
6. Badami
Badami is an off-beat destination in the state, but rich in historical monuments and temples. You can find some of the most amazing historical monuments in Karnataka in this city. The megalithic dolmens, the rock-cut temples of Mahakuta, Badami Fort are some of the tourist attractions which will make your road trip to this place successful. Apart from visiting the historical attractions, you can also take nature walks and try rock climbing here.
Ideal time to visit: July to March
7. Halebidu
Halebidu is known for being the capital of Hoysala Empire during the 12th century. You can see the Hoysala style architecture in the temples as well as monuments of Halebidu. Two of the most important historical tourist attractions you should visit in Halebidu are Hoysaleshwara and Kedareshwara temples.
Ideal time to visit: October to February
8. Srirangapatna
Road trips to famous monuments in Karnataka cannot be complete if you do not visit Srirangapatna. The place is situated in an oval-shaped island in River Cauvery. Ranganathaswamy Temple is one of the major attractions you should visit here.
Ideal time to visit: July to March
9. Aihole
You are not a history buff living in Karnataka if you do not visit Aihole. UNESCO is likely to include this place among the top historical places in the state of Karnataka. You can witness over 100 carved temples from the Chalukya Empire. Apart from these temples, you can also visit various other archeological sites in Aihole.
Ideal time visit: October to March
10. Hassan
The temple architecture in Hassan will surely woo the soul of history aficionados. When you are here, you must visit Hassanamba Temple. There are many structures in the city where you will be able to see Hoysala architecture.
Ideal time to visit: Throughout the year
11. Bidar
The ancient artifacts and attractive architecture in Bidar make the city a favourite of many tourists. Kingdoms of Allauddin Khilji, Muhammad bin Tughluq, and Chalukyas ruled Bidar at some point or other. From temples, to mosques and tombs, there are so many things to explore in this city.
Ideal time to visit: October to March
12. Talakadu
Located on the banks of River Cauvery, Talakadu boasts its temples which were dug out from under the sand. The Vaidyanatheshwara Temple here is visited by devotees as well as tourists.
Ideal time to visit: November to March
13. Mirjan Fort
Spread across an area of 4.1 hectares, Mirjan Fort witnessed battles from the 16th and 17th centuries. The fort looks like a castle and is a true example of the rich history of the state.
Ideal time to visit: September to February
There are so many places that you can visit in Karnataka to see the historical monuments. Make your trip simpler and convenient by using Revv car rental services. The process of renting is as easy as driving to these places. Also, the charges will not be heavy to the pockets. Get in touch with Revv today to rent a car and explore the historical nooks of Karnataka.