Karnataka

Why visit

Karnataka fits a fourteenth-century ruined capital, a working palace city and a coffee-growing hill station into one circuit — Hampi’s boulder-strewn temples, Mysuru’s Wadiyar-era palace and Coorg’s plantations each feel like a different region, connected by an overnight train and short drives.

• Vittala Temple’s stone chariot and musical pillars at Hampi
• Mysore Palace lit up on a Sunday evening
• A coffee plantation walk in Coorg
• Talakaveri, the source of the river Kaveri
• Chamundi Hill above Mysuru

Places covered

BengaluruHampiMysuruCoorg

Suggested itinerary

1. Day1

   Arrive Bengaluru

   Cubbon Park and Lalbagh in the evening, overnight train to Hospet for Hampi.

2. Day2

   Hampi

   Virupaksha Temple, the Vittala Temple stone chariot and sunset from Hemakuta Hill.

3. Day3

   Hampi to Mysuru

   A long drive south through the Deccan plateau into Mysuru by evening.

4. Day4

   Mysuru

   Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hill and the flower and fruit stalls of Devaraja Market.

5. Day5

   Mysuru to Coorg

   Drive into the Western Ghats; a coffee plantation walk on arrival.

6. Day6

   Coorg

   Raja’s Seat at sunrise, Abbey Falls and Talakaveri, the source of the Kaveri.

7. Day7

   Depart

   Drive back to Bengaluru for onward travel.