Top 20 Must Visit Temples in Karnataka

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History

It was constructed on the ground floor of the western Naubat Khan that was known as the Jal Mahal. Very much inside the Taj Mahal complex, it is a double storied building that has a courtyard projection outside and is constructed on a raised platform.

The Taj Mahal Museum Galleries

You can find 3 galleries other than the main hall and they are well furnished and finely decorated. The paintings found in this place give the knowledge about the manufacturing days of the Taj Mahal. It takes you back to the ancient period.

First gallery display

In this place you can find the plans and color drawings that are beautifully architecture. You get to see the site plan that shows the elevation of the tombs and records. There are some replicas of Shah Jahan’s Farman’s dated AD 1632 addressed to Raja Jai Singh that proves the regular supply of makrana marble.

Second gallery display

In this gallery you get to see the jade and porcelain objects like Quran. There is a wonderful bejeweled spouted vase that is also called as lota. There is a mirror affixed on the stone. The kitchen items are all made of Celadon ware. There are swords, daggers and other war items. There is a world map too that depicts the places from where the precious and semi precious stones were bought for the construction of the Taj Mahal.

Third gallery display 

In the third gallery you get to see the royal Farman’s and documents, some popular calligraphy specimens (Waslis), the two paintings of Taj Mahal done by Daniel the British artist in the year 1795.

Antiquities on display

You can find around 125 antiquities in the galleries. There is a huge collection of the paintings of the Taj Mahal Museum that just attractive to the eyes and never let you go. The various antiquities found in this place are the calligraphy specimens and manuscripts, Government decrees, Arms, ammunitions, utensils, Taj Complex drawings, Inlay work specimens, marble pillars, the coin replicas, the paintings of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal both on ivory are enclosed in the bejeweled wooden frame that is situated at the heart of the main hall. The paintings inspired by the most popular Persian epic Shahnama of Firdausi. The ancient manuscript of Chaihl Majlis that was in 1612 holding the signature of the great Shah Jahan that dates back to 1628 AD.

You visit to the Taj Mahal Museum can be done between 10.00 am to 5.00 pm as this is the working hours of the Taj Mahal museum. And it will be unfortunate if you visit on Friday, as the doors will be shut on this day.

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Agra is known as the “City of Taj” and is completely filled with antique pieces. This is a historical place having huge number of artifacts. This place must be visited without fail. All the monuments found in this place reflect the brilliance of the Mughals. There are so many museums in this place but the spiritual museum is the most well known museum.

Spiritual museum

The most well known spiritual establishment in India as well as in abroad is the Brahma Kumaris. It is dedicated only towards the truth of life. They believe that God is their father. It has showed its fame all around the world and they are mainly in India. The spiritual museum of Agra is working under the hands of the Brahma Kumaris.

An Architectural Wonder 

This is a newly constructed museum that is artistically decorated. It is a blend of many colors, shapes and forms. The matching of the colors and objects were nicely imagined and artistically produced. The front gate is constructed in the shape of the Shikara and the gardens and fountains surround the whole place.

Workshops and Relics

You get to see the most ancient things like the relics in this museum. You can be a part of the yoga and meditation seminars organized in this place. This museum will keep its doors open all round the clock of a week. There are many chambers that produce a number of religious beliefs and cultures in this museum. You can involve in the religious workshops without registering yourself.

Location of This Museum

This museum is situated close to the Taj Mahal and is situated by the route of the Taj Mahal and therefore it is a famous spot for tourists to visit. Agra is the central place for you to visit this place.

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Taj Mahal is the most beautiful structure in the whole world. The tourists let it be an Indian or a foreigner would always dream to visit this place at least once, as it is the symbol of love and affection. Emperor Shah Jahan built it to his beloved wife Mumtaz. This monument has inspired many masses like the true lovers of human emotions, art, musicians, poets, painters and writers.

It is situated in Agra in the city of Uttar Pradesh, India. This great monument lies on the banks River Yamuna. It took almost 20 year for Shah Jahan to construct this structure and it took almost 20,000 people to work on this structure. This is the structure that shows its beauty during the dusk. You can take a walk in the soft green gardens with Cyprus trees.

The Mahal is truly made of white marble and there is a huge pretty dome at the heart surrounded by 4 minarets. It seems to be a fairy palace from distant and a magnificent palace when viewed from near. The most wonderful feature about this Mahal is that you can have a look at its reflection in the water of River Yamuna.

The interiors of the tomb are very well designed using the expensive and exceptional stones. Queen Mumtaz has a room that is very well designed small room and you can go there with the help of a few steps. You will fall in love at first sight only. You can enjoy the great work of patterns designed on the white marble. The whole structure is inscribed with the sacred Quran. It will be great if you visit this place in the day of full moon. This monument seems to look like a structure of pearls.

This masterpiece was designed by Ustad-Ahmed; he is the famous architect of Lahore. He used the Central Asia, Islam and Persian style of art and architecture. This structure is made to stand on the 187×187 feet platform. It has the shape of an octagon. The diameter of the central dome is 59 feet and is at a height of about 215 feet.

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Agra is commonly called as the “City of Taj”. Taj Mahal is the 7^th wonder of the world. It is on the influence of the Mughals that the city of Agra has got its name. The work done by some of the Mughal emperors are still alive with all its amenities in the city. This is the city that reflects the glory of the past history.

Monuments in Agra

Taj Mahal: This is the monument that is known worldwide. Shah Jahan constructed it in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It was built using the white marble. This is the most attractive monument in the city. People come here to see the Mahal that reflects the feeling of love.

Fatehpur Sikri:  This is another famous structure that reflects the art of the Mughals. The artifacts found in this place are just eye catching and mesmerizing. The screens of the windows are the most attractive ones in the Mahal.

The Agra Fort: This fort is made of red sandstone. The structure is huge and is the most interesting structure. There are so many other forts similar to this that was constructed in that era.

The Chini Ka Rauza: This was constructed in the year 1635 and was built in the Persian style of architecture. Allama Afzal Khan Mullah erected this massive structure and he was a scholar and a poet under Shah Jahan. It was completely of his style and he added the glazed tiles to make a masterpiece. It is the combination of the Indian and the Persian style of architecture.

The Itmad-ud-Daula: This tomb is known as the Jewel Box of India. Jahangir’s wife Nur Jahan erected this structure in the memory of his father Mirza Ghiyas Beg. This structure is the flamboyant that is also known as the Baby Taj because it is the replica of the Taj Mahal. Both are in the Islamic style of architecture.

The Akbar’s Tomb: Is situated in Sikandra. It is a mausoleum that was started in 1605 and finished in 1613. It is built in the style of Spartan timurid architecture and is situated close to the Mariam-uz-Zamani.

Reaching this place is not difficult as Agra is the tourist destination in India. It is well connected with all the major cities in India.

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Shah Jahan raised the Moti Masjid also called as Pearl Mosque. The name of the mosque was given seeing the brilliance of the mosque. It seems to look like a white pearl. It took almost 6 years to complete this structure. It was started in the year 1648 and was successfully completed in the year 1654. The expenses were around 3 lakhs.

Architectural Brush of the Moti Masjid

This mosque is decorated elegantly on the footnotes of the Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It is constructed on the slopes from east to the west. There are side cloisters for the courtyard of this mosque. There are arched depressions and the main portico in this mosque. The roof of the sanctuary is made of 3 globular domes that are made of white marbles. They are made to rest on red sandstone walls. You get to see the Hindu style arched kiosks by the side of the walls. There are seven bays that are separated into many passageways that stand on the berths and lobed arches. Shah Jahan has made use of the white marble for architecture and the exteriors are made of red sandstone.

Other Specific Details of the Mosque

The mosque is entirely covered of marble. There is a tank that is located at the center. There is a sundial that is composed of an octagonal marble pillar. This is the pillar that is situated in one corner of this sundial. The pergola surrounds the courtyard in the north, south and the east of the twelve-sided pillars. You can find the cusped arches in the prayer hall. The main entrance of the mosque faces the east and it is huge and interesting. The other 2 subsidiary gates on the northern and southern side of the building are not so attractive. They have arches and three-square chhatris boast each other.

Location of Moti Masjid

It is situated to the north of the Diwan-i-Am complex in the Agra Fort. It is not a risk for you to reach this mosque from Agra. Agra is a major tourist destination of India and hence is well linked by air, road and rail. You can visit this place from any part of India.

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You must have traveled Halebid, haven’t you? Of course, you have. You have traveled Belur, haven’t you? Yes, you have. But have you visited the ‘poor cousin’ of these two places? Don’t you know of what I am speaking? I am speaking of Somanthapura. Once, a place under the rule of the mighty Hoysala kingdom, Somanthapura comes with some absolute marvel of Hoysala temple architecture and that’s why it is one of the best heritage destinations in Karnataka.

Even in this age, when Karnataka is evolving as one of the most significant Information Technology hubs in the world, it is still being regarded highly as a great historical tourist destination. Not many places in India have been able to retain the rich historical and regal flavor that we once had. Not many places have been able to preserve the cultural and traditional heritage of what we boasted so highly. Karnataka is one place in the south India that really marks for its rich historical and cultural heritage. If you are someone who wants to know India a bit better, you have got to visit Karnataka.

Here you will find the prints of the great Hoysala dynasty who ruled during the 13th century. Somanthapura is a tiny village on the Kaveri riverbanks, on the southwest of the state of Karnataka. This village was discovered by popular army commander Somnath. Since he founded the place, he named it after his name. This has all been inscribed in Kannada script.

Somanthapura boasts of one of the most important monuments that convey the excellence of the Hoysala temple architecture. Even if you haven’t heard about Somanthapura, you must have heard of the Kesava temple, built in the year 1268AD. This temple was built just when the Hoysala kingdom was reaching its peak glory. Though it is not so famous as the Belur and the Halebid, but the temples of the Somanthapura better represent the brilliance of the temple architecture. That’s why it is called the poor cousin of Belur and Halebid.

The outside of the temples have star-shaped folded walls, with lots of exquisite figurines of gods and goddesses on it. It also has scenes depicted on it from the Hindu Puranas. The inside of the temples are even more beautifully carved and printed with figures of animals, birds, dancing girls and so forth. The temple is stellar shaped and have three copiously decorated pinnacles, coupled with one common Navaranga on a plinth.

Inside the inner sanctum, you would have previously found the idols of Janardhana, Keshava and Venugopala. Unfortunately the idol of Kesava is missing, but you can get a look at the rest two.

Somanthapura is not that much of a famous place, but it is one of the best heritage destinations in Karnataka. And remember, it is already a great tourist destination for the international tourists

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Ah, we are speaking of one of the most famous heritage centers of the world and that is Pattadakal. It is about a distance of 500 kilometers from Bangalore and about 22 kilometers from Badami. What do you find in Pattadakal? What makes Pattadakal so special? It is its architectural excellence! It is the paradise for any art historian. With lots of varied styles, this place looks as if it has been carved by God’s own hands. And how come this small relatively unknown place is so beautifully decorated with some of the most wonderful temples out there? Who chose this place? It is what the rulers of the Chalukyan dynasty decided to do, of course, when she shifted their capital to Pattadakal.

Located in the Bagalkot district of northern Karnataka, just near the banks of the Malaprabha River, this place is a living attestation of the Chalukyan architectural brilliance and value. During the 7-8th century, they built around 10 breathtaking examples of temples all around the place as if they were trying to experiment and each of their experiments turned out to be exemplars for the future generation, some form of legacy they set and a new standard they reached.

Four of the main temples are built on the Dravidian (south Indian) style of architecture and four shows a Nagara (north Indian) style of architecture. The Papanatha temple shows a hybrid sort of style. One important characteristic of this place is the sand, which is red in color. And this is why Pattadakal has been named as Kisuvolal, which means red stone.

The main tourist attraction of the place is the Virupaksha temple. Built on a Dravidian style of architecture, it marks the glory of victory of Vikramaditya’s II over the Pallava dynasty in 735 CE. It is extremely beautiful and more beautiful than the others are. The temples were named as Lokeshwara (after Lokadevi) and Trilokeshwara (after Trilokadevi). Later on, they were renamed as Virupaksha and Mallikarjuna respectively. It has nicely carved images and figurines of Ugra Narasimha, Nataraj, Gajendramoksham, Ravananugrahamurthy and Shiva. It is considered to be a replica of the Kailashanatha temple (Kanchi). In fact, this is the largest temple inside the complex.

But then there are precious others such as Sangameshwara temple. The oldest of all, Sangameshwara temple was built by the King Vijayaditya. It is a similar structure as the Virupaksha temple with a inner sanctum, passage and hall. You will find some nice Narasimha and Nataraj figurines carved around on the walls.

If you loved the Virupaksha temple, I bet you will love the Mallikarjuna temple, a smaller version of the former. Trilokadevi built it in the year 745 CE and gave it an excellence artistic historical touch with the ceilings of Nataraj, Parvati and Gajalakshmi, pillars carved of the scenes depicting life of Lord Krishna, and several sculptures of Ugra Narasimha and Mahishasuramardhini.

You will also find the north Indian styled Kasivisveshwara temple to be an appeal to the eye. This was the last early Chalukyan art for that matter. Well, this was built by the Rashtrakuta dynasty. Another one built by the Rashtrakuta dynasty is the Jain temple, in the 9th century. With some excellent sculptures and carvings, this is a beauty to look at.

One of the most beautiful of all is the Papanatha temple. It was started in the north Indian Nagara style but was later shifted to the south Indian Dravidian style. Have you seen the Navabrahma temples (Alampur) built by the Chalukyas (Badami)? It bears a strong resemblance with that. It also has sculptures of the scenes of Mahabharata and Ramayana. You will also love the Jain basadis and the Galaganatha temple, which has a special curvilinear shikhara.

And when you have visited Pattadakal, how can you miss the popular dance festival? Then you have the Virupaksha temple car festival held around March. You will get a feel of the south Indian flavor.

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Name one place that is famous for sandalwood, ivory, silk and wooden carved furniture – It has to be the Mysore of Karnataka. Located a few kilometers from Bangalore, this magnificent city (also the second largest city in the whole state of Karnataka) lies near the Chamundi Hills. It is one of the best-known tourist destinations in India. The most charming thing about it is its mystic appeal. It may have grown modern over the time, but nonetheless the mystical antique charm is still intact. Yet it is renowned for its silk and sandalwood, and that it deserves to be.

Mysore was the capital city of the famous Wodeyar dynasty since the fourteenth century and it was until India got its freedom from the British. For a brief time, it was ruled by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, but the Wodeyars again conquered it back from that. And since then, Mysore has always been some kind of fantasyland for all of us. It welcomes tourists from within India and from other parts of the world. It has been hailed as the city of awesome temples, cool shady avenues, high imposing buildings and beautiful gardens. How can we forget the soothing atmosphere of Mysore? Lying at a level of around 770m over sea level, this place enjoys a very soothing and calm climate, neither too hot nor too cold.

The name Mysore comes from the word ‘Mahishashura’ or ‘Mahisur’. It is supposed to be the town of a demon king who lived here. The goddess Chamundeshwari killed the atrocious buffalo headed monster ‘Mahisur’. This place is very rich in history and culture. It dates back to the age of the Mahabharata. We find proofs of the Ganga dynasty who ruled here from the second to the tenth century. Then you have the Cholas, Chalukyas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagar dynasty and then the Yadu dynasty at last in the 13th century.

If you are looking for a great tour to the India’s past, you should visit this place. You will find the Mysore Palace. You will love this mansion of a building, built on a rare Indo-Saracenic style and has seven arches just on the entrance. It is of three storeys but the tower goes up to five storeys and it is about 150ft high. The general people can only see the Gombi Thotti, Kalyana Mandapam, Amba Vila and Durbar Hall. The Kalyana Mandapam is extremely beautiful with lots of scenes of the Dasara festival printed on the walls. You will love the stained glass ceiling with the peacock design. Then there’s the Durbar Hall with some of the most wonderful pictures of the royal family painted by Raja Ravi Varma. On the first floor itself, you get the Amba Vilas with exquisite designs on doors and walls.

How can someone miss the sight of the sumptuous royal throne build fully of gold pillars and umbrella?

Are you willing to cover the 1000 steps to see the Chamundi deity? It is in the famous Chamundi hills. You will also find a giant statue of the demon ‘Mahishashura’ and the Nandi bull as well.

Built by Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the Brindavan Gardens stand as a mark of beauty and purity to the tourists. Fraught with pretty flowerbeds, pools, fountains, these place rocks at night when it is illuminated.

Daria Daulat Bagh is one place that you should visit. It contains the memories of the brave Tipu Sultan. It roars of the bravado of Tipu Sultan against the British. Even the place where he fell dead is delineated. Then there’s the museum, the tomb of Tipu Sultan.

It is called one of the best heritage destinations in Karnataka for a reason. When you go out shopping, the sandal soaps, and the incense sticks, silk saris are enough to mesmerize anyone.

You should also visit the Jagan Mohan Art Gallery. Some of the best paintings and sculptures are to be found here.

When it is art, architecture and education, Mysore is the best heritage destination in Karnataka.

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If you really are looking forward to have a historical tour in India, Karnataka is the place for you. Though it is one of the most advanced IT sector hubs in the world, it is also one place that is famous for its connection with the deep roots of the Indian history and culture. This coastal southwestern state of India, with its fuzzy warm tropical climate and awesome scenic beauty, is a great tourist destination and no doubt, a must place to go when you want to explore the south India. When you are going to Karnataka, what is one thing that you DON’T want to miss? You cannot miss Kittur, one of the most historical places in the state of Karnataka. Kittur is rather a small town, interesting and famous for its old monuments, palaces and statues. You must have heard about Queen Chennamma? She was that woman of Kittur who posed a massive resistance to the British.

During the raj of British India, it passed under the Bombay Presidency. It contains the ruined Kittur fort, which was the residence of the chief. During some dispute about succession on who will be the next chief in the year 1824, the St. John Thackeray, the Dharwad commissioner, was killed in the battle. And thus the queen Chennamma was seized and jailed in the BailHongal Jail. She expired away in the jail itself. From then, Chennamma was considered to be a legend.

One of the most notable tourist attractions of this place is Kittur Chennamma Fort. Kittur is famous for the Kittur Chennamma Fort. It is an evidence of the great freedom struggle of India. It is situated around 50 kilometers from Belgaum and around 32 kilometers from Dharwad. Not only is it important to the Indian archaeological society but also acts as a sign of women’s pride and bravery. During the revolt of 1857, queen Chennamma led the march against the British, after the launch of ‘Doctrine of Lapse’. It is a great chapter of the Indian history, and though Kittur is a small, unsung town, it still holds an important place in the Indian freedom struggle. Moreover, not only does it mark its place in the Indian freedom history, but also it is a great example of the architectural value and excellence.

Indian government has been taking some protection of the precious monuments and statues, and has been preserving the Indian heritage earnestly. Kittur and Kittur Chennamma Fort is not only a place of pride for the domestic tourists but also a piece of precious historical and cultural heritage for the international tourists. If you are visiting the Karnataka, you have to visit Kittur. And when you visit Kittur, you have to visit one of the best heritage destinations in Karnataka, which is Kittur Chennamma Fort.

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