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Top 7 Historical Monuments To Visit In Karnataka In 2023

Top 7 Historical Monuments To Visit In Karnataka In 2023

Karnataka must be on your list of must-visit places as the state is filled with a wide variety of attractions like monuments, hills, waterfalls, etc.

It is also the residing place of the past and the historical monuments you will see here are something you will remember forever. 

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In this article, you will get to know about the following historical monuments to visit in Karnataka,

  1. Badami Cave Temple
  2. Shree Aghoreshwara Devalaya – Ikkeri
  3. Monuments of Hampi
  4. Bidar Fort
  5. Srirangapatna
  6. Group of monuments at Pattadakal
  7. Mysore Palace

Let’s see each of these attractions in detail…

1. Badami Cave Temples

Badami Cave Temples, Karnataka
Best time to visitOctober-February (6 AM- 6 PM)
Ticket fee₹25, cash/₹20, online (Indians)
₹300, cash/₹250, online (Foreigners)
Nearest Bus StopBadami bus stop
Nearest Railway StationBadami Railway station

The temples represent the glorious craftsmanship and architecture of that historic era. It was built during the rule of Chalukyas, between the 6th and 7th centuries.

There are four cave temples representing different deities- the first one was for Lord Nataraja, the second and third were for Lord Vishnu, and the fourth temple was for Lord Mahavira.

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The interior is filled with sculptures of different forms of Lord Nataraja, 81 in total.

This is one of the finest pieces of Indian rock-cut architecture.

As soon as you enter the caves you will see an entrance, a veranda or Mukha mandapa, a hall, and a Grarbha Griha. This masterpiece is quite fascinating to look at.

2. Shree Aghoreshwara Devalaya – Ikkeri

Best time to visitAugust – April
Nearest Railway StationSagar railway station

This temple is dedicated to Lord Shivas’ Aghoresvara avatar.

It’s a structure made out of Granite and is composed of an amalgamation of the Vijayanagara and Karnataka Dravida styles of architecture.

Three shrines are there in this temple, the colossal one is devoted to Aghoresvara, to the left is the Parvati shrine and Nandi is worshipped in the front.

The elegance of the temple is extravagant with two elephants guarding the north doorway.

This 16th-century place will meet your historic thirst and you’ll get the blessings of the lord.

3. Monuments of Hampi

Hampi, Karnataka
Best time to visitOctober to January (6 AM – 6 PM)
Ticket fee₹40 cash/ ₹35 online (Indians, SAARC citizens, and BIMSTEC)
                   ₹600 cash/ ₹550 online (other foreigners)
Nearest Bus StopHospet Bus Stop
Nearest Railway StationHospet Railway Station

This is one of the best-preserved UNESCO World Heritage sites in India.

Located along the river Tungabhadra River, Hampi is the architectural epitome of the Vijayanagara empire.

The incredible sculptures and the perfectly inscribed tales of the then empire is worth getting indulged in.

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Visiting this place, you will get to see the royal complexes, temples, shrines, mandapas, and noticeably more, as this place is loaded with 1600 other remains.

In historical monuments, Hampi is at the top of the list, in Karnataka tourism, and is amazingly mystical for a lifetime experience.

4. Bidar Fort

Bidar Fort, Karnataka
Best time to visitEnd of August to December (6 AM – 6 PM)
Nearest Bus StopBidar Bus Stop
Nearest Railway StationBidar Railway Station

Made out of red laterite stone, it was built in the 15th century on the edge of the plateau of Bidar.

Constructed during the era of Adil Shah, this fort has more than 30 structures; Solha Khamba mosque, Tarkash Mahal, Rangeen Mahal, Dewan-e-aam, Dewan-e-Khas, and Gagan Mahal.

Before the Mughals, nizams, and sultans, this place was ruled by many glorious South Indian rulers.

This fort has witnessed the rise and fall of the majestic Bahmani kingdom and you will also be able to relive that part of the past and learn more about the fort’s history.

5. Srirangapatna

Srirangapatna, Karnataka
Best time to visitEnd of August to December (6 AM – 6 PM)
Nearest Bus StopBidar Bus Stop
Nearest Railway StationBidar Railway Station

It’s an island town that depicts culture, tradition, and most prominently history. It was the seat of the major royalty during the time of the Vijayanagar Empire.

The architecture of this place holds both the styles of the Hoysala and Vijayanagar dynasties.

Sri Ranganathaswamy temple is one of the five sacred sites devoted to Ranganatha- an incarnation of Vishnu, along the Kaveri River, in Srirangapatna. These sites are jointly known as “Pancharanga Kshetrams” in the southern part of India.

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UNESCO has nominated the whole town as a world heritage site and you will be amazed to see the number of monuments and the past each one of them holds significantly.

You will also come across the Srirangapatna fort, Gumbaz of Tipu Sultan, Daria Daulat Bagh, Jama Masjid, and a lot more monumental sites.

Best time to visit: Starting in October to March

How to reach: Train (Mysore Train station); Bus (Kempegowda bus stand in Bengaluru, Central bus stand in Mysore).

6. Group of monuments at Pattadakal

Pattadakal, Karnataka
Best time to visitOctober to March
Ticket fee₹40 cash/₹35 online (Indians, SAARC Citizens, and BIMSTEC countries)
₹600 cash/₹550 online (other foreigners)
Nearest Bus StopPattadakal Bus Stop
Nearest Railway StationBadami Railway Station

The monuments are the treasures preserved well at Pattadakal. Constructed in the 7th and 8th centuries by the Chalukyas, the glory of the empire is portrayed perfectly by these historic remains.

It also boasts the rulers’ love for art and architecture.

The complex consists of a splendid string of nine Hindu temples and a Jain sanctuary. The sensation of the complex is stolen by the Virupaksha temple.

The Virupaksha temple goes way back to the year 740 and envelops the great past in itself.

You will be able to witness the fragile carvings of the dancing Nataraja, Navagrahas, and Dikpalas along with the depictions of Mahabharata, Ramayana, Panchatantra, and Bhagavata.

It’s just not a monument complex, it’s the past unfolding itself in front of you every day in a new form.

7. Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace, Karnataka
Best time to visitAll around the year (10 AM – 5 PM)
Ticket fee₹70 for Adults ₹30 for Children above 10 and below 18 (Indians and Foreigners)
Nearest Bus StopPattadakal Bus Stop
Nearest Railway StationBadami Railway Station

Also goes by the name Amba Vilas Palace, Mysore palace was the seat of the Mysore kingdom and the official residing place of the Wadiyar Dynasty.

The fort was built in the 14th century and was destroyed by fire, as it was constructed with wood. Later on in the year 1897, it was reconstructed and that is what we see today.

The architecture you find here is the Indo-Saracenic style and is one of the magnificent monuments. You will also see the perfect blend of Muslim, Hindu, Rajput, and Gothic styles flaunted perfectly.

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Visit and appreciate the Kalyana Mandap, Golden Howdah, Public Durbar Hall, the Gombe Thotti, Ane Bagilu, Ambavilasa, and much more.

The three-story palace overlooks the magnificent garden and the Chamundi hills.

Light shows are there to enjoy and know more about the palace.

If you visit the palace during Dussehra, you will be lucky to see the extravagance of the celebration.

These are some of the popular historical monuments that you can visit in Karnataka.

The state of Karnataka is packed with such an amazing monumental structure that is overflowing with stories, culture, and religion. 

Make a visit to these places and take the experience of a lifetime. It’s worth a trip.


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