Northern Karnataka is particularly renowned for its many temples. The temple complex of Aihole, for example, was the first capital of the Chalukya dynasty, and a center of experimentation in temple design from the 6th century. Accordingly, Aihole contains more than 120 temples in a number of architectural styles. The Hindu, Buddhist and Jain communities are well represented. The second Chalukya capital, Pattadakal, is a World Heritage Site, renowned for its own later set of temples, in both Dravidian and Nagara styles. Other important temple sites are at Badami, Lakshmeshwar, and Kudalasangama.
The city of Bijapur was the capital of the Adil Shahi dynasty from the 15th century to the 17th century, during the period of Muslim rule. Of particular interest are the mausoleums at Gol Gumbaz and Ibrahim Rauza, the citadel of Yusuf Adil Shah and the Malik-e-Maidan (the world's largest medieval-era cannon).
Coastal Karnataka is popular both for its beaches and its pilgrimage sites. The beaches at Karwar, Gokarna and Marawanthe are especially beloved. Murudeshwar possesses both a lovely coastline and the country's tallest Shiva statue. The island of Kurumgad is famous for the Narasimha Temple, which attracts thousands of pilgrims every year. The city of Mangalore, a thriving seaport for centuries, contains a number of historical sites, including the Kadri Manjunatha Temple, the Jumma Masjid mosque and a government museum.
The southern part of the state is dominated by the cities of Bangalore and Mysore. In Bangalore, the parks of Lal Bagh (home to one of the world's oldest rock formations, dating back 3 billion years) and Cubbon Park are especially popular. The summer palace of the Tipu Sultan, built entirely of teak wood more than 200 years ago, is one of the most beautiful structures in India. Meanwhile, Mysore is home to a large number of palaces, as well as the annual Dasara festival.
The religious sites in southern Karnataka are also plentiful. At Shravanabelagola is a massive monolithic statue of the Jain saint Bahubali, currently a major Jain pilgrimage site. Other important temples are at Somanathapura and Melukote.
Karnataka is home to numerous natural attractions, including five national parks that showcase a huge variety of wildlife. Particularly important are the Nagarhole and Bandipur National Parks, containing tigers, buffalo and the world's largest population of Asian elephants, as well as more than 200 species of birds. Nearby is the geological range called the Western Ghats, which contains a number of wildlife sanctuaries.
Karnataka also has two of the most spectacular waterfalls in India. The Jog Falls have the highest vertical drop in the country, falling 830 feet. The Shivanasamudra Falls are smaller but wider, with multiple segments falling over a wide area.
