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Highlights: Bangalore, the heart of India's hi-tech industry; Mysore, and Hampi.
Travelogue: to be linked here when ready. A little background: Karnataka boasts a 330 km long coast of white sand beaches and a mountainous region called the Malnad that stretches about 650 km from north to south separating the palmgrove-lined coast from the the barren Deccan Plateau. The state capitol is Bangalore, the heart of India's hi-tech industry. But other important industries are silk and sandalwood, gold and other mineral ores, and electrical power supplied by three important rivers. Seventy percent of the population speaks Kannada, the official language of Karnataka, and Hinduism is the primary religion. Though Karnataka is one of the richest architecture and temple areas in India, it is often skipped over by tourists in favor of Tamil Nadu. In Bangalore, "India's Silicon Valley," I'll be visiting the offices of indiainfo.com, the creators of Kamat's Potpourri, and several women I met online. Look for their interviews in the Dispatches section. I'll also be visiting Mysore (137 km from Bangalore on a "fine motor-road"), a "garden city" and spiritual center very popular with tourists. Hampi is is rather remote (a day's ride from Goa) and not much visited by tourists. Founded in the early 1300's, the great Hindu capital of the Vijayanagar empire covers 26 square kilometers. I hope to be able to go on an excursion there with friends from Goa. Much more interesting information is to be found on Kamat's Potpourri Karnataka pages. GO BACK TO DESTINATION |
Dates: January
2000