Central India, including Hampi, Mysore and Coorg Holidays & Tailor-made Tours

Discover Hampi, Mysore, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Coorg, national parks and golden beaches.

Te state of Karnataka is located in between Goa and Kerala in Southern India. Its ultra-modern capital city of Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) is the tech capital of India, Mysuru (formerly Mysore) is famous for large and lavish temples including Mysore Palace, the former seat of the region’s maharajas. But perhaps the biggest draw in Karnataka is Hampi, once the medieval Vijayanagara empire’s capital, with ruins of Hindu temples, elephant stables and a stone chariot. There are also 13 national parks in the state to explore and if you are looking for a relaxed stay on the Arabian Coast, the region offers quiet, unspoilt beaches to enjoy with a choice of luxury hotels and lodges.

Bangaluru is the silicon valley of India, with many tech start ups and IT companies making the city their base. As a result of this economic activity, the city has its own metro system and a cosmopolitan atmosphere with many restaurants and western style bars. Bangaluru Palace was inspired by Windsor Castle and well worth visiting. Indeed the central district of Bangaluru also has many buildings and architecture from the days of British Raj and the city has a delightful botanical gardens and several parks to enjoy.

Mysuru (the city changed its name from Mysore in 2015) is one of India's most popular destinations, largely due to its stunning World Heritage listed palace. Mysuru is also home to the centuries-old Devaraja Market, where you can buy colourful spices, silk and sandalwood.

Hampi is known as the Machu Picchu of India, due to the vast, remote archeological site set in hills strewn with large boulders. Once the capital of one of the largest Hindu empires in Indian history, Hampi was founded in 1336 by the Telugu Princess Harihara and was at the height of its power in the early 1500's with a population of over 500,000 people. Hampi's wealth came from control of the spice and cotton trade, but the empire came to a sudden end in 1565 after a battle and the city was ransacked by Deccan sultans, which meant the region was then controlled by muslims. There is much to see within the ancient site, including the Bazaar, Siva Temple, Elephant stables and even an Underground Temple. 

There are also 13 national parks in Karnataka, the best being Nagarhole National Park (also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park). Set against the backdrop of the Brahamagiri Mountains, the park is covered with sandalwood and teak trees and the Kabini River meanders through jungle. Here, observe tigers, Asian elephants and many species of birds.Coorg is located on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats in Karnataka with year-round pleasant weather, lush coffee estates and forests to explore.

Coorg was a part of the successive Hindu dynasties that ruled over the south since ancient times. After the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire, the region came under the control of Veeraraja, who became the first of the Haleri Rajas who ruled for 221 years till the British took control of Coorg in 1834. After Indian Independence, Coorg was merged with the State of Karnataka in 1956. Coffee cultivation was introduced in Coorg by the British in 1854.

Hyderabad, known as the Pearl City, is the capital of the southern state of Telangana. Although the city is over 400 years old, today it is a modern, high tech city where companies like google and other tech giants are based, utilising the expertise of the highly skilled urban population. The city has many shopping malls, restaurants of all kinds and some excellent hotels.