The roads less traveled along the south of Karnataka.

While the north of Karnataka offers a heritage trip like no other, the coastal stretch of the state is replete with pristine beaches. The southern part of Karnataka is most often known for the bustling cosmopolitan vibe of the capital city of Bengaluru. Over the years, places like Coorg, Hassan and Mysore, have garnered popularity among travelers for their serene landscapes, heritage architecture and legendary festivities. Apart from these, there are some offbeat tracks in this section that are home to some spectacular spots. Curated here are some of the lesser known attractions in the southern districts of Karnataka.

Shivamogga

Shivamogga is a district nestled along the banks of the Tunga River in central Karnataka. It is surrounded by lush green landscapes, coconut palm trees, and numerous waterfalls.

Agumbe, at an elevation of 826m is a hill station in the Shimoga district popular for its scenic beauty and hiking routes. It’s one of the last remaining lowland rainforests on the planet and is home to some of the best sunset points in the state. The town was the location for Malgudi Days, one of the earliest and most loved television series in India. Owing to the presence of a large number of Cobras, the region is also called the “Cobra Capital”.

Jog Falls is the most coveted tourist spot in the Shimoga district. It is also known as Jogada Gundi, and is India’s second highest plunge waterfall. The Sharavathi river cascades down the height of 253 meter as four waterfalls; the Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket. During the monsoons these rapids also give rise to rainbows. The wild and picturesque environment around it, gives it an ethereal feel.

Chitradurga

The Chitradurga Fort is the landmark of this region. This formidable fortification classified as a “Giri Durga,” or hill fort, is a marvel of military architecture made impregnable by the Nayak Palegars. Surrounded by hills, valleys, and rivers, the hike to the fort in itself is a scenic affair. It has 19 gateways, 38 posterior entrances, a palace, a mosque, granaries, oil pits, four secret entrances, and water tanks within the grounds. Inside the fort complex on the hill, are many temples, including the Ekanatha Temple and the Hidimba Eshwara Temple.

Chikmangaluru

Kudremukh National Park is a wildlife enthusiast’s dream come true. The Kudremukh, or Horse Face range, gets its name from the unique shape of its main peak. The broad hills, 95 km southwest of Chikmagalur town, overlook the Arabian Sea and are chained to one another with deep valleys and steep precipices. As yet undiscovered by tourists, Kudremukh is a trekker’s paradise with its wonderland of lush green forests interspersed with rivers, grassy slopes, captivating cascades, rare orchids, caves, ruins, and traces of old civilizations. The Lakya Dam and Ganga Moola are scenic spots worth visiting here.

Mandya

Mandya, a short detour from Mysore is home to one of Karnataka’s most beautiful cascades. Ranked among the world’s best waterfalls, Shivanasamudra is where the Cauvery leaps 75m into a rocky gorge. As the river makes its way, an island on the top divides the water into two spectacular cascades – Barachukki and Gaganachukki. A trek down to the foot of the falls brings one to the pools of water that make excellent picnic sites. India’s first hydroelectric project is located downstream of the falls.

Chamarajanagar

Dodda Sampige Mara is housed in a temple about 4 kilometers from the BR Hills. Tourists will observe that there are multiple lingams near this tree when they arrive at the location. It has a girth of over 20m and a height of 34m. The three branches of this tree are supposed to represent the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and the tree is worshiped by the region’s Soliga tribe.

Ramanagara

Ramanagara, a favorite weekend getaway for Bengaluru residents is set between tall granite hills and beautiful greenscapes. It is the hub for silk manufacturers and is also known as Silk Town or Silk City. The silk produced here is used to make the world-famous Mysore Silk. Ramadevara Betta and Savandurga hills are also popular with rock climbers and trekkers.

Kolar

The Koti Lingeshwara Temple is situated at Kammasandra in Kolar and attracts hundreds of devotees. The main attraction here is that the temple complex has a collection of around 60 – 80 lakh Shiva Lingas, installed by devotees. The temple project was initiated with an objective of installing 1 crore Shiva Lingas, hence the name Koti Lingeshwara. Besides, there are temples dedicated to Manjunatha, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. Kolar is known for its goldfields, although tourists are not permitted to access them. On your drive down from Bangalore to the temple, you’ll come across verdant farmlands on both sides of the road, and rocky landscape vistas.