Essential Karnataka

Start your journey from Mumbai - though technically, not in Karnataka, it is an easy point of access for the Essential Karnataka itinerary. Every city throbs to a rhythm of a million bustling lives intertwined with one another – and in Mumbai, one can almost feel the pulse of a city alive with the drives, passions and ambitions of its populace. Nicknamed the ‘city of dreams’, Mumbai has long been a commercial grindmill – from its heydays as a textile hub to its present-day avatar as a financial and entertainment capital. One cannot help but be drawn into the chaotic heart of the city, from its historical buildings to new-age skyscrapers, from its colourful marketplaces to its old fishing harbours, from the slum-dwellers to the glitzy elite!

While Mumbai is on every traveler’s list – there is so much beyond the tried and tested ways to discover the city! Here is Travel Scope India’s curated list of experiences that will help you absorb the flavours of Mumbai and provide you with a glimpse into the many lives and dreams of its people. And perhaps, through the activites we've recommended, we can help you understand why people believe that Mumbai is not a city but an emotion:

Recommended Activities

Food with Mums

Cuisine

Mumbai City Highlights

Art & Architecture

Bollywood Dream

Music & Dance

Mumbai by dawn

Popular Culture

Food with Mums

Cuisine

World over, the most famous chefs with the most inimitable recipes have to be mums, second only to the grandmothers! India, is no different and a home-cooking experience with mums from different cultures can surely be the highlight of discovering a new city. Choose from our range of handpicked mums: a Maharashtrian Mum who specializes in coastal recipes from seafood and grated coconut gravies, a Parsi Mum who revels in egg, meat and lentil preparations, or a Bohri Mum with age-old pulao, kebab and dessert recipes. From culinary demonstrations to hands-on cooking experiences – each ending with a homely meal,..

Mumbai City Highlights

Art & Architecture

During the highlight tour of Mumbai, you will pass the most distinct landmarks of the city: from the Gateway of India to Cuffe Parade, the Maidan, Marine Drive, to Malabar Hill, Hanging Gardens and the Tower of Silence. Visit the Dhobi Ghats, a huge open air laundry that washes huge quantities of this beehive city’s linen and the Mani Bhawan with a diorama on the life of Mahatma Gandhi. End the morning at Churchgate, to see the routine of the Mumbai’s ‘dabbawallas’, a tiffin-box delivery system touted as one of the most well-organized, technology-free businesses worldwide.

Bollywood Dream

Music & Dance

Mumbai is often called the ‘city of dreams’ - and the one industry that has stoked the most dreams is Bollywood, the film factory of India. The Bollywood Dream takes you through what drives the film industry - from the music and the dances, from the shoots to the stills, from the starry-eyed ambitions and the uphill battles! Learn what goes into the masala of a Bollywood film - kickstart your day with a Bollywood dance workshop, followed by a session at a recording studio, then head to a film studio and take part in an actual shoot and interact..

Mumbai by dawn

Popular Culture

Some believe that a city is a macrocosm of its individual dwellers, its daily rhythms setting the pace of a city’s mood and character. Yet Mumbai as it is waking up, is nothing like the Mumbai that you see under the revealing light of the day. On a recent visit to Mumbai – India’s city of drama (read Bollywood) and dreams, fashion and finance, we came away with a revelation, that at its very heart even Mumbai begins with simple morning rituals. Walk through our footsteps as they provide grist to the everyday grindstone of Mumbai’s economy.

Recommended Accommodations

Trident, Nariman Point

Urban Abodes

Taj Mahal Palace

Luxury Boutique

Trident, Nariman Point

Urban Abodes

The best view of Mumbai – The Marine Drive, a 3-kms-long beautiful promenade that rings a natural bay, greets guests at the Trident. Part of the famous Mumbai skyline, the hotel is located in the heart of the financial and business district with access to major corporate houses, entertainment, recreation and shopping centers.

Taj Mahal Palace

Luxury Boutique

Built in 1903 as the first property of the Taj Group, the hotel is an architectural marvel. Offering panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and the Gateway of India, the hotel is a gracious landmark of the city of Mumbai. The hotel consists of two parts, the Palace that was the original building in 1903 and the Tower wing constructed by an American architect in 1973.

Fly down to Bangalore, Karnataka state’s capital – which could lead you further west into the forested heart of the state. India’s own ‘Silicon Valley’, Bangalore is the hub of information technology and is spawning numerous start-ups, lending it a young, vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere. The bustling, high-tech city, Bangalore, gives no indication of its rich history under a succession of feudal rulers and as a cantonment for the Britishers. Yet, older streets and buildings juxtaposed against steel-and-concrete structures tell an interesting tale of transition, and the many tranquil lakes and colonial gardens make it the greenest metropolitan of India.

Recommended Activities

Urban Encounters

Popular Culture

Dodda Basavana Gudi

Art & Architecture

Bengaluru Trails

Art & Architecture

Urban Encounters

Popular Culture

Beyond history, spend the evening exploring the urban lifestyles of the cityfolk. India's metropolitan cities offer a great culture fix; enjoy pub-hopping through micro breweries, join fellow fans at local music festivals, understand what tickles the Indian funny bone at a stand-up comedy show or participate in urban cultural gatherings from book-reading sessions to slam poetry!

Dodda Basavana Gudi

Art & Architecture

In the heart of Bangalore’s urban bustle, is the Dodda Basavana Gudi, a 1537 AD temple, built by the Vijayanagara Empire and dedicated to Lord Shiva’s vehicle, the sacred bull Nandi. The monolithic statue of Nandi bull is supposed to the largest in the world - and devotees continuously cover it with butter and ask for its blessings. The Dodda Basavana Gudi is one of Bangalore’s landmark heritage sites. Image credits: Ramon Casha (CC BY-SA) & Christine und Hagen Gaf (CC BY)

Bengaluru Trails

Art & Architecture

In the bustle of Bengaluru, with its industrial and urban overtones, one might almost miss the rich history of the city. Tipu’s Palace in Bengaluru is an elegant structure of teak pillars and decorative frescoes – once the residence of Tipu Sultan, a scholar, a poet and a ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore known for administrative innovations from coinages to calendars, and for a silk-industry growth and as a pioneer of rocket artillery. Then visit the Lalbagh Botanical gardens, commissioned by Hyder Ali, Tipu’s father and completed during Tipu’s reign. The gardens house the largest collection of tropical plants..

From Bangalore you can continue on towards Mysore – to explore the western stretches of Karnataka before connecting to Kerala. Mysore, the city of spice, silk and sandalwood has a charm of old-world royalty and religion. The capital of the once-proud Mysore Princely kingdom was named after a legendary half-human, half-buffalo demon who was vanquished by a goddess. The city is best known for the Mysore Palace – in its nightly avatar lit-up by 96000 lights, and the Dussehra festivities – celebrating the victory of good over evil. Mysore’s most enduring historical figure, Tipu Sultan was best known for his astute administration and his alliance with the French while resisting British colonialism. The capital of Srirangapatna, with its iconic fort also marks the place of Tipu Sultan’s demise- and his name found its way into several fiction novels.

Discover the capital of Tipu Sultan with our suggested activities:

Recommended Activities

Mysore Heritage & Food Trail

Cuisine

Traditional board games

Popular Culture

Mysore Sightseeing Circuit

Art & Architecture

Private: Dussehra in Mysore

Festivals & Fairs

Mysore Heritage & Food Trail

Cuisine

Let us take you on a guided tour into the heart of the city, as we walk by some grand old structures and unfold the story of Mysore. Learn about the opulent lives of the Maharajas, explore a century-old market, as you learn about the history of the city through some quirky anecdotes and incredulous facts. If this hasn’t helped you build up an appetite, some of the city’s gastronomical delights sure will. Tease your palate with local specialities  like Mysore Pak, Mysore Masala Dosa, Mysore Churumuri - and listen to some interesting lore about their preparation and process. Image..

Traditional board games

Popular Culture

One afternoon, you could beat the heat and spend some quality time with your children, learning traditional Indian games. In rural areas, you'd be surprised by the variety of simple games using locally available materials that are played by children. Try mankala - a counting game played on a board with tamarind seeds as counters, or draw chalk squares on the ground and learn some checker-style games. A round of snakes and ladders or the almost-forgotten tigers and lambs game is a great way to learn about teamwork and strategy, while having fun.

Mysore Sightseeing Circuit

Art & Architecture

Set off on a sightseeing circuit of Mysore, a city peppered with palaces – each telling a different story, each with its own unique style. The most regal amongst them is the Maharajah’s Palace, a lavish residence of the Wodeyar dynasty princes who ruled Mysore from the 14th to the 20th Century. Then continue onto the temple atop Chamundi Hill, with its iconic Nandi bull statue, the sacred vehicle of Lord Shiva, from where you can have sweeping views of the city below. End the trail at the colourful Devaraja market, an ancient market from the days of the king..

Private: Dussehra in Mysore

Festivals & Fairs

Mysore's Dussehra celebrations are vibrant and colourful - after all, the city derives its name from the slayed demon, Mahishasur, whom the goddess fought in the epic 9-day battle. Mysore's festivities were initiated as a tradition under King Raja Wodeyar I in 1610. A traditional procession of the Goddess Chamundeshwari passes through the streets, followed by a torchlight parade. The streets during these 10 days come to life with colourful stalls, fun-fair attractions, exhibitions, wrestling tournaments - and the Mysore Palace is illuminated with over a million lights! Image Credits: Chubby Chandru, CC BY 2.0

From Mysore, you can drive into the forested stretches of Nagarhole – a great place for a tranquil wildlife experience, as also some adventurous hiking trails. Snaking its way through dense canopied forests, the east-flowing Kabini river is a lifeline for the forests and the biodiversity. In peak summers, when all the other waterholes dry up, the Kabini reservoir hosts lush, grassy meadows on its banks and attracts wildlife from far and wide. Kabini was once a hunting grounds for the Maharajah of Mysore and other Indian royalty, as also for the British viceroys – as elephant herds flock there in huge numbers. Today, it offers refuge and a corridor for these lovable creatures, as also for many others – and is arguably, Karnataka’s best-loved wildlife sanctuary, Nagarhole National Park.

Rediscover tranquility in Kabini with some interesting explorations:

Recommended Activities

Kayaking on the Kabini

Active Travel & Adventure

Nagarhole Boat Safari

Active Travel & Adventure

Nagarhole Jeep Safari

Wildlife & Wilderness

Kayaking on the Kabini

Active Travel & Adventure

When was the last time you pitted your spirit against Nature? Feel the power in your hands as you move the oar against the swirling waters of the Kabini river that flows through the Nagarhole National Park, and guide your kayak to wherever you want to. No traffic, no signals – just 45 minutes of the river and you. Image credits: The Serai, Kabini

Nagarhole Boat Safari

Active Travel & Adventure

Running through the Nagarhole forests is the Kabini river, an artery for the wildlife. Take a boat safari along the Kabini to watch the wildlife along its banks, from those that come to quench their thirst to others to depend upon the river for their daily sustenance – a tranquil way to experience the forest and all it has to offer. Image credits: Orange County, Kabini

Nagarhole Jeep Safari

Wildlife & Wilderness

Set off through the rich forest cover of Nagarhole, with its hills, valleys, streams and waterfalls. A terrain often ravaged by forest fires, the Nagarhole wildlife is testimony to the resilience of nature – and the safari takes you through broad roads that break up the canopies to offer a glimpse of the wildlife. Apart from the park’s flagship species, the royal Bengal tiger, the Asiatic elephant and the Indian gaur or bison, species like the Indian leopard, wild dog, jackal, sloth bear, striped hyena, grey mongoose, sambar, chital, wild boar are frequently sighted. The park also hosts over 270..

Recommended Accommodations

Evolve Back Resort, Kabini

Wildlife Lodges

The Serai, Kabini

Wildlife Lodges

Evolve Back Resort, Kabini

Wildlife Lodges

Situated in the heart of Nagarhole Forest, which is known for supporting the highest density of herbivores in Asia, as well as its three major predators; one finds this Evolve Back Resort. Surrounded by the Kabini River on three sides, there is plenty to do, including boat safaris, which allow you to get up close and observe the marsh birds and crocodiles as well as the other wildlife of the region. The palm-thatched huts, built in the authentic Kuruba village style, are luxurious, each offering a large living room, bedroom, en suite bathroom and a private open air inner courtyard..

The Serai, Kabini

Wildlife Lodges

The Serai is a luxury resort on the banks of the Kabini River perfectly situated for wildlife sightings.  Each of the rooms and suites are uniquely themed and styled, and look out into the expanse of the Kabini River. Common activities include kayaking, jungle safaris, bird watching, nature walks, boat rides, and biking.  At the end of a long day of exploring it is the perfect place to unwind and late at night, the skies are clear and offer a great opportunity for stargazing.

Journey to the northwest from Nagarhole, to reach the town of Madikeri - in the heart of Coorg district. Coorg’s lush forests and bamboo thickets, interspersed with coffee-and-spice plantations and a few waterfalls, make it a favourite destination among locals and foreigners alike. While every place in India evokes a sense of history, the region of Coorg is unique in many ways; the local Kodavu community has retained its cultural identity through years of other influences, from its style of draping saris to its pork curries, and its traditional harvest festivals are still celebrated on present-day farms. Apart from varieties of coffee that are gaining global repute, Coorg’s honey, cardamom, pepper, oranges find their way into kitchens across India, as also into creative fruit-and-spice wines sold in local markets.

Discover the coffee plantations and culture of Coorg with some of our highlight experiences:

Recommended Activities

Namdroling Monastery

Art & Architecture

Coffee Trails

Popular Culture

Namdroling Monastery

Art & Architecture

Coorg’s lush forests and bamboo thickets, interspersed with coffee-and-spice plantations and a few waterfalls, make it a favourite destination among locals and foreigners alike. Yet amidst the plantations, there is a surprise that awaits the intrepid traveller - the largest Buddhist monastery, outside Tibet. Namdroling Monastery, near Bylakuppe is a one-of-a-kind experience in South India, otherwise teeming with temples and ruins. Buddhist chants, fluttering flags, red-robed monks and initiates create a serene atmosphere around Namdroling monastery - with its intricately decorated rainbow-arched roof and ornately painted murals.

Coffee Trails

Popular Culture

India's only coffee-cultivating area lies in the districts of Coorg and Chikmagalur, tucked away in the southern Western Ghats. The Tata company in India after its tea trade realized the potential of coffee and has been important in establishing local markets for the java bean. Trail through coffee plantations, as you hear the story of how the coffee beans were smuggled into the country, visit roasting kilns and sample the regional frothy filter coffee -  a brew that rivals anything sold at urban cafe franchises.

Recommended Accommodations

Vivanta by Taj, Madikeri

Luxury Boutique

Vivanta by Taj, Madikeri

Luxury Boutique

Vivanta by Taj – Madikeri, is quite simply a journey of lost and found. It invites you to travel to the bosom of a 180 acre living rainforest and unravel surprise after surprise in the most delightful style. Lose yourself in an expansive space which sits within a vibrant hill range at an altitude 4000 ft. Find out how inspiration has been drawn from Coorg style houses – with the property’s sloping roofs, pillars, open-to-sky entrances and the solid platform base of the façade for every cottage which replicates the design of the Madikeri fort. Taj Vivanta showcases the quintessential..