Karnataka, an Indian state, is a true tourist destination. Along with numerous other attractions, it is home to a number of historic sites. Let’s look at Karnataka’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. The state is blessed with the riches of nature, the thrill of animals, and the wonder of history, which include beautiful beaches, flowing rivers, tumbling waterfalls, and mysterious and old temples.
World Heritage Sites of Karnataka
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Karnataka
The list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in India includes two sites in the state of Karnataka. Another UNESCO World Heritage site, the Western Ghats, is largely situated in Karnataka. Aside from these, the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites includes numerous more sites.
Amazing UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Karnataka
Karnataka’s two most well-known ancient monuments, the Hampi Group of Monuments and the Pattadakal Group of Monuments, have been named UNESCO World Heritage monuments. Aside from this, the Western Ghats, which span the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its biodiversity hotspot.
Karnataka has many UNESCO World Heritage Sites,
- including the Hampi group of monuments.
- Monuments in Pattadakal
- Western Ghats
Group of Monuments at Hampi – UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Karnataka
The remains of Hampi continue to tell tales of a great age, when the Vijayanagara Empire was at its peak and dominated Karnataka and most of southern India. Hampi is one of India’s and the world’s biggest historical sites, covering 4187.24 hectares.
The remains of the Vijayanagara Empire’s capital may still be seen today at Hampi. Between the 14th and 16th centuries, the Vijayanagara Empire left an indelible mark on the history of Karnataka and India. More than 1,600 destroyed monuments survive today from the once-grand metropolitan metropolis. Hampi was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, and a revision was made in 2012.
The ruins of Hampi include huge temples, royal dwelling quarters, forts, observation towers, water features, pillared halls, and much more. Though every nook of Hampi has a unique historical gem, the most noteworthy structures include the Vittala temple, the Virupaksha temple, the Lotus Mahal, and the Hemakuta temple complex.
If you are planning a trip to Hampi, be sure to stop at Anegundi, the Vijayanagara Empire’s capital, first. It is thought to be the Kishkinda described in the Ramayana.
Important Hampi Monuments Not to be Missed
- Viripaksha Temple
- Hazar Ram Temple
- Vitthala Temple
- Lotus Mahal & Royal Quarters
- Achyutaraya Temple.
- Elephant Stables
- Hemakuta Hill Temple Complex.
- Hampi Bazaar
- Location of the Hampi Group of Monuments – UNESCO World
- Heritage Sites of Karnataka
Hampi is the most significant of Karnataka’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. It is situated in the Vijayanagara district of Karnataka, India.
The closest airport to Hampi is Jindal Vijaynagar Airport in Torangallu, which is about 36 kilometers away.
The closest railway station to Hampi is Hosapete Junction, approximately 13 kilometers away.
Monuments at Pattadakal – Karnataka’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites
In 1987, UNESCO designated the Pattadakal Group of Monuments as a World Heritage Site. It has an area of around 5.56 hectares. Pattadakal monuments include Hindu and Jain temples from the seventh and eighth century. The art and architecture of these constructions are distinguished by their mix of North and South Indian architectural traditions.
The Pattadakal temples were erected during the Chalukyas’ rule and consist of 10 significant temples, nine of which are Hindu and one of which is Jain. Though most temples are devoted to Shiva, they also include aspects of Vaishnavism and Shaktism. The Virupaksha temple, not to be confused with the same-named temple at Hampi, is the largest and most significant of the Pattadakal monuments. The latest Pattadakal temple was the Jain Narayana temple, which was erected in the ninth century.
Important Monuments in Pattadakal Not to Be Missed
- Viripaksha Temple
- Galaganatha Temple
- Jambulingeswara Temple
- Kadaishiddheshwara Temple
- Sangameswara Temple
- The Chandrashekhara Temple
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple
- Jain Narayana Temple
Location of Pattadakal Group of Monuments – UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Karnataka
Pattadakal’s Group of Monuments is situated in the Bagalkot District of North Karnataka, southern India. Pattadakal’s history extends back to prehistoric times.
The closest airport to Pattadakal is at Hubballi, a distance of around 131 kilometers.
Another airport near Pattadakal is at Belgaum at a distance of around 150 kilometers.
The closest railway station to Pattadakal is Badami, approximately 18 kilometers away.
Western Ghats – UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Karnataka
The Western Ghats is one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Western Ghats mountain range is older than the Himalayas. It is regarded as one of the finest examples of the monsoon system on Earth. The Western Ghats were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012 and cover a vast area of 795, 315 acres. The Western Ghats’ unique environment supports more than 325 internationally vulnerable flora and animals.
The Western Ghats include Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. The Malenadu area of Karnataka is part of the Western Ghats, and Agumbe and Mudigere are two of its wettest regions. Many reserve forests and hill stations of Karnataka are situated in the Western Ghats, including Sakleshpur, Kudremukh, Chikamagalur, and Coorg.
Tentative UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Karnataka
Aside from the three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Karnataka also includes sites on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Karnataka. Here is a list of potential places.
Hire Benkal, Megalithic Site- Tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka.
Hire Benkal is a megalithic site in the Gangavati Taluka of Koppal District, Karnataka. It is a burial site with stone buildings going back to prehistoric times. The structures discovered are port-holed dolmenoid cists or circles, cists without port holes, rock shelter chambers, and irregular polygonal chambers. The site has been added to the tentative list for the year 2021.
Evolution of Temple Architecture – Aihole, Badami, and Pattadakal – Tentative UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Karnataka
This site contains the Badami cave temples and the Aihole temples. It expands on the Pattadakal Group of Monuments, which is already a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site was added on the tentative list in 2015.
Monuments of Srirangapatna Island Town – Tentative UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Karnataka
Srirangapatna is home to several buildings dating back to Tipu Sultan’s reign and thereafter. The Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna Fort, palace, gates, and other related features are all part of the proposed site. The site was added on the tentative list in 2014.
Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas: Tentative UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Karnataka
The Hoysala era is notable for its magnificent temples. The Hoysala dynasty is thought to have constructed about 1500 temples, of which approximately a hundred have remained. This site contains the exquisite temples of Belur and Halebidu in Karnataka’s Hassan District. The site was added on the tentative list in 2014.
Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate – Tentative UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Karnataka
This is a webpage that Karnataka shares with Andhra Pradesh. In Karnataka, this site includes the Bahamani Monuments in Gulbarga, the Bahamani and Barid Shahi Monuments in Bidar, and the Adil Shahi Monuments in Vijayapura (Bijapur). The monuments include the Gulbarga Fort and Mosque, the Bidar Fort and Bahamani Tombs, the Gol Gumbaz, Ibrahim Roza, and the Bijapur Tombs.
The Charminar, Golconda Fort, and Qutb Shahi Tombs are among the structures in Hyderabad associated with this location. The site was added on the tentative list in 2014.
Aside from the UNESCO World historic Sites and those on the tentative list, Karnataka is home to several more historic sites. These include several unexplored and uncharted Hoysla temples, as well as other monuments awaiting worldwide notice. We hope this article on Karnataka’s UNESCO World legacy sites aroused your curiosity and inspired you to explore the state’s rich legacy.
