History

Karnataka's history dates back to the 3rd Century BC. The succession of able administrators from the Hoysalas, Chalukyas and the mighty Vijayanagara rulers, to the arrival of the Mughals in the 17th century and the British in the 18th Century have contributed to the mix of culture and heritage that is as rich as it is ancient.

Geography

Karnataka is bordered by the Arabian Sea in the west, Goa in the northwest, Maharashtra in the north, Andhra Pradesh in the east, Tamil Nadu in the south and Kerala in the southwest. Topographically, Karnataka consists of the Arabian Sea Coast , Western Ghats , Deccan Plateau and Eastern Ghats .

Facts at a glance

Capital: Bangalore

Districts: 28

Languages: Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, Kodava, Hindi, English

Currency: Indian Rupee

Area: 1,91,791 sq km

Religions : Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Jainism

Population : 5,27,33,958 (2001 census)

Time : GMT + 5:30

Climate: Salubrious for the major part of the year. Karnataka enjoys a tropical climate with three distinct seasons-hot and dry from February to May (average temperature 34 degrees Celsius and 75% humidity); rainy with plenty of sunshine from June to October (average day temperature 29 degrees Celsius and 87% humidity); and cool from November to January (temperatures range from 32 degrees Celsius to below 20 degrees Celsius with a drop in humidity).

Much lower temperatures are experienced in the North and Northeast during nighttime. The South has a tropical rainforest climate with temperatures averaging 28 degrees Celsius almost all year round.