Karnataka, State in southwestern India
Karnataka is a state in southwestern India that stretches about 420 miles from north to south, covering coastal plains along the Arabian Sea, the forested Western Ghats mountain range, and the open plateau lands to the east. The terrain shifts from humid tropical shores through dense mountain forests to dry interior plains where the climate becomes drier and the vegetation sparser.
The region took shape when the former Mysore State was renamed Karnataka in 1973, following the 1956 States Reorganisation Act that brought together all Kannada-speaking areas. Before this merger, different kingdoms and later British colonial authorities governed the separate parts of what is now the state for centuries.
Throughout the region, people gather in temples and cultural centers to watch classical performances where musicians play veena and tabla in traditional Carnatic and Hindustani styles. Visitors often encounter local dancers accompanying these musical traditions with movements and costumes passed down through generations.
The state divides into 31 districts with Bengaluru serving as the capital, where major highways, rail lines, and domestic airports connect the coast to the interior. Travelers move between regions using buses, trains, and flights that link cities, hill stations, and coastal towns throughout the area.
The Western Ghats hold five national parks where tigers and elephants move freely through monsoon forests and open grasslands. During the rainy season, dry riverbeds suddenly turn into rushing torrents that push wildlife toward higher ground in these protected areas.
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