South India · State
Karnataka
Hoysala and Chalukya stone carving, the Vijayanagara ruins at Hampi, Western Ghats coffee country and a coastline of temple towns and beaches.
- Capital
- Bengaluru
- Languages
- Kannada (official); Tulu, Konkani, Urdu; English in cities — major and official languages, not an exclusive list.
Cultural traditions, arts & crafts
- • Yakshagana night-long theatre from the coastal districts
- • Mysore silk weaving and Mysore-style painting with gold leaf
- • Channapatna lacquered wooden toys
- • Bidriware — silver inlay on blackened alloy from Bidar
Major festivals
- Mysuru Dasara — September–October (dates vary — verify current dates)
- Hampi Utsav — January–February (dates vary — verify current dates)
- Ugadi — March–April (dates vary — verify current dates)
Traditional dress & textiles
Dress varies by community, district, occasion and generation; everyday clothing today is often contemporary. These are representative traditions rather than a single state costume.
- • Mysore silk and Ilkal saris are worn for weddings and festivals
- • The Kodava community in Coorg drapes the sari with pleats at the back and a distinctive shoulder pin
- • Men wear panche (dhoti) with a shirt and, in Kodagu, the kupya-chele robe with a sash
Where to go
Show Karnataka on the explore mapSources & verify
- Karnataka Tourism (official)
- Know India — States & UTs (Government of India)
- Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles
Last reviewed: August 2026. Cultural traditions in India vary by community, district, occasion and generation. The notes below are representative examples reviewed against government sources, not exhaustive or official definitions. Festival timings follow lunar or locally announced calendars — verify current dates with the relevant state tourism department before travelling.