Karnataka > Interests in Karnataka
The mural paintings of Vijayanagara times are seen at Hampi Virupaksha temple and also at
Haradanahalli in the Chamarajanagar dt. Earlier, there were some paintings in Cave No. 3 at Badami of the 7th century. They have faded. There are old paintings of considerable antiquity at the Jaina Matha in Shravanabelagola. Paintings of Bijapur times are seen at Asar Mahal Palace of the 16th-17th century. Asar Mahal has mostly floral figures now fading. Ragmala paintings and portraits of kings and queens like Chand Bibi are preserved in the Bijapur Museum. A place near Bijapur, Kumatagi has also some wall paintings around a swimming pool. Eighteenth century paintings are seen at Dariya Daulat Palace at Srirangapattana, some of them are war scences, others personal portraits. The Sibi Temple near Tumkur also has paintings of the 18th century of secular nature besides some astounding erotic figures. The Eighteenth century paintings are also seen at Chamarajnagar and at Haleparivaradavara Chavadi in Kollegal and the Nalkunadu Palace in Kodagu. The paintings on an wooden plank from Kittur have been transferred to the Hire Matha at Amminbhavi in Dharwad dt. The 19th century paintings are seen in the palace of Nippani, {Belgaum dt.), Nargund (Gadag dt.) and two temples in the precincts of the Mysore palace. The Jaganmohan Art Gallery has mural painting and also traditional paintings of gods and goddesses drawn on cloth and also on glass. The traditional paintings of Mysore are preserved at the Chitrakala Parishat in Bangalore too and they are mostly framed paintings of gods and goddesses of the Mysore style. Small round 'Ganjifa' cards and various 'snake and ladder' type game boards of the 19th century also have fine paintings. Sritatvanidhi, a manuscript of the 19th century has hundreds of miniature paintings. In which series are nine unpublished coloured illustrated manuscripts originally prepared during the time of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III of the Mysore Royal family, are now found in the Oriental Research Institute, Mysore and of which only Shaktinidhi has been recently published. Sritatvanidhi's illustrations are considered to be outstanding and has been recently published in parts by Prof S.K.Ramachandra Rao. 
Schools of art also have good collection of modern paintings. The ideal fine arts college at Gulbarga, Vijaya Fine Arts College at Gadag, Arts School of Halbhavi at Dharwad, Arts School of Minajigi at Hubli, Hadapad's Ken School of Art, Chitrakala Parishat and Kalamandira at Bangalore and Art School at Davanagere can be specially mentioned. Art exhibitions called 'Kala Mela' are generally held in Bangalore, Davanagere, Udupi, Dharwad, Hubli, Gulbarga, Mysore, Mangalore and other centres. Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts (CAVA) is a Government institution is working in an old heritage building at Mysore.
Of the handicrafts of Karnataka, brocade weaving can be seen at Bangalore, Hubli, and other places. Wood inlay work is practised at Mysore and it is a unique art. Lacquer ware working can be seen at Channapatna, Kinahal and Kalaghatgi. Kinahal in Koppal district is doing special type of works. Sculptors are seen at Mysore, Shivarapatna, Bangalore, Gadag and other centres, sculpting stone figures. Sandalwood carving is practised by the Gudigars at Sagar, Sorab, Kumta and Honavar who undertake both big and small delicate works. They also use other soft and hard wood as the medium, since sandalwood is very costly. Their delicate works have few equals. Bidar has a special metallic craft called Bidariware in which on a black metal surface fine silvery or gold designs are embossed artistically. The Lambanis are known for their special embroidery work. Doll making is also a special talent found in Karnataka. Wonderful braziers are found at Nagamangala (Mandya dt), Gollaradoddi near Ramohalli (Bangalore dt.), Udupi and Chikkodi in Belgaum dt. Observing the nimble fingers at work on cane or bamboo or with chisel is a hair-raising experience. The Canara Bank at Jogaradoddi and the Sandur Industries at Sandur have opened workshops to make various type of craftsmen to sit under a single roof and work together. A show room is also opened to help them secure remunerative price for their products. Govt. Cauvery Emporia at Bangalore, Mysore and other centres have showrooms of craft products of Karnataka.
Of the Museums in the state, for art lovers, Jaganmohan Art Gallery housed in an old gorgeous palace of Mysore is a must. There are not only fine art works (including some by Raja Ravi Varma) in colours, metals, ivory and wood but a huge collection of musical instruments too of yore. The Mysore Palace proper has a large collection of art works from various countries, besides a gallery of armoury of olden days including a sword that can be worn round the waist like a belt.
Bangalore Government Museum (1880) too has a collection of ancient arms, a sculpture gallery and a collection of old coins, which are shown at special request. There are exclusive painting collections of noted artists K. Venkatappa and K.K. Hebbar and plaster of paris sculptures of the former. The district museum at Shimoga (housed in an old palace) where queer items of Keladi rulers are preserved. The Gulbarga Museum has not only the items of Bahmanshahi times but also a huge collection of Buddhist sculptures (Decorative plaques) had from Sannati. Chitradurga Museum (1947) has many antiquities connected with the local chieftains, hero-stones, weapons and other items. There are State Government Museums at Gulbarga, Kittur, Hassan, Keladi, Raichur, Basavakalyana, Huvina Hadagali, Dharwad, Gadag, Srirangapatna and Shimoga which are worth noticing. The Central Government (Archaeological Survey of India) maintains a rich collection of armoury, coins, manuscripts and paintings at the Museum near Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur. Hampi {at Kamalapura) has a similar site museum of Vijayanagara days, and it also contains many objects unearthed during recent excavations at Hampi. Srirangapattana's Daria Daulat Palace has a Museum on Tipu (1959) which contains manuscripts, drapery, coins, arms and paintings of his time. Halebidu, Balligave, Banavasi, Lakkundi, Aihole, Badami, Bagali etc., have Museums maintained by the A.S.I.
In addition to the Folk Art Museum at the Mysore University, the museum at the Janapada Loka at Ramanagara founded by Karnataka Janapada Parishat founded by H.L. Nagegowda has to be specially mentioned. The Kannada Research Institute, Karnataka University has a famous Museum of antiquities and its eqigraphical gallery is the most notable. There is the Visweswaraya Industrial Museum at Bangalore besides the State Museum founded (1962) by the Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
The finest and the best Museum in Karnataka is 'Manjusha' seen at the famous pilgrim centre Dharmasthala which has a huge collection of all items like vessels, implements of day-to-day use, jewellery, watches, clocks, art pieces, typewriters, cars, coins, weapons, icons, manuscripts, copper plates, curious items, drapery etc., dating back to several centuries. Shashwati is a unique museum for women, having the items they used, created, wore etc., giving a complete picture of their life. It is situated in the N.M.K.R.V. College for Women at Jayanagar, Bangalore.
Karnataka can boast of the best pathology museum in India at the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College, Belgaum, run by the K L E Society. It is both educative and entertaining, both to a layman and a medical person because all sorts of aberrations in human body in all its dimensions are attempted to be unmasked with detailed academic notes being provided at this museum.
Karnataka has one of the finest zoos in the country at Mysore. The Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Garden founded in 1892 spread over an area of 100 acres and has collection of nearly 1000 animals of all variety including many exotic ones like Sloth Bear, Chimpanzee, Orangoutang etc., and also the White Tiger. The Bannerghatta National Park near Bangalore, has the Tiger safari. The Natural Museum and the Fantacy Park at Mysore are recent additions worth mentioning. The big Acquarium with varieties of Coloured fishes at Bal Bhavan, Bangalore is noteworthy.
No survey of Karnataka from the tourist point will be complete without mentioning about its historical forts. The whole range of ancient capitals such as Bidar, Gulbarga, Bijapur, Vijayanagara, Badami, Banavasi, Basava Kalyana, Srirangapattana, Keladi, Chitradurga, Mysore, etc. had their forts. In addition, forts were built at strategic centres. There are hill forts at the Nandi Hills (Kolar dt.), Savanadurga (Bangalore (R) dt.), Madhugiri, Pavagada, Nijgal, Midigeshi etc., in Tumkur dt., Uchangi in Davanagere dt., Bellary and Sandur, in Bellary dt., Jamalabad in Dakshina Kannada, Manzarabad near Sakleshpur in Hassan dt. and Kavaledurga in Shimoga dt., Yadgiri, Waghangeri, Jaladurga, Vanadurga, Shahapur and Surapur in Gulbarga dt., Nargund fort built by Shivaji in Gadag dt. and Parasgad and Hargapur forts in Belgaum dt., also raised by Shivaji. Bangalore, Devanahalli, Magadi (Bangalore (R) dt.), Aymangala in Chitradurga dt., Chikbanavar in Hassan dt., Belgaum etc. have fortifications around some part of the towns even now. Rehmanghad and Gummanayakanapalya in Kolar District. Old forts have huge granite stones used without plastering materials. Raichur, Mudugal, Koppal forts too are noteworthy. Shrirangapattana fort is protected by the arms (branches) of the Cauvery. The coastal island forts like Bahadurgad, Basavaraja Durga, Devagad and Kurmagad have already been mentioned. Old forts exist in hundreds in Karnataka. A visit to them gives an idea of the ancient architects', stone workers', builders' and military strategists' skill and fore-thought. They take your mind to the past, helping you to trace the foot-prints on the sands of time, make you think of men who fought to protect or to scale them, blood that was shed, intrigues involved in capturing them, and a long pageant of past events.
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