State of India - Karnataka

Area: 1,91,791 sq km

Population: ,49,77,201

Capital Of City: Bangalore

Languages: Kannada

Crops: Electronic equipment, Silk, Sandal, Iron ore, Felsite, Quartizite, Granite, Gold, Silver.

How You Know: Karnataka was known as Mysore even after independence. The name Mysore comes from the word for "buffalo town," derived from the destruction of the buffalo-demon Mahisasura by the goddess Camunda. It was changed to Karnataka on the demands of the people of the state in 1973.

History: In the Kannada language, Karnataka means 'lofty land'. Karnataka is known all over the world for Carnatic Music, a unique form of classical music and for the city of Bangalore, the Siliconvalley of India. Did you know? Karnataka was known as Mysore even after independence. The name Mysore comes from the word for "buffalo town," derived from the destruction of the buffalo-demon Mahisasura by the goddess Camunda. It was changed to Karnataka on the demands of the people of the state in 1973. Karnataka is the only place in India where gold and silver mines are found. The Kolar gold mines are one of the world's deepest gold mines going upto 5 kilometres under the ground. Karnataka has some of the most fascinating ancient architecture in India. The former princely capital Mysore is famous for its Brindavan Gardens and Srirangapattana nearby. Other famous places are Sharavanabelgola where the famous 57 feet tall statue of Gomateshwara stands; Badami, Aihole and Pattadkal where you can still see rock cut temples and paintings from ancient India; Gulbarga, Bidar and Bijapur which are renowned for their old monuments. Vijayanagara, the greatest of all medieval Hindu empires was based in Karnataka. Of its capital Hampi, Abdur Razaqq , the Persian writer said, "The eye of the pupil has never seen a place like it and the ear of intelligence has never been informed that there existed anything to equal it in the world…if dreams were made out of stone, it would be Hampi." The Vijayanagar empire reigned supreme under Krishnadevaraya, the Emperor of over three states - Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. The destruction of Vijayanagar by Mughul invaders was sudden, shocking and sad. They reduced the city to ruins. However, even today, the ruins of Hampi spread over 23 square kilometres offers to the tourist a remainder of this great land.