There's no better way to beat stress and tension than a holiday. And if you're talking about holidays, then there're few places that can beat Karnataka tourism. The first stop on this tour is generally Bangalore. The state capital of Karnataka, you'll find that Bangalore has quite a few parks and gardens for you to explore. The most famous of the gardens in Bangalore are the Lalbaug Gardens. The name literally translates to €red garden', which perfectly suits it - red roses are the speciality here. Once you're done admiring the roses, head for Cubbon Park. This is a dream come true for any true bibliophile, as the State Library is housed here. History isn't just written on the pages in the State Library though - it can easily be felt at the Bangalore Palace. Entry to the Bangalore Palace is prohibited, but that doesn't mean you can't admire the palace from outside the gates. Even that would be well worth it. After that,, enter Tipu's Palace. The palace has been turned into a museum for artefacts belonging to Tipu's time.

Bangalore tourism is well known for its greenery. But Bangalore has a close rival in tourism from the city of Mysore. Mysore tourism is well known for its display of culture and art. In terms of architecture, the Mysore Palace takes the cake. At least two centuries old, the palace looms over the city of Mysore. Don't think that Mysore lacks in greenery though: Brindavan Gardens will prove you false. Terraces and fountains decorate this picturesque landscape. And for water lovers, boating is allowed in the little pond carved into the gardens. Spirituality takes on new meaning, as you'll find while visiting the Chamundeshwari Temple. The pilgrimage climb to the top of the Chamundi Hills also grants you an opportunity to visit the oldest temple in Mysore - the Mahabaleshwar Temple.

Mysore is also renowned for its sandalwood. Be sure to explore the long heritage of sandalwood crafts that are still practised here. After all, what better souvenir to remember your Mysore holidays than a sandalwood figurine? The folklore culture is strong in Karnataka as you can find when you visit the Folklore Museum. Exploring it, you'll find it to be one of the largest of such museums in Asia. For those interested in unearthing the culture of Karnataka, it's well worth a visit.

Looking at the long list of things you can do while on a Bangalore or Mysore tour, you can understand why Karnataka is such a sought after package. These are both the more popular places to visit when you think of South India holidays.