Catholicism’s roots in Mangaluru date back to the arrival of the Portuguese in the early 1500s. One impressive legacy is the 1880 Sistine Chapel–like St Aloysius chapel, with its walls and ceilings painted with brilliant frescoes. No photography is permitted.

The only remnant of Tipu Sultan’s fort is this small lookout with views over scenic backwaters. It’s 4km from the city centre on the headland of the old port.

This stretch of golden sand is a good destination to escape the city heat. It’s 12km south of Mangaluru, across the Netravathi estuary. An Uber/autorickshaw is ₹200 one way, or take bus 44A or 44C (₹10) from the City bus stand.

This striking Kerala-style temple has a pyramidal roof of gold-plated copper plates and its wood carvings have recently been meticulously renovated. Three elephants trunk out blessings to pilgrims outside the Manjunatha Temple; men have to enter bare-chested, with legs covered. You can fast-track the queue if you pay ₹200.

Don’t forget to visit the fantastic Car Museum, home to 48 vintage autos, including a 1903 Renault and 1920s Studebaker President used by Mahatma Gandhi, plus classic Mercedes Benz, Chevrolet and Rolls-Royce models. No photos are allowed.

Udupi is home to the atmospheric, 13th-century Krishna Temple, which draws thousands of Hindu pilgrims through the year. Surrounded by eight maths (monasteries), it’s a hive of activity, with musicians playing at the entrance, elephants on hand for puja (prayer rituals) and pilgrims constantly coming and going. Non-Hindus are welcome inside the temple; men must enter bare-chested. Elaborate rituals are also performed in the temple during the Udupi Paryaya festival.

This tiny island off Malpe is where Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama supposedly landed in 1498, and has curious hexagonal basalt formations that jut out of the sand. No boats run here between June and mid-October. From Malpe pier you can take a ferry (₹100 return, 45 minutes, departing at 11am or when demand is sufficient) or charter a private boat from Malpe Beach here.

The second-highest waterfalls in India, Jog Falls only come to life during the monsoon. The tallest of the four falls is the Raja, which drops 293m. For a good view of the falls, bypass the area close to the bus stand and hike to the foot of the falls down a 1200-plus step path. Watch out for leeches during the wet season.

One of Karnataka's best beaches, Gokarna’s most famous stretch of sand twists and turns over several kilometres in a form that resembles the outline of an Om symbol. It comprises several gorgeous coves, with wide stretches interspersed with smaller patches of sand, perfect for sunbathing and swimming. There's fine swimming most of the season when the sea is not choppy, though signs officially ban swimming (local tourists have drowned here in rough seas).

This lovely wide cove, backed by wooded headlands, offers plenty of room to stretch out on along its attractive sands. Restaurants, guesthouses and yoga camps are dotted around the rear of the beach, but they're well spaced and development remains peaceful and attractive.

Small, attractive cove with a lovely sweep of powdery sand and basic hut accommodation. There's no road, only a path to this beach. It's about a 30-minute hike from Om Beach (itself 5km from Gokarna town), or boats run here on demand from Gokarna town.

Paradise Beach is a mix of sand and rocks, and a haven for the long-term ‘turn-on-tune-in-drop-out’ crowd. Unfortunately, the government routinely destroys all the huts out this way, leaving it in a ramshackle state – hence it’s BYO everything here. If you've a hammock or tent it's a great choice for total isolation.

Deeply atmospheric temple complex, encircled by lanes, but peaceful inside. Here there's a (rare) stone statue of an upright, standing Ganesh, said to be over 1500 years old, who is depicted with a flat head – said to mark the spot where the demon Ravana struck him. This is the second-most holy site in Gokarna and it's customary for pilgrims to visit here first before heading to the neighbouring Mahabaleshwara Temple. Foreigners are not allowed inside the inner sanctum.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this is a profoundly spiritual temple, built of granite by Mayurasharma of the Kadamba dynasty and said to date back to the 4th century. Hindus believe it brings blessings to pilgrims who even glimpse it, and rituals are performed for the deceased. A gopura (gateway tower) dominates the complex, while inside a stone nandi faces the inner chamber, home to Shiva's lingam. Foreigners may enter the complex but not the inner sanctum.

A large temple tank where locals, pilgrims and immaculately dressed Brahmins perform their ablutions.

Gokarna’s main town beach isn’t clean and is not good for casual bathing. The main section is popular with domestic tourists but if you walk away from here to the north you’ll find a long stretch of sand that seems to go forever. There's some surf here in season.

Badami’s highlights are its beautiful cave temples, three Hindu and one Jain, which display exquisite sculptures and intricate carvings. They're a magnificent example of Chalukya architecture and date back to the 6th century. All have a columned verandah, interior hall and a shrine at their rear.

Cave One, just above the entrance to the complex, is dedicated to Shiva. It’s the oldest of the four caves, probably carved in the latter half of the 6th century. On the wall to the right of the porch is a captivating image of Nataraja striking 81 dance moves in the one pose. On the right of the porch area is a huge figure of Ardhanarishvara. On the opposite wall is a large image of Harihara, half Shiva and half Vishnu.

Dedicated to Vishnu, Cave Two is simpler in design. As with caves one and three, the front edge of the platform is decorated with images of pot-bellied dwarfs in various poses. Four pillars support the verandah, their tops carved with a bracket in the shape of a yali (mythical lion creature). On the left wall of the porch is the bull-headed figure of Varaha, the emblem of the Chalukya empire. To his left is Naga, a snake with a human face. On the right wall is a large sculpture of Trivikrama, another incarnation of Vishnu.

Between the second and third caves are two sets of steps to the right. The first leads to a natural cave with a small image of Padmapani (an incarnation of the Buddha). The second set of steps – sadly, barred by a gate – leads to the hilltop South Fort.

Cave Three, carved in AD 578, is the largest and most impressive. On the left wall is a carving of Vishnu, to whom the cave is dedicated, sitting on a snake. Nearby is an image of Varaha with four hands. The pillars have carved brackets in the shape of yalis. The ceiling panels contain images, including Indra riding an elephant, Shiva on a bull and Brahma on a swan. Keep an eye out for the image of drunken revellers, in particular one lady being propped up by her husband. There’s also original colour on the ceiling; the divots on the floor at the cave’s entrance were used as paint palettes.

Dedicated to Jainism, Cave Four is the smallest of the set and dates to between the 7th and 8th centuries. The right wall has an image of Suparshvanatha (the seventh Jain tirthankar) surrounded by 24 Jain tirthankars. The inner sanctum contains an image of Adinath, the first Jain tirthankar.

The archaeological museum houses superb examples of local sculpture, including a remarkably explicit Lajja-Gauri image of a fertility cult that once flourished in the area. There are many sculptures of Shiva in different forms and there's a diorama of the Shidlaphadi cave.

Set in tranquil gardens, the magnificent Golgumbaz mausoleum houses the tombs of emperor Mohammed Adil Shah (r 1627–56), his two wives, his mistress (Rambha), one of his daughters and a grandson. Octagonal seven-storey towers stand at each corner of the monument, which is capped by an enormous dome. Climb the steep, narrow stairs up one of the towers to reach the ‘whispering gallery’ within the dome, which has terrific acoustics (which excitable schoolchildren love to prove to loud effect).

A well-presented archaeological museum set in the Golgumbaz lawns. Skip the ground floor and head upstairs; there you’ll find an excellent collection of artefacts, such as oriental carpets, china crockery, weapons, armoury and scrolls.

Constructed by Ali Adil Shah I (r 1557–80), the finely proportioned Jama Masjid has graceful arches, a fine dome and a vast inner courtyard with room for more than 2200 worshippers. Women should make sure to cover their heads and not wear revealing clothing.

Built by Mohammed Adil Shah in about 1646 to serve as a Hall of Justice, the graceful Asar Mahal once housed two hairs from Prophet Mohammed’s beard. The rooms on the upper storey are decorated with frescoes and a square tank graces the front. It’s out of bounds for women.

Surrounded by fortified walls and a wide moat, the citadel once contained the palaces, pleasure gardens and durbar (royal court) of the Adil Shahi kings. Now mainly in ruins, the most impressive of the remaining fragments are the colossal arches of the Gagan Mahal ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ), built by Ali Adil Shah I around 1561. The gates here are locked, but someone will be on hand to let you in.

The ruins of Mohammed Adil Shah’s seven-storey palace, the Sat Manzil ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ), are nearby. Across the road stands the delicate Jala Manzil, once a water pavilion surrounded by secluded courts and gardens. On the other side of Station Rd (MG Rd) are the graceful arches of Bara Kaman ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ), the ruined mausoleum of Ali Roza.

This lively market is an explosion of colour and scents with flowers, spices and fresh produce on sale.

Upli Buruj is a 16th-century, 24m-high watchtower near the western walls of the city. An external flight of stairs leads to the top, where you’ll find two hefty cannons and good views of other monuments around town.

Perched upon a platform is this beast of a cannon – over 4m long, almost 1.5m in diameter and estimated to weigh 55 tonnes. Cast in 1549, it was supposedly brought to Vijapura as a war trophy thanks to the efforts of 10 elephants, 400 oxen and hundreds of men!

The beautiful Ibrahim Rouza is among the most elegant and finely proportioned Islamic monuments in India. Its 24m-high minarets are said to have inspired those of the Taj Mahal, and its tale is similarly poignant: built by emperor Ibrahim Adil Shah II (r 1580–1627) as a future mausoleum for his queen, Taj Sultana. Ironically, he died before her, and was thus the first person to be rested there. Also interred here with Ibrahim Adil Shah are his queen, children and mother.

For a tip (₹150 is fine), caretakers can show you around the monument, including the dark labyrinth around the catacomb where the actual graves are located.

Keep aside a few hours for peacefully wandering around the remnants of this magnificent 15th-century fort, the largest in South India – and once the administrative capital of much of the region. Surrounded by a triple moat hewn out of solid red rock and many kilometres of defensive walls, the fort has a fairy-tale entrance that twists in an elaborate chicane through three gateways.

Information at the site is minimal so consider hiring a guide from the archaeological office (who can unlock the most interesting ruins within the fort). These include the Rangin Mahal (Painted Palace), with elaborate tilework, teak pillars and panels with mother-of-pearl inlay, Solah Khamba Mosque (Sixteen-Pillared Mosque), and Tarkash Mahal with exquisite Islamic inscriptions and wonderful rooftop views. There’s a small museum in the former royal bath with local artefacts.

Dominating the heart of the old town are the ruins of Khwaja Mahmud Gawan Madrasa, a college for advanced learning built in 1472. To get an idea of its former grandeur, check out the remnants of coloured tiles on the front gate and one of the minarets which still stands intact.

This large Sikh temple on the northwestern side of town is dedicated to the guru Guru Nanak and was built in 1948. It's centred around the Amrit Kund (a water tank) where pilgrims cleanse their souls.

The huge domed tombs of the Bahmani kings in Ashtur, 3km east of Bidar, were built to house the remains of the sultans, of which the painted interior of Ahmad Shah Bahman’s tomb is the most impressive.