Karnataka is a state in southwest India with Arabian Sea coastlines. Originally known as the State of Mysore, it was renamed Karnataka in 1973. The capital, Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), is a high-tech hub known for its shopping and nightlife.

With an antiquity that dates to the paleolithic, Karnataka has been home to some of the most powerful empires of ancient and medieval India. The philosophers and musical bards patronised by these empires launched socio-religious and literary movements which have endured to the present day. Karnataka has contributed significantly to both forms of Indian classical music, the Carnatic and Hindustani traditions.