📄 Abstract
Karnataka's hill stations occupy a distinctive place in the historical geography of the Western Ghats and the Deccan uplands. Emerging variously as pre-colonial hill forts, princely summer retreats, and colonial sanitaria, stations such as Nandi Hills, Kemmangundi, Madikeri, and Chikmagalur reflect layered histories of political power, colonial administration, and evolving leisure culture. This article traces the historical development of Karnataka's principal hill stations from approximately 1800 to 2015, examining the transition from strategic and administrative outposts to centres of tourism and heritage. Drawing on the trajectory shared by many of these sites, the article argues that their history cannot be read purely as a colonial import; rather, it represents a continuum in which indigenous fort-building traditions, princely patronage under the Wodeyars of Mysore, and British hill-station policy together shaped the present cultural landscape. The study also considers the post-Independence period, when many former retreats were absorbed into state horticultural and tourism departments, raising questions of conservation, ecological pressure, and heritage management that remain relevant to regional planning today.
🏷️ Keywords
📚 How to Cite:
Dr. Karekannappala Satisha, Mahesha M , MAJOR HILL STATIONS OF KARNATAKA: A HISTORICAL STUDY , Volume 14 , Issue 8, August 2026, International Journal of Asian Economic Light (JAEL) , Pages: 48 - 51 ,