Karnataka’s topography changes dramatically from west to east.
- **Highest point:** **Mullayanagiri** in Chikkamagaluru district, at about **1,930 meters** above sea level, is widely cited as the highest peak in Karnataka. - **Lowest point:** Sea level along the **Arabian Sea** coast. - **Mountain systems:** The **Western Ghats** dominate the western edge of the state, with high ridges, escarpments, forested slopes, and notable peaks in Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, and Hassan regions. - **Plateau lands:** Much of interior Karnataka lies on the **Mysore Plateau** and adjoining Deccan uplands, marked by rolling terrain, isolated rocky hills, and broad drainage basins. - **River valleys:** The Krishna and Cauvery systems shape important valleys, irrigation zones, and settlement corridors. - **Waterfalls and escarpments:** Steep western gradients produce famous falls such as **Jog Falls** on the Sharavathi River. - **Coastal areas:** The Karavali coast includes beaches, dunes, estuaries, lagoons, and riverine floodplains, especially around major river mouths. - **Granite and hill landscapes:** Districts around Bengaluru, Kolar, Ramanagara, and Ballari are known for granitic hills, boulder fields, and exposed rocky terrain. - **Flood-prone and low-lying zones:** Riverine tracts along the Krishna basin and some coastal estuarine areas can face seasonal flooding. - **Dry uplands:** Northern and central interior districts often have flatter or gently undulating terrain with lower rainfall and more open scrub or dry farming landscapes.
This varied topography helps explain why Karnataka contains such different ecological zones and economic patterns within a single state.