Itinerary

Day 1

Bangalore
Around midnight arrive in Bangalore. Bangalore is the capital city of the Indian state Karnataka. This former "Garden city" of Bangalore is known today as the "computer city" of India. Upon arrival, you will be met by an Indo Vacations representative and transferred to the hotel.

Day 2

Bangalore
In the morning we drive through the garden city with its numerous avenues of Jacaranda, Gulmohar and Cassia. We will visit the Bull temple and the famous Gowda Fort. The Bull teample was built in the Dravidian style of architecture and has a huge Nandi Bull carved out of a single grey granite. The famous Gowda Fort was built by Tipu Sultan. We will also visit the Vidhana Saudha and downtown commercial centre. This Vidhana Saudha, which is built after independence, stands out by its imposing architecture in the neo Dravidian style.

Day 3

Bangalore - Mysore (about 140 kms)
In the morning we drive to Mysore. Enroute we visit Srirangapatnam, about 16 kms from Mysore. Srirangapatnam is built on an island in the Cauvery River and the ruins of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan's capital are located. In Srirangapatnam we will visit the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a popular Hindu temple and the Tipu's summer palace, which is now a museum, set in a well maintained garden. After visiting Srirangapatnam we drive to Mysore. Mysore is a magnificent royal city and is world famous for silk and sandalwood. Mysore is also a famous production centre of saris. Mysore is known for the famous temple of goddess Chamundeshwari and the palaces built by Tipu Sultan. 

Day 4

Mysore
After having breakfast we visit the Mysore Palace. This palace is one of the most impressive and one of the largest city palaces in India. This beautiful Indo-Saracenic palace was built in the 1911-12 at the cost of 4.2 million rupees to replace the former Palace which was burnt down. In the afternoon we drive to the village of Somnathapur (33 km) to visit the intricately carved star shaped Prasanna Channakeshara Temple built in 1268 AD during the Hoysala Dynasty. In the evening we drive to the Chamundi Hill to visit the Chamundeshwari Temple, huge in structure with a seven storey Gopuram, 40 meters high. On the way up to the hill we visit the famous Nandi (Shiva's Bull) carved out of solid rock and about five meters high.

Day 5

Mysore - Hassan (about 170 kms)
Today we drive to Hassan. Enroute we visit Belur and Halebid temple complex belonging to the 12th and 14th century. The temples at Belur and Halebid were built by the Hoysala kings. The wealth of sculptural details found on the exterior and interior of these temples at Halebid and Belur makes them the most outstanding example of Hoysala art sculpture. In Halebid we visit the Hoysalesvara Temple of 12th century where we view the half-life size statues of Hindu deities, with minute details of each, all around the temple. After the visit of Halebid we proceed to Belur. In Belur we visit the group of Chennakesava Temples. These temples are famous for their architecture and sculptures.

Day 6

Hassan - Hospet (about 350 kms)
Today we drive from Hassan to Hospet. In Hospet we will visit the Chitradurga fort. The Chitradurga fort is situated at the foothills of the group of granite hills. The fort was built in the 17th century by the Nayak Poligars, the wealthy semi-independent landlords who fled south after the collapse of the Vijayanagar Empire in 1565. Haider Ali defeated the Nayaks and captured the fort. Haider Ali then replaced the mud fort with one built out of stone and later his son Tipu Sultan built a palace, mosque, oil pits and granaries in it.

Day 7

Hospet - Hampi (about 13 kms)
Today we drive from Hospet to Hampi. Hampi was once the seat of the great Vijayanagara empire and the centre of Hindu rule for 200 years from its foundation in 1336. The Vijayanagar city ruins near the village of Hampi is one of the most fascinating historical sites in south India. The superb ruins are set in a beautiful landscape, a hill country with enormous boulders. Extremely wealthy, greater than Rome, they held a monopoly of trade in spices and cotton. This site was chosen for strategic reasons, but the craftsmen excelled in adopting an indigenous style to blend in architectural masterpieces with the barren and rocky landscapes. Most of the sites belong to the 16th century and were built during the 20 year reign of Krishna deva Raya. In the evening we visit the temples, palaces and market places of Hampi.

Day 8

Hampi - Badami
Today we drive to Badami. Badami is set in beautiful countryside among the red sandstone hills, lakes and peaceful farmlands. Badami was once a capital city of the Chalukyan Empire which ruled much of the central Deccan between 4th and 7th centuries A D. Badami is picturesquely situated at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills. Badami is known for its famous four cave temples. Overlooking the cave temples is a reservoir dotted with temples dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva. The Bhutanatha temples are also worth visiting temples. It is a temple that lend their name to the lake beneath the cave temples.

Day 9

Badami
Early in the morning we visit the famous cave temples as the best time to visit the cave temples is at sunrise. Four of these cave temples were cut into the hillside in the early 6th century. Cave 1 is reached by climbing 40 steps and in this cave the Lord Siva in his manifestation as Nataraja with 18 arms can be seen in 81 dance poses. In the Cave 2 there are reliefs of Varaha and Vamana and the Cave 3 is dedicated to Vishnu. According to a Kanada inscription which is unique to Badami, this cave was excavated in 578 AD and has numerous sculptures including a huge reclining image of Vishnu. Cave 4 is the only Jain cave excavated about 100 years later. Some of the temples which we visit includes the Buddhist temple, built near the ancient artificial Bhutanatha Lake, and the 7th century Mallegitti Sivalaya temple, one of the finest examples of the early southern style. The North fort temples include mainly 7th century work and give an insight into Badami history.

Day 10

Badami - Bijapur (about 196 kms)
Today we drive to Bijapur. Bijapur is a distinct town as it resembles a north Muslim city with the different mosques and palaces. Bijapur was known as Vijayapura or "the city of victory" during the reign of Chalukyas. In the afternoon we visit the Jama Masjid, one of the finest in Deccan with a large, shallow, onion shaped dome and arcaded court. It was built by Ali Adil Shah I in the 16th century. The Ibrahim Rauza, the 17th century palatial tomb is beautifully decorated with its slender minarets, carved decorative panels of lotus, wheels and cross patterns and bold Arabic calligraphy. This square garden consists of 2 buildings, one houses the tomb of Ibrahim Adil Shah II and his family and the other one is a mosque. The tomb, evidently executed under the orders of Ibrahim Adil Shah (1580-1627) is supposed to have been an inspiration for the Taj Mahal at Agra.

Day 11

Bijapur
In the morning we visit the Golgumbaz. Golgumbaz means the round tomb. Golgumbaz is the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah (1627 -56), the seventh ruler of Adilshahi dynasty. This gigantic mausoleum took about 20 years to complete. The acoustical phenomenon of this dome is such that a sound is echoed eleven times over. Under the dome are the tombs of the Sultan, his two wives, his mistress Ramba, his daughter and grandson. The building complex includes a mosque, a Naqqar Khana, a gateway and a Dharamshala. The edifice in front of the tomb has been converted into a museum. This tomb has been described by some as startlingly ugly. It is the world's second largest dome unsupported by pillars and has a large whispering gallery.

Day 12

Bijapur - Gulbarga
In the morning we drive to Gulbarga. This town was the first capital of the Bahmanis and is known in South India as the home of Saiyid Muhammad Gesu Daraz Chisti who was instrumental in spreading the Islam faith in the Deccan in the 14th century. The most fascinating remains in the town are the fort, with its citadel and mosque and the tombs in its eastern quarter. In Gulbarga we visit the mosque and tombs. The mosque covers an area of 3500 sq m and is covered by a dome which cover the four corners and 75 minor domes make it unique among the various Indian mosques. The tombs of the Bahmani sultans lie in two groups and the tomb of the Chisti is two stories high with a highly decorated painted dome and a mother of pearl canopy over the grave.

Day 13

Gulbarga - Hyderabad (about 255 kms)
In the morning we drive to Bidar. Bidar, the walled fort town in North Karnataka was once the capital of the Hamanis and Barid Shahis. The fort is still intact and the palaces and tombs provide some of the finest examples of Muslim architecture in the Deccan, intermingling the Hindu and Islamic styles. After visiting the fort and old town we drive to Hyderabad. Arrive in Hyderabad in the evening.

Day 14

Hyderabad
After having breakfast, we drive to visit the impressive fort at Golconda. This fort is entered through gateways which have relief ornamentation of birds and animals. The Fateh Darwaza or Victory Gate is made of teak with an engraved Hindu deity studded with iron spikes. Within the ramparts lie the mosques, temples, the 3 storeyed armory, the harem, the Hall of Public Audience and the Rani Mahal with the royal baths. After visiting the Golconda fort we visit the Qutb Shahi Tomb. Each tomb is made of black granite or green stone with fine sculpture, inscriptions and remains of glazed decoration. After visiting the tomb we drive to the hotel.

Day 15

Hyderabad - Mumbai
Departure to Mumbai by air.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Rooms on the departure day.

Exclusions -

Unspecified Meals etc

Extras -

Given cost if on per person basis on minimum two travelers. There is discount available between April and September. Please write us to receive more details !