Karnataka Ancient Glories

Day 01 – Arrive Bangalore
Upon arrival our representative will greet you at Bangalore Airport. Bangalore popularly known as the Garden City with well laid out parks and gardens, long avenues of brightly blossomed trees and salubrious climate throughout the year.  After check-in at hotel proceed for the sightseeing of Bangalore.  Visit Tipus Sultan’s Palace – a fine specimen of military architecture of the 18^th century with a two storied ornate structure built entirely in wood, Bull temple at Basavangudi, Vidhana Soudha, Cubbon Park and Lalbagh Botanical Gardens.

Day 02 – Bangalore – Mysore
Morning drive to Mysore (Approx. 140Kms / 04 hours), enroute visit Srirangapatanam. Major attractions of Srirangapatnam are Daria Doulata, Summer Palace & Gumbuz – Tippu’s Mausoleum.

Later proceed to Mysore the land with numerous domes, towers and battlements; it is sheer luxury in the form of a palace. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and relax amidst the comforts of your room. Overnight stay at the Hotel/Resort.

Day 03 – Mysore
After enjoying the breakfast, proceed to visit the sprawling Maharaja’s Palace with its outstanding treasures and ivory inlaid doors. Also visit St. Philomena’s Church, a beautiful Cathedral reminiscent of Medieval Architecture with stained glass Windows and lofty Towers.

Explore your evening by proceeding to Brindavan Gardens which is one of its kinds in the country and located 19kms from Mysore. This ornamental garden is situated at the base of Krishnaraja Sagar dam across Cauvery River. Overnight stay at the Hotel/Resort.

Day 04 – Mysore – Chikmagalur
Morning after breakfast, drive to Chikmagalur (Approx. 180Kms / 04 hours) enjoys salubrious climate and has venerated monuments and temples all round the region.  Situated in a fertile valley surrounded by lush coffee growing hills, the town with its bracing climate and scenic splendour is worth visiting.  This town is a perfect base for visiting belur and Halebid temples.  Places of interest are the Fort, Ishwara temple, St.Joseph’s Cathedral and Kondandarama Temple. Evening is free for individual activities or relaxations. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 05 – Chikmagalur
Day excursion to Belur and Halebid.

Belur, a temple town famous for its exquisite temples. It is also known as Dakshina Varanasi. King Vishnuvardhana built the Channakeshwara temple in 1117 AD to commemorate his conversion from Jainism to Vaishnavism. The star shaped homogenous architectural beauty raised on a platform carved in black stone with 650 charging elephants that are different from each other and in the temple dome inside four famous figures of Shantala Devi’s voluptuous beauty, queen of King Vishnuvardhana are marvelous.

Halebid is also known as Dwara Samudra, the wealthy capital of Hoysalas. The Hoysaleshwara temple stands on a platform like a casket in shining black stone carved with variety of gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls. There is a museum on the lawns with 12^th century sculptures and gold coins in use at that time. One km from Halebid is Jain Basti hill built in the 8^th century surrounded by gleaming carved black stone pillars.

Day 06 – Chikmagalur –Hospet
Next morning after breakfast, drive to Hospet (Approx. 280Kms / 06-07 hours). Hospet makes for an appropriate base camp as it offers a wide range of hotel options. After accommodating at one of your listed hotels, proceed to visit the popular Tungabhadra Dam.

Later in the day, visit the major tourist attraction of Hospet covering Royal Place, Lotus Mahal, Vittala temple and the Archaeological Museum. In the evening you may visit Anantashayana temple, located at the eastern fringe of Hospet. Evening is free for individual activities or relaxations. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 07 – Hospet – Hampi
Early morning breakfast, checkout and proceed to Hampi (Approx. 15Kms / 30mins), the World Heritage Center, is the most beautiful and evocative of all the ruins of Karnataka. Capital of Vijayanagar kingdom is full of delightful surprises, viz., Kings Balance where kings were weighed against grain, gold or money which was then distributed to the poor, other attractions are Queen’s Bath with its arched corridors, projecting balconies, Lotus Mahal Vittala Temple, Virupaksha Temple, Ugra Narasimha are not to be missed.

Lunch enroute and on arrival check in to a hotel Malligi or similar evening free. Evening is free for individual activities or relaxations. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 08 – Hampi
The best way to experience this World Heritage Site is to take a leisurely stroll through the eloquent ruins.  Most of the important structure and ruins are located in tow areas, which are generally referred to as the Royal Centre and the Sacred Centre. The Royal Centre contains structures that seem to have been palaces, baths, pavilions, royal stables, and temples for ceremonial use. The sacred center is situated on the banks of the holy Tungabhadra River. Visit Vittthala temple and Virupaksha temple. Evening is free for individual activities or relaxations. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09 – Hampi – Badami
Next morning after breakfast, proceed to visit Badami (Approx. 150Kms / 04 hours). Badami was the royal capital of Chalukyas. The city is the house for large number of cave temples, entryways, fortresses and carvings. After reaching Badami check-in at one of your listed hotels. Relax for sometime in the cozy comfort of its room.

After lunch embark on a sightseeing tour of Badami. The attraction scheduled for the day includes Badami Fort, Open Air Museum and the Cave temples. The Badami cave temples are a complex of temples, considered the finest example of Indian rock-cut architecture, especially Badami Chalukya Architecture. Return to the hotel in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 10 – Badami
Next morning after breakfast, move out to explore the remarkable temples at Aihole and Pattadakal. Aihole is considered to be the birthplace of Hindu stone architecture. The distinctive characteristics to watch for in Aihole are the Western Chalukyan architecture including mortar less fabrication with stress on length and not on width or height. Roofs are flat with richly cut up ceilings. Evening is free for individual activities or relaxations. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11 – Badami – Goa
After enjoying the breakfast drive to Goa (Approx. 255Kms / 06 hours). Upon arrival check in at the hotel for relaxation OR board your flight / train to onward destination from Panjim, Goa’s Capital.