South India Cultural Tour

Day 01 – Arrival at Bangalore

When you arrive in Bangalore, our representative will greet you at the airport and help you transfer to your hotel. Check into your hotel and relax.

Day 02 – Bangalore Tour

Today we leave for a tour of Bangalore city. The highlights of this tour are Vidhan Soudha – constructed in the year 1954. The structural design of the building is based on the neo Dravidian style and it currently houses the Legislative Assembly of the state Government & Karnataka Secretariat.
 

Nandi Temple – Another Dravidian architecture –The temple is dedicated to Nandi – a sacred bull which is the vahana– carrier of Lord Shiva.
 

Lalbagh Gardens – The name itself suggests that it is paradise of red roses & other species of plants.
 

Bangalore Palace –Built in the year 1887, the architecture of the palace is based on the Tudor style. Covering an area of about 800 acres, the palace gives a look of the Windsor Palace of England. Also visit Visweswaraiah Industrial & Technological Museum & Ulsoor Lake.

Day 03 – Bangalore – Srirangapatnam – Mysore

Morning depart by surface to Mysore reroute visit Srirangapattnnam. It features eighteenth century Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan constructed in the Indo-Saracenic style is built mainly of teakwood. Museum displaying Tipus trivia, the Gumbaz, which is the mausoleum of Tipu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali .
 

Also visit Jamia Masjid with its slender minarets octagonal in shape add to the grandeur of the entire structure.
 

Also visit Ranganathaswamy Temple which has the idol of Lord Vishnu as Ranganatha reclining on the serpent Ade Shesha. Arrive and check in to Hotel.
 

Evening visit Brindavan Gardens – Observe the exuberant attractiveness of Brindavan Gardens. It is famous for terrace gardens with Musical Fountains which gets transformed into a dreamland by night with swirling waters, colorful lights and harmonious music.

Day 04 – Mysore

Today we would take you for the tour of Mysore which would include Mysore Palace – It is one of the magnificent sights to be visited in Mysore. Completely built in 1912 in Indo-Saracenic style with domes, towers, arches and row of pillars, the Palace is a treasure house of wonderful carvings. It is a mixture of Hindu and Muslim architectural styles and was designed by an English architect Henry Irwin.
 

Shri Ramachamarajendra Art Gallery – positioned in the Jagmohan Palace, the art gallery has a precious collection of Tanjore paintings and pictures of the royal family by Raja Ravi Verma.
 

Chamundi Hills & Temple – Mysore is situated at the foothills of Chamundi Hills. Chamundeshwari Temple is located on top of the hills which is a famous landmark. There is a statue of Mahishasura located near to the temple, a demon killed by the goddess Chamundeshwari.
 

St. Philomenas Church – A beautiful Cathedral ornamented with beautiful stained glass windows portraying scenes from the birth of Christ, the Last meal the Crucifixion, the rebirth and the Ascension of Christ.

Day 05 – Mysore – Hassan

After having breakfast, drive towards Hassan and check in the hotel. Stay overnight and get rid of tiredness and fatigue.

Day 06 – Hassan – Shravanbelagola – Hassan

After breakfast drive for Shravanabelagola. It is believed to be the worlds tallest monolithic statue rises 17 metre high of Bahubali (Gomateshvara).
 

The statue was constructed in 981 AD by the sculptor Aristanmi and is most sacred to the Jain Community. Later drive back to Hassan.

Day 07 – Hassan – Belur – Halebid

Today visit of Belur and Halebid. Belur Temple took over 103 years to build and is a typical example of the Hoysala style of architecture. It is overflowing with intricate carvings. Scenes from the epics, elephants in battle and sensuous dancers come alive in stone.
 

Later visit Halebid Temple –16 km east of Belur and 27 km from Hassan, The Hoysaleswara Temple dating back to 12th century, is surprising for its wealth of sculptural detail.
 

The temple walls are covered with an eternal variety of gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls. And no two sides of the temple are the same. This wonderful temple is devoted to Lord Shiva has 02 huge Nandi Bulls at the entrance. This temple was never completed despite 86 years of labor.

Day 08 – Hospet

Drive Hospet. Arrive & check into the hotel. The main substance of Hospet lies in its proximity to Hampi, a world Heritage site. It has the distinction of being the most attractive ruins of any importance to be seen in India.
 

Visit the Kings Balance where the weight of the king was weighed against grain, gold or money that was then distributed among the poor. Queens Bath – has fountains in the shape of the lotus flower that sprinkled perfumed water.
 

The Lotus Mahal is another must visit at Hampi owing to its architectural excellence. In 1565 the city was demolished to grounds by the Sultanates of South. Since then the ruins of the Virupaksha, Vittala, Ramachandra and Hazara Rama temples, images of Ganesha and Narasimha, the Ugra Narasimha, the 6.7 m tall monolith is amongst the more popular images, the elephant stables have been center of attraction.
 

Later drive back to Hospet Visit Chitradurga considered as the Kallina Kote that means the Place of Stones. Visit the famous Chitradurga Fort which was constructed by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. Seven walls surrounding the fort and nineteen gateways providing entry and exit points to visitors is known for its military architecture. Also visit Harihara town positioned on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The pilgrims believe that the dip in the river here will cleanse them of the sins.

Day 09 – Hospet – Pattadakal – Aihole – Badami

Morning drive to Badami enroute visiting Aihole & Pattadakal on the way. Aihole is the cradle of stone temple architecture of the southern Dravida School. Aihole is full of ancient temples and forts which are linked with the Chalukya rulers dating back to 11th century. The renowned Durga Temple, Ladkhan Temple, Ramalinga Temple, Meguti Temple and Ravala Phadi Cave .are worth visiting. The historic village of Pattadakal is 20 km from Badami.
 

It was the second capital of the Chalukyas and important state functions during the reigns of the Chalukyas were held here. The holy temple complex of Pattadakal consists of 10 major temples, each dazzling with brilliantly textured carvings and pillars.
 

The remarkable temple structures of Pattadakal are a confluence of the North Indian and South Indian temple architecture styles. At the entrance of the site, you can see the 8th century temples of Jambulinga, Kadasiddeshvara, and Galaganatha with their curvilinear shikaras or spires. Later drive to Badami.

Day 10 – In Badami

Badami is well-known for its rock-cut cave temples. These temples have been engraved out on the red sandstone hills that encircle the town. There are four cave temples at Badami.
 

These temples were constructed in 6th century and lavishly carved with figures of Hindu deities. Three temples are dedicated to Hindu gods. The fourth one is a Jain temple. Visit the archeological museum which displays a wonderful triangular panel depicting Brahma surrounded by intricate foliage.

Day 11 – Badami – Belgaum – Goa

After having the breakfast, start driving towards Goa. In Belgaum Visit Kapileshwara Temple – It is believedto be one of the oldest temples of Belgaum. It is also recognized as Dakshina Kashi. It is assumed that the trip to the 12 jyotirlingas of India is unfinished without a visit to this temple.
 

Belgaum Fort – It is believed to be the oldest forts in Karnataka. It is a blend of Hindu-Muslim architecture. Inside the fort you can see temples and mosques co-exist in perfect harmony. It was constructed in the 12th century A.D by the local Ratta rulers and later it was renovated and built on by successive rulers.
 

Safa Mosque – It is positioned inside the Belgaum Fort was constructed in the first half of the 16th century by Asad Khan, the then Governor of Belgaum. Safa Masjid is famous for its minars, domes and arches which are built in a typical blend of Indo-Sarcenic and Deccan styles of the architecture.

Day 12 – In Goa

Relax at hotel with overnight stay.

Day 13 – In Goa

Today full day city tour covering Old Goa Churches –Basilica of Bom Jesus, Convent and Church of St. Francis of Assisi. Also visit Mangueshi Temples, Panaji City, Dona Paula & Miramar Beach.

Day 14 –In Goa

Relax at hotel with overnight stay.

Day 15 – Goa-Depart

After having the breakfast, drive for airport for onward flight connection.