South India Vacations

Duration : 14 Nights / 15 Days
Destinations : Bangalore - Mysore - Chikmagalur - Hospet - Hampi - Badami - Goa - Mumbai.

Day 01: Arrive Bangalore
Bangalore, popularly known as the Garden City with well laid out parks and gardens, long avenues of brightly blossomed trees and salubrious climate through out 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 18th 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
Drive to Mysore, the Sandalwood City. It is preserved to this day with its magnificent palaces, beautiful laid out gardens, imposing buildings and many ancient temples. Visit Maharaja's Palace - built in indo- Saracenic style of architecture with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades, the palace is decorated with Hoysala style carvings. Chamundi Hills - a monolith in granite of 5 metre high Nandi beautifully carved with garlands and bells. Brindavan Gardens - the fabulous garden that stretch out in terraces below dam and change into an exotic fairyland with twinkling lights, swirling fountains and artificial water falls. A musical fountain dances to the tunes and harmony.

Day 03: Mysore
Day excursion to Somnathpur and Srirangapatna. SOMNATHPUR - Dedicated to the Lord Siva, the exquisitely carved, star-shaped temple with triple towers is a perfect example of Hoysala architecture. Beautifully sculptured images of gods, goddesses, and scenes from the epics, as well as the remarkably ornate ceilings in the pillared hall will take your breath away. SRIRANGAPATNA - The Little Island Fortress Of Tipu Sultan, Who Was Once Known As The "Tiger Of Mysore". Visit the Summer Palace, The Daria Daulat, and the Beautiful Wall Paintings.

Day 04: Chikmagalur
Chikmagalur 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.

Day 05: Chikmagalur
Day excursion to Belur and Halebid. Belur 40 km from Hassan, 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 30 km from Hassan. It 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 12th century sculptures and gold coins in use at that time. One km from Halebid is Jain Basti hill built in the 8th century surrounded by gleaming carved black stone pillars.

Day 06 : Hospet
Chitradurga means umbrella shaped lofty hill. Visit the Fort whichhas 4 secret entrances, 19 gateways and ingenious water tanks. Many ancient temples are also located within its precincts, the Hidimbeshwara temple is the oldest among them. Hospet isthe perfect base for visiting Hampi ruins.

Day 07: 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 centre is situated on the banks of the holy Tungabhadra river. Visit Vittthala temple and Virupaksha temple.

Day 08: Badami
After breakfast drive to Badami. It has exquisite cave temples belonging to the golden period of Chalukyan rule. There are 4 cave temples - all hewn out of sand stone on the precipice of a hill. The first cave temple has an exquisite carving of Nataraja embodying 81 poses. The third cave is dedicated to Vishnu and is the largest and most ornamental. The fresco paintings in the cave resemble those of Ajanta. Overlooking the cave temples is a large tank around which are temples dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva.

Day 09: Badami
Full day excursion to Bijapur, known as the City of Victory. It has about 50 mosques, more than 20 tombs and numerous palaces. Visit Gol Gumbaz: The tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah is an astounding engineering feat, being the second largest dome in the world, which is mysteriously unsupported by any pillar.The monument has become memorable for the whispering gallery under the dome, whose acoustics are superb. It carries the faintest whisper around the dome and returns it to the listener nine times. Ibrahim Rouza, Jumma Masjid, Archaeological Museum are the other interests of this town.

Day 10: Goa
Drive to Goa, known for the sandy beaches. Rest of the day free for Leisure Activities.

Day 11: Goa
Goa Beaches Full day excursion to Goa covering Dona Paula an idyllic sot, which overlooks Goa's magnificent harbour of Marmagoa. Then we proceed to Panjim via Miramar Beach. In the year 1843, the Portuguese court in Lisbon by a Royal Decree made Panjim the new capital of Goa, which was a fishing village till then, Panjim today still captures the charm with typical Portuguese type of houses and villas spread along the River Mandovi. Notable among the classic structures in Panjim are Panjim Church, Palacio Patriarchal (Bishop's Palace) and Palacio ldalcao (the present secretariat) built by Adil shah in 1492.

Day 12: Goa
Today sightseeing if Old Goa, which was once the old capital ofGoa. Visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus where the incorruptible remains of St. Francis Xavier kept in a silver casket entombed in a marble mausoleum in the Florentine style. Rest of theday free for own activities.

Day 13: Mumbai
You will be transferred to the Airport to board flight to Mumbai, the Gateway of India. On arrival at Mumbai you will be checked-in to the hotel. Later proceed for shopping or visit Elephanta Caves (Optional). Leave by motor launch and go across the harbour to the world famous Elephanta Caves, 1200 years old and dedicated to Lord Shiva. The famous sculpture signifying the Trinity of the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer is situated here.

Day 14: Mumbai
Sightseeing of Mumbai visiting Hanging Garden, Marine Drive, Dhobi Ghat, Vidhan Saudha, Malabar Hill & Prince of Wales Musuem - the great port city with its Victorian Gothic buildings from the British Raj Era mingling with the modern. The tour includes 'Gateway of India' overlooking the Harbour, the 'Towers of Silence', 'Marine Drive', the 'Colaba Causeway' - the commercial heart of Bombay and the Dhobi Ghat, the unique and colourful outdoor 'laundry'. Drive upto the Malabar Hill to the lovely 'Hanging Gardens' and the Kamala Nehru Park from where you will get a wonderful view of Mumbai and the Arabian Sea, spread out before you. Also visit Mani Bhawan, a small museum dedicated to the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi, and the bustling Crawford Market.

Day 15: Departure
Transfer Transfer to the Airport to board flight to onward destination.