Day 01 Arrive Bangalore
Arrive 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 which has 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 is the 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.
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
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 of Goa. 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 the day 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.
