PLACES: BANGALORE | MYSORE | HASSAN | HOSPET | HAMPI | GADANG | BADAMI | GOA Uncover the magic of ‘Hoysala Splendors,’ a South India exploration spanning Bangalore, Mysore, Hassan, Hospet, Hampi, Gadang, Badami, and the serene beaches of Goa. Immerse yourself in cultural richness, royal grandeur, architectural wonders, and ancient heritage on this captivating journey. Arrive at Bangalore Airport and transfer to the hotel. Enjoy half-day sightseeing of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. Experience the city’s contrasts, from salubrious climate and tree-lined avenues to the trendy downtown and the software industry boom. Bangalore’s evolution from a small village to a leading city is marked by striking contrasts. Visit prominent landmarks such as Vidhana Soudha, Attara Kacheri, Lal Bagh gardens, and the Bull Temple. Overnight stay at the hotel. After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Mysore with a visit to Srirangapatna en route. Srirangapatna, located on an island in the Cauvery River, was once the fortress capital controlled by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. Explore Tippu Sultan’s Summer Palace and Fort. Continue your drive to Mysore, the cultural capital of Karnataka, known for its majestic heritage buildings and palaces. Check in at the hotel for an overnight stay. After breakfast, embark on a tour of Mysore starting with a visit to the famous Mysore Palace, one of the largest of its kind in India. Built in 1912 in the Indo Saracenic style, the palace is a grandeur that is unmatched. Explore the Golden Royal Elephant Throne, the Durbar Hall, the Kalyana Mantap, and the Gallery. The palace is a priceless national treasure and the pride of the Wodeyar dynasty. Afterward, proceed to Chamundi Hills to visit the Chamundeshwari Temple, the abode of the powerful Goddess Chamundi, revered by the Mysore Maharajas. The day concludes with a visit to the over a century-old Devaraja Market building, a landmark in Mysore, housing a bustling wholesale market and a unique clock tower constructed in honor of Lord Dufferin’s visit. Overnight stay at the hotel. After breakfast, take a day excursion to Somnathpur, a small village on the banks of the river Cauvery. Founded by the commander of the Hoysala army, Somnath, the village is renowned for its splendid Keshava temple built in the Hoysala style. The temple features intricate sculpturing, elaborate friezes depicting cavalry, elephants, and scenes from the epics. The raised platform is adorned with richly carved details, and the temple itself has three sanctums housing idols of Lord Janardhana and Lord Venugopala. The main hall boasts exquisitely turned pillars and ceiling panels. The temple is a testament to the grandeur of Hoysala architecture. Return to Mysore for an overnight stay at the hotel. After breakfast, check out from the hotel in Mysore and drive to Chikmagalur. Enroute, visit the Tibetan Buddhist settlement at Bylakuppe, known for the Golden Temple. The Golden Temple is a major tourist attraction in Bylakuppe, offering a serene and unique experience. The temple houses three stunning golden Buddha statues, each 40 feet tall, named Padmasambhava, Buddha, and Amitayus. Stepping inside the temple creates a sense of entering another world, far removed from the bustling streets of South India. Continue your journey to Chikmagalur, nestled in the Baba Budan hills within the coffee district of Karnataka. Chikmagalur is a tranquil town surrounded by hills, valleys, streams, and snow-white coffee blossoms, making it an ideal destination for trekkers. Overnight at Hotel/Resort. After breakfast, check out from the hotel in Chikmagalur and proceed towards Hassan. Enroute, visit Shravanabelagola, which is 52 km from Hassan and holds immense significance as an important Jain pilgrim center. Shravanabelagola is renowned for Asia’s largest monolithic statue, Lord Gomateswara, towering at 58 feet. Perched atop the picturesque Vindhyagiri Hill, reaching the summit involves climbing five hundred steps cut out of rock. The colossal statue of Lord Gomateswara is nearly eighteen hundred years old. The site attracts Jain pilgrims, especially during the grand head-anointing ceremony held every 12 years. After exploring Shravanabelagola, continue your journey towards Hassan. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel. Overnight at Hotel/Resort. After breakfast, embark on a day trip to visit the Belur and Halebid temples. Belur, located 38 km from Hassan, is renowned for its magnificent Hoysala Temple Complex. The Chennakesava Temple, a major attraction in Belur, was built by Hoysala Vishnuvardhana to commemorate his victory over the Cholas. The temple’s facade is adorned with intricate sculptures, leaving no portion blank, and it remains the only Hoysala Temple still in active worship. Halebid, situated 27 km away from Hassan, was once the capital of the Hoysalas. The Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebid, perched on a star-shaped base amidst lawns, is a sculptural extravaganza. Its walls feature rich carvings depicting an endless variety of Hindu deities, sages, stylized animals, birds, and friezes illustrating the life of the Hoysala Kings. After exploring these architectural marvels, return to Chikmagalur. Overnight at Hotel/Resort. Today, embark on a day excursion to Doddagaddavalli, a village located 16 km from Hassan. The main attraction of the town is the Lakshmi Devi Temple, built by the Hoysala Empire King Vishnuvardhana in 1114 C.E. Nestled amidst pristine coconut plantations, the temple has a lake at its rear, enhancing its scenic beauty. Explore the historical and architectural significance of this temple before returning to Chikmagalur. Overnight at Hotel/Resort. After breakfast, embark on a scenic drive to Hospet covering a distance of 300 km over 6-7 hours. Check in at the hotel upon arrival and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, relaxing and exploring the surroundings. Overnight at Hotel/Resort. In the morning, embark on a sightseeing tour of Hospet and Hampi. Explore attractions like the Narsimha Statue, Krishna Temple, Ganesha Shrines on Hemakuta Hill, Lakshmi Narasimha – the largest icon in Hampi depicting the man-lion god in a cross-legged seated position. Discover the Queen’s Bath, an indoor aquatic complex in the royal area of the capital. Visit Lotus Mahal, an ornate structure with Islamic architecture-style arches and roofs typical of Hindu temples. Explore the Elephant Stables, the shelter for royal elephants, with a long structure containing chambers for elephants and a central hall for ceremonial band troops. Visit the Pattabhirama Temple, a sprawling temple campus dedicated to Lord Rama with notable pillared halls. Overnight at Hotel/Resort. Drive to Gadag. The town of Gadag is filled with printing presses and handloom cottage industries, apart from major historical sites and structures. Gadag was a major city in ancient India under the rule of the Chalukyas, explaining the abundance of temples and historical structures with a distinct Gadag style of architecture. Explore Gadag, with main attractions like the Sri Trikuteshwara Temple built by the early Chalukyas between the 6th to 8th centuries, Sri Veera Narayana Temple believed to be built in the 11th century, and Sri Jagadguru Tondaraya Mutt, a 12th-century mutt founded by Saint Tontada Siddalingeshwar Swamiji. Overnight at Hotel/Resort. After breakfast, check out and proceed towards Badami. Enroute, explore the late Chalukya temples at Sarasvati, Kuknoor, Lakkundi, and Dambal. Upon arrival in Badami, check in at the hotel. Badami, the capital of the Chalukyas from about 540 until 747 A.D., has a rich history with influences from various rulers. It was occupied by Chalukyan of Kalyan, the Kalachuryas, the Yadavas of Devagiri, the Vijayanagar Empire, the Adil Shahi kings of Bijapur, and the Marathas. The city is renowned for its cave temples, displaying a full range of religious sects rooted in Indian soil. Two caves are dedicated to Vishnu, one to Siva, and the fourth is a Jain temple. There is also a natural cave, which serves as a Buddhist temple. Among other monuments, the Bhuthanatha temples, located lakeside, stand out as beautiful structures. The archaeological museum in Badami, housing superb examples of locally collected sculptures, is worth a visit. Overnight at the hotel/resort. After breakfast, embark on a sightseeing tour of Badami. Visit Badami Fort, built during the 18th century under Tipu Sultan’s orders. Impressed by the location, Tipu Sultan ordered the immediate construction of the fort on top of the hills, strategically placing canons at vantage points to defend against the Marathas. The shanks, smooth and hard, demonstrate a fine aerodynamic design. Tipu’s Fort sits on top of the hill where the cave temples were carved. The route to the fort passes by the 2nd and 3rd caves, and along the way, you’ll encounter an instinctive cave housing Buddhist carvings. Explore the four cave temples in Badami, carved from a hill opposite the fort. Three caves represent the Brahmanical style, while the fourth follows the Jain style. Climbing nearly 2000 steps is required to reach the caves. After the tour, return to the hotel for an overnight stay. Today’s itinerary includes a sightseeing tour of Pattadakal. Explore the following attractions: DURGA TEMPLE: Best known of the Aihole temples, the Durga temple resembles a Buddhist chaitya for its apsidal plan. The composite temple structure comprises a high moulded adisthana, a mukha mandapa, sabha mandapa, and a shikhara over the garba griha. A pillared corridor envelops the shrine, the mukhamandapa, and the sabhamandapa, adorned with intricate carvings depicting Siva on his Rishaba vaahnam, Vishnu on his Garuda vaahanam, Vaarahar, and Mahishasura Mardini trampling the buffalo demon. RAVANAPHADI TEMPLE: Scooped out of rocks, this temple dates back to the second half of the 7th century. The rectangular shrine has two mandapams in front and a rock-cut Shivalingam. Carvings on the ceiling depict Lord Vishnu on his Garuda Vaahanam, a central lotus design, and Indra on his Airaavatam. LADH KHAN TEMPLE: Among the most ancient temples in Aihole, the Ladh Khan temple consists of a shrine with two mandapams. The mukhamandapa has a set of 12 carved pillars, and the sabhamandapa has pillars arranged to form two concentric squares. MEGUTI JAIN TEMPLE: Perched atop a hillock, the Meguti Jain temple on a raised platform offers a panoramic view of the plain with a hundred or more temples. The temple, built in the year 634 CE, has an inscription referencing the poet Kalidasa. After the tour, return to the hotel for an overnight stay. Today’s itinerary includes a sightseeing tour of Aihole. Explore the following attractions: KADASIDDESHVARA TEMPLE: Kadasiddeshvara Temple is a fine specimen of North Indian-style temple architecture. It features a curved tower (shikhara) over the inner sanctum, showcasing the characteristics of this architectural style. JAMBULINGA TEMPLE: Similar to Kadasiddeshvara Temple, Jambulinga Temple is characterized by its curved tower (shikhara) over the inner sanctum, showcasing the North Indian-style temple architecture. GALAGANATHA TEMPLE: Galaganatha Temple is the largest among the temples in Aihole. It features a well-preserved tower with sharply cut tiers of horseshoe-shaped motifs and a ribbed finial. The temple is a remarkable example of intricate craftsmanship. After the tour, return to the hotel in Badami for an overnight stay. Today, you will drive to Panjim. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure, allowing you to explore the charm and beauty of Panjim at your own pace. Panjim, the capital city of Goa, is known for its picturesque landscapes, vibrant culture, and Portuguese-influenced architecture. Enjoy the tranquility and unique atmosphere of this coastal city. Overnight stay at the hotel. After breakfast, embark on a fascinating sightseeing tour of Old Goa with an English-speaking guide. Old Goa, the ancient capital of the region, was once ruled by Adil Shah and later conquered by the Portuguese. Today, it is known for its imposing churches and cathedrals, including the Basilica of Bom Jesus, which houses the mortal remains of Goa’s Patron, Saint Francis Xavier, in a silver casket. The churches are recognized as “World Heritage Monuments,” and your visit offers a glimpse into the rich history of the region. The tour also takes you to Dona Paula, offering panoramic views of India’s largest harbor, Mormagoa. Drive past Miramar Beach to Panjim, the capital city of Goa, built on the banks of the Mandovi River. Explore the old quarters with their Portuguese influence, stroll through small squares, and lanes. Take some time for shopping. Return to your hotel for an overnight stay. After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Colva. En route, visit Ancestral Goa, also known as the Big Foot museum, located in the village of Loutolim, approximately 10 km from Margao and 25 km from Panaji. This privately-run open-air museum, curated by artist Maendra Jocelino Araujo Alvares, offers a recreation of Goan rural life from a century ago. The museum features an art gallery showcasing works by local children and nationally recognized artists, a handicraft center offering locally-made artifacts, a dance floor, restaurant, cross, Boca da Vaca spring, bird habitat, spice yard, rubber plantations, and more. The model village includes miniature houses depicting traditional occupations and social classes, such as fishermen, artisans, a music school (Escola da Musica), farmers, liquor shops, the village market, and a feni distillery. The main attraction is the giant 14-meter sculpture of Sant Mirabai, carved in 30 days by MJA Alvares, earning a place in the Limca Book of Records as the longest laterite sculpture in India. After the visit, proceed to Colva for an overnight stay. After breakfast at the hotel, you have the day to explore Rachol, Chandor, and the Quepem area. Enjoy the local attractions and immerse yourself in the cultural and historical richness of these regions. Overnight stay at the hotel. Drive to Vivanta by Taj Fort Aguada. Check in at the hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Enjoy your stay at Fort Aguada. Overnight at the hotel. After breakfast, check out from the hotel. You will be dropped at Goa airport on time for your return journey. Have a safe and pleasant journey!
Itinerary
