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Karnataka is one of the most famous tourist destination in India.
Bangalore is the cosmpolitan and capital city of Karnataka.
Bangalore, also known as the garden city is today known as the
"computer city" of India. In the Karnataka Tour you will visit some
of the famous places in Karnataka like Bangalore, Mysore, Coorg,
Udupi, Hampi, Badami, Bijapur, Hyderabad and Gulbarga.
Day 1: Bangalore
Around midnight arrive in
Bangalore. Bangalore is the capital city of the Indian state
Karnataka. This former "Garden city" of Bangalore is known today as the "computer city" of India. Upon arrival, you will be met by an Indo Vacations representative and transferred to the hotel.
Day 2: Bangalore
In the morning we drive through the garden city with its numerous avenues of Jacaranda, Gulmohar and Cassia. We will visit the Bull temple and the famous Gowda Fort. The Bull teample was built in the Dravidian style of
architecture and has a huge Nandi Bull carved out of a single grey granite. The famous Gowda Fort was built by Tipu Sultan. We will also visit the Vidhana Saudha and downtown commercial centre. This Vidhana Saudha, which is built after independence, stands out by its imposing architecture in the neo Dravidian style.
Day 3: Bangalore - Mysore (about 140 kms)
In the morning we drive to
Mysore. Enroute we visit
Srirangapatnam, about 16 kms from Mysore. Srirangapatnam is built on an island in the Cauvery River and the ruins of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan's capital are located. In Srirangapatnam we will visit the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a popular Hindu temple and the Tipu's summer palace, which is now a museum, set in a well maintained garden. After visiting Srirangapatnam we drive to Mysore. Mysore is a magnificent royal city and is world famous for silk and sandalwood. Mysore is also a famous production centre of saris. Mysore is known for the famous temple of goddess Chamundeshwari and the palaces built by Tipu Sultan.
Day 4: Mysore
After having breakfast we visit the Mysore Palace. This palace is one of the most impressive and one of the largest city palaces in
India. This beautiful Indo-Saracenic palace was built in the 1911-12 at the cost of 4.2 million rupees to replace the former Palace which was burnt down. In the afternoon we drive to the village of Somnathapur (33 km) to visit the intricately carved star shaped Prasanna Channakeshara Temple built in 1268 AD during the Hoysala Dynasty. In the evening we drive to the Chamundi Hill to visit
the Chamundeshwari Temple, huge in structure with a seven storey Gopuram, 40 meters high. On the way up to the hill we visit the famous Nandi (Shiva's Bull) carved out of solid rock and about five meters high.
Day 5:
Mysore - Bandipur National Park (about 77 kms)
In the
morning after having breakfast we will drive further to
Bandipur
National Park. In the afternoon we will visit the wildlife sanctuary
in jeeps. Bandipur National Park is one the many reserves located
within the forest belt between the Western Ghats and the Nilgiri
Mountains. Bandipur lies in the southern state of Karnataka and
covers a forest area of 865 square kilometers. It was declared a
National Park in 1974 and is one of the original 9 tiger reserves
under the watchful eye of "Project Tiger". Bandipur has a sizeable
population of wildlife - The Royal Bengal Tiger, Elephant, Spotted
Deer and Sambar, Gaur and Flying Squirrel, four horned Antelope,
Nilgiri Langur and Sloth Bear. Amongst the reserve's most prominent
animals are its 1900 -odd elephants.
Day 6:
Bandipur National Park – Coorg (about 180 kms)
In the
morning again we will have a stroll through Bandipur National Park
and drive to Coorg. Coorg is a picturesque, charming town situated
at a height of over 5,000 feet (1,525 m) above sea level. Coorg ,
also known as Mercara is the district headquarters and capital of
the Coorg district in Karnataka. Coorg, originally known as
Kodaimalenadu means the dense forest on steep hill. This small hill
station is also referred as the Scotland of India and set in the
heart of exotic coffee growing country. After arriving in coorg
transfer to hotel. After a short break we visit Madikeri Fort , it
is a 19th century fort which houses a temple, a chapel, prison and
a small museum, Raja seat - a well maintained garden and offers
beautiful sunset, Evening free for leisure.
Day 7:
Coorg
After
having breakfast we proceed to visit the town. This town offers
plenty of attractions to the tourists like lovely walks, wonderful
views of the sea, and historic fort and a palace. Coorg is famous
for its picturesque tea and coffee estates, misty hills, lush green
forest, mountain streams, orange groves, undulating streets,
breathtaking views and its beautiful people with their martial
spirit combined with graceful manners. Today we visit the Nagarhole
National Park, Abbi Falls - a beautiful waterfall, Bhaga Mandala,
Nisargadhama and Tala Kaveri - the birth place of river Kaveri, is
an astoundingly beautiful place which is surrounded by mountains.
Day 8:
Coorg – Udupi (about 200 kms)
After
having breakfast we drive to Udupi. Udupi is an important Vaishnavite pilgrim and cultural centre is also famous for delicious
South Indian cuisine. The Udupi restaurants are well known for their
delicacies and hygiene and can be seen all over the country and even
abroad. After arriving in Udupi you are transferred to hotel and
after a short break we procced to visit the Udupi Krishna Temple
which is located in the heart of the town and we will also visit
the beautiful town of Udupi. Evening free for leisure.
Day 9:
Udupi – Gokarna (about 180 Kms)
After
having breakfast we drive to Gokarna. It is one of the most
important Hindu pilgrim centers of Southern India. Mythological
legends suggest that Rudra (Shiva) arrived here shortly after the
creation of earth, squeezing thorough the ear of the earth and named
it as ‘Gokarna’ or the ‘ear of the cow’. After arriving in Gokarna
you are transferred to hotel and after a short break we proceed to
visit the Mahabaleshwar Temple, Kudle Beach which is located on the
southern outskirts of Gokarna and we also visit Om Beach.
Day 10:
Gokarna - Hampi (about 320 Kms)
In the
morning after having breakfast we procced to visit Idagunji which is
about 15 kms from Honnavar and is known for a Ganapathi temple.
Yakshagana, a beautiful costumed dance drama is held here. Then we
drive to Hampi. Hampi was once the seat of the great Vijayanagara
empire and the centre of Hindu rule for 200 years from its
foundation in 1336. In the evening we reach Hampi. Evening free for
leisure.
Day 11:
Hampi
Today we
visit the temples, palaces, markets and some of the ruins of the
Vijaynagar city in Hampi. The Vijayanagar city ruins near the
village of Hampi is one of the most fascinating historical sites in
south India. The superb ruins are set in a beautiful landscape, a
hill country with enormous boulders. Extremely wealthy, greater than
Rome, they held a monopoly of trade in spices and cotton. This site
was chosen for strategic reasons, but the craftsmen excelled in
adopting an indigenous style to blend in architectural masterpieces
with the barren and rocky landscapes. Most of the sites belong to
the 16th century and were built during the 20 year reign of Krishna
deva Raya.
Day 12:
Hampi – Badami (about 145 Kms)
Today we
drive to Badami. Badami is set in beautiful countryside among the
red sandstone hills, lakes and peaceful farmlands. Badami was once a
capital city of the Chalukyan Empire which ruled much of the central
Deccan between 4th and 7th centuries A D. Badami is picturesquely
situated at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills. Badami is
known for its famous four cave temples. Overlooking the cave temples
is a reservoir dotted with temples dedicated to
Vishnu and
Shiva.
The Bhutanatha temples are also worth visiting temples. It is a
temple that lend their name to the lake beneath the cave temples.
Day 13:
Badami
Early in
the morning we visit the famous cave temples as the best time to
visit the cave temples is at sunrise. Four of these cave temples
were cut into the hillside in the early 6th century. Cave 1 is
reached by climbing 40 steps and in this cave the Lord Siva in his
manifestation as Nataraja with 18 arms can be seen in 81 dance
poses. In the Cave 2 there are reliefs of Varaha and Vamana and the
Cave 3 is dedicated to Vishnu. According to a Kanada inscription
which is unique to Badami, this cave was excavated in 578 AD and has
numerous sculptures including a huge reclining image of Vishnu. Cave
4 is the only Jain cave excavated about 100 years later. Some of the
temples which we visit includes the Buddhist temple, built near the
ancient artificial Bhutanatha Lake, and the 7th century Mallegitti
Sivalaya temple, one of the finest examples of the early southern
style. The North fort temples include mainly 7th century work and
give an insight into Badami history.
Day 14: Badami - Bijapur (about 196 kms)
Today we
drive to Bijapur. Bijapur is a distinct town as it resembles a north
Muslim city with the different mosques and palaces. Bijapur was
known as Vijayapura or "the city of victory" during the reign of Chalukyas. In the afternoon we visit the Jama Masjid, one of the
finest in Deccan with a large, shallow, onion shaped dome and
arcaded court. It was built by Ali Adil Shah I in the 16th century.
The Ibrahim Rauza, the 17th century palatial tomb is beautifully
decorated with its slender minarets, carved decorative panels of
lotus, wheels and cross patterns and bold Arabic calligraphy. This
square garden consists of 2 buildings, one houses the tomb of
Ibrahim Adil Shah II and his family and the other one is a mosque.
The tomb, evidently executed under the orders of Ibrahim Adil Shah
(1580-1627) is supposed to have been an inspiration for the
Taj
Mahal at Agra.
Day 15: Bijapur
In the
morning we visit the Golgumbaz. Golgumbaz means the round tomb.
Golgumbaz is the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah (1627 -56), the seventh
ruler of Adilshahi dynasty. This gigantic mausoleum took about 20
years to complete. The acoustical phenomenon of this dome is such
that a sound is echoed eleven times over. Under the dome are the
tombs of the Sultan, his two wives, his mistress Ramba, his daughter
and grandson. The building complex includes a mosque, a Naqqar
Khana, a gateway and a Dharamshala. The edifice in front of the tomb
has been converted into a museum. This tomb has been described by
some as startlingly ugly. It is the world's second largest dome
unsupported by pillars and has a large whispering gallery.
Day 16: Bijapur – Gulbarga (about 165 kms)
In the
morning we drive to Gulbarga. This town was the first capital of the Bahmanis and is known in South India as the home of Saiyid Muhammad
Gesu Daraz Chisti who was instrumental in spreading the Islam faith
in the Deccan in the 14th century. The most fascinating remains in
the town are the fort, with its citadel and mosque and the tombs in
its eastern quarter. In Gulbarga we visit the mosque and tombs. The
mosque covers an area of 3500 sq m and is covered by a dome which
cover the four corners and 75 minor domes make it unique among the
various Indian mosques. The tombs of the Bahmani sultans lie in two
groups and the tomb of the Chisti is two stories high with a highly
decorated painted dome and a mother of pearl canopy over the grave.
Day 17: Gulbarga - Hyderabad (about 255 kms)
In the
morning we drive to Bidar. Bidar, the walled fort town in North
Karnataka was once the capital of the Hamanis and Barid Shahis. The
fort is still intact and the palaces and tombs provide some of the
finest examples of Muslim architecture in the Deccan, intermingling
the Hindu and Islamic styles. After visiting the fort and old town
we drive to Hyderabad. Arrive in Hyderabad in the evening.
Day 18: Hyderabad
After
having breakfast, we drive to visit the impressive fort at
Golconda.
This fort is entered through gateways which have relief
ornamentation of birds and animals. The Fateh Darwaza or Victory
Gate is made of teak with an engraved Hindu deity studded with iron
spikes. Within the ramparts lie the mosques, temples, the 3 storeyed
armory, the harem, the Hall of Public Audience and the Rani Mahal
with the royal baths. After visiting the Golconda fort we visit the
Qutb Shahi Tomb. Each tomb is made of black granite or green stone
with fine sculpture, inscriptions and remains of glazed decoration.
After visiting the tomb we drive to the hotel.
Day 19: Hyderabad – Bangalore ( by air)
Departure
to Bangalore by air.
Tour
Reservation
To get more
information or to book this tour please submit the
Query Form
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e-mail !
Your
booking will be activated only after we get a reconfirmation from
your side.
Our Services Include:
Accommodation in double rooms on twin sharing basis with bath and WC
in the
chosen category.
Rooms
on the departure day.
American/continental Breakfast
Services of qualified local guides (English speaking
or languages of your choice)
at every place of
sightseeing.
All
Transfers and departures on arrival and departure by Indo
Vacations
representative.
All Transfers and Sightseeing throughout the tour by an
air-conditioned Car with
driver. For groups an individual air-conditioned bus (Except
Standard Hotels) will be
provided.
Exclusions:
Any Kind of Personal Expenses such as Tips, Laundry, Telephone Bills
and Alcoholic
beverages.
Camera Fees (Still
or Movie).
Any Flight Charges.
Monument Entrances.
Unspecified Meals etc.
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