India Tours: Karnataka Tour Itinerary

This exciting itinerary visits UNESCO heritage sites, caves, architecturally interesting temples and a beautiful palace.

india Tour Length: 12 days

Day 1: Mumbai
After clearing immigration and customs, step into the receiving area where you will be met and assisted by our representative and driven to the hotel. On arrival check-in to the hotel.

Mumbai, the commercial and entertainment capital of India, is a group of seven islands in the Arabian Sea. Previously known as Bombay, it is a major metropolitan city of India housing the third largest Stock Exchange in the world. Mumbai city is also known as the business capital of India, as it is the country's principal financial and communications centre. The city has a deep natural harbor and the port handles over half of India's passenger traffic and a significant amount of cargo.

Day 2: Mumbai – Belgaum
Today after breakfast set off toward the Gateway of India from where you embark on a boat to sail towards the Elephanta Caves (about an hour's cruise). These caves house rock cut temples dating back to the 5th century CE. These rock cut temples dedicated to Shiva Mahadeva are rich in sculptural content. Return back to city and enjoy the remaining sights.

Visit the Gate way of India. Every visitor to Mumbai comes to look at the exaggerated colonial marker known as the Gateway of India, a yellow basalt arch of triumph officially 'opened' in 1924 and then swiftly made redundant just 24 years later when the last British regiment ceremoniously departed India from here. Drive past the Victoria Terminus, the world's only functional World Heritage Site. Drive past the beautiful Museum building, Crowford Market, Marine Drive, University building (Wales Museum Closed on Monday).

Stop over to see the Tower of Silience (entry is prohibited inside for non Zorastrians). Your guide will explain to you the philosophy of this religion which like Judaism is an integral part of a cosmopolitan Mumbai. Visit Dhobi Ghat, or a public laundry. The sight of lots of men collectively washing, rinsing and drying clothes in the open can be very interesting.

On time you will be met by our representative who will drive you the BCT railway station to board your train 11017 Chalukya Express to Belgaum Depart Mumbai at 22:13pm Arrive Belgaum at 09:08am (next day) (Note: The train is not operational on Tuesday)

Day 3: Belgaum - Badami
On arrival in Belgaum at 0908 hrs. You will be met by our representative who will assist you and drive you to Badami (about 3hrs drive). On arrival check in to the hotel. Later set off for sightseeing of Badami.

Badami, the onetime capital of the Chalukyas, is noted for several temples, some structural & other rock-cut, of the 6th & 7th Centuries.

Badami Caves, these are group of 4 cave temples, three are Brahmanical, while the fourth is Jain. Nearly 2000 steps have to be climbed to reach the cave.
Cave I - This is a Shaivite cave (sect worshiping Shiva as Creator, Preserver and Destroyer). The important carvings in this cave are an 18-armed dancing Shiva, a two-handed Ganesha. The ceiling is adorned by a serpent motif & other carved figures
Cave II - This cave has Vaishnavite (sect worshiping Vishnu as the main God) influence with panels of Trivikrama & Bhuvaraha. On the ceilings are carvings of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and other deities
Cave III - Another flight of steps takes one to the third cave, which is the largest & the best of the lot. This cave has carvings pertaining to both Shaivite & Vaishnavite themes. There are some fine bracket figures on the pillars of this cave.
Cave IV - Lying to the east of cave three, the fourth cave is Jain. There is an image of Mahavira adorning the sanctum. Other carvings here are of Padmavathi & other Thirthankaras (Jain Gurus). Asteep climb up some steps cut in a crevice between Cave II & III leads to the southern part of Badami Fort & to an old gun placed there by Tippu Sultan.

Day 4: Badami – Aihole – Badami
After breakfast today set off for excursion to Aihole

Once the capital of the early Chalukyan dynasty, Aihole is a picturesque village on the banks of the Malaprabha River. Aihole is historically famous as the cradle of Hindu temple architecture. There are about 125 temples divided into 22 groups. Most of these temples were built between the 6th & 8th centuries and some even earlier. More temples are being excavated every day bearing witness to the vigorous experimentation on temple architecture which went on at Aihole more than 14 centuries ago.

Visit Durga Temple, dedicated to Vishnu, the temple appears to be a Hindu adaptation of the Buddhist chaitya ( prayer hall). Standing on a high platform, it is the most elaborately decorated monument in Aihole. The columns at the entrance and within the porch are carved with figures and ornamental reliefs. The temple appears to be a late 7th or early 8th century construction.

Meguti Temple, the only dated monument in Aihole, it was built atop a small hill in 634 AD. Now partly in ruins, possibly never completed, this temple provides an important evidence of the early development of the Dravidian style of Architecture.

Ravanphadi Cave, this rock-cut temple dated 6th century. You see carved here the Mahishasuramardhini (killing of the demon Mahishasura), the great Dancing Shiva with Ganesha and sapta-matrikas (the seven mothers) and the linga inside the sanctum

Konti Group of Temples situated in the middle of bazaar, the earliest of these temples was probably built in the 5th century. The first temple has panels of Brahma, Shiva & a reclining Vishnu on the ceiling.

Return to Badami after seeing the temples. Evening is at leisure.

Day 5: Badami – Pattadakal – Hospet
Today after breakfast you drive to Hospet en route visiting Patadakal’s Virupaksha temple and Mallikarjuna temple.
The tiny village of Pattadakal is situated on the banks of the Malaprabha river. Referred to as Petrigal by Ptolemy. This place reached its pinnacle of glory under the Chalukyas from the 7th to the 9th centuries functioning as a royal commemorative site. The group of about 10 temples, surrounded by numerous minor shrines & plinths, represents the climax of early Western Chalukyan Architecture.

Virupaksha Temple The Mallikarjuna & the Virupaksha temples were built by two queens of Vikaramaditya II to commemorate the victory of the Chalukyas over the Pallavas. The temple is rich in sculpture, built in the southern Dravida style, it is the largest temple in the enclosure.

Malikarjuna Temple built by the queen of Vikramaditya II (734-745AD). It is similar to the Virupaksha Temple but smaller in size. The ceiling has panels of Gajalakshmi and Nataraja with Parvathi. Pillars in the temple depict the birth & life of Krishna and sculptures of Mahishasuramardini (Killing of the demon Mahishasura)

Continue drive to Hospet. On arrival in Hospet check in to the hotel. Evening is at leisure.

Day 6: Hospet – Hampi – Hospet
After breakfast you have excursion to Hampi, a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Someone rightly said “If dreams were made out of stone, it would be Hampi”
The foundation of the Vijayanagara Empire was laid in Hampi in 1336 A.D, making it the capital of the largest empire in post-mogul India. It later became famous for its support towards renovation/reconstruction of temples re-establishment of Indian culture, its support for music, art and literature throughout India. Today the ruins silently narrate the story of grandeur and fabulous wealth, palaces and gateways of the broken city tells a tale of men of infinite talent and power of creativity together with his capacity for senseless destruction.

Vithala Temple Complex - The most splendid monument of Hampi is undoubtedly the Vithala Temple Complex with its 56 musical pillars. Here see the famous Stone Chariot with stone wheels that revolve. In front of the shrine stands the great mantapa. Resting on a richly sculpted basement, its roof is supported by huge pillars of granite, each consisting of a central pillar surrounded by detached shafts, all cut from one single block of stone.

The Virupaksha Temple rises majestically at the western end of the famous Hampi Bazaar. The temple has a 120 feet tall tower on its eastern entrance. The temple contains the shrines of Shiva, Pampa and Bhuvaneswari.Parts of this temple are older than the Vijayanagar kingdom itself. The work of this style dates back to the 11th or 12th century.

Hazara Ramaswami temple is believed to have been the private place of worship of the royal family. The chief attraction of the temple is the series of scenes from the Ramayana carved on two of the inside walls of the mantapa. The genesis of the place known today as Hampi dates back to the age of the Hindu epic Ramayana when it was the site of Kishkinda, a monkey kingdom.
Later visit the Achyutaraya Temple and walk through the bazaars of Sule and Hampi. Return to Hospet.

Day 7: Hospet – Hassan
After breakfast you drive to Hassan (about 6hrs drive). On arrival in Hassan check in to the hotel.

Day 8: Hassan – Belur – Halebid – Hassan
Today after breakfast you have an excursion to Belur and Halebid

Belur (about an hour’s drive) is known for its magnificent Hoysala Temple Complex. The Chennakeshava temple here was completed in 1116 AD to commemorate victory over the Chola. It took 103 years to complete. The facade of the temple is filled with intricate sculptures with no portion left blank. Elephants, episodes from the epics, sensuous dancers, nothing was left un-carved.

This place is also called as Dwara Samudra, the wealthy capital of the Hoysala Kingdom. Halebid has several striking beautiful Hoysala temples and Jain Shrines. The Hoysaleshwara temple, standing on platform like a casket, is a sculptural extravaganza, richly endowed with most finely detailed scroll work in stone. Outside there is a Nandi ( the sacred bull, a vehicle of the Lord Shiva) and a hillock where a palace stood, connected to the temple by a passage. Later in the evening return to Hassan.

Day 9: Hassan – Mysore via Shravanbelagola
Today after breakfast drive to Mysore (about 2hrs drive) en route stopover to see Shravanbelagola

The Monk of the White Pond or Shravanbelagola is the oldest and the most important pilgrimage centre for the Jains in the country. The town is famous for being the home to the world/’s tallest monolithic, the Gommateshwara statute. The 17-metre-high statue representing the saintly prince Bahubali was erected some time between AD 980 and 983.

On arrival in Mysore check in to the hotel. Later set off to see Srirangapatanam and Sri Rangathaswamy temple.

Srirangapatna is an island town encircled by river Cauvery. The temple of Lord Sriranganatha is said to have been built in 894 AD.

This was once the capital of Hyder Ali & his son Tipu Sultan - "The Tiger of Mysore". In the 18th century battles were fought here between Tipur Sultan, the Marathas and the British. Srirangapatna remains in a ruined state recalling the Battles fought & the past glory.

Sri Rangathaswamy temple, is a temple of Lord Vishnu in the sleeping posture on the Great Snake Anantha, and is one of the largest temples in the State. It is a beautiful example for both Vijayanagara and Hoysala Styles of Architecture.

Day 10: Mysore
After breakfast today you have sightseeing of Mysore city.

Maharaja's Palace - Designed by the English Architect, Henry Irwin, it is a three storied structure in the Indo-Saracenic style built between 1897-1912, The Durbar Hall with its ornate ceiling and sculpted pillars with its glazed tiled flooring and stained glass, domed ceiling are worth noting. Intricately carved doors, paintings are amongst the palace's treasures. The walled palace complex houses the Residential Museum (incorporating some of the Palace's living quarters), temples and shrines The palace is illuminated on Sundays, Public Holidays as well as during the Dasara Celebrations when 97,000 electric bulbs are used to illuminate it.

Chamundi Hills –One can drive till here or take a 1000 steps to it. At the crest of this hill is Sri Chamundeshwari Temple that dates back to the 11th century. The striking gopura (Pyramidal Temple tower) was added by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar-III in 1825-1826. Goddess Chamundi was the patron deity of the rulers. Near the temple is the statue of Mahishasura, the demon slayed by the goddess Chamundeshwari. Half way up the stone steps, is the monolith of Nandi, Lord Shiva's mount

Brindavan Gardens World Famous Terrace Gardens with Musical Fountains which gets transformed into a dreamland by night with swirling waters, colorful lights and melodious music

Later visit an Art Gallery. Evening is at leisure.

Note: On Sunday’s the Mysore Palace is illuminate.

Day 11: Mysore – Bangalore
Today after breakfast drive to Bangalore. On arrival in Bangalore check in to the hotel. Afternoon, proceed for a half day sightseeing tour of Bangalore. Visit the Vidhan Soudha, the Cubbon Park and the Lalbagh Garden which has tropical and subtropical plants. Also visit Tipu Sultan's Palace, a two-storied structure with rich carvings on its walls and ceilings and the Bull Temple with the monolithic Nandi (Bull) made of gray granite.

Day 12: Bangalore – Mumbai Depart
Today have a leisure breakfast at hotel. Rest of the day at ease.

In the afternoon you will be met by our representative who will drive you to the airport and assist you to board flight to Mumbai
departing at 16:25 pm. Arrive Mumbai at 18:05 pm. On arrival in Mumbai you will be met by our representative who will assist you and drive you to the international airport for your onward flight.