Exotic South India

After breakfast, visit Kapaleshvara Temple dedicated to God Shiva and shows a good example of South Indian colourful temple architecture. Visit Fort St. George & the 16th-century Portuguese old Cathedral of St. Thomas Church in which the remnants of St. Thomas is buried, who came to India in 52 AD.

Later, drive to Mahabalipuram. On arrival, visit the Shore Temple and famous Bas-relief of Arjuna’s penance.

Later, transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

After an early breakfast, drive to Tanjore. On arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Later, explore Tanjore. Visit the famous Brihadeshwara Temple constructed by the Chola Rajendra I in the 10th Century and considered to be the culmination of the classic architecture in south India.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Madurai. En-route visit Srirangam to see the Temple of Ranganatha Swamy –one of the biggest in South India, and in Trichy, visit Rockfort.

Later, continue drive to Madurai.

On arrival, check-in at the hotel.

After an early dinner, visit the famous Meenakshi Devi Temple to witness an interesting ceremony of taking Lord Shiva in a procession with the musicians to the Goddess Parvati for the night halt.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, visit the city, which offers a grand ceremonial tank of water, called Mariamma with its temple in the middle. Also visit, the Thirumalai Nayak Palace, a palace in Indo-Saracenic style built-in 1636.

Later in the evening, transfer to the railway station to board the overnight train (Mysore Express) to Bangalore (1950 / 0655 hrs).

Overnight in thetrain.

Arrive in Bangalore at 0655 hrs. and drive to Mysore. Mysore is a beautiful city of stately palaces, gardens, parks, and museums. It is a center for Sandalwood and the manufacturing of incense sticks.

On arrival in Mysore, check-in at the hotel. Rest of the day free to relax.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, visit Maharaja Palace built-in 1857 in Indo-Saracenic style and Chamundi Hill to visit the temple of Durga (Chamundeswari) celebrating her victory over the buffalo god.

Later in the afternoon, head for an excursion to Somnathpur. This tiny village has one of the best-preserved and the only complete magnificent Hoysala Temple (13th century) of approximately 80 Hoysala temples dedicated to God Keshava.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Hassan. After check-in at the hotel, visit Halebid and Belur. The Hoysalesvara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva at Halebid is perched on a star-shaped base. Every centimetre of the outside wall of this temple and much of the interior is covered with an endless variety of Hindu deities, sages, animals, and birds.

After a few kilometres drive, reach Belur, the religious capital of Hoysala. Visit the ornamental gopuram of the Chennakesava Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, which appears unexpectedly around a bend. It took 103 years to complete.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, leave for a day drive to Hospet. On arrival, check in at the hotel. Hampi is famous for Vijaynagar Empire’s ruins.

Overnight at the hotel.

A world heritage centre, Hampi is the most beautiful and evocative of all ruins in Karnataka. The erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagara kingdom, Hampi is full of delightful surprises like the King's Balance where Kings were weighed against the grain, gold or money, which was then distributed amongst the poor, the Queen's bath with its arched corridors projecting balconies and lotus-shaped fountains that once sprouted perfumed water, the two-storied Lotus Mahal with recessed archways, the huge Elephant Stables, the Splendid Vithala temple with its 'Musical pillars' and the stone chariot, the Vrupaksha Temple, still used for worship, Ugra Narasimha, the 6.7 m tall monolith and the Pushkarini and the Mahanavami Dibba

Overnight atthe hotel.

Drive to Badami through typical South Deccan, a semi-arid countryside, temples, and ruins.

Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel. Badami once called Vatapi, is magnificently nestled in a canyon, and was the Chalukyan capital from 543 - 757 A.D. The ancient city has several Hindu and Jain temples, and Buddhist caves that ar peaceful and charming. The South Fort is famous for its cave temples, four of which are cut out of the hill-side in the second half of the 6th century.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, visit Aihole and Pattadkal – the cradle of Hindu Temple architecture. Aihole was the first Chalukyan capital, but the sight was developed over a period of more than 600 years from the 6th century and includes important Rashtrakuta and late Chalukyan temples, dedicated to Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain divinities.

After visiting the rock-cut temples and all other important monuments, drive to the temples of Pattadakal, on the banks of the Malaprabha River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 2nd of the Chalukyan capitals between the 7th –8th centuries.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Goa. On arrival, check-in at the hotel.

Overnight atthe hotel.

Spend the day at leisure.

Overnight at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport to board the flight to Mumbai.

On arrival in Mumbai, transfer to the hotel.

Later, embark on a short city tour. The tour includes a visit to the 26 meters high British-built Arch “Gateway of India”, Mumbai’s landmark built to honour the visit of George V and Queen Mary in 1911. Marine Drive dubbed, as the Queen’s Necklace, is Mumbai’s most popular promenades and a favourite sunset watching spot. The Kamla Nehru Park from where you have a picturesque view of the city, Hanging Gardens are so named since they are located on top of a series of tanks that supply water to Mumbai. Pass by the `towers of silence’ the crematorium of the Parsis.

Later in the evening, transfer to the airport to board the flight back home.