Best of Karnataka Tour (Historical & Cultural Tour)

Morning leave Bangalore by an air conditioned vehicle for Hospet. On arrival check in at hotel.

Overnight stay at at Hospet.

Full Day excursion to Hampi. The ruins of Hampi of the 14th Century lies scattered in about 26 sq. km area, amidst giant boulders and vegetation. Protected by the tempestuous river Tungabhadra in the north and rocky granite ridges on the other three sides, the ruins silently narrate the story of grandeur splendor and fabulous wealth. The splendid remains of palaces and gateways of the broken city tells a tale of men infinite talent and power of creativity together with his capacity for senseless destruction.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Morning excursion to to Aihole & Patadakal. Aihole:- is a little village near Badami. Here you find Hindu Architecture in its embryonic stage, from the earliest simple shrines to the later and more complex buildings. The most impressive building in Aihole is the Durga temple. Especially the shape of the temple and the outstanding intricate carvings crowding the colonnaded passageway around the sanctuary( source:my bible), made it one of my favoriths. The whole village is covered by temples and it's a nice walk to discover them all. Pattadakal:- was the second capital of the Badam Chalukyas. Most of its temples were built during the7th and the 8th century, but the earliest remains dates from the 3rd and 4th centuries and the latest structures from the 9th century. The group of temples is a World Heritage site. Continue Drive to Badami. On Arrival Lunch at Badami. Afternoon visitBadami:- famous for its four cave temples - all hewn out of sand stone on the precipice of a hill.Legend has it there were two demon siblings Vatapi and Ilvala, who had a trick by which they could kill and make a meal of mendicants passing by. Their tricks worked until Agastya muni came by and counter-tricked them and brought an end to Vatapi's life. Two of the hills in Badami are supposed to represent the demons Ilvalan and Vatapi.

Overnight stay at Hospet.

Morning leave Hospet by an air conditioned vehicle for Hassan. On arrival check in at hotel. Rest of the Day at leisure.

Overnight stay at Hassan.

Morning visit Halebid and Belur. Halebid:- the chief of staff of Hoysala Kingdom, built this temple during 1121 A.D and attributed to his king, Vishnuvardhana and queen, Shantala Devi. Even then it is learnt that it took 105 years to complete. If one stands on the platform of the temple and sees around he will see the hills opposite and two big bulls facing the temple and Ganesha figure on the south. Belur:- Belur is a small town located on the banks of River Yagachi, in Hassan district of Karnataka. Belur was the early capital of the Hoysala Empire. Belur is considered as the Banaras of South and is thus also known as Dakshina Varnasi.

Afternoon leave Hassan by an air conditioned vehicle for Coorg.

Arrive Coorg and check in at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight stay at Coorg.

Full Day city tour of Coorg. Coorg is known for its beautiful scenery and hospitable people. Those ravellers who love nature, the unspoiled charm of villages should get off the beaten track and visit Coorg a wild and rugged region located in the state of Karnatka. The wooded slopes, quaint villages, colorful scenery and undulating landscape has facinated touristes until today. Endless mountain ranges, ridge after ridge of grassy and forest clad slopes rasing to the sky, give Coorg its unique & irreplaceable character.

Overnight stay at Coorg.

Morning leave Coorg by an air conditioned vehicle for Mysore. On arrival check in at hotel. Morning city tour of Mysore visit Mysore Palace:- It is built in Indo - Sarcenic style with beautiful domes, arches, turrets and colonnades. It is the heaven of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world.Chamundi Hill can be reached by a 13 km road or by climbing up by the 1,000 steps laid out by the Maharaja in the 17th Century. It is a well-known 335 meters high landmark. Half - way up along the stone steps is Nandi, Lord Shiva’s bull. It is a majestic 4.8-meter monolith. At the top is the 12th Century temple of Chamundeshwari, the patron goddess of the Wodeyars. Form the top you can take a beautiful view of Mysore’s lakes, parks and palaces. St. Philomina’s Church A beautiful Cathedral, reminiscent of medieval architectural style. Stained glass windows and lofty towers make it an imposing structure. The Mysore Zoo was set up under royal patronage in the 19th Century. Its fauna includes rare and exotic species, which are housed in lush, green surroundings. The Zoo is famous for breeding some very rare animals in captivity.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Afternoon excursion Somnathpur:- The reigning monarch was Narasimha III (1254-91 A.D.) whose full regal title runs into a sizeable paragraph: "Sri Vishnuvaradhana, Pratapa Chakravarti, Hoysala Bhujabala, Sri Vira Narasimha, Maharajadhiraja, Raja Paramesvara, Sanivarasiddhi, Giridurgamalla etc.

Afternoon leave Mysore by an air conditioned vehicle for Bangalore. On arrival check in at hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel.

In time transfer to International airport to connect flight for back home.