South India Exotic Tour

Arrive Mumbai, meet assist at the airport and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Mumbai.

After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Mumbai covering Gateway of India, Prince of Wales Museum, Hanging Gardens on the slopes of Malabar Hills offering nice view of Marine Lines & Chowpatty Beach, Kamla Nehru Park, Mani Bhawan (where Mahatma Gandhi used to stay) and then to Dhobi Ghat. Also visit Afgan Church, Flora Fountain (Bombay nerve centre), Colourful Crawford Market and Marine Drive. Night stay in Mumbai.

Transfer to airport to board the flight for Hyderabad. Later visit the Charminar- rectangular four arched monumental gate often described as “The Arch of Triumph of the East”, the Mecca Mosque and Salar Jung Museum – one man’s collection of manuscripts, ancient weapons, costumes and curios. Later drive past the High Court buildings. Night stay in Hyderabad.

Full day excursion to Golconda Fort. Golconda, once famed for its diamond mines (from which the famous Kohinoor diamond of the British crown was mined), is the site of a strategic fort dating back to the 13th century. This invincible fort has an extraordinary acoustical system and massive battlements. Later visit the Usmansagar Lake – one of the most beautiful man-made lakes. Night stay in Hyderabad.

Morning transfer to airport to board the flight for Chennai. Arrive and drive to Tirupati transfer to hotel.Tirupati – one of the most important & the richest temple of the world. It is famous for the shrine of “Seven hills” of Tirumala which attract millions of pilgrims from all over India. Picturesquely situated amidst sacred waterfalls and tanks, the shrine presents a fine example of early Dravidian art. In front of it is the “Hall of Pillars” from where an attractive stepped way leads to the temple. Overnight at tirupati .

Morning drive from Tirupati to chennai .Arrive Chennai and Check into Hotel .Later go for Half day city sightseeing of chennai .visit Museum to see the Art & Bronze Gallery. Drive through the Flower and Fruit Markets, High Court, Fort Museum, Marina Beach, San Thome Cathedral, The Theosophical Society and Snake Park. Night stay in Chennai. Night stay in Chennai.

Early morning transfer to railway station to board the train for Mysore. Arrive and transfer to hotel. Later half-day sight seeing tour of Mysore visiting the palace of the Maharaja built in 1911-12. The palace is a harmonious synthesis of the Hindu and saracenic styles of architecture with magnificent Archways, Domes, Turrets, Colonnades and Sculptures. Also visit the Art Gallery, drive upto Chamundi hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple & panoramic view of Mysore. On your way back see the Nandi Bull -a monolith structure. Night stay in Mysore.

Full day excursion to Sravanbelagola, Belur and Halebid. At Sravanbelagola, hewn out of a single rock and visible from a distance of 25 kms is the statue of Lord Gomteshwara, which is bathed with milk, sandalwood, saffron once every 12 years. The Chennakesava temple of Belur built 900 years ago is an exquisite example of Hoysala art. Halebid’s 12th century Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples are masterpieces of Hindu art. Night stay in Mysore. 

After breakfast, drive towards Bangalore. On the way visit Srirangapatnam,16 kms from Mysore. This fort was the stronghold of Tipu Sultan, son of Hyder Ali. Tipu fought a valiant battle against the British in 1799 before laying down his life. Among the many fort buildings till intact are Tipu’s airy summer palace and his tomb at the Darya Daulat Bagh (Garden). Also visit Sri Ranganatha Temple. Night stay in Banglore. 

Morning sight-seeing tour of the “Garden City” which covers the Lal Bagh having variety of old Trees, Fountains, Lotus, Pools, Terraces and an assortment of Tropical Herbs and Sub – Tropical Herbs. Also see the Government Buildings and the Maharaja’s Palace. Utilize rest of the day in shopping or personal activities. Later Evening drive to Railway Station to board overnight train to Hospet .(Nearest rail head to Hampi). 

Arrive morning arrive at Hospet and check into hotel. Later Proceed to Hampi- the erstwhile capital city of Vijayanagar Empire which had Palaces, Temples and sculptures spread all over. The city was razed to the ground by the Sultanates of South in 1565. We Check in hotel at Hospet (12 km from Hampi). Rest of the day at your discretion or you can explore group of monuments at Hampi. Night stay in Hampi.  

Early morning Check out from Hotel drive to Badami. On Arrival Check into hotel Set in beautiful countryside at the foot of a red sandstone ridge, the small rural town of Badami was once the capital of the Chalukyan. Empire covered much of the central Deccan between the 4th centuries AD. Here and at nearby Aihole and Pattadakal, you can see some of the earliest and rock- cut caves. The forms and sculptural work at there sites provided inspiration for the later Hindu empires which rose and fell in the arrival of the Muslims. Though principally promoters of the vedic culture, the Chalukyans were tolerant of all sects, and elements of Shaivism, Vaishnaivism, Jainism and even Buddhism can be found in many of their temples. Badami was the Chalukyan capital from about 540 AD until 757 AD when the Chalukyans were overthrown by the Rashtrakutas. The surrounding hills are dotted with temples, fortifications, carvings and inscriptions dating not just from the Chalukyan period, but from other times when the site was occupied as a fortress. After it fell to the Rashtrakutsa, Badami was occupied successively by the Chalukyans of Kalyan (a separate branch of the western Chalukyan), the Kaachuryas, the Yadavas of Devagiri, the Vijayanagar Empire, the Adil Shahi kings of Bajipur and the Marathas. All these various rulers have left their mark at Badami, and there’s even a Pallava inscription dating back to 642 AD when their king, Narasimha Varman I, Briefly overwhelmed the Chalukyans and occupied Badami for 13 years before being driven out.Overnight Badami.

Morning after breakfast drive to Bijapur .on Arrival Check into hotel.Later after freshen up visit Bijapur.The city was the capital of the Adil Shah Kings who left a wealth of monuments. The most famous is the Gol Gumbaz whose dome is the second largest in the world. A whisper into the dome on one side gets magnified 12 times and on the other side of the dome is an amazing acoustical phenomenon. Other buildings to see are Ibrahim Rauza, Gagan Mahal, Bara Kaman etc. Night stay in Bijapur. 

After break fast proceed to Goa. Arrive and transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure . Night stay in Goa.  

Morning half-day sight-seeing tour from the slopes of Altinho Hill for a breathtaking view of Panjim and river Mandovi. Then to Dona-Paula for a view of India’s largest natural harbour-Mormugao. Afterwards visit old Goa and see the Basillica of Bom Jesus which contains the tomb & mortal remains of St. Francis Xavierh housed in a silver ornate casket , Se. Cathedral- the biggest Church in the East, St. Cajetan- built like St. Peter (Rome), Church of Our Lady Rosary and St. Monica. Rest of the day at leisure. Night stay in Goa.

Day at leisure. Night stay in Goa. 

Morning transfer to airport to board the flight for Mumbai to connect the flight back home.