Temple And Caves Tours

Duration: 15Days /14Nights
Places Covered:Mumbai - Badami - Aihole - Pattakadal - Hospet - Hassan - Halebid - Mysore – Bangalore - Goa - Mumbai

Day 01: Arrive Mumbai
Arrive Bombay airport, transfer to the hotel. Check in and relax

Day 02: Mumbai
Morning after taking breakfast city tour of Mumbai , Hanging Garden, Malabar Hill, Marine Drive, Chowpatty Beach , Prince of Wales Museum, Gateway of India, Flora Fountain, Gateway of India.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 03: Mumbai-Goa by flight and transfer to Badami(340kms)
This afternoon fly to Goa. Arrive at the airport and get transferred to Badami. Arrive Badami, check in and relax.
Overnight at Badami.

Day 04: Badami -Aihole - Pattakadal
This village, 43 km from Badami , was the Chalukyan regional capital between the 4th and 6th centuries. Here you can see Hindu temple architecture in its embryonic stage, from the earliest Ladkhan Temple to the later and more complex structures like the Kunligudi and Durgigudi is particularly interesting, and probably unique in India, being circular in shape and surmounted by a primitive gopuram.
There are over 70 structures in and around this serene village which are monuments to the vigorous experimentation in temple architecture undertaken by the Chalukyans.
PATTADAKAL This village, 16km from Badami, was not only the second capital of the Badami Chalukyans, nut the lace where all coronations took place. It reached the height of its glory during the 7th century and 8th centuries, when most of the temples here were built.
Full day visit the rock temples of Badami, Aihole and Pattadakkal.
Overnight at Badami

Day 05 : Badami -Hospet (165 Kms)
This morning drive from Badami to Hospet. Afternoon visit the Hampi ruins.
Overnight at Hospet.

Day 06: Hospet
Many people who come to see the Vijayanagar ruins at Hampi use Hospet as a base. It's a fairly typical Karnataka country town with dusty roads, plenty of bullock carts, bicycles, dilapidated buses, and an unobtrusive industrial area near Tungabhadra Dam.
Morning re-visit the Hampi ruins. Afternoon free to relax.
Overnight at Hospet.

Day 07 : Hospet - Hassan (360 kms)
HASSAN - Hassan is probably the most convenient base from which to explore Belur, Halebid and Sravanabelagola. It has little of interest, and is simply a place for accommodation and transport. This morning start early and drive towards Hassan. Arrive check in and relax.
Overnight at Hassan.

Day 08 : Belur and Halebid
BELUR & HALEBID - The Hoysala temples at Belur and Halebid (Halebeed, Halebidu), along with the one at Somnathpur east of Mysore, are the cream of what remains of one of the most artistically exuberant periods of Hindu cultural development. The sculptural temple decoration even rivals those of Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh) and Konark (Orissa) or the best of European Gothic art.
The Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebid was constructed about 10 years after the temple at Belur, but despite 80 years labour was never completed. Nevertheless, it is easily the most outstanding example of Hoysala art. Every cm of the outside walls and much of the interior are covered with an endless variety of Hindus deities, sages stylized animals and birds, and friezes depicting the life and times of the Hoysala rulers. No two are alike. Scenes which depict war, hunting, agricultural, music and dance, and some very sensual sculptures explicitly portraying the après-temple activities of the dancing girls, are all represented here, together with two huge Nandis (Siva's bull) and a monolithic Jain statue of Gomateshvara. The small museum adjacent to the temple has a collection of temple sculptures and is open from 10 am to 5 pm. There is also a smaller temple, the Kedareswara, at Halebid and, off the road to Hassan, a Jain temple.
At Belur, the Channekeshava Temple is the only one at the three Hoysala sites still in daily use. Non - Hindus are allowed inside but not into the inner sanctum. It is very similar to the others in design but here much of the decoration has gone into the internal supporting pillars and lintels, and the larger but still very guardian bests. As the Halebid, the external walls are covered in friezes.
The other, lesser, Hoysala temples at Belur are the Channigaraya and the Viranarayana. The Halebid and Belur temples are open every day.
Full day visit to the famous granite carved temples of Belur and Halebid.
Overnight at Hassan.

Day 09 - Hassan to Mysore (179 kms)
SRAVANABELAGOLA - This is one of the oldest and most important Jain pilgrimage centres in India, and the site of the huge 17-metre-high naked statue of Bahubali (Gomateshvara), said to be the world's tallest monolithic statue. It over-looks the town of Sravanabelagola from the top of the rocky hill known as Indragiri and is visible from quiet a distance. Its simplicity is in complete contrast to the complexity of the sculptural work at the temples of Belur and Halebid. The word Sravanabelagola means the Monk of the White Pond.
This morning drive from Hassan to Mysore, Enroute halt at the Holy Shrine of SRAVANABELAGOLA, pay respects and rive onwards to Mysore. Afternoon arrive check in and relax.
Overnight at Mysore.

Day10 : Mysore
Morning city tour of Mysore. Afternoon excursion to Somnathpur.
Overnight at Mysore.

Day 11: Mysore - Bangalore (140 kms)
This morning drive to Bangalore. Arriver check in and proceed for a city tour or just relax in the I. T. capital of India.
Overnight at Bangalore

Day12: Banglore Goa
Flight. This morning is free to relax. Afternoon fly to Goa. Arrive Goa and transfer to the hotel
Overnight at Hotel.

Day 13: Goa
Today, enjoy a visit to the famous beaches and other attractions of Goa. Return to hotel late in the afternoon.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 14: Goa
Day at leisure to explore beach activities.

Day 15: Goa-Mumbai
Today, you depart by the morning flight to Mumbai. No hotel. Optional half-day tour of Mumbai of afternoon free for shopping. Later, transfer to the airport in the evening to board your return flight for home country.
END OF TOUR.