Day 01: Arrive Hyderabad.
Arrive Hyderabad airport. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for a 2 night stay.
Day 02: Hyderabad.
After breakfast visit Golconda Fort, return to Hyderabad via the Qutub Shahi tombs. During the afternoon visit the famous Salar Jung Museum and Hyderabad markets.
Day 03: Hyderabad to Bijapur via Gulbarga, 300 Km/9 hrs.
Depart early morning drive to Bijapur for an overnight stay. En route visit Gulbarga Fort and Jumma Masjid with its elegant domes and arched columns reminiscent of the great mosque of Cordoba in Spain. During the afternoon visit Gol Gumbaz, the magnificent mausoleum of Muhammed Adil Shah in Bijapur.
Day 04: Bijapur to Badami, 130 Km/4 hrs.
Drive to Badami for a 1-night stay. En route visit Pattadakal and Aihole. Pattadakal is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has 10 major temples representing the 8th century Chalukya architecture while Aihole is a town with as many as 70 temples dating back to the 6th-11th centuries.
Day 05: Badami to Hospet (Hampi), 138 Km/4hrs.
After breakfast visit the cave temples of Badami and depart for Hospet for a 2 night stay. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 06: Hospet (Hampi). Full day sightseeing tour of Hampi.
Must sees in Hampi are King’s Palace, Mahanavami Dibba, Queens Bath, Lotus Mahal, Elephant Stables, Pushkarni, Hazara Rama temple, Vithala Temple, Virupaksha temple, Lakshminarasimha, Badavilinga and the Ganesha images. Return back to Hospet for your overnight stay.
Day 07: Hospet to Hassan, 350 Km/8 hrs.
After breakfast head towards Hassan for a 2-night stay. This afternoon visit Belur & Halebid, a beautiful example of Hoyasala’s architecture. Famous of them is The Chennakeshava Temple, which took 103 years to complete. The temples of Halebid bear mute testimony to the rich, cultural heritage of Karnataka.
Day 08: Hassan (Sravanabelagola).
Today you will see the splendour of Sravanabelagola. 51 kms south – east of Hassan, one of the most important Jain Pilgrim centres. Here is the 17m high monolith of Lord Bahubali – the world’s tallest monolithic statue. Rest of the day you will remain free to explore the surroundings.
Day 09: Hassan to Madikeri (Coorg) 150 Km/5 hrs.
Drive to Madikeri, a place that is known as the ‘Scotland Of India’. Visit Madikeri Fort, Abbey Falls, and Nisargadhama – known for its calm, serene beauty. Relax amongst forested hills and the Western Ghats for 3-nights at Orange County Resort. Activities include Ayurvedic rejuvenation, plantation tours, boating and swimming.
Day 10: Madikeri (Bylekuppe).
Morning visit Dubare Elephant Camp. After lunch visit Bylekuppe the second largest Tibetan settlement outside Tibet, complete with a Tibetan monastery with 4,500 monks, a Tibetan village and a flea market.
Day 11: Madikeri.
Full day at leisure.
Day 12: Madikeri to Nagarhole, 70 Km/1hr 30mins.
Drive to Kings Sanctuary a luxury wildlife resort set in Nagarhole National Park, once the Maharaja’s reserved forest. In addition to the elephants, the park also has gaur (Indian bison), four horned antelope, sloth bears and monkeys. Afternoon Jeep safari into Rajiv Gandhi National Park, Nagarhole.
Day 13: Nagarhole.
Morning Jeep safari into the Nagarhole National Park, followed by a boat cruise or elephant safari.
Day 14: Nagarhole to Mysore, 80 Km/2 hrs.
Late morning drive to Mysore for 2 night stay. Afternoon at leisure to explore Mysore at your own pace.
Day 15: Mysore.
This morning see the huge Nandi Bull on Chamundi Hill and Maharaja’s Palace.
Day 16: Mysore to Bangalore via Srirangapatnam, 140 Km/4 hrs.
Drive to Bangalore en route visit Daria Daulat Bagh, the summer palace of Tipu Sultan at Srirangapatnam.
Day 17: Depart Bangalore.
Transfer to the airport to board your onward flight.
Date and price to suit individual arrangements based on 2 people sharing. Breakfast included. Private air-conditioned car and driver with English speaking guides for sightseeing.
