BEST OF KARNATAKA WITH WILDLIFE TOUR
Places Covered
BANGALORE – MYSORE – BANDIPUR NATIONAL PARK – COORG-UDUPI – GOKARNA – HAMPI – BADAMI – BIJAPUR – GULBARGA – HYDERABAD – BANGALORE
Duration
18 NIGHTS / 19 DAYS
Note
Suggested tour itinerary is a flexible tour proposal and can be change as per the guest requirement. We provide tailor made itinerary as per the need of the guest if you want to add or remove any of the destination please advise us for modification so that you can enjoy best of your holidays in India.
Day 01: ARRIVE BANGALORE
Arrive at Bangalore airport, Bangalore is the capital city of the Indian state Karnataka. This former “Garden city” of Bangalore is known today as the “computer city” of India.
On arrival meet and greet by ITM representative and transfer to hotel. Where our representative will assist you to check in at hotel and later explain the tour scheduled in detail and handover all the tour related documents to you. Rest of the day free to relax at hotel. Overnight Bangalore
Day 02: BANGALORE
After breakfast get ready for the city tour , we will drive through the garden city with its numerous avenues of Jacaranda, Gulmohar and Cassia. We will visit the Bull temple and the famous Gowda Fort. The Bull teample was built in the Dravidian style of architecture and has a huge Nandi Bull carved out of a single grey granite. The famous Gowda Fort was built by Tipu Sultan. We will also visit the Vidhana Saudha and downtown commercial centre. This Vidhana Saudha, which is built after independence, stands out by its imposing architecture in the neo Dravidian style. Overnight Bangalore.
Day 03: BANGALORE – MYSORE
After breakfast and check out from the hotel drive to Mysore. Enroute we visit Srirangapatnam, about 16 kms from Mysore. Srirangapatnam is built on an island in the Cauvery River and the ruins of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan’s capital are located. In Srirangapatnam we will visit the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a popular Hindu temple and the Tipu’s summer palace, which is now a museum, set in a well maintained garden. After visiting Srirangapatnam we drive to Mysore. Mysore is a magnificent royal city and is world famous for silk and sandalwood. Mysore is also a famous production centre of saris. Mysore is known for the famous temple of goddess Chamundeshwari and the palaces built by Tipu Sultan. Overnight Mysore.
Day 04: MYSORE
After having breakfast we visit the Mysore Palace. This palace is one of the most impressive and one of the largest city palaces in India. This beautiful Indo-Saracenic palace was built in the 1911-12 at the cost of 4.2 million rupees to replace the former Palace which was burnt down. In the afternoon we drive to the village of Somnathapur (33 km) to visit the intricately carved star shaped Prasanna Channakeshara Temple built in 1268 AD during the Hoysala Dynasty. In the evening we drive to the Chamundi Hill to visit the Chamundeshwari Temple, huge in structure with a seven storey Gopuram, 40 meters high. On the way up to the hill we visit the famous Nandi (Shiva’s Bull) carved out of solid rock and about five meters high. Overnight Mysore.
Day 05: MYSORE – BANDIPUR NATIONAL PARK
In the morning after having breakfast we will drive further to Bandipur National Park. In the afternoon we will visit the wildlife sanctuary in jeeps. Bandipur National Park is one the many reserves located within the forest belt between the Western Ghats and the Nilgiri Mountains. Bandipur lies in the southern state of Karnataka and covers a forest area of 865 square kilometers. It was declared a National Park in 1974 and is one of the original 9 tiger reserves under the watchful eye of “Project Tiger”. Bandipur has a sizeable population of wildlife – The Royal Bengal Tiger, Elephant, Spotted Deer and Sambar, Gaur and Flying Squirrel, four horned Antelope, Nilgiri Langur and Sloth Bear. Amongst the reserve’s most prominent animals are its 1900 -odd elephants. Overnight Bandipur.
Day 06: BANDIPUR NATIONAL PARK – COORG
In the morning again we will have a stroll through Bandipur National Park and drive to Coorg. Coorg is a picturesque, charming town situated at a height of over 5,000 feet (1,525 m) above sea level. Coorg , also known as Mercara is the district headquarters and capital of the Coorg district in Karnataka. Coorg, originally known as Kodaimalenadu means the dense forest on steep hill. This small hill station is also referred as the Scotland of India and set in the heart of exotic coffee growing country. After arriving in coorg transfer to hotel. After a short break we visit Madikeri Fort , it is a 19th century fort which houses a temple, a chapel, prison and a small museum, Raja seat – a well maintained garden and offers beautiful sunset, Evening free for leisure. Overnight Coorg.
Day 07: COORG
After having breakfast we proceed to visit the town. This town offers plenty of attractions to the tourists like lovely walks, wonderful views of the sea, and historic fort and a palace. Coorg is famous for its picturesque tea and coffee estates, misty hills, lush green forest, mountain streams, orange groves, undulating streets, breathtaking views and its beautiful people with their martial spirit combined with graceful manners. Today we visit the Nagarhole National Park, Abbi Falls – a beautiful waterfall, Bhaga Mandala, Nisargadhama and Tala Kaveri – the birth place of river Kaveri, is an astoundingly beautiful place which is surrounded by mountains. Overnight Coorg.
Day 08: COORG – UDUPI
After having breakfast we drive to Udupi. Udupi is an important Vaishnavite pilgrim and cultural centre is also famous for delicious South Indian cuisine. The Udupi restaurants are well known for their delicacies and hygiene and can be seen all over the country and even abroad. After arriving in Udupi you are transferred to hotel and after a short break we procced to visit the Udupi Krishna Temple which is located in the heart of the town and we will also visit the beautiful town of Udupi. Evening free for leisure. Overnight Udupi.
Day 09: COORG – GOKARNA
After having breakfast we drive to Gokarna. It is one of the most important Hindu pilgrim centers of Southern India. Mythological legends suggest that Rudra (Shiva) arrived here shortly after the creation of earth, squeezing thorough the ear of the earth and named it as ‘Gokarna’ or the ‘ear of the cow’. After arriving in Gokarna you are transferred to hotel and after a short break we proceed to visit the Mahabaleshwar Temple, Kudle Beach which is located on the southern outskirts of Gokarna and we also visit Om Beach. Overnight Gokarna.
Day 10: GOKARNA – HAMPI
In the morning after having breakfast we proceed to visit Idagunji which is about 15 kms from Honnavar and is known for a Ganapathi temple. Yakshagana, a beautiful costumed dance drama is held here. Then we drive to Hampi. Hampi was once the seat of the great Vijayanagara empire and the centre of Hindu rule for 200 years from its foundation in 1336. In the evening we reach Hampi. Evening free for leisure.
Day 11: HAMPI
Today we visit the temples, palaces, markets and some of the ruins of the Vijaynagar city in Hampi. The Vijayanagar city ruins near the village of Hampi is one of the most fascinating historical sites in south India. The superb ruins are set in a beautiful landscape, a hill country with enormous boulders. Extremely wealthy, greater than Rome, they held a monopoly of trade in spices and cotton. This site was chosen for strategic reasons, but the craftsmen excelled in adopting an indigenous style to blend in architectural masterpieces with the barren and rocky landscapes. Most of the sites belong to the 16th century and were built during the 20 year reign of Krishna deva Raya.
Day 12: HAMPI – BADAMI
After breakfast and check out from the hotel drive to Badami. Badami is set in beautiful countryside among the red sandstone hills, lakes and peaceful farmlands. Badami was once a capital city of the Chalukyan Empire which ruled much of the central Deccan between 4th and 7th centuries A D. Badami is picturesquely situated at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills. Badami is known for its famous four cave temples. Overlooking the cave temples is a reservoir dotted with temples dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva. The Bhutanatha temples are also worth visiting temples. It is a temple that lend their name to the lake beneath the cave temples.
Day 13: BADAMI
After breakfast drive to visit the famous cave temples as the best time to visit the cave temples is at sunrise. Four of these cave temples were cut into the hillside in the early 6th century. Cave 1 is reached by climbing 40 steps and in this cave the Lord Siva in his manifestation as Nataraja with 18 arms can be seen in 81 dance poses. In the Cave 2 there are reliefs of Varaha and Vamana and the Cave 3 is dedicated to Vishnu. According to a Kanada inscription which is unique to Badami, this cave was excavated in 578 AD and has numerous sculptures including a huge reclining image of Vishnu. Cave 4 is the only Jain cave excavated about 100 years later. Some of the temples which we visit includes the Buddhist temple, built near the ancient artificial Bhutanatha Lake, and the 7th century Mallegitti Sivalaya temple, one of the finest examples of the early southern style. The North fort temples include mainly 7th century work and give an insight into Badami history.
Day 14: BADAMI – BIJAPUR
After breakfast and check out from the hotel drive to Bijapur. Bijapur is a distinct town as it resembles a north Muslim city with the different mosques and palaces. Bijapur was known as Vijayapura or “the city of victory” during the reign of Chalukyas. In the afternoon we visit the Jama Masjid, one of the finest in Deccan with a large, shallow, onion shaped dome and arcaded court. It was built by Ali Adil Shah I in the 16th century. The Ibrahim Rauza, the 17th century palatial tomb is beautifully decorated with its slender minarets, carved decorative panels of lotus, wheels and cross patterns and bold Arabic calligraphy. This square garden consists of 2 buildings, one houses the tomb of Ibrahim Adil Shah II and his family and the other one is a mosque. The tomb, evidently executed under the orders of Ibrahim Adil Shah (1580-1627) is supposed to have been an inspiration for the Taj Mahal at Agra.
Day 15: BIJAPUR
After breakfast visit the Golgumbaz. Golgumbaz means the round tomb. Golgumbaz is the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah (1627 -56), the seventh ruler of Adilshahi dynasty. This gigantic mausoleum took about 20 years to complete. The acoustical phenomenon of this dome is such that a sound is echoed eleven times over. Under the dome are the tombs of the Sultan, his two wives, his mistress Ramba, his daughter and grandson. The building complex includes a mosque, a Naqqar Khana, a gateway and a Dharamshala. The edifice in front of the tomb has been converted into a museum. This tomb has been described by some as startlingly ugly. It is the world’s second largest dome unsupported by pillars and has a large whispering gallery.
Day 16: BIJAPUR – GULBARGA
After breakfast and check out from the hotel drive to Gulbarga. This town was the first capital of the Bahmanis and is known in South India as the home of Saiyid Muhammad Gesu Daraz Chisti who was instrumental in spreading the Islam faith in the Deccan in the 14th century. The most fascinating remains in the town are the fort, with its citadel and mosque and the tombs in its eastern quarter. In Gulbarga we visit the mosque and tombs. The mosque covers an area of 3500 sq m and is covered by a dome which cover the four corners and 75 minor domes make it unique among the various Indian mosques. The tombs of the Bahmani sultans lie in two groups and the tomb of the Chisti is two stories high with a highly decorated painted dome and a mother of pearl canopy over the grave. Overnight Gulbarga.
Day 17: GULBARGA – HYDERABAD
After breakfast and check out from the hotel drive to Bidar. Bidar, the walled fort town in North Karnataka was once the capital of the Hamanis and Barid Shahis. The fort is still intact and the palaces and tombs provide some of the finest examples of Muslim architecture in the Deccan, intermingling the Hindu and Islamic styles. After visiting the fort and old town we drive to Hyderabad. Arrive in Hyderabad in the evening.
Day 18: HYDERABAD
After having breakfast, we drive to visit the impressive fort at Golconda. This fort is entered through gateways which have relief ornamentation of birds and animals. The Fateh Darwaza or Victory Gate is made of teak with an engraved Hindu deity studded with iron spikes. Within the ramparts lie the mosques, temples, the 3 storeyed armory, the harem, the Hall of Public Audience and the Rani Mahal with the royal baths. After visiting the Golconda fort we visit the Qutb Shahi Tomb. Each tomb is made of black granite or green stone with fine sculpture, inscriptions and remains of glazed decoration. After visiting the tomb we drive to the hotel.
Day 19: HYDERABAD – MUMBAI / DEPARTURE
Breakfast at Hotel and transfer to Airport to board on flight to Mumbai for your onward destination with the happy memories of your tour and our services.