south india · india. the best time to visit mysore is during dussehra festivals in october. the...

South India

39

MUST SEE SIGHTS

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INDIA GARDEN CITY BANGALORE

Founded in 1537 by Kempegowda, a far sighted local chieftain, Bangalore has blossomed into

one of Asia's fastest growing cities. Bangalore combines the vibrant pace of a modern

metropolis with a quaint old - world charm. Perched at a height of 3250 feet above sea level, its

salubrious climate plays host to innumerable parks, gardens, lakes and verdant tree - lined

avenues that give it the sobriquet "Garden City".

Vidhana Soudha housing the State

Legislature and Secretariat, It is built

entirely of Bangalore granite in the Neo

Dravidian Style. Directly opposite it

stands the Gothic structure of the

Attara Kacheri which houses the State.

High Court The high Court building

was completed in 1868 and stands in

the green splendor of the Cubbon Park

laid out in 1864 by Lieutenant General

Sir Mark Cubbon.

The Lal Bagh Gardens, laid out in

1760 by Hyder Ali has an area of 240

acres. The glass house, inspired by the

Crystal Palace in London.

The Bangalore Palace : Built in 1887

by a Wodeyar King, with its vast

grounds and Tudor style architecture.

SHOPPING: Shopping in Bangalore is

a wonderful experience. Bangalore is a

city where one would find a wide array

of shopping markets, malls and plazas.

Commercial Street is famous for

shopping colorful clothes and dress

materials other than fashionable

jewelries. One can also look in for

shoes, art supplies, travel kits, sports,

etc. Westside is a very famous

shopping joint.

MUST SEE SIGHTS


INDIA MYSORE

The city stands by rocky hill named after goddess Chamundi. It is a city of palaces and

museums. The palace of the Maharaja within the old fort is one of the most beautiful buildings in

India. The best time to visit Mysore is during Dussehra festivals in October.

The Mysore palace : Once the Residence of the Wodeyars, is one of the largest of its kind in India and one of the most splendid. This Indo-Saracenic building has among other things - a carved door, a solid gold throne and a gallery of exquisite paintings.

Chamundi hill : 13 kms from Mysore City is the Chamundi hills. Halfway up is the Nandi bull, a 4.8m monolith. Right on top is the 2000 years old chamundeswari Temple, dedicated to the patron goddess of the royal family.

Somnathpur : A highly developed specimen of Hoysala architecture, the e laborate ly car ved temple at Somnathpura (38km) are a must for those interested in temple touring in India.

Srirangapatna is nestled in the banks of river Cauvery is about 3 Kms. in length and one Km. in breadth.

SHOPPING: Mysore Silks, Mysore

Jasmine, Mysore Sandalwood are the

things that the city is famous for.

Mysore is famous for its handicrafts as

well. Most of the work is wood based.

The ar tifacts are made out of

sandalwood, rosewood and teakwood.

ENTERTAINMENT: The modes of

Entertainment in Mysore include an

amazing range of activities, starting

from the nightclubs, which include

bars and pubs where one can chill out

and relax, to cinemas, where one can

spend time watching films.

MUST SEE SIGHTS


INDIA HASSAN

This calm and peaceful town is a convenient base to visit Sravanabelagola, Belur and Halebid.

Belur : 38kms from Hassan with its

exquisite temples. The Chennakeshava

Temple is one of the finest of Hoysala

architecture. It took 103 years to

complete . The façade of the temple is

filled with intricate sculptures and

friezes with no portion left blank.

Elephants ,episodes from epics,

sensuous dancers... they are all there

awe inspiring in their intricate work-

manship. Inside are hand-lathe-turned

filigreed pillars. The Veera-narayana

Temple and the smaller shrines are well

worth a visit.

HALEBID : 27kms north-west of

Hassan and 17kms east of Belur is

Halebid. The Hoysaleswara temple

here is the wealth of sculptural details.

The walls of the temple are covered

with an endless variety of gods and

goddesses, animals, birds and

dancing girls. Yet no two facets of the

temple are the same. This magnificent

temple guarded by a Nandi bull was

never completed.

MUST SEE SIGHTS


INDIA POETRY IN STONE - HAMPI

Dotted around the hills and valleys are 500 plus monuments. Among them are beautiful temples,

basements of palaces, remains of aquatic structures, ancient market streets, royal pavilions,

bastions, royal platforms, treasury buildings, the list is practically endless. Hampi is a

backpackers paradise, the same way the pilgrims delight. In Hampi at every turn there is a

surprise. Every monument hides more than what they reveal. As an open museum, Hampi has

numerous popular (100 plus!) locations visitors throng.

Hampi : The Virupaksha Temple rises

majestically at the western end of a

700 m long street that was once the

famous Hampi bazaar.. Nearby is the

6.7m tall monolith of Ugra Narasimha,

seated under a canopy of a seven -

hooded snake. The most splendid

monument of Hampi is undoubtedly

the Vithala Temple Complex. The 56

pillars in the main hall produce musical

notes when struck. To the east of the

hall is the famous stone chariot with

stone wheels that actually revolve!

Hampi is full of surprises! Like the

King’s Balance where ruling kings

were weighed against grain, gold or

money which was then distributed to

poor. Or the Queen’s bath, with its

arched corridors, projecting balconies

and lotus shaped fountains.

Lotus Mahal in the‘ Zenana" enclosure.

A beautiful two - storied palace with

recessed archways set in geometric

regularity and opening out to the sun

and the wind like the petals of a flower.

The imposing Elephant Stables have

arched entrances and domes.

SHOPPING: There are shops all over

Hampi, especially outside the

Virupaksha temple and on the backside

of the temple, selling clothes, bags,

jewellery, shawls, toys etc

MUST SEE SIGHTS


INDIA CAVE TEMPLES OF BADAMI

Badami - the earliest mention of Badami occurs in Ptolemy's Chronicles where it is called

Badamoi. The mighty Chalukyas Patronized art and architecture and were largely responsible for

the superb cave temples scooped out of the hillsides.

Cave I is a Shaivite shrine. The superb

image of Nataraja on the eastern wall is

a masterpiece of sculpture. Mahisha-

suramardini and the Ardhanariswara

images are alive with a rare vitality of

figure. The lingam in the rear cellar

establishes its Shaivite character.

Cave II has a famous sculpture of

Vishnu as Trivikarma and in Varahavtar.

Cave III excavated on the orders of

Mangalesh in 750 A.D., contains some

beautiful sculptures. Astounding vigor

and vitality is writ large on the

Trivikarma figure, as it raises its left

foot to encompass all that is there on

the surface of the earth.

AIHOLE : The erstwhile city of power is

now a mere sleeping village. The

temples follow a certain pattern - flat or

slightly inclined roofs occasionally

crowned by a small upper storey,

square or in rounded shikara form and

the pillared porticos - mandapams or

assembly hails.

PATTADAKAL : A world famous

heritage centre it has 10 major temples

representing Chalukyas architecture.

The magnificent Virupaksha temple

was constructed at Pattadakal during

the prime of Dravidian art.

MUST SEE SIGHTS


INDIA BIJAPUR

A feudal town, surrounded by forts and bastions, bristling with ramparts on a bleak and arid

plain, Bijapur still displays the strength, which made a 20 year resistance to Emperor Aurangzeb

possible. Bijapur, "town of victory", was the capital of the Adil Shahs Sultans, Turkish in origin,

who ruled from 1489 to 1686.

Gol Gumbaz : Containing the tomb of

Mohammed Adil Shahi has the fourth

largest dome in the world. The interior

of the dome, mysterious unsupported,

has a whispering gallery under it,

whose acoustics are superb.

Jumma Masjid : Still used for worship,

has been called one of the first

mosques of India and holds an

exquisite copy of the Koran, written in

gold letters.

Ibrahim Roza : Was probably the

inspiration for Agra Tajmahal. Facing it

is a mosque, as delicately designed.

The Malik - e - Maidan is enormous

cannon, four teen feet long and

weighing 55 tons.

SHOPPING: The artisans of Bijapur are

skilled traditionally and they make

variety of goods from stone, wood and

metal. Hand-woven Ikkat sarees,clay

toys, Lambini jewellery are the main

specialties of Bijapur.

MUST SEE SIGHTS


INDIA HYDERABAD

To the traveler, Hyderabad offers a fascinating panorama of the past, with richly mixed cultural

and historical traditions spanning 400 colourful years. Founded by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah,

the fifth Sultan of Golconda in 1591, Hyderabad was built on the southern bank of river Musi

strategically placed, Hyderabad was the gateway to the southern Kingdoms. It’s fabulous

diamond mines and markets, too, were famous in history, while the Qutb Shahis themselves

were benevolent rulers, who encouraged the arts.

Charminar : The Charminar is as much the s igna tu re o f Hyderabad. Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad, built the Charminar in 1591 at the center of the original city layout. Legend has it that the Charminar was built as a charm, to ward off a deadly epidemic which was raging at the time. Four graceful minarets soar to a height of 48.7m above the ground. Within the Charminar are 45 prayer spaces & a Mosque.

Mecca Masjid : Is poetry in stone, with a hall measuring 67m, and soaring to a height of 54m. The roof is supported by fifteen graceful arches- five to each of the three sides.

Golconda Fort : The fort is famous for its acoustics, palaces, factories, ingenious water supply system and the famous Fateh Rahben Gun, one of the canons used in the last siege of Golconda by Aurangzeb.

SHOPPING: Laad Bazaar: This is the

famous, colourful shopping center of

the old city, tucked away in one of the

streets leading off from Charminar.

Bridal wear, pearls and the traditional

Hyderabadi glass and stone studded

bangles are sold here.

ENTERTAINMENT : Sound & Light

show at Golconda Fort - the show that

brings the legend of Golconda to life.

The show has voice-over of Bollywood

living legend Amitabh Bacchan.


BANGALORE - MYSORE - HASSAN - HAMPI - BADAMI - BIJAPUR - HYDERABAD

NORTH KARNATAKA WITH HYDERABAD

Day 1 Arrive BangaloreArrive Bangalore - the Garden City. Meeting & transfer to hotel. Check in

at hotel. This afternoon city tour of Garden City. This afternoon you

drive past Vidhana Soudha housing the State Legislature and

Secretariat, was conceived and executed by Kengal Hanumanthaiya,

the then Chief Minister, in 1956. It is built entirely of Bangalore granite in

the Neo Dravidian Style. Directly opposite it stands the Gothic structure

of the Attara Kacheri which houses the State High Court which was

completed in 1868 and stands in the green splendor of the Cubbon

Park laid out in 1864 by Lieutenant General Sir Mark Cubbon. The

LalBagh Gardens, laid out in 1760 by Hyder Ali has an area of 240

acres. The glass house, inspired by the Crystal Palace in London is a

favourite spot in LalBagh. The Bangalore Palace, built in 1887 by a

Wodeyar King, is today a favourite spot for picnickers and film-makers,

with its vast grounds and Tudor style architecture. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2 Bangalore - Mysore (175 Kms)Breakfast at hotel. Today you drive to Mysore - stands by rocky hill

named after goddess Chamundi. It is a city of palaces and museums.

The palace of the Maharaja within the old fort is one of the most

beautiful buildings in India. The best time to visit Mysore is during

Dussehra festivals. En route visit Srirangapatnam is an island

fortress-city is of great religious, cultural and historic importance. It is

situated about 14 Kms. from Mysore and 125 Kms. from Bangalore.

Srirangapatna is nestled in the banks of river Cauvery is about 3 Kms. in

length and one Km. in breadth. The town derives its name from the

presiding deity of Ranganatha Swamy temple situated at the western

end of the island in the Cauvery River. Continue to Mysore & Check in at

hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 3 MysoreBreakfast at hotel. Today you visit the sights of Mysore. The Mysore

palace - Once the Residence of the Wodeyars, is one of the largest of

its kind in India and one of the most splendid. This Indo-Saracenic

building has among other things - a carved door, a solid gold throne and

a gallery of exquisite paintings. Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery - It

is a palace transformed into an art gallery with paintings dating from

1875. The collection includes paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, the

Russian Svetoslav Roerich and the traditional Mysore 'gold leaf' style of

painting. Chamundi hill - 13 kms from Mysore City is the Chamundi

hills. Halfway up is the Nandi bull, a 4.8m monolith. Right on top is the

2000 years old chamundeswari Temple, dedicated to the patron

goddess of the royal family. St.Philomena's church: It, in the Gothic




style, is one of the largest churches in the country and has Stained

glass windows. This afternoon you make and excursion to

Somnathpur - a highly developed specimen of Hoysala architecture,

the elaborately carved temple at Somnathpura (38km) are a must for

those interested in temple touring in India. The temple is set on a

chiseled plinth guarded at intervals by miniature elephants. Overnight at

hotel.

Day 4 Mysore - Hassan (150 Kms)Breakfast at hotel. Today you drive to Hassan. En route visit

Sravanabelagola, this one of the most important Jain pilgrim centers

with the 17m high monolith of Lord Bahubali- said to be the world's

tallest monolith statue .Thousands of devotees congregate here to

perform the 'Mahamastakabhisheka'. A spectacular ceremony held

once in 12 years when the 1000 year old statue is anointed with milk,

curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins. Continue to Hassan & Check in at

hotel. This afternoon visit the temples of Belur group. The

Chennakeshava Temple is one of the finest of Hoysala architecture. It

took 103 years to complete. The façade of the temple is filled with

intricate sculptures and friezes with no portion left blank. Elephants,

episodes from epics, sensuous dancers... they are all there awe

inspiring in their intricate workmanship. Inside are handlathe - turned

filigreed pillars. The Veeranarayana Temple and the smaller shrines are

well worth a visit. Overnight at hotel.

Day 5 Hassan - Hospet (250 Kms)Breakfast at hotel. This morning visit the Halebid group of temples.

The Hoysaleswara temple here is the wealth of sculptural details. The

walls of the temple are covered with an endless variety of gods and

goddesses ,animals ,birds and dancing girls. Yet no two facets of the

temple are the same. This magnificent temple guarded by a Nandi bull

was never completed ,despite 86 years of labor. Thereafter you drive to

Hospet. Check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 6 Hospet - Hampi - HospetBreakfast at hotel. Today you make a full day excursion to - one can still glimpse the splendor of Viajaynagara in Its ruins. The Virupaksha Temple rises majestically at the western end of a 700 m long street that was once the famous Hampi bazaar. This is the only temple at Hampi that is still used for worship. Nearby is the 6.7-m tall monolith of Ugra Narasimha, seated under a canopy of a seven-hooded snake. The most splendid monument of Hampi is undoubtedly the Vithala Temple Complex. The 56 pillars in the main hall produce musical notes when struck. To the east of the hall is the famous stone

Hampi




chariot with stone wheels that actually revolve! Hampi is full of surprises! Like the King’s Balance where ruling kings were weighed against grain, gold or money which was then distributed to poor. Or the Queen’s bath, with its arched corridors, projecting balconies and lotus shaped fountains. Or even the Lotus Mahal in the ‘ Zenana" enclosure. A beautiful two – storied palace with recessed archways set in geometric regularity and opening out to the sun and the wind like the petals of a flower. The imposing Elephant Stables have arched entrances and domes. Overnight at hotel.

Day 7 Hospet - Aihole - Pattadakal - Badami (200 Kms)Breakfast at hotel. Today you drive to Badami. En route visit Aihole & Pattadakal. Aihole - the erstwhile city of power is now a mere sleeping village. The temples follow a certain pattern - flat or slightly inclined roofs occasionally crowned by a small upper storey, square or in rounded shikara form and the pillared porticos - mandapams or assembly hails. The apsidal Durga temple is the loveliest of all temples in Aihole. Of particular beauty is the image of Shiva standing beside his favorite Nandi. The image of Durga and the Varahavatar of Vishnu are marvellous in craftsmanship. - A world famous heritage centre it has 10 major temples representing Chalukyas architecture. The magnificent Virupaksha temple was constructed at Pattadakal during the prime of Vijayaditya and Vikramaditya II and shows the unmistakable. Influence of the Dravidian art. Continue to Badami & Check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 8 BadamiBreakfast at hotel. This morning visit the Cave temples of Badami.

Cave 1 is a Shaivite shrine. The superb image of Nataraja on the eastern

wall is a masterpiece of sculpture. Mahishasuramardini and the

Ardhanariswara images are alive with a rare vitality of figure. The

lingam in the rear cellar establishes its Shaivite character. Cave II has a

famous sculpture of Vishnu as Trivikarma and in Varahavtar. Cave III

excavated on the orders of Mangalesh in 750 A.D., contains some

beautiful sculpture. Astounding vigor and vitalit is writ large on the

Trivikarma figure, as it raises its left foot to encompass all that is there

on the surface of the earth. Vishnu as Harihara, sitting on the coils of

the five headed Cobra is marvelous in its composure and divine power.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 9 Badami - Bijapur (135 Kms)Breakfast at hotel. Today you drive to Bijapur. Check in at hotel. This

afternoon visit Gol Gumbaz - containing the tomb of Mohammed Adil

Shahi has the fourth largest dome in the world. The interior of the dome,

Pattadakal




mysterious unsupported, has a whispering gallery under it, whose

acoustics are superb. Jumma Masjid - still used for worship, has been

called one of the first mosques of India and holds an exquisite copy of

the Koran, written in gold letters. Ibrahim Roza - was probably the

inspiration for Agra Tajmahal. Facing it is a mosque, as delicately

designed. The Malik - e - Maidan is enormous cannon, fourteen feet

long and weighing 55 tons. Overnight at hotel.

Day 10 Bijapur - Gulbarga - Hyderabad (385 Kms)Breakfast at hotel. Today you drive to Hyderabad. En route visit

Gulbarga. First a great mosque built in 1367 along the lines of the

mosque at Cordoba in Spain, in a fort covering several hectares. The

ceiling is composed of small domes held up by pillars arranged in such

a way that the mullah reading the prayers can be seen from all parts of

building. The acoustics are exceptional: sounds travel across the room

with no distortion. Continue to Hyderabad & Check in at hotel.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 11 HyderabadBreakfast at hotel. This morning sightseeing tour of Hyderabad.

Charminar - is as much the signature of Hyderabad. Mohammed Quli

Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad, built the Charminar in 1951 at the

center of the original city layout. Four graceful minarets soar to a height

of 48.7m above the ground. Within the Charminar are 45 prayer spaces

& a Mosque. Mecca Masjid - is poetry in stone, with a hall measuring

67m, and soaring to a height of 54m. Salarjung Museum house one of

the biggest one-man collections of antiques in the world. The Objects

d'art includes Persian carpets, Mughal miniatures, Chinese porcelain

and Japanese lacquer ware. Laad Bazaar - This is the famous, colorful

shopping center of the old city, tucked away in one of the streets leading

off from Charminar. This afternoon visit Golconda Fort - one of the

most famous forts in South India. The name originates from the Telugu

words "Golla Konda", meaning "Shepherd's Hill". Golcunda was

originally a mud fort, which passed to the Brahmani dynasty, and, later,

to the Qutb Shahis, who held it from1518. Overnight at hotel.

Day 12 Depart HyderabadTransfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.

*World Heritage Sites

south india · india. the best time to visit mysore is during dussehra festivals in october. the...

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