Karnataka

Upon arrival at Bangalore, transfer from airport to hotel. (Overnight in Bangalore)   

After breakfast checkout from hotel and we drive to Hassan. On route we will visit the sacred Jain site of Sravanabelagola. Sravanabelagola means "the monk on the top of the hill”, where hermits and mystics have resided since at least the 3rd century BC. In those early times the hill was thickly wooded and hermits could feed themselves from the vegetation of the forest. Near the middle of the 10th century AD, temples began to be constructed upon the hill and from thereon the place has become one of the most important pilgrimage sites of the Jain religion. Here we will see an extraordinary 18m-high monolithic statue of a naked male figure from the 10-century, Gomateshvara. Carved out of a single block of granite this majestic statue was created during the period of Chamundaraya, and is believed to be the largest freestanding sculpture in India. (Overnight in Hassan) 

The following day we tour around Hassan. First we will visit Belur where you can see the best template for Hoyasala architecture a Channekeshava Temple. The peculiarity of this temple is that the angled bracket figures depicting women in ritual dancing poses. (The best time to visit 9am, 3pm, and 7:30pm ceremony). After we will drive to Halebid - the ancient capital of the Hoysalas, which is famous for its Hoysaleswara Temple. This particular temple represents one of the most artistically exuberant periods of Hindu cultural development. The Hoyasala temples in Belur and Halebid symbolise the confluence of Dravidian, Chalukyan and Chola art at the same time.

(Overnight at Hassan) 

The next morning orning after check out from hotel we will drive to Nagarhole. Nestled in the southern fringes of the Nagarhole National Park, the Kabini River Lodge is a perfect getaway for nature lovers. The breathtaking location with the tranquil backwaters of the River Kabini presents an ideal setting for a long-awaited vacation. Once the hunting lodge of the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore, Kabini River Lodge is today rated by the British Tattler’s Travel Guide as one of the top 5 wildlife resorts in the world. Kabini is pure elephant country as one can see numerous herds at a time.  On arrival check into hotel. (Overnight in Kabini) 

We then move to the jungle resort where we check in at noon. After lunch at the resort we gear up for a ride into the Park with tea/ coffee served at the Gol Ghar. In the late afternoon our naturalists take you on a wildlife jeep safari into the Nagarhole National Park, showing and sharing with you their experiences and information about the jungle and all the animals that live there. 

In the evening we watch a wildlife movie as you gulp beer at the Viceroy's building and later we bask in the warmth of the campfire, while you dine in the Gol Ghar, Overnight at Jungle resort) 

After breakfast we drive to Mysore - the palace city of South India. On arrival we check into our hotel. After refreshments we visit the famous “Palace of Mysore” which was once the residential home of Wodeyars and is one of the largest of its kind in India. Built in 1912 in the indo Saracenic style, this palace exudes a grandeur that is unmatched. Later we visit the “Jayachamsrajendra Art Gallery” housed in the Jaganmohan palace. This gallery has a collection of exquisite paintings dating back to 1875. In the evening we visit the bull temple (a 4.8mts monolith) on the middle of hill on the way to Chamundi temple and then to visit the “Chamumdi Hill Temple” at a height of 1062mts. The 2000-year-old temple is dedicated to Goddess Chamundi. A seven storey, 40mts high tower, dominates the temple. A view of entire Mysore city from this hilltop is breath taking. (Overnight in Mysore)

After breakfast we will proceed for Somnathpur for the famous Hoysala Temple. Then we will go to Somnathpur, where we visit the Hoysala temple. The Somnathpur temple stands in the middle of a walled compound. All around the temple is an open verandah having 64 cells and it stands on a raised platform. (Overnight in Mysore) 

After breakfast we checkout from hotel and drive to Goa airport for your onward flight. ...full details