Day 01: Arrive Hyderabad
Morning arrive Hyderabad. Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel.
The capital city of Hyderabad has become an ideal destination for tourists with its heritage structures and sites vying for attention with modern high rise buildings. Wide roads, acres of green busy bazaars, a thriving pearl trade and delectable cuisine have made it a tourist heaven.
Afternoon visit Golkonda Fort.
The Golkonda fort just outside the city has a long and chequered history. It was the capital of the kingdom by that name over four centuries ago. Golkonda today retains most of its charm and has an impressive sound and light show there recalling the glory of the Qutab Shahi era.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 02: In Hyderabad
Morning after breakfast city tour of Hyderabad
 Hyderabad has many heritage attractions, pleasant bazaars, modern shopping malls around the city. One of the rullers Mohamad Qutab Shah built the modern city of Hyderabad with the Charminar as its center in 1592. The Charminar is another protected monument and has after a gap of 17 years been thrown open to the public recently.
Afternoon visit Qutab Shahi Tomb.
Sultan Quli's tomb, the style of which set the example for the tombs of his descendants, is situated on an elevated terrace measuring 30 m each way. The tomb chamber proper is octagonal, with each side measuring around 10 m. The whole structure is crowned by a circular dome. There are three graves in this tomb chamber and 21 on the terrace outside, all uninscribed, except for the main tomb. The inscription on Sultan Quli's tomb is in three bands, in the Naskh and Tauq scripts. The inscription refers to Sultan Quli as Bada Malik (TheGreat Master) - the endearing term by which all people of the Deccan used to refer to him. The tomb was built in 1543 A.D. by the Sultan, during his lifetime itself, as was the prevalent custom.
Near the tomb of Sultan Quli is that of his son, Jamshed, the second in the line of Qutub Shahi kings. Built in 1550 A.D., this is the only Qutub Shahi tomb which has not been fashioned from shining black basalt. Its appearance too, is quite unlike the other tombs in the garden - it rises gracefully in two stories, unlike the squat tombs of the other kings. Jamshed's is also only tomb of a Qutub Shahi ruler without any inscriptions; of course, Jamshed's son, Subhan Quli's tomb too does not have any inscriptions. But Subhan Quli ruled for too short a while to really matter. Subhan's tomb stands mid-way between the tombs of his father and grandfather. He was popularly called Chhote Malik (small master).
Overnight at the hotel .
Day 03: Hyderabad - Bijapur by surface
Morning after breakfast leave Hyderabad for Bijapur. Enroute visit Bidar and Gulbarga.
Bidar tours would take you to the tourist attractions in and around Bidar. Tours to Bidar should include the numerous monuments dating back to the flourishing Bahmani and Barid Shahi dynasty. The Bidar Fort, built in 1428 by Ahmed Shah Bahmani, stands proudly epitomizing the grandeur of the Bahmani dynasty. Five darwazas (gates) with imposing bastions lead into a little town nestling within the ramparts. The Rangin Mahal, the royal residence, was built by Ali Barid (1542-1580) and features exquisite wood carvings and fascinating glazed tile mosaics.
Continue drive to Gulberga
Afternoon sightseeing tour of city. Gulbarga tours will help you delve deep into the legacy of royal dynasties. Tour of Gulbarga is a journey into the past of the Gulbarga city.
The Gulbarga fort was originally built by Raja Gulchand, a feudatory of the Orangal Kakatiyas. As Gulbarga gained prominence as the Bahmani capital, the fort was fortified by Alauddin Bahman. Alao visit Jumma Masjid Nestled within the ramparts of the Gulbarga Fort, the Jumma Masjid bears a striking resemblance to the great mosque of Cordova in Spain. Built by Muhammed Bahmani in 1367, the Persian architecture of the mosque features stilted domes and narrow entrances. The mosque's unique feature is the roof which contains 68 domes that resemble a collection of gigantic pots. Historians reckon that the Jumma Masjid was built to commemorate Gulbarga's status as the Bahmani capital and is one of the earliest mosques in South India.
Continue drive to Bijapur.
A city of domes and minarets is a walled, medieval city 613 km from Bangalore, having over 50 mosques, 20 tombs and several palaces. Its founders called it the ‘city of victory’. The seven storeyed Sat Manzil –the pleasure palace built in the 17th century, the Jama Masjid – one of the finest mosques in India, with its graceful onion dome and slender, towering minarets and the Asar-i-Sharif Palace, believed to contain the Prophet’s relics, are some of the monuments tourists can see here.
On arrival check in at hotel .Overnight .
Day 04: Bijapur-Badami by surface
Morning after breakfast sightseeing tour of city Bijapur.
 Visit Gol Gumbaz, the impressive mausoleum of Muhammed Adil Shah who ruled in the 17th century. The enormous dome of the tomb is the second largest in the world, it is 37.8 m in diameter, only 4.5 m less than St.Peter’s in Rome! There is an arched entrance to each façade and a tiered turret at each angle. The inside is bare except for four tall arches supporting the dome.
Afternoon leave Bijapur for Badami.
The capital of the Early Chalukyas, Badami is picturesquely situated at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills. Badami is famous for its four cave temples - all hewn out of sand stone on the precipice of a hill.
On arrival check in the hotel
Overnight at hotel.
Day 05: In Badami
Morning after breakfast sightseeing tour of city Badami.
Half day tour of Badami visiting the caves, the first cave temple - past Shiva's door keepers - and the eighteen-armed Nataraja striking 81 dance poses. The largest and most ornamental is the third cave temple dedicated to Vishnu. Overlooking the cave temples is a reservoir dotted with temples dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva.
Afternoon visit Aihole.
To the east of Belgium and north-west of Hampi are the ancient temples of Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal, situated within a few kilometers of one another. At Aihole, the cradle of Hindu temple architecture, there are as many as 70 temples of which 30 lie in a single enclosure. Founded around 450 AD, the ancient capital of the Chalukyans has more than seventy temples dedicated to various deities of the Hindu pantheon. The Durga temple with its pyramidal root, has some remarkable sculptures. The prominent temples of Aihole are the Lad Khan, the Meguti, the Konti Gudi, the Durga and the Huchimalli
After visit drive back to Badami.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 06: Badami- Hampi by surface
 Morning after breakfast leave Badami for Hampi enroute visiting Pattadakal.
29 km from Badami has ten temples, each displaying interesting architectural features. This is where the Chalukyan kings were crowned. The Papanath Temple (680 AD) was originally inspired by the north Indian style of architecture but later yielded to the more Dravidian Pallava style. The Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal (740 AD) is the finest of the shrines built in the Dravidian style.
The Papanatha, Virupaksha and Mallikarjuna temples are examples of early Chalukyan art. Scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Bhagvatha Purana are depicted here.
Later proceed for Hampi.
On arrival check in at Hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 07: In Hampi
Morning after breakfast sightseeing tour of Hampi.
Hampi has a history from the epical age of Ramayana, ages before the Vijayanagara Empire was born. Hampi has an epical history as the capital city of Kishkindha, the monkey kingdom during the period of Ramayana and an emperical history as the capital city of the Vijayanagara Empire. You can find the introduction of both the episodes here. The epical history of Hampi begins and ends with the Ramayana in Threta Yuga. There are a lot of materialistic proofs in Hampi to show that it might have been the capital of the mighty monkey kingdom - Kishkindha. The whole of Kishkindha Kanda episode of Valmiki Ramayana is built in and around Hampi. This is the very place where Hanuman was born; this is the very place where he met Lord Rama; this is the very place where Vali fought his brother Sugriva.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 08: Hampi-Chickmangalore by surface
Morning after breakfast leave Hampi for Chickmangalore.
On arrival check in the hotel.
Chikmangalore is situated in south western part of Karnataka. Carved against a mountainous canvas this beautiful malnad district is full of surprises... lofty peaks... delightful dales... racing rivers... sparkling streams... captivating cascades... and the bracing mountain air - a balm to the work-weary. Climb high above the world where the mountains seem to touch the sky. Marvel at the unspoilt beauty of the snow-white coffee blossoms. To add adventure to enchantment this hilly district has some exciting trekking routes in the Western Ghats.
In Chickmagalur district, the major commercial crop is coffee. Other commercial crops are Pepper, Cashew nuts etc.. mullain giri, the highest peak in Karnataka (viz., 6,317 feet high from Sea Level) is 12 Kms away from Chickmangalore. Number of rivers originates from the hills of Chickmangalore district and flow in all the seasons. Rivers such as, Bhadra, Tunga, Hemavathi, Netravathi & Vedavathi. Several minerals are found in the district such as iron, magnetite, granite etc., major iron ore company in Asia is located at Kudremukha in Mudigere taluk of Chickmangalore district.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 09: Excursion to Belur and Halebid
Morning after breakfast full day sight seeing tour of Belur and halebid.
Belur is 39 km from Hassan, Belur was a flourishing city some 800 years ago under the Hoysala kings. The Belur Temple, also called the Chennakeswara Temple, has typical Hoysala architectural features. Its stone walls are covered with a profusion of intricate carvings, enough to take one’s breath away.
Helebid 16 km from Belur, it is a double-shrine, more impressive than the temple at Belur constructed a decade after it. The temple here gives one the impression that it was created out of lace rather than of sandstone.
Drive back to the Chickmagalur Overnight .
Day 10: Chickmangalore -Bangalore by surface and Bangalore / Chennai by flight.
Morning after breakfast leave Chickmangalore for Bangalore enroute visiting Sravanabelagola .
 Sravanabelagola, which is situated, 120 kilometers west of Bangalore in the state of Karnataka, is a noted place of pilgrimage for the Jains. The Gomatheswar sits on the top of a large hill, also called Vindhyagiri or Per-kalbappu, It is 3347 feet above sea level. A flight of 614 steps, chiseled into the granite mountain, leads to the summit, where in an open court the great statue of Sri Gomatheswar stands. Sravanabelagola literally means 'the monk on the top of the hill’. Hermits, mystics and ascetics have resided here since the 3rd century BC. In those early times the hill was thickly wooded and hermits could feed themselves from the vegetation from the forest. Near the middle of the 10th century AD, temples began to be constructed around the hill and from then the place has become one of the most important pilgrimage sites of the Jain religion. The 58 foot, 8 inch statue of Sri Gomatheswar, carved between 978-993 AD, is out of the granite bedrock of the mountain is the tallest freestanding statue in the world. Sri Gomatheswar, also known as Bahubali, was the son of the legendary first Tirthankara (tirthankaras are the mythical, enlightened sages of Jainism). The main festival of Sravanabelagola is called Maha Masthaka Abhisheka ('Head Anointing Ceremony'), which is held once in 12 to 15 years. An enormous wooden stage is built around the statue of Sri Gomatheswar, Sravanabelagola Prior to the festival. More than two million pilgrims assemble on the slopes of the sacred hill
Later proceed for Bangalore .On arrival transfer to the airport to board flight for Chennai.
Meeting and assistance on arrival and drive past of Chennai city .
Chennai is the cultural heartland & gateway to the South India. Here on the east coast, ancient traditions of classical dance, music arts, handicrafts, literature, philosophy and religion have taken root and spread over India and to many parts of the world. In exchange, global influences flowed and were integrated.
The Dravadians who have had the greatest influence on the life style of the people of Chennai were originally a Mediterranean race of same stock as the people of create, the pre Hellenic Aegeans of Greece, and even the Pharaonic race of ancient Egypt. After they had migrated to India many millennia ago they absorbed some of the folkways and love of the earlier. Negroids and Austrics who had laid the foundation of Indian civilization. Later when Indo -Iranians, or Aryans percolated into Southern India, their social systems also had a significant and lasting impact on established customs and rituals.
Then when great commercial companies of the Portuguese, British, French and Dutch set up their centres in and around Chennai in the 18th century trading families from other parts of India flocked in and added to culture of this great sea port.
Later transfer to the hotel at Mahabalipuram.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 12: In Mahabalipuram
Afternoon visit Mahabalipuram.
Mahabalipuram is a beautiful beach resort which consists of a the tiny village by the sea in which all else is dwarfed by a dream world of awesome Tamil art, an open air museum of sculpture in living rock. The piece de resistance is Arjuna’s Penance or the Descent of the Ganga, the world’s largest bas-relief, 764 ft. by 288 ft. (27m by 9m). It is a beautiful composition of hundreds of celestial beings, human and animals all hurrying to a natural rock cleft that divides the giant stone. The best known landmark of Mahabalipuram, is the Shore Temple, which has stood by the sea for 12 centuries. Its twin spires are pure poetry in granite.
The other wonders of Mahablipuram are the mandapams, each a cave scooped from a hillside of solid rock and ornamented with pillars, sculptured with panels and with rathams (monolithic rock-cut shrines) that have inspired generations of South Indian temple-builders. The five rathas, named after the Pandava brothers, the heroes of the Mahabharata, and their wife Draupadi, are part of an amphitheatre of art. Each temple though incomplete, remains a gem. Also in this area are a magnificent elephant and an exquisite Nandi, the sacred bull.
Later Drive to Chennai. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight.
Day 13: Mahabalipuram -Tanjore by surface
 Morning after breakfast Leave Chennai for Tanjavur. Enroute visit Pandicherry,Chidambaram and Darasuram.
Morning sightseeing of Pondicherry whose association traces its origin to Saint Agasthya, the revered sage of the south. Visit Sri Aurobindo ahsram, the final resting place of Sri Aurobind, a saint-cum-yogi who synthesised yoga and modern science. It is also the final resting place of the Mother. Also visit the Museum which has rooms furnished with period furniture of French India; Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Chidambaram Temple: (43 kms. from Gangaikondacholapuram) is a sprawling ancient temple renowned for its architecture encompassing the complete pose sequences of the classical South Indian Bharat Natyam dance; from which originated the revived dance in its present popular form.
Darasuram: The temple of Airavatesvara in Darasuram (Tamil Nadu), dating from the second half of the twelfth century is one of the 4 biggest temples erected by the Cola Dynasty with those of Tanjore,
On arrival check in at hotel . Overnight.
Day 14: Tanjore - Madurai By Surface
Morning after breakfast leave Tanjore for Madurai.
Morning visit the beautiful Chola Temple of Brihadeshwara. The Temple is capped by a monolithic cupola made of a single granite block weighing 80 tons which was taken to the top with the help of a 6 km long ramp, an old technique used by the Egyptians for building pyramids. Its bronzes and handicrafts make Tanjore one of the highlights of a visit to South India.
Later drive to Madurai. On arrival check in at hotel.
The evening “Aarti” is a must see for all visitors. The Consort of Goddess Durga - Shiva, is brought to her chamber in procession. This procession goes around the temple, and has various short ceremonies at different shrines, before the final prayer at the entrance of her chamber. The entire procession takes 45 mins.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 15: Madurai - Periyar By Surface
Morning after breakfast sightseeing of Madurai.
The `Temple City’ was the capital of the Pandya kingdom but it was during the reign of the Nayaks (10th to the 18th century) that the magnificent Meenakshi Temple Visit the Palace of Thirumalai Nayak, the most famous king of the Nayak dynasty. It has a great audience hall, a three-sided pavilion and a courtyard.
 Afternoon leave Madurai for Periyar.
On arrival check in at hotel .
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 16: In Periyar
Morning after breakfast aboat trip at nqational park and visit the plantation.
Periyar Park encompasses 26 sq. km. artificial lake. Take a boat ride on the lake to view wild life and water birds. Herds of elephants and bison come to the lake. Spotted deer and sambhar are also found here.
Overnight at the hotel .
Day 17: Perriyar-Kumarakom
Morning after breakfast leave Periyar for Kumarakom.
On arrival check in at hotel .
Kumarakom, a quaint little places on the backwaters of Kerala. It lies on the eastern shore of the Vembanad Lake, which is a bird sanctuary. Waterfowl, cuckoo and wild duck can be seen in abundance here. In winter, large flocks of migratory wild duck from Siberia come in spectacular formation to roost. Kumarakom lies in a timeless world of gentle, unhurried activity
Over night at the hotel.
Day 18: Kumarakom-Alleppey- Marari by surface
Morning after breakfast Leave Kumarakom for Alleppey by boat and then drive to Marari.
On arrival check in at hotel.
Marari derives its names from Mararikulam, a small village in Kerala inhabited by the local fisherman's there. Life in this place hasn't changed much in the last many decades. Men here continue to go for fishing in the morning while the Ladies perform the necessary household cores. This small village is a host to numerous soft sand beaches that promises one a holiday that will relieve him from all worries and tensions amidst this beautiful place with vast expanse of land, water and swaying palm trees.
Water since time immemorial has been proven to have a soothing affect on people. Not only does it bring tranquility to mind and body but also relieves one of all tensions and worries. Such is the magic of water. This magic is further glorified in the beautiful Tours to Mararikulam Beach, Kerala, South India.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 19: In Marari
Breakfast in the hotel.
Day free for independent activities.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 20: Marari – Cochin by surface
Morning after breakfast drive to Cochin.
On arrival check in at hotel.
 Visit the Mattancherry Dutch Palace - open from 10.00 to 15.00 hrs. (Closed on Fridays and public holidays), which was built by the Portuguese in 1555 and renovated by the Dutch in 1663. In the ancient rooms are 17th century murals that relate in vibrant color the story of the epic Ramayana. Visit a Jewish Synagogue - open 10.00 to 12.00 hrs. & 15.00 to 17.00 hrs. (Closed on all Fridays and Saturdays and Jewish holidays) in Jew Town and Fort Cochin Area - Legend dates Jewish trade with Kerala from the times of King Solomon. There are a couple of streets of picture-postcard houses out of another age, in 17th century Dutch and traditional Kerala styles. Visit St. Francis Church - open from 09.00 to 13.00 hrs. And 14.30 to 17.30 hrs. (Closed for visitors on Sundays from 08.00 to 11.00 hrs.) the oldest European Church in India. It has several antiquities including a wealth of records. These include a palm-leaf title deed the local Raja gave the Portuguese in 1503. See the Chinese Fishing Nets, along the tip of Fort Cochin unique to this part of Kerala and living symbols of a centuries-old Chinese influence on this coast.
Evening witness the Kathakali dance at the Auditorium.
Kathakali performances, a dance-drama based on the ancient epics forming among the most colourful of the country’s stage tradition. Male actors in makeup that takes as much as two to three hours to apply cavort on the stage in a spellbinding display of morality-theatre. The women perform the more graceful dance form, the Mohiniattam.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 21: Leave Cochin
Morning after breakfast in time transfer to the airport to board the flight for onward destination.
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