Architecture of South India

Architecture of South India

11 Days Starting in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India and ending in Goa, India

Visiting: Mysuru, Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Srirangapatna, Belur, Hampi, Halebid, Badami, Lakkundi, Gadag, Aihole, Pattadakal, Goa

Tour operator:

Agora Voyages

Tour code:

AGORA30

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 10

Physical rating:

Low, EASY

Age range:

0-10

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat, Kosher, Jain, Halal

Tour operated in:

English , French , German , Spanish

Trip Styles:

Active

Activities:

Shopping, Sightseeing

Private Available:

Request A Private Tour

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

This historic tour begins in I Tech city Bangalore and proceed to the former princely state Mysore rich in Imperial heritage. Visit intrinsically Hindu collection of temples at Belure, Halebidu, Hampi, Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal, and the ancient Vijayanagar Empire to see some of India's most intricate historical stone carvings. At the end of your explorations through history, unwind yourself in Goa, renowned for its endless beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture.

Highlights

  • This is a private tour/activity only for your group.

  • Enhanced cleaning/ traveler safety

  • Flexible sightseeing & stopover

  • In depth cultural experience

  • Most travelers can participate

Places You'll See

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Architecture Of South India

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 :

Arrive Bangalore
On arrival at Bangalore airport assistance and transfer to hotel. Rest time to relax.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 2 : Mysore

Location: Mysuru

Bangalore - Mysore (145kms/ 3hrs approx)
Bangalore Palace is situated in the Palace Gardens, at the heart of the Bangalore city of India. Built in the year 1887 by Wodeyar dynasty, it is adorned with magnificent woodcarvings and Tudor-style architecture on the inside. Infact, the palace is quite similar to the medieval castles that were built in Normandy and England. The Windsor Castle of London left a great impression on King Chamaraja Wodeyar of Wodeyar dynasty, on one of his trips to England. Inspired by the Tudor style architecture, he got the Bangalore Palace built in the city.
Lal Bagh or Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens, meaning The Red Garden in English, is a well known botanical garden in southern Bangalore, India. The garden was originally commissioned by Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore, and later finished by his son Tipu Sultan. It has a famous glass house which hosts an annual flower show. Lal Bagh houses India's largest collection of tropical plants, has an aquarium and a lake, and is one of the main tourist attractions in Bangalore.
Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace, in Bangalore, India, is an example of Indo-Islamic architecture and was the summer residence of the Mysorean ruler Tipu Sultan. Hyder Ali commenced its construction within the walls of the Bangalore Fort, and it was completed during the reign of Tipu Sultan in 1791. After Tipu Sultan's death in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the British Administration used the palace for its Secretariat before moving to Attara Kacheri in 1868.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 3 : Srirangapatna

Location: Shravanabelagola, Hassan, Srirangapatna

Meals Included: Breakfast

Mysore - Srirangapatna - Shravanabelagola - Hassan (140kms/ 3hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel visit Mysore Palace & Srirangapatnam Fort & Ranganthaswamy temple.
Later drive to Hassan en route visit Shravanabelagola Jain temple. On arrival check in and overnight at hotel.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 4 : Halebid

Location: Belur, Hampi, Halebid

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hassan - Hospet/ Hampi (330kms/ 7hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel check out and proceed to visit Hassan, Halebedu & Belur temple.
The Hoysaleswara temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is the destroyer of the Universe as per Hinduism. This temple was built during the 12th century and the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana built it. During the 14th century the Muslims invaded Halebidu and looted its riches and wealth. The temple was razed and neglected by the rulers.

Kedareshwara Temple is a Hoysala era construction in the historically important town of Halebidu, in the Hassan district of Karnataka state, India. It is located a short distance away from the famous Hoysaleswara Temple. The temple was constructed by Hoysala King Veera Ballala and his queen Ketaladevi, and the main deity is Ishwara (another name for the Hindu god Shiva). The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 5 : Hampi

Location: Hampi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hospet/ Hampi
Breakfast at hotel. Full day guided city tour of Hospet and Hampi monuments UNESCO world Heritage sites. Visit Hazara Rama Temple, King's Balance, Mahanavami Dibba, Royal enclosures, Statue of Ugra Narasimha Temple, Virupaksha Temple, Vithala And Lotus Mahal, Vithala Temple Complex and ASI Museum.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 6 : Badami

Location: Badami, Lakkundi, Gadag

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hospet/ Hampi - Badami (195kms/ 4hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel drive to Badami via visiting Lakkundi & Gadag Temple. Arrive & check in.
Lakkundi, is full of ruined temples[3] like Mallikarjuna, Virabhadra, Manikeshwara, Nanneshwara, Lakshminarayana, Someshwara, Nilakanteshwara and many more.
Trikuteshwara temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. The carved temple is in the town of Gadag, 50 km southeast of Hubli-Dharwad, in Karnataka, India. It is dedicated to Shiva and has three lingas mounted on the same stone. There is a shrine dedicated to Saraswathi in this temple and it has carved columns.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 7 : Badami

Location: Aihole, Badami, Pattadakal

Meals Included: Breakfast

Badami - Aihole - Pattadakal (70kms/ round)
Breakfast at hotel. Excursion visit to Aihole & Pattadakal both UNESCO World heritage site. Return to Badami and city sightseeing.
Pattadakal, also called Paá¹­á¹­adakallu or Raktapura, is a complex of 7th and 8th century CE Hindu and Jain temples in northern Karnataka (India). Located on the west bank of the Malaprabha River in Bagalakote district, this UNESCO World Heritage site is 14 miles (23 km) from Badami and about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Aihole, both of which are historically significant centres of Chalukya monuments.The monument is a protected site under Indian law and is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Overnight at hotel.

Day 8 :

Meals Included: Breakfast

Badami - Goa (235kms/ 5hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel drive to Goa check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax on the beach.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 9 : Goa Velha

Location: Goa

Meals Included: Breakfast

Goa
Breakfast at hotel full day city tour of Old Goa, Churches, temples, and famous beaches. Rest time to relax and shopping.
Famous throughout the Roman Catholic world, the imposing Basilica of Bom Jesus contains the tomb and mortal remains of St Francis Xavier, the so-called Apostle of the Indies, a former pupil of St Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). St Francis Xavier’s missionary voyages throughout the East became legendary – and, considering the perilous state of transport at the time, were nothing short of miraculous.
Arambol beach is furthermost north of all the beaches in Goa, and is nestled right near the Maharastra border. While Arambol beach has become the newest haven for Goa's hippies, plenty of more "normal" visitors also flock there to enjoy the relatively undeveloped surroundings. These photos of Arambol beach reveal its appeal, along with some of the attractions in the area.
Shri Mangeshi temple is located at Mangeshi Village in Priol, Ponda taluk, Goa. It is at a distance of 1 km from Mardol close to Nagueshi, 21 km from Panaji the capital of Goa, and 26 km from Margao. This temple is one of the largest and most frequently visited temples in Goa. In 2011, the temple along with others in the area instituted a dress code on visitors of the temple.
At over 76m long and 55m wide, this is the largest church in Asia. Building work commenced in 1562, on the orders of King Dom Sebastiao of Portugal, to replace the older church of St Catherine, which had until then served as Old Goa’s far less grandiose cathedral. Progress was slow, and beset with financial difficulties; work on the building wasn’t completed until 1619 and the altars weren’t finished until 1652, some 90 years after their construction had first been ordered.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 10 :

Meals Included: Breakfast

Goa
Breakfast at hotel full day for personal activities relax.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 11 :

Meals Included: Breakfast

Goa – Departure
Breakfast at hotel as per your flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for your onward destination.

What's Included

  • Monuments Entrances of sightseeing places mentioned in the itinerary

  • 10-nights / 11-days accommodation in below offered hotels or similar (standard room)

  • Applicable GST (government taxes).

  • Deluxe Air-conditioned private vehicle with English speaking chauffeur as per tour program.

  • Garland welcome and assistance on arrival at airport

  • Government licensed English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city)

  • Breakfast

  • Activities charges mentioned in the itinerary.

What's Not Included

  • Main Meals, Lunch or dinner unless mentioned

  • Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc.

  • Or anything not mentioned above.

  • Any air fare

Check out our Q&As

  • What currencies are required for this tour?

    USD, EURO, GBP, JPY, CNY, RMB, SGD, CAD, AUD are accepted at most of the tourist shops. These currencies can easily be changed into local currency INR from money changer at the airport, in cities, and at hotels.

  • Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

    You have to apply for Indian Visa yourself. https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/

  • Are vaccinations required for this tour?

    Yes. Please check same on your international ticket

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    We conduct our business fairly, with honesty, integrity and transparency. We deliver what we promise, and only promise what we can deliver.

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    Less than 10 person group only driver will be your companion. We use local government licenced tour guide in each cities for sightseeing tour.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    We do not operate tour on sharing

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    We are completely flexible in changing the travel dates, until we dont have to bourne any penalty levied by hotels/airline.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    5 Yeas

  • Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?

    Yes, you will support NGO and schooling for kids in villages.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    We operate private tour/activity only for your group. Hence if you missed to join and tour departed, we can coordinate and you can join the tour from the nearest point.

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Iitnerary and confirmation vouchers

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Face masks provided for travelers. Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff. Gear/equipment sanitized between use. Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized. Regular temperature checks for staff. Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews of this operator

rikkita patel (Google Reviewer)  

Had the most Fantastic time,...

07-Feb-2024

Had the most Fantastic time, everything was organised amazingly down to a tee. Booked an 11 day tour (Hubbali, Hampi, Badami, Aihole, SolaPur aurangabad) I contacted Sashi at Agora and he basically took care of everything. I presented him with my dates and a rough plan of what I wanted to do, Sashi then put together an itinerary. The cost was really reasonable for 2 people. And during the booking stage I had to make several changes due to some changes in dates, Sashi accommodated and amended everything accordingly with no issues. Payment was done via a bank transfer which was simple. On the first day, our driver Raju bhai came to pick us up and was with us throughout the trip. He was absolutely exceptional. A calm, reliable and completely trust worthy driver who went above an beyond many times. There was always water in the car and he was incredibly knowledgeable, making some of the long drives really interesting. All the guides we had were really knowledgeable, explained everything really well. More so they were local guides who spoke good English and had a lot of insight into a lot of the archaeological sites we visited. All the hotels we stayed in were beautiful, clean and safe. Overall I would recommend Agora to anyone. The service was exceptional and as a result we had the most amazing trip. Often India is described as an unsafe place to travel m, particularly for two women, but we felt incredibly safe. Will definitely use Agora again in the future.

DOMENICA MENOLASCINA (Google Reviewer)  

The stay and tour in...

07-Mar-2024

The stay and tour in Mumbai have been exceptional. Although the hotel, The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, had been booked by us Agora Voyages offered the services requested, domestic flight from Delhi to Mumbai, car with driver and the local English speaking guides who took us to see the beautiful landmarks this city has to offer. What we highly appreciated was the details in planning out the sightseeing even though we had suggested what we would have liked to see. Agora Voyages is professional in offering the best of what the clients ask for.

Shobha D  

Our Hampi Holiday

10-Feb-2023

Our five-day, six-night holiday arranged by Agora Voyages Private Ltd., began on 26th January when we, four friends, landed at Hubballi. The agency had arranged a minibus to pick us up from the airport to our first halt at Badami. Our driver, Raghu, turned out to be not only skilful at driving but also very informative and bent on giving us a great time. On the way, we came across sunflower fields. Seeing us revelling at the wondrous sight of hundreds of sunflowers swaying in the cool breeze, Raghu stopped the bus so we could click pictures. Badami Court, where we spent two comfortable nights, turned out to be a decent hotel with tasty food and a courteous staff. The next morning, we left for Aihole, the capital of the Chalukyan kings and the cradle of Hindu rock architecture. Thanks to Agora, we were provided with helpful and enthusiastic guides, who doubled up as excellent photographers and gave us interesting and informative titbits. Kotresh, our guide in Aihole, Pattadakal and Badami, told us how Aihole got its name. The legend goes that after avenging the death of his father, Parasuram came down to the Malaprabha River to wash his blood-stained hands and battle axe. The river turned a bloody red. A woman seeing this, screamed, ‘Ayyo Hole!’ (meaning ‘Oh, no, blood!’ in Kannada). Since then the place came to be known as Ayyhole (Aihole). Kotresh also told us how the various temples got their names. For example, the Durga temple did not get its name from the goddess but because of its proximity to durg, meaning ‘fort’--- temples were part of fortification those days. Another 5th century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was called the Lad Khan temple as Shree Lad Khan, a general of Adil Shahi had camped there during his military campaigns in the region. Until the Archeological department took possession of the area, local people lived in the temples. Kotresh showed us the holes, women used to pound masalas and grind rice, etc. We even saw children’s board games etched on to the stony floor. After feasting our eyes on the marvellous rock-cut shrines at Aihole, we drove to Pattadakal, meaning ‘coronation stone’. The exquisite temples here were built for commemoration and coronation. Later, Kotresh took us to a restaurant to relish the delicious local cuisine. Our stomachs full, we headed for Badami, to the spectacular rock cut cave temples located in a ravine, at the foot of two sandstone hills surrounding Lake Agastya. The place abounds in langurs and though Kotresh warned us to take care of our belongings, one little monkey succeeded in snatching a water bottle. The following day at Gadag, we were joined by Mr. Nagaraj, who was our guide for the remainder of our trip. Witty and articulate, he surprised us with his knowledge of Russian and French. He took us around the medieval Hindu and Jain temples and told us how the Veeranarayana temple, Trikuteshwara temple and the Jumma Masjid have a common Trust for administration and organization purposes. Jain temples and step wells were the highlights of Lakkundi. The annual Hampi Festival was on when we reached Hampi, so to avoid the large crowds, Nagaraj suggested that we leave around six in the morning for sightseeing. A wise decision, as we got to see the glorious sunrise from Matanga Hill, the place where Rama met Hanuman and Sugriva, the monkey king of Kishkinda. A UNESCO World heritage site like Pattadakal and Badami, Hampi is virtually an open air museum, with over 500 monuments of the Vijayanagara era. The Virupaksha temple with its musical pillars, now out of bounds for visitors, competed with temples like the Vittala temple in magnificence. The following morning we took a ride in a coracle. Our boat-man took us through rock caves and treated us to the sight of a swift which had brought food for its mate as she sat patiently guarding their nest on a rock. In the afternoon we visited the Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary. Spread over an area of over 82 kilometres, it is the first sloth bear sanctuary in Asia. Seated inside a cage we watched two adult bears come down a rocky cliff, stopping to lick the large boulders on which the forest officials had smeared honey. En route, as we passed by the Tungabhadra canal, Jiggar, the naturalist from our resort pointed out at otters scampering playfully on the rocky bank and at an Indian eagle owl, which on seeing us, spread out its feathers and flew away, but not before letting us see how huge it was. Before we realized it, our holiday had come to an end, and we were at Hubballi airport, to catch the flight back to Mumbai. Thanks to Agora, we had one of the most memorable glimpses of a bygone era.

USA
Sanjib Saha (Google Reviewer)  

Wonderful customer service, great itineraries...

03-Mar-2024

Wonderful customer service, great itineraries and customization, competitive prices - couldn't ask for better. Shashi Gupta and his team has provided excellent service throughout the booking process, as well as checking in during the trip. Highly recommended.

Nesta Luxton  

Eastern Himalaya Tour (Darjeeling, Pelling, Gangtok & Kalimpong)

25-Dec-2021

This tour was absolutely outstanding: amazing views of Himalayan snow capped mountains, fascinating insights into culture and monasteries of Sikkim and great food. But especially good was our wonderful local guide Bipendra whose cheerfulness , many talents and knowledge made our tour fun. To make your trip even more special, I recommend staying in the luxurious 4 star Elgin hotels for a taste of Raj heritage. Also be aware that Sikkim requires extra passport photos and photocopy of passport.

Auburn, Australia
Ana Diaz Macias (Google Reviewer)  

We were not able to...

10-Feb-2022

We were not able to make it due to COVID travel restrictions but Shashi did everything in his power to work around our schedule. Modified dates, hotels, flights to make our dream holiday possible. This is a 5 star tour agency, the flexibility, price, transparency, communication and professionalism was one of the best I’ve experienced. We look forward to visiting soon and will be using agora voyages.

Rasik Master (Google Reviewer)  

Service was excellent & awesome....

04-Dec-2022

Service was excellent & awesome. Very reliable, efficient & professional. Exceptional service from Meenakshi & Shashi. Ensured our trip was trouble-free. Most highly recommended. Will use again

Ellison Bentley (Google Reviewer)  

Shashi helped us so much...

31-Dec-2023

Shashi helped us so much to plan a tours for a wide variety of family members-excellent service! We did 3 trips with him and they were all great. Mandu was the best-an amazing castle- a great guide who pointed out all advances they had like filtered water and saunas. We also went to Ujjain and Maheshwar which were also great. Cannot recommend enough!

Lynette Cameron  

Bhopal to Aurangabad with Satpura National Park

15-May-2023

We were a group of four Australians who did a 9 day tailored tour from Bhopal to Aurangabad. The whole tour was wonderful in every aspect. Shashi did a great job with every detail. Our driver Imran was excellent and a very careful and safe driver. Hotels, guides, food all excellent. Mind you, the four of us, need to go on a diet after all the delicious buffet meals. Satpura National Park was outstanding for wildlife, guide, food. The Ellora and Ajanta caves spectacular, as was Sanchi, Bhimbetka Rock Shelter. We enjoyed every aspect of our tour and would highly recommend Agora Voyages OPC Pvt Ltd.

Australia
Caroline Motloung (Google Reviewer)  

I had the best experience...

20-Nov-2022

I had the best experience of the Authentic markets of New Dehli and Old Delhi, thanks to Giridhar, whose passion for his work and India warmed my heart. I was very anxious as I heard how dangerous Delhi is, walking with Giridhar left me comfortable. No question was left unanswered, I wish he could be cloned, he felt like an old friend.

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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Agora Voyages allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 30 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Agora Voyages allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform agora voyages, 30 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Agora Voyages requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 15 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of agora voyages charges.

    Up to 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.

    At 2 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

  • Standard Operating Protocol issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI

    Face masks provided for travelers.Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff.Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized.Regular temperature checks for staff.Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons.Gear/equipment sanitized between use.

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