Shore & Cities of Karnataka, Sirsi, Karnataka, India
The private tour will begin in Mangalore a gateway city connected with international flight. Explore the city on a sightseeing trip, then move to Hassan to visit the Hoysala architectural temple at Belur & Halebidu. Next head to Mysore & Bangalore both imperial cities have fort, palace and temple in its abundance. Then to Hampi to see centuries old UNESCO World Heritage Monuments of Vijayanagar Empire. At the end unwind yourself at Hippie loved beach of Gokarna. At the end we will drop you off at Mangalore airport.
Description & Instructions When Visiting Sirsi, Karnataka, India
The private tour will begin in Mangalore a gateway city connected with international flight. Explore the city on a sightseeing trip, then move to Hassan to visit the Hoysala architectural temple at Belur & Halebidu. Next head to Mysore & Bangalore both imperial cities have fort, palace and temple in its abundance. Then to Hampi to see centuries old UNESCO World Heritage Monuments of Vijayanagar Empire. At the end unwind yourself at Hippie loved beach of Gokarna. At the end we will drop you off at Mangalore airport.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Mangalore
Stop At: Mangalore, Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka
On arrival at Calicut airport assistance and transfer to hotel check in. (hotel check in / out time 1200hr afternoon early check in subject to rooms availability). Later city tour of Mangalore an Arabian Sea port and a major commercial center. It’s home to the Kadri Manjunath Temple, known for its bronze statues, and the 9th-century Mangaladevi Temple. Its Catholic sites include Milagres Church, dating to the 17th century, and St. Aloysious Chapel, which features interior paintings. Tannirbhavi Beach is popular for its sunset views.
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hotel
Day 2: Mangalore – Hassan (180kms/ 2hrs approx)
Stop At: Belur, Belur, Hassan District, Karnataka
Breakfast at hotel drive to Hassan check in at hotel. Later excursion to visit Belur & Halebedu (30kms from Hassan).
Belur once the capital of the Hoysala Empire, today made unforgettable for its exquisite temples. The serenity of Belur is attributed to the celebrated temple of Chennakeshava built by the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana in 1117 A.D. It is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. The main structure of the temple, which is star-shaped, a homogeneous architectural unit on a raised platform. Everything is carved in black stone, looking like metal. Facing the temple, at the entrance, stands the winged figure of Garauda, Lord Vishnu’s carrier. The 650 charging elephants on the frieze around the walls outside are all different from each other. The exotic bracket figures on the walls of this temple are serene, playful and amorous, enhancing the overall effect of this pinnacle of architectural excellence.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Halebeedu, Karnataka 573121, India
Halebedu (17kms from Belur). The temples of Halebid bear mute testimony to the rich, cultural heritage of Karnataka. Hoysaleswara Temple, dating back to the 12th century, standing on platform like a casket, is a sculptural extravaganza, richly endowed with most finely detailed scroll work in stone. The walls of the temple are covered with an endless variety of gods and goddesses and also visit the Jain bastics.
After sightseeing drive back to Hassan.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hotel
Day 3: Vellore – Tiruvannamalai – Trichy (280kms/ 6hrs approx)
Stop At: Shravanabelagola, Shravanabelagola, Hassan District, Karnataka
Morning after early breakfast at hotel drive to Mysore via visiting Shravanabelagola Jain temple, one of the most important Jain pilgrim centers. The Gommateshwara statue a 57-foot high monolithic statue located on Vindyagiri Hill is one of the two hills in Shravanabelagola the other is Chandragiri, which is also a seat of several ancient Jain centers, much older than Gommateshwara statue. Continue drive to Mysore check in at hotel.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Mysuru, Karnataka, India
Later city tour of Mysore visit Chamundi Hills, site of the Chamundeswari Temple and Nandi Bull as well as the vast City Palace, which was re-built by Henry Irwin during 1897 in an indo-saracenic style. The palace contains astonishing wall paintings, authentic stained glass work and ornamented doors. Mysore Palace a historical palace and a royal residence of the Wadiyar dynasty. The palace is in the centre of Mysore, and faces the Chamundi Hills eastward. Excursion to visit the temple complex at Somnathpur and the exquisite Keshava Vishnu temple, one of the finest in India, along with Srirangapatnam where Tipu Sultan was killed in battle against an East India Company army including Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.
Day 4: Mysore – Bangalore (150kms/ 3hrs approx)
Stop At: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Bangalore check in at hotel. Later city tour of Bangalore visit to Lal Bagh Garden a botanical garden houses over 1000 species of flora which include rare and enchanting collection of tropical plants, trees and herbs. The Bangalore Fort built by Kempe Gowda and expanded by Tippu Sultan. Within its walls is the well preserved 16th century Ganapathi Temple. Tippu’s Summer Palace the palace was first a mud-brick defense built by Kempegowda in 1537. Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan later rebuilt it 1791.
Also see the Government buildings Vidhana Soudha a splendid neo-Dravidian granite building that dominates the northern boundary of the Cubbon Park is the home of the State Legislature and the Secretariat.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.
Day 5: Bangalore – Hampi (330kms/ 6hrs approx)
Stop At: Pondicherry, Pondicherry, Union Territory of Pondicherry
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Pondicherry. Enroute visit Darasuram Temple – a storehouse of art and architecture with 85 feet high vimana. The front mandapam itself is in the form of a huge chariot drawn by horses. The temple has some exquisite stone carvings. The main deity’s consort Periya Nayaki Amman temple is situated adjacent to Airavateshwarar temple. Gangaikonda Cholapuram – built in Tamil style of architecture with a square plan. The original courtyard is two squares stacked next to each other, all mandapas, the upapitham, the shrine plans, the garbha griha (sanctum) and the tower elements are all square shaped and incorporate circles and principles of geometric symmetry. The temple complex includes Nandi Mandapa, Alankar Mandapa, Maha Mandapa, Mukha Mandapa and Ardha Mandapa. Thanjavur, Darasuram & Gangaikonda Cholapuram temples are the The Great Living Chola Temples (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) built by the Cholas between the 10th and 12th centuries CE and have a lot of similarities. Continue drive & visit Chidambaram Nataraja Temple which is dedicated to the Nataraja the dancing posture of Lord Shiva. The temple has mythical roots and a Shiva shrine existed at the site when the town was known as Thillai.
Arrive Pondicherry check in at hotel.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.
Day 6: Hampi
Stop At: Hampi, Hampi, Bellary District, Karnataka
Breakfast at hotel, city tour of Hampi. Visit Royal enclosures an open air museum. Apart from giving the visitor a glimpse into what life was like under the Vijayanagara rulers, it also showcases the architectural excellence of the era and the level of destruction the city witnessed after the decline of the Vijayanagara kings. Hazara Rama Temple one of the prime attractions this site was used only for ceremonial processions and is renowned among devotees for its bas-relief sculptures that represent important events that occurred in Ramayana. The walls of this temple are adorned with 15th century art work, such as carvings of elephants, horses, soldiers and dancing girls. King’s Balance 5 meters tall and carved out of stone, King’s Balance appears like a lonesome archway left standing, but peer closely and you can spot the three loops on the beam where the balance must have hung. Mahanavami Dibba constructed by the King Krishnadevaraya after his win over Udayagiri. This ancient site is the tallest structure in the Royal Enclosure of Hampi and can be easily observed from nearby places due to its height. Statue of Ugra Narasimha Temple a statue of Laxmi Narasimha carved out of a single block of stone.
Virupaksha Temple this temple still in worship, was built by Lokamahadevi, the Queen of Vikaramaditya to commemorate her husband’s victory over the Pallavas of Kanchipuram. It closely resembles the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram on plan and elevation and represents a fully developed and perfected stage of the Dravidian architecture. Vithala & Lotus Mahal a nice place with sufficient time greens and romantic ambience in zenana enclosure. The features of building is marvellous and splendid. Vithala Temple Complex a 16th century structure that is dedicated to the Lord Vishnu. It is a ‘must see’ site for all because of its beautiful, complex carvings and magnificent architecture, which is not matched by any other structure located here.
Rest time free and easy to relax in your hotel.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.
Day 7: Hampi – Gadag – Lakkundi – Gokarna (310kms/ 6hrs approx)
Stop At: Lakkundi, Lakkundi, Gadag District, Karnataka
Breakfast at hotel drive to Gokarna enroute visit ruined temples at Lakkundi & Gadag. Lakkundi is full of ruined temples like Mallikarjuna, Virabhadra, Manikeshwara, Nanneshwara, Lakshminarayana, Someshwara, Nilakanteshwara and many more. Trikuteshwara temple a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva had three lingas mounted on the same stone in the town of Gadag. There is a shrine dedicated to Saraswathi in this temple and it has carved columns. Continue drive to Gokarna check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax onthe beach.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Lakkundi
Day 8: Gokarna
Stop At: Kudle Beach, South Gokarna, Gokarna 581326 India
Breakfast at hotel. City tour of Gokarna a town on the Arabian Sea. A popular pilgrimage destination for Hindus, known for sacred sites Mahabaleshwar Temple, which has a shrine dedicated to the deity Shiva. Nearby, Koti Teertha is a temple tank where devotees wash in the holy waters. The town is also home to beaches such as palm-lined Gokarna, Kudle and Om beach. Gokarna beach is a hippy paradise. Rest time free and easy to relax on the beach.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hotel
Day 9: Gokarna
Stop At: Gokarna, Gokarna, Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka
Breakfast at hotel day free and easy to relax and on the beach and individual activities. Overnight at hotel.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.
Day 10: Gokarna – Udupi – Mangalore (230kms/ 5hrs approx)
Stop At: Mangalore, Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka
Breakfast at hotel drive to Mangalore enroute visit Udupi. Udupi known for its Hindu temples, including the huge, 13th-century Sri Krishna Temple, which houses a statue of Lord Krishna. Nearby, the ancient Anantheshwara Temple is dedicated to the god Shiva. Continue drive to Mangalore and drop off to airport to board flight for onward destination.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
Duration: 10 days
Starts: Sirsi, India
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
