A JOURNEY THROUGH the STORIES CARVED in STONES and AMAZING BEACHES

Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hassan, Hospet, Hampi, Goa, Mumbai (9 nights / 10 days)

India has a beautiful mix of versatile sculpture art and comprehensive beaches that bring so much variety to its travel portfolio. One has to completely go through all the pristine beaches and the carefully-sculpted temples to feel the diversity and richness of its cultural palette. Whether it’s the ancient temples showing faith in spirituality or the beaches inviting you into the stories of their past, there is so much to feel, explore and embrace that this seems like a never-ending trail. The Lal Bagh is a fantastic example of the craftsmanship of the Tipu Sultan era, when gardens and greenery were the traditional style of architecture. Hassan is a busy and crowded spot, which has good connectivity to take you to roads less travelled. Goa brings the hidden romance and the silent beauty of Nature together on your palette. Sun-basking and indulgence is a unique adventurous activity done at this place.

Highlights of this enchanting trip will cover some unique experiences –

Shaking hands with the important monuments of Old Bengaluru City
Seeking solace on the silent beaches of Goa and indulging in adventure water- sports
Watching the unique architecture of the Mysuru temples and experiencing their incense
A close encounter with the sea and the local Mumbai flavour of Marine Drive

All touring will be on a private basis with your own driver / guide. All ranges of accommodation would be available from 3* hotels upwards and to include deluxe 5* hotels and palaces as well as boutique-style / heritage properties. Just indicate your preference and budget and leave the rest to us and our expert ground handlers in India!

Programme:

DAY 1: ARRIVE BENGALURU by FLIGHT

When you reach Bengaluru from your flight, you will be greeted by one of our local representatives before you are transferred to your hotel. You will then be provided with an awesome experience of exploring Bengaluru.

Bengaluru – The Cosmopolitan Paradise

Because of its fast-changing urban scenario, Bengaluru has become the prime spot for the Indian people. They come here mainly for thriving in the world-class IT infra-structure and for a career in Information Technology as national and international firms have corporate offices in its tech parks. The modern Bengaluru is filled with amazing opportunities for drinking, dining and night-life enjoyment. The old one still basks in the glory of its calm architecture that brings back the sweet moments from the Victorian era. It is home to some exceptional monuments from the colonial times and the time of Indian rulers. The Lal Bagh is an example of the amazing architectural and creative knowledge of the ancient architects. The ferns and petals, combined with the beautiful construction, make sitting in this park a beautiful experience. Visiting places like Bull Temple, Vidhan Sabha and the famous Cubbon Park adds more memories to your kitty.

The sight-seeing experience –

Experiencing Bengaluru brings the taste of two aspects of this city. The first one is the feeling of old Bengaluru, which has proudly embraced its past. The second one is the glorious modern-day city, which takes pride in its sky-high buildings and technology- oriented shops. A visit to the Lal Bagh will fill your soul with love for the Indian architecture. Beautiful carvings, combined with the right placement of natural plants, make this garden an abode for relaxation and merriments. The strategic importance of buildings like the Secretariat and the Vidhan Sabha display the proud past this amazing city has seen. The famous Cubbon Park is also a live example of beauty and Nature’s blessings, showing that Nature and Man can co-exist peacefully. The full-day city excursion will help in making you aware of the major places, best shopping experiences and the glorious parks of this place.

You spend the night relaxing inside your hotel room.

DAY 2: BENGALURU- MYSURU by SURFACE (149 kms. / approx. 4½ hours)

Mysuru – A Glorious Tale of The Past

The enchantment of this city has not faded with time. The ancient carvings of the Mysuru temples are marvellous and show the remarkable hard work that was done a few centuries ago. The monumental wealth of this beautiful city invites you to indulge in the glories of its amazing creations. Many of the palaces and temples in this city are included in the list of World Heritage monuments. The colourful and vibrant bazaars of Mysuru are filled with crowds, markets, the selling of incense sticks, sandalwood artefacts and articles of importance. Buying spices and sandalwood items is every traveller’s delight. There are many institutions that teach Ashtanga Yoga in Mysuru City. The nearby Srirangapattnam Fort is a remarkable example of the grandeur and the larger than life representation of tradition and culture. The Chamundeshwari Temple also ignites some passion for Maa Kaali and the spiritual practices observed over here.

The sight-seeing experience –

Having changed its name in 2014 from Mysore to Mysuru, the old-world charm of this place is still unmatched. The smell of incense sticks and the aroma oozing out of the sandalwood artefacts brings you into a world of heavenly bliss. You can witness marvellous sculptures and epic mythical tales of the era bygone in the temple walls, where grandeur is a common trait. Bringing the glorious epic culture of Indian mythology and the art skills together under one platform, the ancient temples in Mysuru are a celebration of life, religion and spirituality. A visit to Srirangapattnam Fort will refresh memories of the struggle by then King Tipu Sultan, who tasted defeat at the hands of the British. The remnants left here keep calling travellers to shake hands with its glorious history. The Maharaja’s Palace is a highly-sculpted and strong building, providing shelter to the ruler and his family. The city view from the top of Chamundeshwari Hill is magnificent and so is the sacred temple of Maa Chamundeshwari.

DAY 3: MYSURU - SRAVANABELGOLA - HASSAN (128 kms. / approx. 4½ hours)

This day will give you a road trip to Hassan. The journey takes a small break in Sravanabelgola, where the Lord Gomteshwara is worshipped. The sacred offering of milk and honey is given to the pious deity. The journey then continues to Hassan and you stay overnight at this place.

DAY 4: HASSAN

Belur and Halebid (the Spiritual Journey into History)

The rich architecture and the strong belief in the religion is evident in the temples of Belur and Halebid. Belur is located at a distance of 38 kilometres from Hassan and embraces the banks of the sacred River Yagachi. Being the capital of the famous Hoysala Empire, it boasts of a glorious heritage of temples and pristine forts. An amazing example of architecture is the Chennakeshava Temple. After a laborious effort of 103 years, this huge temple was carved, leaving no space empty from the marvellous sculptures. The scenes from the epic tales of mythical India grace the temple walls and its compound. Hoysaleshwara Temple is a great example of the spiritual inclinations of the famous Hoysala Empire. The intricate patterns of dancing girls, peacocks and ferocious animals grace the large walls of this temple, an interesting fact being that no two walls have the same design pattern. Guarded by a Nandi bull, this temple still remains unfinished after 86 laborious years of effort.

The sight-seeing experience –

The exceptional experience of being in Belur is simply marvellous. Sitting gracefully on the banks of the River Yagachi, this religious place has a lot to offer to a traveller interested in learning about spirituality and religion. The magnificence of its temple arts and the charisma of the ancient architecture represent a picture of prospering India. The epic tales, sneaking out of these sculptures, will mesmerise you with their brief yet thoughtful messages and will leave you to think of their significance in the current scenario. The motifs and patterns carved on these walls are exceptional and will let you explore a lot about the historical, religious and mythological importance of its existence. Multiple pillars with intricate design patterns represent a grand legacy, which is a celebration of the great Indian architecture. Halebid is home to some ancient architectural creations and mausoleums, which took enormous effort and hard work to come to life.

DAY 5: HASSAN - HOSPET by SURFACE (360 kms. / approx. 7 hours)

After breakfast at your hotel, it’s time to gear up towards Hospet. Based at a distance of 360 kilometres, the journey to Hospet consumes a precious seven hours of your time. On the way, you will witness the legacy of Chitradurga Fort. The fort is an amazing example of smart architecture, using multiple hills and a pristine acme as its base. The tall peak gives a magnificent view of the surrounding valley. Located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, Hospet is a part of Bellary District in the central region of Karnataka. It is also only 12 kilometres distant from the famous location of Hampi. Once you reach here, you spend the night relaxing inside your accommodation.

DAY 6: IN HOSPET

The future of a location like Hampi tells us a lot about the past it might have seen. The large scattered ruins of a full-fledged civilisation point to the fact that nothing lasts forever. The ecstatic carvings depict the passion, culture, beliefs and the popular traditions of an ancient time. The sight of palm-groves, awesome banana plants and the rejuvenating sight of paddy-fields paves the way for playing with Nature’s music. The canvas of life is painted in all the hues of colours for travellers to indulge in and to cherish the versatile and creative beauty of this land, where carvings are a way of showcasing devotion. Famous for being a World Heritage site, this place requires a minimum time of two days for exploration. However, lingering for a while provides better hanging-out opportunities. The local Bazaar adds much-needed flavour to your trip with an offering of local items.

The sight-seeing experience –

This royal city of Hampi was once the significant capital of the Vijayanagar Empire. Being the epitome of carvings, this place is a big sea of statues, sculptures, carvings and art’s manifestations in all possible forms. The far-sighted view of the ruins gives a feel of a fading era, where glories shine brighter than light itself. The remnants of Virupaksha Vittala tell stories of its downfall and the charm it received during its good old times. Often considered as the Rome of India, this place has seen winds rise and fall in its golden time. The Ramchandra Temples show remarkable carvings. The idols of Lord Ganesha and Lord Narasimha magnify the inner powers of the deities. The Queen’s Bath and Elephant Stables are noted structures over here to be explored. The Lotus Mahal is a phenomenal creation of the time when art was considered a divine way to communicate with God.

DAY 7: HOSPET - GOA by SURFACE (320 kms. approx. 7 hours)

After having your morning breakfast, you start your travel towards Goa. The journey will continue for the next seven hours and you will cover a distance of 320 kilometres.

On reaching here, you spend the remaining time in your hotel and relaxing overnight inside your room.

DAY 8: IN GOA

You will have your breakfast and will relish a whole day of enjoying the amazing resort’s facilities. A second night of rest will prepare you for the fun waiting for you the very next day.

DAY 9: GOA - MUMBAI by FLIGHT

Today, you board a flight to take you to Mumbai. On arrival, you check-in to your hotel room.

In the second half of the day, you embark on a half-day sightseeing programme, organised by our local agents.

Mumbai – The City of Dreams

The city belongs to dreamers and to the hard-working people who come here to realise what they truly believe in. The city has a soul and has a past, which is shaking hands effortlessly with the future. Whether it’s the long laid path of Marine Drive lying alongside the beaches or the vivacious film studios where cinema is the lifeline, Mumbai is a myth that keeps on living in the hearts of the people who live here. A mesmerising party scenario and unique dining opportunities create the perfect environment for the night-life. The other part of society has so much to relish here when it comes to pocket- friendly street-food. The sight of sky-rocketing buildings and crowded slums seem equally special to this city. The love for fashion, movies, food and religion is imprinted deeper into its soul. No-one can leave from here without being impressed by the amalgamation of culture, culinary delights and the religious flavours.

The sight-seeing experience –

The half-day excursion to Mumbai’s special locales reveals some magnificent aspects of this place. The Gateway of India is witness to the rulers and the struggle of Mother India. It is a reminder of the day when King George V landed in this British colony in 1924. The sight of the Afghan Church reminds of those who sacrificed their lives for the country in the Afghan war. You can observe the amazing gothic architecture of the Bombay High Court.

Driving past the Old Secretariat and Rajabhai Clock Tower reminds of the colonial time and the imprints left by the British rulers. You can observe the glorious stories of this land through the artefacts, miniature paintings and old stuff exhibited at the Prince of Wales Museum. You will complete a long drive of Marine Drive, fondly called ‘The Queen’s Necklace. You can let loose your inner guards and feel the heavenly bliss whilst sitting at the Haji Ali Dargah.