Temple Tour South India
Duration : 20
Days - 19 Nights
Destination : Calcutta - Bhubaneshwar - Konark - Chennai (Mpuram)
- Thanjavur - Madurai - Mysore - Hassan - Hampi - Badami - Pattadakal - Aurangabad
- Mumbai
While virtually every city or town of India may justifiably be described as
temple towns, most of those in this tour owe their existence to their temples
of extraordinary magnificence and importance, hence the name 'Temple towns'.
Places like Bhubaneshwar and Aurangabad have temples of unbelievable architecture
as reminders of a very rich classical era. The city of Madurai pulsates every
bit with endless rituals of its mammoth Meenakshi Sundereshwar Temple. And those
at Konark, Mammallapuram, Thanjavur and Karnataka should firmly leave you spell
bound due to their sheer magnificence, mammoth conceptualization and unsurpassed
artistry. Even an unsuggestive name like Goa has beautiful old temples hidden
in dense rain forests.
Day 01 : Kolkata
Arrive at Kolkata and Check in. Later in the evening, visit its buzzing bazaars
or its many famous art centers.
Day 02 : Kolkata
Early in the morning, take a walking tour of Maidan area to watch Kolkata waking
up- jogging, aerobics, yoga sessions, meditation, chats, trams, horse rides
at race course, etc. against the historic backdrop of buildings like the Victoria
Memorial. During the day, take a sightseeing tour of the city that includes
visits to Victoria Memorial museum, Indian Museum, BBD Bagh buildings, Haora
Bridge, Belur Math and St.Paul's Cathedral. Evening free for last day's shopping.
Day 03 : Bhubaneshwar
Fly to Bhubaneshwar, the city of temples. In a guided sightseeing tour visit
some of the finest temples of Classical Hindu age. Visit the Parsurameshvara
Temple, Muktesvara temple, Rajarani temple, Lingaraj temple and many others
around the Bindu Sagar tank.
Day 04 : Bhubaneshwar
Take a daylong sightseeing trip to Konark Sun temple visiting Udaygiri caves
on the route. Also visit the outskirts of Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri- a scene
of undying Hindu faith and festivities. Return back to Bhubaneshwar by the evening.
Day 05 : Mahabalipuram
Fly to Chennai and further transfer by car to Mamallapuram. Day free to relax
in your beach side resort.
Day 06 : Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) is famous for it's shore temples and other monuments
which are in a form of epic recreated on stone. Morning walk over the seashore
and explore the temples on own.
Day 07 : Thanjavur
Driving down to fertile rice growing plains of Cauvery reach Tiruchirapally.
Nearby visit the enormous Srirangam temple and then continue to the Chola citadel
of Tanjore. Visit the World heritage Brihadishvara temple- simply unparalleled!
Day 08 : Madurai
Reach Madurai. Day to be spent completely at leisure or to soak in the unique
Dravidian cultural atmosphere of this ancient temple city.
Day 09 : Madurai
Visit the Thirumal Nayaka Palace and the Dravidian masterpiece Meenakshi Sundereshwar
temple which makes the city of Madurai so famous and pulsate with festivities.
In the evening board the overnight express train to Bangalore.
Day 10 : Bangalore
Arrive at Bangalore in the morning. At Bangalore visit Cubbon Park, Lal Baug
and intersting public buildings within Cubbon Park. Excursion to Nrityagram-
a center for learning of Indian classical dances set up by noted Odissi dancer
Protima Bedi.
Day 11 : Hassan
Drive to Hassan visiting Sravanabelagola on the way which is famous for the
tallest monolithic statue in the World (of Lord Gomateshvara)! Reach Hassan
and check in.
Day 12 : Hassan
During the day visit two most outstanding sites for Hoysala style temples namely
Halebid and Belur. Visit some of the most beautiful temples of Hoysala kingdom
notably the Hoysaleshwar temple and Kedareshwara temple at Halebid and Channekeshava
temple at Belur. These temples have some of the most intricate and unbelievable
carvings found anywhere in Hindu temples.
Day 13 : Hampi
After a long drive through central Karnataka reach Hampi and check in. Evening
at leisure.
Day 14 : Hampi
In the morning take a walking tour of the Hampi bazaar and temples. Hampi has
extraordinary remnants of once great city Vijayanagara. The sheer size and majestic
appearance of this historical site is amazing! Cross the picturesque Tungabhadra
River on a primitively designed corracle- a very different experience!
Day 15 : Badami
Reach the little town of Badami after a beautiful drive through countryside.
Badami was once the capital of Chalukyan empire and today it boasts some of
the most beautiful rock cut temples of that period. Also visit the Virupaksha
temple at Pattadakal (Extraordinary for its sculptures, a World Heritage site)
and a few remarkable temples at Aihole.
Day 16 : Goa
Drive to Goa and check in. Day completely at leisure.
Day 17 : Goa
Sightseeing tour of Old Goa and Panjim for beautiful churches, cathedrals and
Mangesh Temple. Mandovi River cruise.
Day 18 : Goa
Day completely at discretion in the tropical paradise known as Goa.
Day 19 : Mumbai
Mumbai: Fly back to Mumbai. After checking in, day kept at discretion to indulge
in last day's shopping or to enjoy the pulsating nightlife of Bombay.
Day 20 : Departure
Day free till the time of departure. At appropriate time, transfer to airport
to catch the flight back home. The tour ends.
