Kingdoms of Deccan

Depart from UK an overnight flight to Bengaluru. 

Arrive Bengaluru in the morning. Meet assist on arrival and transfer to your hotel. Rest for the day. 

Bengaluru, noted for its gardens, tree-lined avenues and Gothic churches is explored post breakfast. An afternoon tour of the city to Bannerghatta National Park, Venkataraman Temple, Swee Dodda Ganapathi Temple,Bull temple, Botanical garden and the impressive Vidhan Sabha. Overnight stay at a hotel in Bengaluru. 

Drive to Srirangapatnam and visit the summer palace and fort of Tipu Sultan who was defeated by the British in 1799. Also visit Sriranganathswamy temple. Continue on to Mysore, renowned for sandalwood, teak and incense. Two nights stay in Mysore. City tour of Mysore visiting the City Palace of the Maharaja of Mysore built in Indo-Saracenic style and the museum. Drive to visit the Chamundi Hill where a huge statue of Nandi Bull overlooks the city. Explore the colourful Devraja fruit and Vegetable market. Overnight stay at a hotel in Mysore. 

After breakfast leave for Hassan en-route visit Sravanabelagola, with its huge monolithic statue of Gomatheshwara (17- metres tall). Visit the Hoysala temples at Belur and Halebid renowned for their fine sculptures and design. Overnight stay at a hotel in Hassan. 

After breakfast, take a long drive to Hospete. Two nights stay in Hospete. 

Full day sightseeing of Vijayanagar and Hampi ruins that date back to 14th century. Vijayanagar, one of the largest Hindu Empires in India’s history, spread from Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal and covered all the Deccan Plateau (Peninsular India). The greatness of the city is still evident from the Vitthala and the Hazara Ram temples, the stone chariot, the Lotus Mahal and the Queen's bath. 

Drive to Aihole, the cradle of stone temple architecture of the southern Dravidian school. The temples date back to the early Chalukya period, 5th century A.D. Continue to Badami visiting en-route the temples at Pattadakal, referred by Ptolemy in the 1st century A.D as Petrigal. Two nights stay in Badami. 

Morning visit to the hilltop temples with rock-cut shrines and the splendid cave temples adorned with carvings. 

Depart for Bijapur. Afternoon tour visiting the magnificent Gol Gombaz and the beautiful tomb of Ibraham Raza. Overnight stay in Bijapur. 

Drive to Gulbarga. Afternoon sightseeing includes a visit to the Jama Masjid with its huge dome. Overnight stay in Gulbarga. 

After breakfast leave for Hyderabad visiting en-route the monuments at Bider. Two nights stay in Hyderabad. 

Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of Telangana state and dates back to the 16th century. Today a visit to Golconda, once famed for its diamond mines (the famous Kohinoor diamond of the British Crown was mined here), with its imposing 13th century fort. Also visit the Charminar, Mecca Masjid and the Salarjung Museum. 

Transfer to the International airport in Hyderabad towards your onward journey to UK.