Temples, Forts & Beaches Duration:
18 Days
Destination: Kolkatta, Bhubaneshwar, Konark, Puri,
Hyderabad, Bidar, Gulbarga, Bijapur, Badami, Hampi, Goa, Mumbai
Day 01: Arrival at Kolkatta / Delhi
On arrival in Kolkatta, meet
and assist at the airport & transfer to prebooked hotel.
Day 02: Kolkatta / Delhi - Bhubaneshwar (Flight) After breakfast,
city tour of Kolkatta. In the afternoon, city tour of Calcutta, the "City
of Joy". Visit the High Court Building, built in 1872 and the oldest
Catholic Church in Calcutta, St. Mary's. The Howrah Bridge, built in 1943 -
the bridge is crossed by approximately two million people everyday; the
Botanical Gardens, the oldest and largest of their kinds in India; Victoria
Memorial: The majestic Victoria memorial, symbol of Calcutta was built
between 1906 and 1921 at a cost of Rs. 7.5 million and is a reminder of the
might of British India. It has been compared to Taj Mahal, with its four
rudimentary minarets, gleaming white dome and exterior of solid Marcrana
marble. Lord Curzon as both tribute to Queen Victoria and a triumphant
depiction of her reign in India conceived it. Afternoon, transfer to the
airport to board flight for Bhubaneshwar. On arrival transfer to prebooked
hotel.
Day 03: Bhubaneshwar After
breakfast, full day city tour Bhubaneshwar, known, as Kalinga in ancient
times is the capital of Orissa. At one time, some 7000 sandstone temples are
supposed to have stood on the site of sacred Bundusagar Lake alone. Today
almost 500 remain. Most of them were built between 7th and 15th centuries
and most of them were destroyed during the Mughal conquest of 16th century.
Visit the Brahmeshwar temple, built in 11th century; Rajarani temple;
Mukteshwar temple: one of the most refined temples in Orissa. Small and
compact it is famous for both its ornate entrance and rich interior
carvings; Parumeshwar temple: built in 12th century and the Lingaraj Temple:
built in 11th century, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Lord
Lingaraj (Lord of Universe), is one of the most notable temples.
Day 04: Bhubaneshwar - Konark - Puri After breakfast, visit leave
for Puri. Enroute visit the Sun Temple at Konark. Built by King Narasimhadev
in mid 13th century to celebrate his victory over the Muslims. It is a
masterpiece of design and construction; built in the shape of huge chariot,
pulled along by seven racing horses on 24 intricately carved stone wheels.
Continue drive to Puri. Arrive Puri and check in at prebooked hotel.
Day 05: Puri After breakfast, visit Puri - one of the four Dhams
(holiest Hindu pilgrimage places in India). Visit the Jaganath Temple, which
was built during the 12th century by the Kalinga ruler Chodaganga Deva, is
the tallest and most magnificent monuments in Orissa. It's pinnacle rises to
a formidable height of 65 m (212 ft). It is divided into four parts: the
main central hall, the hall of audience, the dancing hall and the hall of
offerings, and has four gates. Each of these has an animal theme: horse
(south gate), elephant (north gate), tiger (west gate) and the lion (east
gate). It is by the Lions gate that the pilgrims make their entrance and in
front of this main gate stands a 16-sided monolithic pillar called Aruna
Stambha. Afternoon, relax at Puri, a beautiful beach resort along with the
Bay of Bengal.
Day 06: Puri - Bhubaneshwar -
Hyderabad After lunch, leave for Bhubaneshwar to board flight
Hyderabad at 1925 hrs. Arrive Hyderabad at 2100 hrs & transfer to
prebooked hotel. Hyderabad, is the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh,
Hyderabad is an important center of Islamic culture and central India's
counterpart to Mughal splendors of the northern cities of Delhi, Agra and
Fatehpur Sikri. Most of the impressive monuments date from the 16th and 17th
centuries and the city retains much of its 19th century atmosphere. The city
was founded in 1590 by Muhammad Quli, the founder of Qutab Shahi kings who
ruled this part of the Deccan from 1512 to 1687, when Aurangzeb defeated the
last king.
Day 07: Hyderabad After
breakfast, visit the Charminar, built by Mohammad Quli Qutab Shah in 1591 to
commemorate the end of plague in Hyderabad; Mecca Masjid, is one of the
largest mosques in the world and is said to accommodate up to 10,000
worshippers; Salar Jung Museum, which contains 35,000 exhibits from all
corners of the world and includes sculptures, woodcarvings, religious
objects, Persian miniature painting, illuminated manuscripts, armour and
weaponry. Also on display are the swords, daggers of Mughal emperors and of
Tipu Sultan; Golconda Fort, which dates from the time of Qutab Shahi kings
(16th to 17th centuries) and is one of the most magnificent fortress
complexes in India. Golconda remained the capital until 1590, when the court
was moved to the new city of Hyderabad; tomb of Adil Shahi Kings, which are
surrounded by landscaped gardens and number of them has beautifully carved
stonework. of Nawabs.
Day 08: Hydrabad - Bidar -Gulbarga
After breakfast, leave for
Gulbarga enroute visiting Bidar which was once the capital of Bahmani
kingdom from 1428. The town has a splendid 15th century fort having Ranjeen
Mahal, Chini Mahal & Turkish Mahal palaces. Continue drive to Gulbarga.
Arrive Gulbarga and check in at prebooked hotel. Later, visit Gulbarga,
which was the capital of Bahmani Kingdom from 1347 until its transfer in
1428. Gulbarga's old fort has number of interesting buildings. The town also
has a number of imposing tombs of Bahmani kings, a shrine to a Muslim saints
and the Sharana Basaveshwara temple.
Day 09:
Gulbarga - Bijapur After breakfast, leave for Bijapur. On arrival
in Bijapur check in at your prebooked hotel. In the afternoon, visit
Bijapur, known as the Agra of the South. Visit the Gol Gumbaz, it is the
mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah and was built in 1659; Ibrahim Roza, which
was constructed at the height of Bijapur prosperity by Ibrahim Adih Shah;
Jama Masjid, also constructed by Adil Shah and the Citadel.
Day 10: Bijapur - Badami After breakfast, leave for Badami - the
town best know for cave temples. On arrival in Badami, check in at your
prebooked hotel. Afternoon, visit Badami which was once the capital city of
the Chalukyan empire which ruled much of the Central Deccan between the 4th
and 8th centuries A.D. Badami is best known for its cave temples, cut into
the cliff face of the red sandstone hill and connected by flights of steps.
They display the full range of religious sects, which have grown up on
Indian soil. Two of them are dedicated to Vishnu; one to Siva and the fourth
is a Jain temple. There's also one natural cave, which is a Buddhist temple
Day 11: Badami -Hospet After
breakfast, leave for Hospet. Enroute stop at Pattadakal, the second capital
of Badami Chalukyans, Pattadakal reached the height of its glory during the
7th and 8th centuries. The most important monument here is the Lokeshwara or
Virupaksha temple that narrates episodes from the Hindu epics, the Ramayana
and Mahabharata. After the visit, continue drive to Hospet. We again stop to
visit Aihole, which was the Chalukyan regional capital between the 4th &
6th centuries. There are over 70 structures in and around and the more
important structures include the Ladkhan temple, Kulinguidi & Durgigude
Temples. Continue drive towards Hospet. After the visit continue drive to
Badami.
Day 12: Hospet After breakfast,
excursion to Hampi. Hampi the once beautiful capital city of Vijaynagar
Empire was greater than Rome and had palaces; temple and sculptures spread
all over. The Sultanates of South razed the city to the ground in the year
1565 AD. Some of the interesting ruins remaining are the Virupaksha, Vittala
and Hazara Rama Temples, huge Ganesha & Narasimha images, the elephant
stables, the queen's bath, and carvings on the Ramachandra Temple &
Lotus Mahal.
Day 13: Hospet - Goa After
breakfast, leave for Goa - the land of white churches, golden sands &
green fields. Goa is a fascinating beach resort on the Arabian Sea & is
very popular with Europeans since 1510, when Alhuquerque overwhelmed Goa &
it became the capital of Portuguese empire in the east.
Day 14: Goa Full day city tour of North & South Goa.
Day 15: Goa At leisure by the beach or action in various water
sports.
Day 16: Goa - Mumbai (Train)
After breakfast, free. In the afternoon, transfer to the railway station to
board train for Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai and transfer to prebooked hotel.
Day 17: Mumbai After breakfast, city tour of Mumbai - the capital
city of the state Maharashtra and is the economic powerhouse of India. Visit
the Gateway of India, which was conceived following the visit of King George
V in 1911 and officially opened in 1924; Price of Wales Museum, designed in
Indo Saracenic style and has sections for arts and paintings, archeology,
natural history and an interesting collection of miniature paintings, bas
relief's from the Elephanta caves and Buddha images; Marine Drive, which
runs along the shoreline, starting at Nariman Point and up to Malabar Hill;
Hanging Gardens, laid out in 1881 these formally laid out gardens have a
notable collection of hedges shaped like animals free. In the afternoon,
transfer to the railway station to board train for Mumbai.
Day 18: Departure Mumbai Transfer to airport to
board flight back home / onward destination.
