South India Highlights: Karnataka and Goa

Welcome to Karnataka. You will be picked up from Bangalore airport and dropped off at your hotel.

Rest and refresh before heading off to visit the main attractions of India’s IT capital. Visit the 16th-century Dodda Basavana Gudi, or Bull Temple, dedicated to Shiva’s bull-faced vehicle. Stop by the Vidhana Soudha, built in classical Neo-Dravidian style, which serves as the office of the state legislature. Next up, stroll the Bangalore Palace, a European-style palace in the heart of the city. Breathe in fresh air at the city’s many charming green spaces – Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park – parks designed and built during the British era. Stop at Tipu Sultan’s Fort and Palace and browse the superb Neolithic age artefacts at the Government Museum.

Head to Mysore in a chauffeur-driven private vehicle. The duration of the ride (without stops) is three and a half hours. En route, you will be able to visit the town of Srirangapatna.

Gastronomic delights await in Mysore, a city known for its culinary delicacies. Stop by popular food outlets and non-descript joints that locals flock to and try out regional favourites such as Mysore masala dosa, a thin crepe made from rice and lentils stuffed with spicy masala. Finish off your food tour with cups of steaming hot filter coffee. Along with plates of savouries and sweets, enjoy titbits on how these dishes came into existence – stories that add a bit of zing to the dishes.

Imagine the life of the royals as you tour through the Maharajah’s Palace, a fine example of Indo-Saracenic style architecture. The palace is lit with thousands of lights every Sunday and is a sight to behold. Later, drive up to Chamundi Hills, where you can seek the blessings of Goddess Chamundeshwari and enjoy views of the city below.

Head to Chikmagalur from Mysore in your private, chauffeur-driven vehicle. The duration of your drive will be 4.5 hours. En route, you will be visiting Shravanabelagola.

Enjoy a picturesque car drive to Chikmagalur, a small town known for its hilly terrain and coffee plantations. On the way to this charming hill station, stop to experience Shravanabelagola, an important Jain pilgrimage site. Walk up 700 steps to be in the presence of the 57 foot tall, 1000-year-old Gomateshwara Bahubali statue, its serene beauty washing away any tiredness you may experience. Spend time walking around what is considered the world’s largest monolithic stone statue and discovering sculptures and inscriptions that can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilisation. Delve into Karnataka’s rich heritage on an excursion to the Belur and Halebid temples built by the Hoysala dynasty during the 12th century.

Leave from Chikmagalur to Hampi in a private, chauffeur-driven vehicle. The duration of your journey will be six hours.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hampi dazzles on many planes – with its magnificent ruins and structures and with its surreal landscape. The Virupaksha Temple towers over the landscape and provides a frame of reference as you view the vastness of the ruins from vantage viewpoints.

Leave for Badami in your private, chauffeur-driven vehicle. The duration of the drive will be five hours.

Your discovery of Karnataka’s rich cultural heritage continues as you journey along to Badami, home to stunning rock-cut cave temples. From Badami, head towards the historic town of Aihole, where archaeological excavations have uncovered 120 stone and cave temples spread across the Malaprabha River Valley. Move along to Pattadakal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its seventh and eighth century Jain and Hindu temples built during the Chalukya dynasty.

After a busy week with engaging sights and sounds, Goa’s charming beaches and warm waters provide the perfect setting for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. Do as little or as much as your heart desires. Go beach hopping, discover eclectic bars and quaint cafes, stroll through long stretches of sand and visit the weekly markets in Arpora, Mapusa and Anjuna.

Transfer from your hotel to Goa airport in a private vehicle. Board your flight to Mumbai; a 1.5 hour long journey. Upon reaching Mumbai international airport, you will be picked up and dropped off at your hotel in a private vehicle.

Experience the colour and chaos of Mumbai, the financial and entertainment capital of the country. Visit the historic Gateway of India and drive along Marine Drive, a stretch of road known as the Queen’s Necklace that overlooks the sea. Take a break at the Hanging Gardens, the Kamala Nehru Park or Horniman Circle and get an insight into the life of Mahatma Gandhi at Mani Bhavan.

Transfer from your hotel to Mumbai International Airport in a private vehicle for your journey back home.