Transfer to Railway Station to aboard Train to Madurai
(Those who don’t want to travel by train stay overnight in Chennai)

Depart to Tanjore by Road ( 55 Kms )

Tanjore also called as Thanjavur is called the Rice Bowl of Tamilnadu. Thanjavur rose to the glory during the later Chola period between the 9 th and 14 th Century AD. It is well know through out the world for being the home of the Brahadeshwarar temple and for its Bronze icons and paintings.

Visit Brahadeshwarar Temple

It is a 10 th Century temple is a brilliant example of the Dravidian style of temple architecture. The central temple known as the Periya Kovil stands within as fort, whose walls are later additions built during the 16 th Century. The Vimana (main Tower) of the temple is about 70 meter high and is the tallest in the world. It was so designed that the Vimana never cast a shadow at the noon at any part of the year.

The remarkable feature of the temple is the great Nandi (Stone Bull), at the entrance is immense in size, a popular belief is that it is growing by the day. The nandhi weighs 27 tonnes and it is the second largest in the world.

Visit Palace & Saraswathi Mahal

The Palace is a series of large and rambling buildings of fine masonry, built partly by the Nayakas around 1550 AD and partly by the Marathas. The entrance is by way of a large quadrangular courtyard. The encircling walls are pierced by big gateways to the north and east. The courtyard leads to a many pillared hall. A small inner courtyard give access to a large one.

190 Ft Watch tower and the Durbar halls of the Nayakar and Marattas are chief sight of the palace.

The Saraswathi Mahal Library has remarkable collection of about 30,433 sanskrit and other vernacular palm leaf manuscripts and 6,426 pirnted volumes, besides a large number of Journals.

Visit Darasuram

Darasuram Airawateswarar temple which abounds in architectural and rare sculptural specimens of workmanship. The carvings contain different poses of gymnastic feats we see in modern circus, shown by females keeping their head at the centre and legs interwoven in such a skilful way as to form a circumference of a circle.

All the dancing poses of Bharatanatyam are carved as stone. In front of the temple, there is a small mandapam, which can be reached by 3 steps in the form of a ladder. The steps are made of stones, which give different musical sounds when tapped. All the seven swaras can be had a different point.

Over Night stay Swamimalai

After Break Fast
Depart to Gangaikonda Choleswaram by road ( 40 Kms )

The great temple of Siva at this place is next only to the Brahadewarar temple, Tanjore in its monumental nature and surpasses it in Sculptural quality. The vimana with its recessed corners and upward movement presents a striking contrast to the straight sided pyramidal tower of Tanjore. It is often compared feminine counterpart of Tanjore Temple.

Arrive Bangalore & transfer to Hotel

Depart to Leepakshi (100 Kms)

Visit Virabhadra Temple

The finest part of the temple however are Natya (Dancing) and Ardha(Worship) & Kalyana (Marriage) Mandapam which stands as proof of the detailing in sculptural art of that period.

Over Night stay Bangalore

After Break Fast
Depart to Pattadakal

Visit Pattadakal

Pattadakal represents the high point of an eciectic art which, in the 7 th and 8 th centuries under the Chalukya dynasty, achieved a harmonious blend of architectural forms northern and southern India. An impressive series of nine hindu temples, as well as a Jain Sanctuary, can be seen there. One masterpiece from the group stands out-the temple of Virupaksha, built by 740 AD.

After Breakfast

Visit King’s Place
The largest enclosure in Hampi, the King’s palace includes two major platform structure, and underground chamber which must have served as a treasury or private audience hall, several minor platforms and double fortification walls, besides other interesting architectural elements.

Visit Virupaksha Temple
Dedicated to Lord ‘Shiva and his consort Pampadevi, this is the only temple here that is still used for worship. Parts of the temple predate the Vijayanagar empire. The temple, with its nine-storied gopuram, towers above the other structures at Hampi. The ceiling of the Ranga Mantapa is beautifully painted with scenes from the epics and Puranas.

Visit Vijay Vithala Temple
The Vijay Vithala Temple is Hampi’s crowning glory, with a magnificent stone chariot standing in the temple courtyard. Equally impressive is the large Ranga Mantapa with 56 musical pillars that resound with musical chimes when struck.

Visit Pushkarni
The stepped water tank, excavated in the mid-1980, was originally a part of the palace complex. Almost lyrical in its beauty, the tank is a tiered structure crafted rectangular pieces of granite.

Visit Lotus Mahal
This visually appealing structure has two levels, with open pavilions at the bottom and balconies above. Highlighting the fusion of the Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture, the Mahal derives its name from its beautiful, geometrically arranged cusped arches that resemble the petals of the lotus opening to the sun.

Visit Hazara Rama Temple
The royal temple reserved for ceremonial use, the Hazara Rama Temple is embellished with bass reliefs depicting scenes from the epic, Ramayana. The walls of the enclosure are richly carved with friezes depicting processions of horses, elephants, dancing girls and soldiers attired in splendid armour. Inside, four exquisitely sculpted granite pillars add to the beauty of the Ardha Mantapa.

Visit Queen’s Bath
Though the exterior may appear simple, the interior is stunningly ornate, with graceful arched corridors, projecting balconies and lotus-shaped fountains that once spouted perfumed water for the ladies of the court.

Over Night Stay Hassan

After Break Fast

Visit Belur
The Channakesava Temple temple is one of he finest examples of Hoysal architecture. It took 103 years to complete. The façade of the temple is filled with intricate sculptures and friezes with no portion left blank. The intricate workmanshiop includes elephants, episodes from the Indian mythological epics, and sensuous dancers. Inside the temple are a number of filigreed pillars. Darpana Sundari ( Lady with the mirror ) carved on walls of belur temple is one of major attraction in complex.

Visit Halebidu
The Hoysaleswara Temple dating back to the 11 th AD is astounding for its wealth of sculptural details. The walls of the temple are covered with an endless variety of depictios from Hindu Mythology, animals, birds and dancing figures. This magnificient temple was never completed despite 86 years of labour due to invading.

Over Night Stay Mysore

After Breakfast

Visit Somanathapuram

The Kesava temple the last great temple build by Hoysala Empire, it consists of three identical shrines built on a raised platform with a common entrance chamber in an enclosed courtyard. The shrines contain intricately carved stonework, and many of the stone pillars were carved on lathes.

Visit Maharaja Palace

The architectural style of the palace is commonly described as Indo-Saracenic, and blends together Hindu, Muslim, Rajput and Gothic styles of architecture. It is a three storied stone structure, with marble domes and a 145 ft five storied tower.

The palace houses several rooms of importance. These include Audience Chamber, Public Durbar, Royal Wedding hall, Armory.

Depart to Goa by Air
Transfer to Hotel
After Breakfast

Visit Churches of Goa
The Church of Bom Jesus, which contains the tomb of St. Francis Xavier illustrates the evangelization of Asia. These monuments were influential in spreading forms of Manuline, Mannerist and Baroque art in all the countries of Asia where missions were established .

Depart to Mumbai by Air
Transfer to Hotel

Visit Elephanta Caves
The City of Caves on an island close to Mumbai contains a collection of rock art linked to the cult of Siva. Here the Indian art has found one of its most perfect expressions particularly the huge high reliefs in the main cave.

Depart to Aurangabad by Air

Visit Ajantha
The First Buddist cave monuments at Ajantha date from the 2 nd and 1 st Centuries BC. During the Gupta period (5 th & 6 th AD) many more richly decorated caves were added to the original group. The paintings and sculptures of Ajantha, considered master pieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a considerable artistic influence.

Visit Ellora
There are 34 Monastaries and temples, extending over more than 2 km, were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt. Ellora with its uninterrupted sequence of monuments dating from 6 th Century AD to 10 th Century AD, brings the civilization of India to life.

Return to Mumbai by Air

Depart to Delhi by Air
Transfer to Hotel

Visit Humayun Tomb
This Tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.

Visit Qudp Minar
Built in the early 13 th Century, the red sandstone tower of Qutb Minar is 72.5 Meter high, tapering from 2.75 meter in diameter at its peak to 14.32 meter at its base, and alternating angular and rounded flutings. The surrounding archaeological area contains funerary buildings, notably the magnificient Alai-Darwaza Gate, the master piece of Indo-Muslim art and two mosques, Including the Quwwatul Islam, the oldest in northern India.

Visit Red Fort
Built between 1638 and 1648 by Shah Jahan the mugal emperor. The fort sports all the obvious trappings befitting a vital centre of mughal governance, hall of public and private audiences, domed and arched marble palaces, plush private apartments, a mosque and elaborately designed gardens.

Depart to Jaipur Via Fathehpur Sikri

Visit Fathehpur Sikri
Built during the second half of the 16 th century by the emperor akbar, Fathehpur Sikri ( the city of Victory ) was the capita of the Mughal Empire for only some 10 years. The complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style, includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid.

Visit City Palace
The complex is divided into a series of courtyards, sprawling gardes and buildings. It is home to several palatial structures like the Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Badal Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.

Visit Hawah Mahal
Part of City Palace, it has five stories and is constructed of red and pink sandstone, highlighted with white quick lime. The side facing the street outside the palace complex has 953 small windows, and the breeze which circulates through these windows gives the palace its name and keeps it cool even in hot months.

Depart to Delhi Airport by Road
Depart to Kajuraho by Air

Visit Kajuraho
The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reachd its apogee between 950 and 1050. Only about 20 temples remain; they fall in to three distinct groups and belong to two different religions-Hinduism and Jainism. They strike a perfect balance between architecture and sculpture. The temple of Kandariya is decorated with a profusion of sculptures that are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian art.

Arrive Delhi
Free & Leisure
Over Night stay Delhi

Fly Back
End of Tour