INDIA: HYDERABAD, HAMPI, BADAMI & GOA 2 - 17 November 2021 FROM £6,880 PER PERSON Tour Leader: Chris Caldicott OUTSTANDING HISTORICAL CULTURAL SITES, SPECTACULAR SCENERY & COUNTLESS CULINARY DELIGHTS This delightful tour traverses India from Hyderabad in the central south of the country to Goa on the south western coast. It has been designed by Chris Caldicott, combining stays at handpicked hotels with an exploration of the outstanding historic cultural sites, spectacular scenery and countless culinary delights of this area. Our journey begins in the vibrant old city of Hyderabad, city of the Nizams and famous for the quality of its pearls, before we explore Hampi, set amidst the vastness of the Deccan Plateau in Eastern Karnataka, and one of India’s most spectacular archaeological treasures. Magnificent palaces, temples, watchtowers, and urban ruins, built in distinctive Dravidian style, line the banks of the Tungabhadra River and are a glorious legacy of the mighty 14th-century Vijayanagar Empire. We travel on to the rural market town of Badami in Northern Karnataka which was the capital of the Badami Chalukya Dynasty which ruled from 543 to 753 AD and whose kings adorned the city with a number of beautiful rock cut cave temples. We shall also see the temples at Aihole and Pattadakal which, along with Badami, formed the heart of the Chalukyan Empire. We end in Goa, an unusual blend of Eastern and Western culture, resulting from more than 1000 years of Hindu and Muslim rule followed by five centuries of Portuguese rule. Enclosed by the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, Goa is known for its miles and miles of golden sand, palm fringed beaches, tropical vegetation, and also for its delicious cuisine. We will base ourselves at two remarkable but contrasting hotels in the south and north of the state from where we will explore the historic centres of the old and more recent capital cities of Portuguese Goa as well as relaxing by the beach. The Beach at Cabo Serai, Goa Rock Cut Cave Temples, Badami Hampi 16-DAY ITINERARY, DEPARTING 2 NOVEMBER 2021 2 November London / Hyderabad Abyssinian guards, royal treasury River through some of the ruins which and elephant stables. Visit the Qutub adorn it banks. Suggested flight (not included in the Shahi Tombs, which were built on a cost of the tour) British Airways BA Simple lunch at the Mango Tree square base surrounded by pointed 277 departing London Heathrow at Restaurant. Visit the Zenana arches incorporating distinctive 15.10 hrs. Enclosure, a segregated area used by styles of Pashtun, Persian and Hindu the royal women of the Vijayanagara architecture. Dynasty, including the Lotus Mahal, 3 November London / Hyderabad Lunch at the Paradise restaurant. one of the most famous architectural Arrive in Hyderabad at 05.55 hrs. Visit the Salar Jung Museum, which landmarks in Hampi, with its central Transfer to the Taj Falaknuma Palace encompasses the Nawab’s prized dome carved like a lotus bud, and Hotel where two nights are spent ancestral collections and Nizam’s the 15th-century Elephant Stables and rooms are ready for immediate Royal jewellery which are beautifully which provided shelter to the royal occupation. Built in 1894, a former on display. Dinner under own elephants, its intricate design palace of the Nizam, the hotel has arrangements. indicating their importance to the distinctive charm, magnificent views empire. Watch the sunset from of the city and excellent amenities Hemakunta Hill, once fortified with including a variety of restaurants, a 5 November Hyderabad / Hampi tall stone walls, which has a large swimming pool and library, styled on Transfer to Hyderabad airport for number of temples and ruins that date the one in Windsor Castle. Remainder a domestic flight to Vidyanagar. back to the pre-Vijayanagara as well of the morning at leisure. Transfer to Hampi and check in at the as Vijayanagara periods. Dinner at the luxurious Evolve Back Resort, where Food trail walk to try local snacks hotel. three nights are spent. Set near the and Irani Chai. Visit the exotic ancient city of Hampi, the hotel offers Chowmahalla Palace, the historic an infinity pool as well as a world 7 November Hampi official residence of the Nizams. Walk class Ayurvedic spa. Visit the Virupaksha Temple, built by in the Madina (old city), through the Lakkan Dandesha in about the 7th Pathargatti historic stone arcade and Lunch under own arrangements. century and dedicated to Lord Shiva, Charkaman square with its four arches Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at the Visit the 15th-century Hazara Rama to the Charminar monument, built hotel. Temple, once the private temple in 1591, and the nearby ornamented of the kings of the royal family of granite mosque of Mecca Masjid. 6 November Hampi Vijayanagara, with intricate relics Wander through the Laad Bazaar and panels depicting the story of selling the famous Hyderabadi glass Start to explore the temples of the epic Ramayana. Also visit the and stone studded bangles known as Hampi, once the capital of one of the Stepped Tank, Mahanavami Dibba Sona Bai, bridalwear, pearls, and Attar largest Hindu empires, ruled by the and the Queen’s Bath with its arched (perfume). Dinner at the hotel. Vijayanagara Dynasty. Begin with the 15th-century Vitthala Temple, built corridors, projecting balconies and by King Devaraya II and expanded by lotus-shaped fountains that once 4 November Hyderabad Krishnadevaraya, which comprises sprayed perfumed water. Drive to Golcaonda, the capital of many fascinating structures including Lunch under own arrangements. the Qutb Shahi dynasty from 1512, the stone chariot, the Kalyana Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at the and visit the citadel of Bala Hissar, Mantapa (marriage hall) and the hotel. including the ruins of the royal palace, Ranga Mantapa with the musical baths, royal mosque, housing for the pillars. Walk along the Tungabhadra 020 3411 4595 | [email protected] | THEULTIMATETRAVELCOMPANY.CO.UK Church of St. Catejan and Sé Cathedral from Holy Hill, Goa Falaknuma Palace Hotel, Hyderabad River Collon Cura Ahilya by the Sea, Goa 8 November Hampi / Badami Hindu Banashankari Temple, built in and steep cliffs. If you are lucky, you Vijayanagara style in 1750 on the site might catch a glimpse of the Indian Drive to Badami visiting the Chalukya of the former Chalukyan temple, and Ocean Humpback dolphins that surf Dynasty temples of Aihole and the Mahakuta Temples, also built by the surrounding waves. Pattadakal enroute (journey time the Badami Chalukyas in the 6th or approximately 5hrs). The earlier Lunch under own arrangements at the 7th centuries and similar in style to temples at Aihole are simple and Beach Shack. Sunset walk to the cliff the Aihole Temples. squat but beautifully decorated with top. Sundowner drinks at the Beach sculptured images, rosettes and Simple lunch at a local restaurant. Shack. Dinner at the hotel. friezes. The Lad Khan Temple and the Evening walk around the imposing Durga Temple show the progression Bhuthanatha Temples on the shores 12 November South Goa and development in architectural of Lake Agasthya, dedicated to Lord styles. Shiva. The complex includes two Early morning visit to a nearby major temples: Bhuthanatha Temple, fishing village. Return to the hotel for Packed lunch en route. Proceed to built during the reign of the Badami breakfast. Remainder of the morning Pattadakal to see the closely grouped Chalukyas with later additions, and at leisure. buildings built for royal ceremony. Mallikarjuna Temple, belonging to the Distinctly more complex than those in Lunch under own arrangements. Visit later period of the Western Chalukyas. Aihole, they are alive with sculpture the ruins of the mighty Portuguese Dinner at the Heritage Inn. and the architecture interestingly Cabo de Ramo Fort. Dinner at the draws on various styles from north hotel. and south India. One of the most 10 November Badami / South Goa impressive temples here is the Full day’s drive to Goa (journey time 13 November South Goa / North Lokeshwari or Virupaksha Temple. approximately 10 hrs). Goa Continue to Badami and check in at Lunch in a local restaurant en route Check out and drive north to Margao the Badami Court Hotel where two to visit the fruit, vegetable and fish nights are spent. Please note this is at Hubli. Check in at the Cabo Serai Hotel where three nights are spent. market. Continue north to Panjim a basic but comfortable, 3-star hotel. city (now known as Panaji) on the Dinner at the hotel. This luxurious eco-conscious resort is set on a hill in southern Goa banks of the Mandovi River, which with stunning panoramic views of the Portuguese made their capital 9 November Badami the Arabian Sea and surrounding in 1843. Walk through the narrow Visit the Badami Caves, a group landscape of native trees. It has a streets of the colonial Fontainhas of cave temples including rock-cut range of cottages and tents with Latin Quarters lined with coloured shrines believed to have been carved private balconies. Delicious, fresh mansions decorated with wrought- out during the reign of the Chalukyan meals are prepared using produce iron balconies. Free time for shopping monarch Mangalesa, (598 - 610 AD). from the garden. Remainder of the day in the local boutiques. Also visit the To reach the caves one has to climb at leisure. Dinner at the hotel. Fundação Oriente’s Art Gallery, which some 200 steps cut into the hill. Of features fascinating early 20th-century the four caves one is a Jain temple portraits by Goan artist António 11 November South Goa with an image of Lord Mahavira Xavier Trindade, and a couple of other and the remaining three are Hindu Day at leisure to enjoy the galleries.