Hyderabad, Badami & Hampi Tour 7 days

Day 1 Hyderabad

On arrival at Hyderabad airport meet with our office executive assistance and transfer to hotel (hotels check in/ out time 1200hr afternoon, early check in subject to rooms availability). Rest time free for personal activities relax. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2 Hyderabad

Breakfast at hotel, explore this wondrous capital, a 400 year-old metropolitan city teeming with bustling-bazaars and Muslim monuments. Visit Golconda Fort - renowned for its diamond mines that have given the world the famous Kohinoor and Darya-i-noor diamonds. The ancient fort complex of Golconda will charm you with its history, tinged with legends and anecdotes.

Qutubshahi Tombs - the tombs differ in size but all are comparable to each other in architectural grandeur and beauty.

Charminar - built in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah, the fifth sultan of the Qutub Shahi dynasty of India. There are varying legends as to why he built the magnificent structure. One account says that the sultan built it in honor of his wife, Bhagyamathi (or Bhagmathi), together with the construction of Hyderabad itself.

The Mecca Mosque - the biggest mosque in Hyderabad and lies 100 yards south-west of Charminar. The name is derived from the Grand Mosque at Mecca on which it is patterned. The hall is 67 metres by 54 metres and 23 metres high. The roof is supported by 15 arches, five on each of the three sides. The western side is blocked by a high hall to provide the Mehrab.

Chowmohalla Palace (Friday closed) - once regarded as the center of Hyderabad, the magnificent Chowmahalla Palace was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty where the Nizams entertained their official guests and royal visitors. Built over 200 years ago, Chowmahalla is renowned for its unique style and elegance. A synthesis of many architectural styles and influences, the Palace Complex has been meticulously restored.

Purani Haveli (Friday closed) - The Purani Haveli Palace located to the the south of Salar Jung Museum, is the sprawling Purani Haveli, built by the second Nizam for his son in 1777. The sixth Nizam Mir Mehboob Ali Khan spent most of his life here. He built a 240-foot long wooden chamber with some 150 walk-in-cupboards, arguably the world’s largest wardrobe.

Salarjung Museum (Friday closed) - a treat for tourists the Salar Jung Museum, famous for being the third - largest museum in the country, the museum boasts of having the largest antiques collection. Artefacts dating back to the first century can be found here. Established in 1951, the museum was under Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, better known as Salar Jung.

Birla Mandir - dedicated to the supreme incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Lord Venkateshwara. This temple’s marvellous beauty leaves you awestruck as does the legend associated with the God. A blend of various types of architectural styles, this temple is made of 200 tonnes of pure white Rajasthani marble.

Hussain Sagar Lake - one of the largest man made lake situated at the confluence of Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Begumpet. It is a sprawling artificial lake that holds water perennially. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it connects the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

Rest time free and easy to relax. Overnight at hotel.

Day 3 Hyderabad - Badami (430kms/ 8hrs appox)

Breakfast at hotel and drive to Badami. On arrival check in at your hotel. Evening is free for leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Day 4 Badami

Breakfast at hotel city tour of Badami visit -

Badami Caves - The Badami cave temples are a complex of temples located at Badami, a town in the Bagalkot District in the north part of Karnataka, India. They are considered an example of Indian rock-cut architecture, especially Badami Chalukya Architecture. Badami, the capital of the Early Chalukyas, who ruled much of Karnataka in the 6th to 8th centuries, lies at the mouth of a ravine with rocky hills on either side and a town tank in which water from the ravine flows. The town is known for its ancient cave temples carved out of the sandstone hills above.

Badami Fort - Located in the Bagalkot district of North Karnataka, Badami is known for its beauty and rich history. Ruled by Chalukya’s in ancient times, Badami is a must visit tourist site in state of Karnataka. In Badami, Badami Fort is the most well-known archaeological site soaked in the history of the Chalukyas and the Pallavas.

Open Air Museum - To get a sense of the splendour of all three towns, visit a ‘natural’ National Museum in Badami! This is an area in where the artisans tried out their art — rock-cut steps, caves and incomplete idols tried out as a first draft are cordoned off here.

Pattadakal Temple Complex - a complex of 7th and 8th century CE Hindu and Jain temples. Located on the west bank of the Malaprabha River, this UNESCO World Heritage site is historically significant centres of Chalukya monuments. UNESCO has described Pattadakal as "a harmonious blend of architectural forms from northern and southern India" and an illustration of "eclectic art" at its height. The Hindu temples are generally dedicated to Shiva, but elements of Vaishnavism and Shaktism theology and legends are also featured. The friezes in the Hindu temples display various Vedic and Puranic concepts, depict stories from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata Purana, as well as elements of other Hindu texts, such as the Panchatantra and the Kiratarjuniya. The Jain temple is only dedicated to a single Jina. The most sophisticated temples, with complex friezes and a fusion of Northern and Southern styles, are found in the Papanatha and Virupaksha temples. The Virupaksha temple is an active house of Hindu worship.

Durga Temple Aihole - an example of southern (Dravidian) architectural type, with a later northern type superstructure imposed upon it-an incongruity apparent from the fact that the superstructure is a square structure clumsily fitted over an apsidal cella. The temple stands on a high moulded upapitha (sub-base), apsidal on plan and carrying a peripheral row of columns on its edge that surround the moulded adhishthana and walls of an apsidal vimana and its front mandapa.

Huchamalli Temple Aihole - The Huchimalli Gudi is home to shrines of Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. It was built in the 7th century AD and is considered one of the earliest groups of temples in Aihole. The sanctum is inclusive of a pradakshinapatha and a Northern style rekhanagara tower; and contains lattices on the external walls. Another small temple that dates back to the 11th century AD is situated to the north of this temple. At this temple, the entrance hall in front of the sanctum was introduced for the first time.

Meguti Jain Temple Aihole - The Meguti Temple has the distinction of being the only temple in Aihole which can clearly be traced back to 634 AD. Perched above a small hill, this temple, though incomplete, represents the early development of the Dravidian style of architecture. Built without mortar, the Meguti Jain Temple placed is on a raised platform with a flight of steps leading to the large, pillared mukhamandapa.

Ravanapadhi Cave temple Aihole - The 6th century cave temple is dedicated to Shiva. A broken column lines up with the cave entrance, which opens to the southwest. The cave is dramatically recessed on a deep ledge, with free-standing shrines on either side.

Late afternoon drive to Badami check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 5 Badami - Gadag - Lakkundi - Hampi (180kms/ 4hrs approx)

Breakfast at hotel drive to Hampi enroute visit -

Gadag - Trikuteshwara temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. The carved temple is in the town of Gadag It is dedicated to Shiva and has three lingas mounted on the same stone. There is a shrine dedicated to Saraswathi in this temple and it has carved columns.

Lakkundi - is full of ruined temples like Mallikarjuna, Virabhadra, Manikeshwara, Nanneshwara, Lakshminarayana, Someshwara, Nilakanteshwara and many more.

Continue drive to Hampi check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax. Overnight at hotel.

Day 6 Hampi

Breakfast at hotel city tour of Hampi visit -

Hazara Rama Temple - situated in the midst of the Royal Enclosure, is one of the prime attractions of Hampi. This site was used only for ceremonial processions and is renowned among devotees for its bas-relief sculptures that represent important events that occurred in Ramayana. It is one of the popular temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu in Hampi region. The walls of this temple are adorned with 15th century art work, such as carvings of elephants, horses, soldiers and dancing girls.

King's Balance - Remember all those fanciful tales of Kings weighing themselves with gems, rubies and gold? Well, it's at Hampi where they seem to take on life with King's Balance being one such pleasant affirmation. 5 meters tall and carved out of stone, King's Balance appears like a lonesome archway left standing, but peer closely and you can spot the three loops on the beam where the balance must have hung.

Mahanavami Dibba - The Mahanavami Dibba, a square structure, is another popular attraction in Hampi, which was constructed by the King Krishnadevaraya after his win over Udayagiri (in present-day Orissa). This ancient site is the tallest structure in the Royal Enclosure of Hampi and can be easily observed from nearby places due to its height. It is on the must visit list of all tourists because of its ornate carvings and historic importance.

Royal enclosures - The Royal Enclosure of Hampi has often been compared to an open air museum. Apart from giving the visitor a glimpse into what life was like under the Vijayanagara rulers, it also showcases the architectural excellence of the era and the level of destruction the city witnessed after the decline of the Vijayanagara kings.

Statue of Ugra Narasimha Temple - Ugra Narasimha Statue, Hampi is a statue of Laxmi Narasimha. The statue is carved out of a single block of stone. This single stone structure of Lord Narasimha is a major Tourist Attraction in Karnataka and is considered to be an important Monument in Karnataka. The Ugra Narasimha Statue is located to the south of Hampi.

Virupaksha Temple - This temple, in worship, known as ‘Shri Lokeswara-Maha-Sila-prasada’ from the epigraphs, was built by Lokamahadevi, the Queen of Vikaramaditya in about to commemorate her husband’s victory over the Pallavas of Kanchipuram. It closely resembles the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram on plan and elevation and represents a fully developed and perfected stage of the Dravidian architecture.

Vithala And Lotus Mahal - a nice place in the Hampi with sufficient time greens and romantic ambience. One of the great place in zenana enclosure. The features of building is marvellous and splendid.

Vithala Temple Complex - Vittala Temple is a 16th century structure that is dedicated to the Lord Vittala or Lord Vishnu. It is a 'must see' site for all tourists going to Hampi because of its beautiful, complex carvings and magnificent architecture, which is not matched by any other structure located here. This temple, situated on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra River, represents the original South Indian Dravidian temple architectural style.

Rest time free and easy to relax in your hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 7 Hampi - Hyderabad (380kms/ 7hrs approx)

Breakfast at hotel drive to Hyderabad and drop off to your hotel or airport.