CHENNAI TO GOA OVERLAND TOUR

11 Nights / 12 Days

Take an exciting road trip from Chennai to Goa via bustling Bangalore, cool Mysore, the hills of Hassan, the caves of Badami, and into the smallest but most popular state amongst tourists - Goa - where endless beaches and fantastic food await you.

Itinerary Route: Chennai - Mamallapuram - Bangalore - Mysore - Hassan - Hospet - Badami - Dandeli - Goa

Day 1: Chennai to Mamallapuram

You will be met at the airport by a Tour Packages India Representative and driven 50 km south to the World Heritage beach town of Mamallapuram for your hotel check-in.

Day 2: Mamallapuram

Spend the day sightseeing. By far and away, the most popular tourist attraction is Arjuna's Penance - one of the largest bas relief works of art in existence - carved out of the hillside rock it never fails to impress. Mamallapuram is famous as a pilgrimage town as well as being the seat of stone carving in South India and you'll see evidence of this especially on the way to the Five Rathas. Don't miss the Shore Temple, a rare item as it's the only monument in Mamallapuram "constructed" as opposed to being carved out of the rocky terrain of the town. Go to the beach and treat yourself to fresh fish in beachside restaurants while listening to the sounds of the surf.

Day 3: Mamallapuram to Kancheepuram to Bangalore (7 hour drive)

On the way to Bangalore, stop off at Kancheepuram. Famous for their temples but even more so for the textiles. You'll find most of the fabrics irresistable. The silk saris produced in Kancheepuram are among the living examples of the excellent craftsmanship of the weavers passed down through the generations. After lunch, continue on to The Garden City of Bangalore - the only planned city in India. It offers a cool break from the heat of the Tamil Nadu plains as well as being a beautiful city to spend time in with it's tree-lined streets, abundance of gardens, and a great mix of old and new architecture. Upon arrival check-in to your hotel and spend the evening as you like.

Day 4: Bangalore to Mysore (140 km / 3 hour drive)

After check-out take a little time to do some sightseeing or shopping in Bangalore. Later, drive down to Mysore - the capital city of Karnataka - and check-in to your hotel. Spend the evening as you like. Day 5 offers a full day of sightseeing.

Day 5: Mysore

Mysore has always enchanted with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. There's an old world charm about the city that brings tourists back time after time. Make Mysore Palace your first stop. Built in Indo-Saracenic style with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades, the palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from different parts of the globe. Try to arrange to be there on Sunday when the Palace lights up at night with 97,000 lightbulbs! )

Another "don't miss" is St. Philomena's Church - one of the largest cathedrals in India and constructed in medieval architectural style. Also, Jaganmohan Palace - another favorite - was converted into an art gallery in 1875 and exhibits paintings which date back to that period. The artists of that time used natural vegetable and mineral dyes and the famous traditional Mysore 'gold leaf ' paintings are also exhibited in the gallery. Spend the night.

Take a trip up Chamundi Hill to view the grande monolithic bull statue, Nandi, as well as the 2,000 year old Chamundi Hill Temple. A 7-story, 40 meter high tower dominates the temple and offers panoramic views of the city.

Day 6: Mysore to Hassan (via Saravanabelagola) - (4 hour drive)

Stop off in Saravanabelagola on the drive up to Hassan - one of the oldest Jain pilgrimage centers in India and considered one of the greatest monuments of Jain art. The colossal 57-foot high statue of Gomateswara is second only to the Collosus Ramses II in Egypt.

Continue on to Hassan and check-in. Take a tour of Belur and Halebid, home to more exquisitely carved temples from the 12th and 13th centuries. Belur is famous for its Hoysala architecture - the Temple of Lord Channakeshava is embellished with carvings that have few equals in the world. The front of the temple is adorned with intricate sculptures, friezes with elephants, sensuous dancers and episodes from the epics.

Day 7: Hassan to Hospet/Hampi (262 km / 6 hour drive)

Drive to Hospet after breakfast. Its proximity to Hampi makes it an ideal place to stay while touring the temples, palaces, monuments and sculptures spread all over the city. Spend the night.

Day 8: Hospet/Hampi

Hampi is the medieval capital of the Hindu empire Vijayanagara (the City of Victory). With more than 500 monuments dotting the surrounding area, Hampi occupies a place among UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Included are beautiful temples, basement of palaces, remains of aquatic structures, ancient market streets, royal pavilions, bastions, royal platforms, treasury buildings plus many more. Hampi has long been known as a backpackers paradise.

Day 9: Hospet to Badami (190 km / 4 hour drive)

After breakfast and check-out you'll be driven to Badami where you'll check-in to your hotel. During the afternoon pay a visit to the spectacular Badami Caves with their intricate carvings. These ancient caves house the magnificent images and sculptures of Hindu and Jain Gods while also forming an important pilgrimage destination. The exquisite architectural work has made this one of the most popular tourist attractions in Karnataka. Also take time to explore other parts of Badami such as the Badami Fort and Agasthya Tirtha, an artificial lake.

Day 10: Badami

Spend the entire day sightseeing (Refer to "Local Attractions").

Day 11: Badami to Dandeli

After breakfast, drive up to Dandeli 's enchanting forests full of mystery and excitement where you can race with the wind and trek along nature trails. You'll most likely catch sight of crocodiles basking in the sun and flocks of beautiful water birds as you float down the River Kali in a coracle. A day offering endless glimpses of nature's grand eternal show.

Day 12: Dandeli to Goa

Finish to tour with a drive to Goa to your onward departure point. Or, stay and spend some time on the world famous beaches of Goa.

Extend or Customize Your Tour: We would be happy to assist with additional travel and hotel arrangements. Changes to this tour can be added as an inclusive part of the package.

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