Hyderabad / Deccan Odyssey

11 Nights/12 Days

Private car round trip: Hyderabad - Bidar -Kalburgi (Gulbarga) - Bijapur - Badami - Aihole - Pattadakal - Hospet - Hampi - Goa - Mumbai

Day 1 - Arrive Hyderabad

Arrival from your country to Delhi International airport. Reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Hyderabad is modern and pulsating capital of the state Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad was founded in 1590 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (reign 1565-1611), the ruler of the Dekkan-Sultanats Golkonda. The city is well known for its monuments and mosque out of the medieval and the Saracen culture and the Mughal and colonial architecture. Today, it is also one of the largest metropolises of India.

Day 2 - Hyderabad

After breakfast go for the city excursion. Visit 56 meters high Char Minar, the "Arc de Triomphe of the East" and landmark of Hyderabad.

Afterwards your excursion leads to the powerful fort city Golkonda (13th century), that raises itself on a steep granite mountain, west of Hyderabad. From 1518 to 1519, it was the capital of the seven Qutb Shahi kings. They enlarged the fort and reinforced it through granite blocks. The palaces and garden areas, the baths, mosque and mausoleums are the impressing witnesses of that period, in which the region was famous for its diamond manufacturing and the walls in the rooms of the women were decorated with the diamonds. When Aurangzeb's troops took the fort in 1687, the legendary Kohinoor-diamond was stolen, that went in 1850 as a compensation for war losses to the British crown. Queen Victoria had let the grind of that originally 186 carats stone to its current size of 108.93 carats. In addition, visit the Salarjung (national) museum shows a row of Indian and European works of art. Overnight in Hyderabad.

Day 3 - Hyderabad - Kalburgi (earlier Gulbarga ) (240 km, 6 hours)

After breakfast, drive to Gulbarga. On the way to Gulbarga , you explore the rural Bidar. Numerous monuments depict the glorious period of the 14th and 15th century, when Bidar was the capital of the Bahmani Empire and governing seat of the Barid Shahi dynasty. The powerful fort out of that 14th and 15th century impresses even as ruins! Altogether five gates give the way freely into a city within the fort wall. The ruins of the palaces show filigree mother-of-pearl Intarsia, wooden pillars and colourful illuminating decoration of tiles decoration, which let surmise the splendor development of the former grand residence. Evenings you reach Gulbarga , the foundation capital of the Bahmani dynasty. Overnight stay in Gulbarga.

Day 4 - Gulbarga - Bijapur - Badami

After breakfast, sightseeing of Gulbarga. Gulbarga lies in the high Plateau of Dekkan and is part of the state Karnataka. Gulbarga shows a unique synthesis of Hindu and Islamic culture. Brahman Shah made Gulbarga already in 1350 to his capital and decorated it with palaces, mosque and bazaars. The Friday mosque with several domes reminds of the mosque of Cordoba. Stop a moment inside and let the refined light influence you. Also, visit the grave of the great Sufi Kwaja Syed Mohammed Gesu and the Durgarh library with more than 10,000 books that are composed in Urdu as well as Persian and Arabic writing.

In Bijapur you see beautiful scenic environment, impressive monuments of the Adil Shahi sultan (15th - 16th century), gold glittering minaret, the famous mausoleum Gol Gumbaz as well as other examples of Arabic monumental architecture. Evening you reach Badami. Overnight stay in Badami.

Day 5 - Badami

Today you explore Badami, the capital of the early Chalukya dynasty. Badami is a picturesque town between two rock spurs and an artificial lake. The caves lying here in the vicinity out of 5th and 6th century show Gods of the Hindus, Jains and the Buddhists. Most of the sculptures are of erotic nature. Overnight stay in Badami.

Day 6 - Badami - Aihole - Pattadakal - Hospet

Aihole was the capital of the Chalukyas from 4th to 7th century. Today this temple city has more temple than residential houses. Around 70 temples are master works of the Hindu Temple art and architecture. Aihole is regarded as a birth site of the Indian temple architecture; its temples are considered as the oldest sacral architecture of India. Also, visit Pattadakal, a world heritage site because of its temples on the bank of river Malaprabha. Further drive to Hospet, the starting point for your foray through the antique capital Hampi. Arrival and transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 7 - Excusion to Hampi

After breakfast, excursion to Hampi. This gigantic city emerged in 1336, which was for 200 years the capital of the Vijayanagar. In 1565 conquered the Mughals this city and plundered it. Yet today one can recognize the size of the city. Hampi is a world cultural heritage site. Today also, you admire those imposing, majestic ruins and palace fragments. 26 square km large ruin area of Hampi extends between sugarcane fields and impressive granite formations. Let yourself to know the story of the Vijaynagar Empire, to admire its splendor and development of power. See subsequently the Lotus Mahal pavilion, the Queens Bath, and the temples of Hazara, Narasimha as well as the Vitthala temple.

Day 8 - Hospet - Goa

After breakfast, drive to Goa , the paradise of Indian coasts. After arrival, transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 9 - Goa

After breakfast, proceed on a half day sightseeing tour of Goa, visiting Miramar Beach, Basilica of Bom Jesus and the city of Panjim- bustling with shops and tourists. The afternoon is at leisure to relax on the beach. Overnight stay in Goa.

Day 10 - Goa

Day at leisure. Enjoy the water sports at the beach, go for swim, and explore the shops for cashew nuts. Overnight stay in Goa.

Day 11 - Goa

Day at leisure. Enjoy the sun, sand and beach.

Day 12 - Goa - Mumbai (By Flight)

After breakfast, transfer to Goa airport for the flight to Mumbai. After arrival, the day is free for excursion of Mumbai and personal activities. Late evening transfer to Mumbai International airport for onward journey.