Northern Karnataka

Starting from: Hubli

Season: 

Duration: 

Highlights: 

This architectural extravaganza will transport you from the 6th Century AD based UNESCO Heritage site of stone cut temples to 17th century Islamic monuments. Explore North Karnataka’s splendorous heritage through this timeline and try the fiery but delicious cuisine that changes with your journey.

Each of our holidays is a personal experience and our goal is to design an itinerary that matches your dream trip.

Below is a 5 day / 4 night itinerary to give a general idea of our Northern Karnataka itinerary starting from Hampi: 

Day 1 - Arrival & Agadi Thota

Arrive by Air from either Bangalore/Mumbai which have daily flights to Hubali, the capital of North Karnataka. Meet your tour guide and drive to Agadi Thota, an organic farm to experience some facets of North Karnataka’s cuisine, culture and way of life. Return to the city to for your night stay. Remember to charge your camera battery and grab enough rest for the travel and walking next day.

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Day 2 - Badami 6th Century

Drive down to Badmi in the morning with your tour guide. It’s a little less than a 3 hour drive to Badami. Visit the timeless Badami Cave temples complex and other preserved ruins like the Banashankari Temple, Bhuthanatha Temple, Malegitti Shivalaya Fort and Temple. The tour guide would provide a brief history/local lore about the monuments while highlighting the carvings and the mythology/themes they depict. There are a lot more monuments and ruins that can be covered by the tour guide that would be part of the 7 day package. For lunch, you could picnic amongst the ruins or try the local fare in Badami. Catch a sunset view of the complex near Agastya Lake, from the Badami Fort or one of the ruins and return to Badami for an overnight stay.

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Day 3 - Pattadakal & Aihole 17th Century

Make an early morning visit to view the sunrise at the Virupaksha temple/Pattadakal temple complex for another day of viewing the ornate carvings and absorbing the mythological stories some of them represent. It is better to carry packed lunch to Pattadakal/Aihole since the Late afternoon, travel down to Vijayapur/Bijapur for the night stay at Bijapur. There’s a shift from the 6th century AD Hinduism influenced architecture to 17th century Islamic architecture at Bijapur. The food and culture also radically transform as we reach Bijapur post a less than 3 hour drive.

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Day 4: Vijayapura, the town of Victory

Make an early morning visit to the Gol Gumbaz (the largest dome in the world). Experience the architecture and acoustics of this epic monument. Travel on to visit the Ibrahim Rauza Tomb, the inspiration for the Taj Mahal. Visit the Jumma Masjid, the Bada Karam and the Museum to understand the Islamic influence and history of this city. Leave late afternoon for Bagalkot.

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Day 5 - Departure

Visit the Bagalkot Fort and XXX in the morning and drive back to Hubli for the flight back to Bombay/Bangalore

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While 5 days should suffice for experiencing the architectural and cultural extravaganza, this itinerary will cover only the most famous monuments and sites. Should you prefer to customize your travel and do a deeper immersion while visiting Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole, we would recommend a 7 day itinerary. 

Price from:  USD per person on a twin-sharing basis

Inclusions:
- Accommodation with breakfast for 4 nights
- Chauffeur-driven private air-conditioned car for 5 days
- Monument fees and admissions as per the itinerary
- Guide for all sightseeing as per the itinerary
- Current applicable taxes
- Contact person in India

Note: These prices are not applicable for festival dates and Christmas-New Years period.

Notes:
We offer a variety of comfortable vehicles for different group sizes with a local driver, and a guide for the sightseeing.

Our accommodations are all well rated and located so as to balance your daily travel time.

Your detailed itinerary will include must-see attractions and offbeat sights. We can also add tours and activities of your choice, restaurant recommendations and any other special interests you have. Some of this might require adding extra time to the trip.

And of course, we are always available for questions or assistance during your trip.

Additional information for your trip will be sent to you after the booking. This will include details about weather and clothing, currencies and payments, electricity system, food and water, safety, contact info, and other useful tips.