South and Central India - 19 day fully escorted tour

$3,300 - per person land only

Highlights:  Fully escorted tour departs Chennai on January 7, 2011.  Beach resort on Bay of Bengal, towering temples of Tamil Nadu, palaces, central India rural villages, magical Hampi, Islamic cities and the beaches of Goa.

DAY 1 – CHENNAI:  Arrival and orientation day.

DAY 2 – MAMALLAPURAM:  Drive to Mamallapuram.  Free afternoon in beach resort to rest and catch up from the journey.

DAY 3 – MAMALLAPURAM:  Morning, visit world heritage site, Shore Temple and Panch Ratha site, and tour a very unique village on the Bay of Bengal with sweeping beaches and charm.  Free afternoon to relax at the resort.

DAY 4 – TRICHY:  Drive to Trichy in the heart of Tamil temple cities, famous for its towering gopurams and massive sites.  Afternoon visit to Rock Fort.

DAY 5 – TRICHY:  Morning, visit the spectacular Brihadishwara Temple in Tanjour, and the largest active temple in Tamil, Srirangam (in Trichy).  Overnight here and see the city at night.

DAY 6 – BANGALORE:  Day drive to Bangalore, evening out discovering this fascinating city.  Centre of the IT business in India, this city is alive at night with the new wealth and prosperity. Cocktails on an ultra- cool rooftop tower, and then dinner in old world charm.

DAY 7 – MYSORE:  Morning drive to Mysore.  Visit Sravanabelagola en route to the largest Buddha statue in India, on top of a rock that requires climbing 480 steps.  Amber villas, palace and city tour.

DAY 8 – MYSORE:  Visit Somnathpur, the greatest example of Hoysala temples in India, Lalitha Palace, Chammundi Hill, leaving the afternoon free to explore India’s most tourist-friendly city.  Best flower market, with natural oils, sandalwood incense and handicrafts being the major exports from this beautiful city.

DAY 9 – HASSAN:  Morning drive to Hassan.  We visit Belur and Halebid temples, magnificent in their size and complexity. Set in the rural countryside, we will visit the villages and observe everyday life.

DAY 10 – CHITRADURGA:  Morning, drive to Chitradurga Fort; the seven hills that make up the perimeter are a natural wonder. Overnight in Devangere.

DAY 11 – HOSPET:  We make our way to Hampi!  The 14^th century Vijayanagar ruins a sectacular site over 10 square km.  Afternoon tour of perimeter sites.  Hampi is a magical place where hippies and tourists mingle in a boulder-strewn landscape full of ruins, temples and a river running through the site where you could take coracle rides.

DAY 12 – HOSPET:  Morning, tour Hampi bazaar, a wild west street with the massive Virupaksha temple at one end, lined with traders and small restaurants built into the ruins.  Afternoon, free for exploration or relaxing at the hotel pool.

DAY 13 – BIJAPUR:  Afternoon, drive to Bijapur, an ancient Islamic city truly in the past.  Tour dinner together.

DAY 14 – BIJAPUR:  All day sightseeing.  We will visit Gol Gumbaz, the largest domed mausoleum after the Vatican, Ibrahim Rausa, the main city mosque and take a tour of the back streets of this ancient and timeless city.

DAY 15 – BADAMI: Visit our smallest town on tour, the old Chalukyan capital from the 7th century BC. Famous for cave temples around a beautiful water tank, whitewashed houses in laneways, and the wonderful ambience of village life.  Overnight in Badami

DAY 16 – GOA:  Day drive to Goa.  We depart early morning and go through the jungle canopy of the Western Ghats down to sea level.  Evening dinner at our beach resort, on the beach.

DAY 17 – GOA:  We are staying in the old Portuguese colony, where life gets easier.   Good wine and great seafood - everything is available at this global destination.  Beach time and relaxing.

DAY 18 – GOA:  Free beach day and last-minute shopping.  Tour vehicle is available for sightseeing in Old Goa and the capital of Panjim.

DAY 19 – MUMBAI:  Transfer to airport, flight to Mumbai and international terminal.

Copyright © 2003  to 2010 In2India Tours Inc. All Rights Reserved.  All Photos taken on previous In2India Tours.