Karnataka & Telangana · 14 days
The dynasties of Karnataka
Hoysala, Vijayanagara, Chalukya, Adil Shahi — six hundred years of building, in order.
The journey
Karnataka has the densest run of great architecture in India and almost none of the crowds that go with it. This takes the dynasties chronologically: the Chalukyan experiments at Aihole and Badami, where south Indian temple form was worked out; the Hoysala carving at Belur and Halebid, which is the most detailed stonework anywhere in the country; Hampi, capital of Vijayanagara and still the most extraordinary ruin in India; then Bijapur, Bidar and Hyderabad for what the Deccan sultanates built after.
Route
- Bangalore
- Mysore
- Somnathpur
- Shravanabelagola
- Belur
- Halebid
- Hampi
- Pattadakal
- Badami
- Aihole
- Bijapur
- Bidar
- Hyderabad
What stays with you
- 01Somnathpur, the most complete Hoysala temple there is
- 02The seventeen-metre Bahubali at Shravanabelagola, carved in the tenth century from one rock
- 03Belur and Halebid, where the stone was worked like ivory
- 04Two full days at Hampi, which is not enough but is what most people have
- 05Aihole and Pattadakal, where the southern temple was being invented
- 06Golgumbaz at Bijapur, then bidri work at Bidar and Charminar at the end
Day by day
A shape rather than a timetable. Days move, and most people move one or two of them.
1 – 2
Into Bangalore, and on to Mysore by way of Srirangapatna.
3
Mysore: the market and the palace, then Somnathpur in the afternoon.
4
North to Hassan, with Shravanabelagola on the way.
5
Belur and Halebid, both in one day, which is the right way to compare them.
6
The long drive to Hampi.
7
Hampi, all day: the bazaar, Vittala, the Tungabhadra, the hills above it.
8 – 9
Pattadakal and Badami — the cave temples, and the tank below them.
10
Aihole in the morning; Bijapur, Golgumbaz and the Jama Masjid after.
11
Bidar: the fort, and the bidri workshops in the town.
12 – 13
Into Telangana. Hyderabad, Charminar, and the Mecca Masjid.
14
Out of Hyderabad.
Shall we plan it?
Tell us roughly when, and how many of you, and we will come back with dates, a price and anything we would change about the route.
Or write to us at info@scenicescapesindia.com
Karnataka & Goa