Karnataka is a state in southwest India with Arabian Sea coastlines. The capital, Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), is a high-tech hub known for its shopping and nightlife.
To the southwest, Mysore is home to lavish temples including Mysore Palace, former seat of the region’s maharajas. Hampi, once the medieval Vijayanagara empire’s capital, contains ruins of Hindu temples, elephant stables and a stone chariot.
Karnataka is one of the hidden gems of India with a lush green countryside packed with history and coffee plantations and is easy to get to with direct flights from London to Bangalore. Below are a few suggested itineraries which we can provided with a private driver for 2-8 people:
Royal Mysore & Heritage – Bangalore/Mysore/Hassan/ Bangalore
Day 01: Bangalore / Hassan-Shravanabelagola, Hassan & Belur. (180kms/4hrs)
Pickup from your hotel in Bangalore and drive to Hassan, en-route visit Shravanabelagola – The monolithic statue of Lord Gomateshwara, a Jain saint and an object of worship for centuries, standing atop one of the hills. On arrival in Hassan, check in to your hotel. Lunch and proceed to visit Belur Temple. Return to Hassan. Dinner and overnight.
Day 02: Hassan / Mysore (120 Kms / 2 Hrs)
Morning breakfast, check out at 08:00, drive to Mysore, on arrival check in to your hotel. Lunch and half a day city tour – proceed to visit Chamundi Hill, Maharaja Palace, Art Gallery, and evening Palace lighting. Return to hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 03: Mysore / Bangalore (180kms/4 Hrs) :
Morning breakfast at 08:00, checkout and drive to Bangalore en-route visit St. Philomenas Church, Srirangapatna – Island fortress of Tippu Sultan. Visit Tippu’s summer Palace (Dariya Daulat Bagh), Gumbaz, and Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. On arrival drop off at your hotel in Bangalore.
Best of Karnataka – Bangalore/Mysore/Nagarahole/Coorg/Bangalore
Day 01: Bangalore / Coorg(250kms / 5 Hrs):
Morning board your vehicle and drive to Coorg, Enroute visit Bylukeppe Golden Temple, afternoon arrive at hotel & check-in rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight stay.
Day 02: Coorg
Wake up to the chirping of birds, breakfast at hotel. Visit Spice & Coffee plantation. Lunch at hotel, post lunch visit Talakaveri.
Cultural dance performance, Dinner at hotel and overnight stay.
Day 03: Coorg /Nagarahole National Park – Kabini (145kms / 3.5hrs):
Early morning check out and proceed to Kabini, enroute visit Dubare Elephant camp, breakfast will be arranged at Dubare Elephant camp.
Post which enjoys the Elephant activity for exclusives interaction tour. Arrive Kabini situated in Karapur (southern Part of Nagarahole National Park) is the old hunting lodge of the Maharaja and Viceroy’s. Early evening arrive at hotel & check-in followed by Jeep Safari at Nagarahole National Park. Tribal Dance performance during Dinner. Overnight stay.
Day 04: Nagarahole National Park – Kabini / Mysore (80 kms / 2 hrs)
Wake up early morning and take boat safari on the river Kabini for bird watching. A naturalist guide helps you identify the many varieties of birds and wild beasts. Breakfast at hotel, checkout and proceed to Mysore. Check in on arrival and proceed for lunch. Post lunch visit to Handicraft Cluster. Evening visit to see Mysore Palace lighting. Cultural dance and Dinner and overnight.
Day 05: Mysore:
Breakfast at hotel, visit Maharaj Palace, St. Philomena’s Church lunch at hotel, post lunch visit to Srirangapatna – Island fortress of Tippu Sultan. Visit Tippu’s summer Palace (Dariya Daulat Bagh), Gumbaz, and Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. Evening visit Brindavan Garden. Dinner and Overnight.
Day 06: Mysore / Bangalore (145kms / 3hrs):
Breakfast at hotel, check-out and proceed back to Bangalore for drop off at your hotel.
Best of Coastal Karnataka – Bangalore/Mangalore/Udupi/Kumta/Shivamogga/Chikmagalur/Bangalore
Day 01: Bangalore / Mangalore (Vistadome Train 9.5Hrs):
Pickup from your hotel in Bangalore and board the Vistadome Train, enjoy the Western Ghats between Hassan and Mangalore. Lunch will be provided on train. On arrival check-in to hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 02: Mangalore / Udupi (60kms / 1.5hrs):
Morning breakfast at 07:30. Check out and proceed to visit Rosario Cathedral, Sultan Battery, check in to your hotel and Lunch, evening visit Malpe Beach. Dinner and overnight.
Day 03: Udupi / Kumta (146kms / 3hrs):
Morning breakfast at 07:30, checkout and drive to Kumta, en-route visit Hastha Shilpa – Heritage Village. Lunch at local restaurant. On arrival check in to a hotel and dinner. Overnight stay.
Day 04: Kumta / Shivamogga (180kms / 4hrs):
Morning breakfast, checkout and drive to Shivamogga, on arrival check-in to hotel, lunch and post lunch visit Sakrebyle Elephant Camp and Lion Safari. Dinner at hotel, overnight stay.
Day 05: Shivamogga / Chikmagalur (100kms / 3hrs)
Breakfast at 07:30 in hotel, check-out and proceed to The Land of Coffee (Birth places of Coffee in India). On arrival check-in to hotel, lunch, then proceed to visit Coffee estate & Coffee Museum. Enjoy the serenity of Chikmagalur hill station. Dinner at hotel, overnight stay.
Day 06: Chikmagalur / Bangalore (240kms / 5 hrs):
Morning breakfast, at 08:00, check out and drive to Bangalore and drop off at your hotel in Bangalore.
Karnataka Heritage Discovery – Bangalore/Hampi/Vijayapura/Badami/Bangalore
Day 01: Bangalore / Hospet (330kms / 6 Hrs)
Pickup from your hotel in Bangalore and drive to Hospet. Enroute visit Chitradurga Fort. Lunch on the way in restaurant. On arrival check in to your hotel. Evening visit to Kaladhama & Textile museum, followed by cultural programme and dinner. Overnight stay.
Day 02: Hospet / Bijapur (200kms / 4 hrs)
Early breakfast, checkout and proceed to Bijapur. On arrival check into hotel. Later visit Gol Gumbaz – the most important attraction of Bijapur, the largest dome in the world, Mehtar Mahal – is on the way to the old city. heavily influenced by the Indo-Saracenic style, Gagan Mahal – built by Adil Shah I (1561), is a palace-cum-audience hall. The central arch of Gagan Mahal is the tallest and widest in entire Bijapur. Return to hotel. Overnight.
Day 03: Bijapur / Badami : (120kms/2hrs)
Morning breakfast, check out and proceed to Badami. On arrival check in to hotel. Lunch and proceed half day sightseeing visit to Badami Caves – picturesquely situated at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills, the exquisite sculptures and the rust red sandstone cliffs of Badami tell many a tale of yore, North Fort – this is the largest enclosure, including two major platform structures, an underground chamber which must have served as a treasury or private audience hall, several other platforms, Banashankari – is a quaint hamlet taking its name from the goddess Banashankari. Built in the Dravidian style, the temple is dedicated to Banashankari, a form of Parvati. Return to hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 04: Badami / Hospet (135kms /2.5hrs):
Early Morning breakfast, proceed to Hospet. On arrival check-in at hotel, lunch and then proceed to visit Hampi, the World Heritage Centre, is the most beautiful and evocative of all the ruins of Karnataka. Capital of Vijayanagar kingdom is full of delightful surprises. Dinner and Overnight stay.
Day 05: Hospet
Breakfast at hotel, then proceed for a full day sightseeing visit to King’s Palace – this is the largest enclosure, including two major platform structures, an underground chamber which must have served as a treasury or private audience hall, Mahanavami Dibba – equally impressive is the massive Mahanavami Dibba, where the kings once sat on gem-studded golden thrones and watched processions pass by. Queen’s Bath – This structure has a very plain exterior, but the interior is stunningly ornate, with graceful arched corridors, projecting balconies and lotus-shaped fountains that used to spout perfumed water for the ladies of the court. Return to hotel and overnight.
Day 06: Hospet / Bangalore (330 kms / 6hrs):
Early morning breakfast, checkout at 07:30 and drive to your hotel in Bangalore.
Karnataka Wild & Hill Station – Bangalore/Bandipur/Mysore/ Sakaleshpur/Chikmagalur/ Bangalore
Day 01: Bangalore / Chikmagalur (240 Kms / 5 Hrs)
Pickup from your hotel in Bangalore and drive to Chikmagalur. On arrival check in and proceed for buffet lunch. The Land of Coffee (Birth places of Coffee in India). Post lunch, proceed to visit Coffee estate & Coffee Museum. Enjoy the serenity of Chikmagalur hill station. Dinner at hotel, overnight stay.
Day 02: Chikmagalur / Sakaleshpur (100 Kms / 2 Hrs)
Breakfast at hotel, check-out and start your journey to explore Sakaleshpur Western Ghats also known as Birthplace for Cardamom in India. Upon arrival check-in to hotel, lunch then proceed for local sightseeing of Sakaleshpur: Bisile View Point. Followed by Patla Betta (off road 4-wheel jeep drive) for sunset. Return to hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 03: Sakaleshpur / Bandipur (230 Kms / 5 Hrs)
Early morning Breakfast at 07:30, check-out and proceed to Bandipur. On arrival check-in to hotel, lunch and rest for some time. Coffee or Tea will be served at 15:45, at 16:00 drive to forest for wildlife safari. Return to lodge at 18:30. Campfire, Dinner & Overnight.
Day 04: Bandipur / Mysore (80kms / 1.5Hrs)
Morning after coffee/tea proceeds for Wildlife Safari at 06:30. Return to camp at 09:15, breakfast, check-out and proceed to Mysore. On arrival at Mysore check into Hotel. Lunch and proceed to visit Maharaja Palace, St. Philomena’s Church, Art Gallery, Silk factory & Brindavan Garden. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 05: Mysore / Bangalore (145kms/ 3 hrs)
Morning breakfast and checkout at 08:00 and proceed to Bangalore, en-route visit to Srirangapatna – Island fortress of Tippu Sultan. Visit Tippu’s summer Palace (Dariya Daulat Bagh), Gumbaz, and Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. On arrival drop off at your hotel in Bangalore.