South India Cultural Grand Tour
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Kick off in Bangalore and wrap up back there on this 19 day journey through South India’s temple towns, royal cities and dramatic Deccan landscapes. You’ll explore Vellore and Kanchipuram before Chennai’s colonial landmarks and Mahabalipuram’s UNESCO listed shore temples. Continue to French flavoured Pondicherry and the Chola greats at Chidambaram, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram. Expect to see the Brihadeshwara masterpiece at Thanjavur, vibrant Madurai, then fly to Hyderabad for Charminar, Golconda and grand palaces. Roll through Bidar, Gulbarga and Bijapur’s Gol Gumbaz, then cave temples at Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole. Finish amid Hampi’s boulder strewn ruins, Hoysala art at Belur and Halebidu, and stately Mysore.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more.
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Tour Overview
Duration
19 daysHotel Rating
3, 4 or 5 star hotelsStarts
BangaloreEnds
BangaloreMinimum Age
No minimum ageMaximum Age
Tours have upper age limits for several reasons, such as but not limited to: tour pace, activity level, and accommodation standards. If you fall outside of this age limit, we do have lots of other tours in India that are suitable for all ages!
Arrival Transfer
YesDeparture Transfer
YesTour Guide
Yes - for included sightseeing.Country
IndiaPassengers
R 83 935,00
R 9 999,00
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Tour Style
Group Size
Min 1 / Max Private Tour
Trip Type
Private Tours
Range
On this tour, you won't be joined by other travellers, and will just be travelling with your booking party. Some transportation & sightseeing may be shared, check the Inclusions for more information.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
A moderate amount of walking is required during sightseeing, with some free time, offering a balance between activity and relaxation. As a general rule, you should be able to walk 2-kilometres without stopping.
Tour Guide
Yes - for included sightseeing.Group Size
Min 1 / Max Private TourRange
On this tour, you won't be joined by other travellers, and will just be travelling with your booking party. Some transportation & sightseeing may be shared, check the Inclusions for more information.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
A moderate amount of walking is required during sightseeing, with some free time, offering a balance between activity and relaxation. As a general rule, you should be able to walk 2-kilometres without stopping.
Trip Type
Private ToursPlaces You'll See
Bengaluru
Bangalore
Bangalore Division
Vellore
Kanchipuram
Chennai
Chennai (Madras)
Pondicherry
Chidambaram
Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Darasuram
Thanjore
Trichy
Chettinad
Tiruchirappalli
Coimbatore
Madurai
Hyderabad
Athens
Bidar
Gulbarga
Mumbai
Bijapur
Kalaburagi Division
Badami
Gadag
Lakkundi
Hampi
Hassan
Shravanabelagola
Mysore
Mysuru
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Included
Not Included
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Itinerary
Day 1 - Bangalore
Arrive in Bangalore (Bengaluru). On arrival, we meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Standard check in is from 12:00 – early check in is subject to room availability. The remainder of the day is free – you can relax at the hotel or explore at your own pace. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 - Exploring Bangalore
We set out on a guided city tour of Bangalore. We stroll through Lal Bagh Botanical Garden, home to over 1,000 species including tropical plants, trees and herbs. We continue to Bangalore Fort, founded by Kempe Gowda and later expanded by Tipu Sultan – within its walls stands the well‑preserved 16th‑century Ganapathi Temple. We then visit Tipu’s Summer Palace – first a mud‑brick defence built by Kempegowda in 1537, later rebuilt by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan in 1791. We also view the impressive Vidhana Soudha – a neo‑Dravidian granite landmark dominating the northern edge of Cubbon Park and housing the State Legislature and the Secretariat. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 - Bangalore to Vellore
Bangalore – Vellore (220 km – around 5 hours). After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Vellore and check in on arrival. We then explore the 16th‑century Vellore Fort, known for its imposing granite walls and surrounding moat, and visit the Jalakandeswarar Temple inside the fort, noted for its ornate sculptures. We also call at the nearby Government Museum, which displays prehistoric relics and natural history exhibits, before continuing to the Sri Lakshmi Narayani Golden Temple at Sripuram, set at the foot of low green hills and gilded with 1,500 kg of pure gold – double the 750 kg gilding of the Golden Temple’s dome in Amritsar.You have the rest of the day free to relax. Overnight at hotel.
Day 4 - Vellore to Kanchipuram & Chennai
We drive from Vellore to Chennai via Kanchipuram – about 145 kilometres and roughly 3 hours of driving. In Kanchipuram, the city of a thousand temples, we visit Kailasanathar, an 8th century Shiva temple known for its architecture and sculptures, with 58 small shrines set around the main sanctum. We continue to Ekambareswarar, another ancient Shiva temple that is home to a mango tree said to be 2,500 years old – its four branches yield different varieties of fruit.
We also visit Varadharaja, dedicated to Vishnu and noted for its fine sculptures; Vaikundhaperumal, a Vishnu temple counted among the 108 Divya Desams; and Kamakshiamman, dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi and an important Shakti worship site. We then drive on to Chennai and check in at the hotel. Later, we take a city tour, visiting Fort St George and its museum – built by the British East India Company in 1640 and believed to be their first establishment in India – Kapaleeshwarar Temple, the landscaped Semmozhi Poonga botanical garden, Dakshina Chitra living history museum, and Arulmigu Sri Parthasarathy, an 8th century Vaishnavite temple. We end the day with a walk along Marina Beach. Overnight in Chennai.
Day 5 - Mahabalipuram & Pondicherry
Drive from Chennai to Pondicherry – 160 km – around 3 hours – via Mahabalipuram. Here we explore the monolithic Rathas carved from single boulders, the Shore Temple built in the 7th century and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cave temples decorated in the Mamalla style of the Pallava period, and Krishna’s Butterball, a gigantic granite boulder poised on a slope.
We continue to Pondicherry and check in to the hotel. In the afternoon we visit Auroville, founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, and see the Matrimandir, a futuristic spherical structure clad in gold discs. We then visit the Pondicherry Museum, noted for its Chola period bronzes, including 81 lost wax sculptures. Next, we take a guided walk through the French Quarter – you can customise the route with your guide to include places such as the French Consulate, French Institute, Raj Nivas, Bharati Park (Aayi Monument), Government Square, beaches, monuments, churches and French schools. You can pause for coffee and desserts along the way, and you may choose to relax on the beach in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 - Pondicherry to Tanjore
Today, we drive to Tanjore via a string of outstanding Chola-era temples – a journey of about 180 kilometres and roughly four hours by road, with sightseeing stops making the day longer. En route we visit Chidambaram’s Nataraja Temple, dedicated to Shiva in his cosmic dancing form. We then continue to Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, whose complex features the Nandi Mandapa, Alankar Mandapa, Maha Mandapa, Mukha Mandapa and Ardha Mandapa. Our final stop is Darasuram Temple – a renowned storehouse of art and architecture with exquisite stone carvings.
On arrival in Tanjore we check in at the hotel. Overnight in Tanjore.
Day 7 - Trichy & Chettinad
Tanjore – Trichy – Chettinad (140 km/3 hrs approx). After breakfast we explore Tanjore, beginning at the UNESCO listed Brihadeshwara Temple and Fort, a superb example of 10th century Chola architecture. We continue to the Thanjavur Palace and Museum to see the Art Gallery’s granite and bronze Chola sculptures and the Saraswathi Mahal Library, which preserves more than 30,000 palm leaf and paper manuscripts in Indian and European languages.
We then drive to Trichy to visit the vast Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, famed for its 22 gopurams including India’s tallest at 72 metres and 13 storeys high. We also take in the Rock Fort Temple, rising 83 metres above the city on an ancient rocky outcrop considered among the oldest on earth, and Tiruvanaikkaval’s Jambukeshwara Temple, dedicated to Shiva and enclosed by five concentric walls and seven gopurams. Later we continue to Chettinad for hotel check in. You have the rest of the day at leisure to relax. Overnight in Chettinad.
Day 8 - Chettinad & Madurai
We explore Chettinad, renowned for its grand mansions from the 19th century with wide courtyards and spacious rooms finished in marble and teak. Many details were imported – marble from Italy, teak from Burma, crockery from Indonesia, crystals from Europe and Belgian mirrors – and a local limestone known as karai was widely used. Around 11,000 such mansions remain today, about half the number a century ago. They were built by merchants who traded from salt to gems with Burma, Malaysia and Singapore, and many houses passed to caretakers in the mid 20th century, used mainly on family visits for occasions such as weddings or Pongal. We visit selected properties open to visitors, including Chettinad Mansions and Chettinad Palace, and a few notable temples such as Vairavan Kovil Temple, Karpaga Vinayakar Temple, Kundrakudi Murugan Temple and Kottaiyur Sivan Temple.
In the afternoon we drive to Madurai – 90 km, around 2 hours – and check in at the hotel. In the evening we visit the Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple to attend the Aarti, witnessing the evening rituals and ceremonies. Overnight at hotel.
Day 9 - Madurai & Fly to Hyderabad
Madurai – Hyderabad (flight). After breakfast at the hotel, we set out on a city tour of Madurai – beginning at the Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple, one of India’s largest temple complexes, built between the 16th and 18th centuries and known for its intricate gopurams and continuous temple rituals. We continue to Tiruparankundram Murugan Temple – a 6th‑century rock‑cut sanctuary and one of the Six Abodes of Murugan – before visiting Tirumal Nayak’s Palace, noted for its richly decorated halls and an immense arcade supported by stone pillars rising 48 feet.
Later, we transfer to the airport for the flight to Hyderabad (flight not included). On arrival, we meet you and transfer to your hotel – overnight in Hyderabad.
Day 10 - Exploring Hyderabad
After breakfast we explore Hyderabad – a 400–year–old city of lively bazaars and historic Islamic monuments. We visit Golconda Fort, long associated with the region’s diamond mines and the famed Kohinoor and Darya–i–noor, then continue to the Qutubshahi Tombs, where mausoleums of varying size share a common architectural elegance. In the Old City we take in Charminar, built in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah, and the nearby Mecca Mosque – the largest in Hyderabad, about 100 yards south–west of Charminar. Its main hall measures 67 metres by 54 metres and rises 23 metres high, supported by 15 arches.
We also visit Chowmahalla Palace (Friday closed), once the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty; Purani Haveli (Friday closed), built in 1777 for the second Nizam’s son and later home to the sixth Nizam, noted for a 240–foot wooden chamber with around 150 walk–in cupboards; and the Salar Jung Museum (Friday closed), established in 1951 and renowned as one of India’s largest museums with a vast collection of antiques. Further stops include Birla Mandir, a temple dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara built from 200 tonnes of white Rajasthani marble, and Hussain Sagar Lake – a large man–made lake linking Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The remainder of the day is free for you to relax. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 - Bidar & Gulbarga
Hyderabad – Bidar – Gulbarga (260 km – around 5 hours). Leaving Hyderabad, we drive to Gulbarga via Bidar and explore Bidar’s key monuments. We visit Bidar Fort – a vast Persian-style stronghold rebuilt by Sultan Ahmad Shah Wali when the Bahmani capital moved here in 1430 – notable for its seven gates, 37 bastions and triple moat. We continue to the Mahmud Gawan Madrasa near the Chaubara Clock Tower, a distinguished Islamic college founded in 1472 by the Persian statesman Khwaja Mahmud Gawan.
We then take in the Bahmani Tombs, a group of twelve grand mausoleums with lofty domes and fine arches, including the prominent tomb of Ahmad Shah Wali with walls around twelve feet thick. At the Rangeen Mahal, we view mid‑sixteenth‑century tilework, mother‑of‑pearl inlay and intricately carved wooden pillars.
If time permits, we visit Narasimha Jhira, a cave temple dedicated to Lord Narasimha reached through a 300‑metre tunnel with a perennial stream where access involves wading waist‑deep through water, and Guru Nanak Jhira, an important Sikh site where a clear spring has flowed since the time of Guru Nanak – local belief holds the water has healing properties.
After sightseeing, we drive on to Gulbarga and check in at the hotel for the night.
Day 12 - Gulbarga to Bijapur
Gulbarga to Bijapur – 170 kilometres – approximately 3 hours. After breakfast at the hotel, we explore Gulbarga Fort, a major Bahmani landmark. Credited in origin to Raja Gulchand and later strengthened by Allah ud din Bahmani with 15 towers, the fort is ringed by a defensive moat and once mounted 26 guns, including an eight metre cannon. We continue to the Jama Masjid, known for its striking arcaded interior whose design echoes the Great Mosque of Córdoba – a style also seen in Hyderabad’s Spanish Mosque. We then visit the Dargah of Hazrath Khaja Bandanawaz, a revered Chishti Sufi associated with a message of understanding and harmony among faiths. Later we drive to Bijapur and check in at the hotel. Overnight in Bijapur.
Day 13 - Bijapur & Badami
We set out on a city tour of Bijapur, exploring the Adil Shahi legacy around Bijapur Fort – a remarkable concentration of monumental architecture often called the Agra of South India. We visit Asar Mahal, built by Muhammad Adil Shah in the late 1640s and once used as a hall of justice, now revered for housing a hair from the beard of Prophet Muhammad. At Bara Kaman – the unfinished mausoleum of Ali Adil Shah II – we see the two soaring arches that hint at an ambitious plan for twelve intersecting spans left incomplete. We continue to Gol Gumbaz, noted for its vast dome – 124 feet in diameter – and minarets that double as staircases to the top, and to the Jama Masjid, known for its graceful twin minarets with pigeonhole detailing and bulbous domes above balconies. We also see the colossal Malik – e – Maidan cannon and the elegant Ibrahim Rouza, where a mosque and tomb face each other across a tank and fountain within a square enclosure.
Late afternoon, we drive to Badami – 120 km, around 3 hours – and check in to the hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 14 - Badami Cave Temples, Pattadakal & Aihole
After breakfast, we explore Badami’s rock cut heritage, beginning with the Badami Cave Temples – superb examples of early Indian rock cut architecture from the Chalukya era. We continue to Badami Fort – long associated with the Chalukyas and the Pallavas – and the Open Air Museum, where experimental carvings, rock cut steps, caves and unfinished idols offer insight into ancient craftsmanship.
We then drive to Pattadakal, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Malaprabha River, to tour its seventh and eighth century Hindu and Jain temples built by the Chalukyas. Many shrines are dedicated to Shiva, with elements of Vaishnavism and Shaktism also present. Friezes depict scenes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata Purana and other classical texts. The Papanatha and Virupaksha temples show a refined fusion of northern and southern styles, and Virupaksha remains an active place of worship.
In nearby Aihole, we visit the Durga Temple – a Dravidian plan with a later northern superstructure – followed by Huchamalli Temple, which houses shrines to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma and includes a circumambulatory passage, latticework and a northern style tower, with a smaller later temple to the north. We continue to the Meguti Jain Temple, clearly dated to 634 AD and built without mortar on a raised platform with a large pillared hall, and the sixth century Ravanapadhi Cave Temple dedicated to Shiva, set on a deep ledge with free standing shrines flanking the entrance. The rest of the day is yours to relax at the hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 15 - Gadag, Lakkundi & Hampi
After breakfast, we drive from Badami to Hampi via Gadag and Lakkundi (about 180 km – around 4 hours), visiting temples en route. In Gadag, we visit the Trikuteshwara Temple, dedicated to Shiva, noted for its three lingas carved from a single stone and a shrine to Saraswathi with carved columns. We then explore Lakkundi’s ruined temples, including Mallikarjuna, Virabhadra, Manikeshwara, Nanneshwara, Lakshminarayana, Someshwara and Nilakanteshwara. On arrival in Hampi, we check in to the hotel. You have the rest of the day free to relax. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 16 - Exploring Hampi
Explore Hampi’s remarkable ruins and living temples. We begin in the Royal Enclosures – an open air complex that reflects the grandeur of the Vijayanagara court – then continue to the Hazara Rama Temple, noted for its Ramayana bas‑reliefs and links to royal ceremonies. We see the stone King’s Balance – its beam still showing the three suspension loops – and the Mahanavami Dibba, the tallest platform in the enclosure built after Krishnadevaraya’s victory at Udayagiri.
We visit the monolithic Lakshmi Narasimha image before heading to Virupaksha Temple, an active place of worship. We also take in the Lotus Mahal within the Zenana Enclosure and the 16th century Vithala Temple Complex on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra River, known for its intricate carvings and grand architecture. You have free time to relax at the hotel later in the day. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 17 - Hampi to Hassan
Hampi to Hassan – 330 km – around 7 hours. After breakfast, we drive to Hassan, stopping en route at Belur and Halebedu. In Belur – once capital of the Hoysala Empire – we visit the Chennakeshava Temple, commissioned by King Vishnuvardhana in AD 1117. Set on a raised, star shaped platform, its black stone carvings have a metal like sheen. At the entrance stands Garuda, carrier of Vishnu, and the outer walls feature friezes of 650 unique charging elephants alongside graceful bracket figures.
We continue 17 km to Halebedu to explore the 12th century Hoysaleswara Temple, noted for its casket like platform and exceptionally detailed stone scrollwork. The walls are covered with an extensive array of gods and goddesses, and we also visit the nearby Jain basadis.
We then drive on to Hassan and check in at the hotel for the night.
Day 18 - Hassan to Mysore
After breakfast we drive 140 km – around 3 hours – to Mysore, stopping at Shravanabelagola, one of the most important Jain pilgrimage centres. On Vindyagiri Hill we see the 57 foot monolithic statue of Gommateshwara; nearby Chandragiri Hill is also home to several older Jain centres. We continue to Mysore and check in at the hotel.
Later we explore Mysore. We visit Chamundi Hills for the Chamundeswari Temple and the Nandi Bull, then tour the vast City Palace, rebuilt in 1897 in the Indo–Saracenic style and noted for its wall paintings, stained glass and ornamented doors. We also take an excursion to Somnathpur to see the Keshava Vishnu Temple, and to Srirangapatnam, where Tipu Sultan was killed in battle against an East India Company army including Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington. Overnight at hotel.
Day 19 - Mysore to Bangalore
After breakfast at the hotel, we depart Mysore for Bangalore – a 140 km drive of around 3 hours – and transfer you to the airport for your onward flight.
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Hotels
The hotels listed below are examples which we frequently use on this tour. Alternative hotels of a similar standard may be used instead.
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The prices you see below are a guide, with final prices per person being determined by the number of travellers in your booking party, desired hotel standard and the rooming arrangements required. To see an accurate price, please click "Book Dates" and enter the details for your booking party.
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