Hampi, INDIA
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The celebrated rock-cut shrines of Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal in central Karnataka belong to the early Chalukya period of the 6th-8th centuries. The temples are specimens of the earliest, best-preserved temple art in India. Flawless forms and exquisite expressions were born in these labs of creativity. The craftsmanship that flourished here would later culminate in the majestic monuments of Hampi and the rest of South India.
More than 150 temples reflecting diverse styles were commissioned during the 6th-8th centuries by the Chalukyas, but the most impressive is the ensemble of monuments at Badami, Aihole & Pattadakal. Between them, the ochre-coloured stone temples showcase the evolution from rock-cut caves to stand-alone structures and outline the two distinct temple styles of North and South India.
Bump up the exotic factor of your luxury holiday in India with a round-up of the temple trio.
Head out first to Badami, the former capital of the Chalukya Empire, to gawp at iconic rock-cut cave temples set in dramatic red-sandstone cliffs against the pristine banks of the Agastya Lake. The cave temples devoted to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are abundant in frescoes, carvings and sculptures. The most dramatic of all is the Nataraja (dancing form of Shiva) with 18 arms and 81 Bharatanatyam poses.
Continue to Aihole, the home to 100 temples built between the 4th and 6th centuries, of which very few have survived intact. From early shrines like Ladkhan Temple to later ones like the Meguti Temple, the town has earned the epithet, ‘Cradle of Hindu Rock Architecture’. Durga temple, named after the nearby Durg Fort, holds bragging rights for the first set of freestanding stone temples in Indian history and is pending World UNESCO Heritage status.
Complete your day trip at the group of finely carved Hindu and Jain temples at Pattadakal, a treasure trove of both Dravida (South Indian) and Nagara (North Indian) architectural styles. The World Heritage Site of Pattadakal is the epicentre of Chalukyan art and architecture.
Transport: Private Car 
Activity level: Easy
Accessible to wheel chair: Yes 
Kid friendly: Yes 
Languages: English and Local Language 
Inclusions: An expert english speaking tour lead. 
Exclusions: We do not provide bottled drinking water to avoid single-use plastics on our tours. Please carry a water bottle or buy one on the way. Entry fee to monuments is NOT included in the price. We do this so as to keep the price same for foreign and Indian nationals Lunch or any other meal is not included on this tour. We will recommend you a good place and take you there Personal Expenses and Souvenir. 
Gratuities: Not included in tour cost;payable at guest's discretion 
Meet up location: Hotel Pick Up 
End of tour location: Hotel Drop Off Duration: 12 Hours 30 Mins Price: upto 2 adults ₹6000 | Price upto 2 adults | : ₹6,000 |
| Children | : Complimentary for children below 10 years |
25% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 15 to 10 days prior to the tour date.
50% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 9 to 5 days prior to the tour date.
No refund if cancelled less than 5 days prior to the tour date.
For group size more than 4 adults, write to us at info@footprintholidays.com
We can arrange other language speaking guides based on your request and availability
The tour can be customised to suit your needs like change of time, change of pick-up point, etc. You can write to us to info@footprintholidays.com customise your tour as per your preferences.
I will begin by saying that I had a FANTASTIC time in India. It was one of the best trips I've ever taken and I'm truly looking forward to hopefully having you book other trips for me in India.
I must say everything was planned to perfection. Each guide in every city was knowledgeable; especially the guide you arranged for us in Udaipur. We really enjoyed getting to know our guides Musheer and Kishore. We experienced the real India and appreciated the detailed itinerary your team created for us. The hotels were fantastic! In every hotel, the chef paid us a visit to make sure that we had meals suitable for us. We also enjoyed all the extra shopping excursions that were suggested.
The trip was a mega success and your team did a great job. Thanks to Footprint for everything. The entire family had a great time! The exclusive kalaripayattu demonstration was absolutely engaging and we loved every bit of the special private stand-up by Alex Babu (of Alex in Wonderland fame).
Thank you for a great trip! We especially enjoyed driving through the desertland into Jaisalmer; we also thoroughly enjoyed Bikaner, its Havelis and the Fort. Catching the daily life in Mumbai was a unique and eye-opening experience! All the hotels chosen are excellent with wonderful staff. Thank you!
Thank you for a wonderful trip to Kerala. We loved the village life walk and Fort Cochin walk. The backwater cruise in a traditional country boat was an incredible experience. A meal with the local family, living on an island in the backwaters, offered us an excellent opportunity to interact, learn and share. We loved every minute of our holiday! Thanks!
As a solo traveller, I felt safe and was exceptionally well taken care of. The cooking class in Jaipur was extremely enjoyable. The food, chef, and his wife were all exceptional and made for a lovely evening. Also, our expectations were definitely exceeded at a private residence, spending time with the elephants and lunching. Thanks!!
I loved India and thank you very much for arranging everything. It was a fabulous trip. Big kudos to you and your team. The tour guides and drivers were excellent. I loved the artisan walk, discovering the artistic treasures of Udaipur, meeting local potters and painters.
Thanks for arranging everything to precision – it was super smooth and we had a very good darshan!
Thanks for organising a great trip to Lucknow and Varanasi. The hotels at both the places were excellent; we had a great guide in Varanasi who went beyond the designated tour route and showed us around. The food tour in Lucknow was amazing and re-discovering the Awadhi Cuisine was a great experience – the kebabs were out of the world!
It was a terrific experience to spot the King of the jungle in all their glory at Gir. We had a very good experience overall.
It was a perfect leisure getaway – thanks for organising this! We loved the French Connection Trail; the guide took us through the French quarter sharing some incredible stories from the colonisation. We enjoyed the hotel and the service!