Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Private tourOnly your group will participate
Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below
Overview
At Somnathpur you will find one of the most perfectly preserved temples in India. The 13th century Chennakesava temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by the Hoysala dynasty on a star shaped platform, its exterior covered entirely in carved sculpture. Every dancer on the walls has her nose cut off. Your guide will unravel that mystery.
At Talakadu you will find something completely different. This was once a thriving town of 30 temples until a queen cursed it in the 17th century and the sand dunes buried everything. Five temples have since been excavated from the sand. One has a lingam said to change colour through the day from red to black to white. A bullock cart ride takes you between the temples through the dunes.
Two extraordinary sites. One private car from Bangalore. An expert cultural guide throughout. All entry fees are included.
Options
Car pick up from City hotels
Travel by car and pick up is from city hotels excluding Airport and Whitefield area.
Pickup included
Car pickup airport & Whitefied
Pick up from Airport and Whitefield areas and travel by car
Pickup included
What's included
Pickup and drop-off
Private guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
Beverages
Gratuities
Any food ordered other than south indian lunch
What to expect
Mysore Sree Muthappa Kshetram
1h · Admission ticket included
Somnathpur is famous for the magnificent Chennakesava temple. It has been declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO. This temple was built in 1268 by Somanatha, a general of King Narasimha III. We will explore the three shrines and three wonderfully carved peaks with a common Mandapa. The next couple of hours will be spent appreciating the 16 different ceilings, each depicting a different stage of a blooming banana flower, the central wall space adorned with images of deities with jewellery, bangles, crowns and anklets.
Keerthi Narayana Temple
1h · Admission ticket included
Next, we will visit Keertinarayana temple, built using black granite and bricks, and a splendid example of Hoysala style of architecture. This was built to commemorate the victory of King Vishnuvardhan over the Cholas. The highlight of this temple is the 2-meter tall main deity of the Lord.
Talakad Panchalinga Temples
1h · Admission ticket included
Hotel pick up will be at 730 am and we will head towards Talakadu, located 130km from Bangalore. The journey will take 3 hours.
Talakadu used to be a flourishing town with more than 30 temples during ancient times. The legendary Queen’s curse buried the entire town with sand dunes. We will visit Vaidyanatheswara temple, one of the 5 temples excavated from the sands. Over the next 2 hours, we will explore this granite structure built in the 14th century by Chola Kings and dedicated to Lord Shiva. We will also visit Pataleshwara Shiva temple where the Lingam is supposed to change colors through the day from red, black and white.
Additional information
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Minimum age is 18 years
Footwear needs to be removed before entering temples and we have multiple temples on this itinerary. So slippers or slip-ons which can be easily removed, are preferable
A dress code is required to enter places of worship. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
