Hampi. Photo
Photo Credit: Omrita Nandi
An incredible journey to the south of India, through a lesser known part of Indian history – the dazzling architectural legacy of seven great Dravidian empires, spanning over a millennium. Travel with us through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to marvel at the finest examples of Dravidian temple architecture. Get an inside view from local experts and historians and come away both dazzled and enlightened.
Main Places to Visit:
Bangalore, Hasan, Mysuru, Hampi, Aihole, Pattadakkal, Badami Caves, Anegundi, Madurai, Trichy, Tanjore, Kumbakonam, Chidambaram, Pondicherry, Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Chennai, including a side trip to Mananthavady in Kerala, and a beach day in Mahabalipuram.
For pricing and other details
Dr M.N. Rajesh
Dr M.N. Rajesh is Assistant Professor in History at the University of Hyderabad. He completed his PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi and has since worked extensively on several aspects of medieval Indian history, socio-religious movements, Dalit politics, Tibetan history and culture. He has a vast knowledge of Buddhism, and Buddhist history.
Published work: Gompas – in Traditional Tibetan Society (2002), Sacred Sites in Buddhist Monastry (1999), Locality, History, Memory, The Making of the Citizen in South Asia (ed with Rila Mukherjee) 2009
The main purpose of the Hindu temple was to create a link between persons and gods, a site for gods to be seen by human beings.
Dravidian temple architecture emerged from the idea that a king was considered to be divine by nature and possessed religious significance. He was the representative of God and lived in temples i.e. the residence of God.
What ensued was a glorious tradition of temple art in the south that would scale the most glorious heights. From early brick shrines and deities dating back to 300 BCE, Dravidian temple art grew in both sophistication and grandeur until it reached its zenith in the 16th century, as seen in the vibrant Vijayanagar architecture with its ornate pillared halls.
Various kingdoms and empires such as the Cholas, the Chera, the Kakatiyas, the Pandyas, the Pallavas, the Gangas, the Rashtrakutas, the Chalukyas, the Hoysalas, and Vijayanagara Empires made substantial contributions to the evolution of Dravidian architecture.
The Dravidian Temple StoryTrek takes you to the finest examples of Dravidian temple architecture, with an inside view from local experts and historians. All to ensure that you come away both dazzled and enlightened.
Although this tour has a date, you can choose to do it on a different date. If you are a small family or group of 8 to 12, we can still arrange for a dedicated guide to travel with you, from start to end, for an extra charge. Else you will have different local guides at each location, arranged seamlessly. For a group of 8 to 12, the cost will remain the same.
For more details about the tour, or for customisation, please message us via the button below.
Photo Credit: Omrita Nandi
Photo Credit: Ranjana Sarma
Photo Credit: Ranjana Sarma
Photo Credit: Ranjana Sarma
Photo Credit: Shatarupa Bhattacharyya
Photo Credit: Srijan Sandip Mandal
Photo Credit: Srijan Sandip Mandal
Photo Credit: Srijan Sandip Mandal
Photo Credit: Ranjana Sarma
You are charged a bit more for the single occupancy. The rate is given on the tour page. It covers everything that is covered for the twin sharing plus you will have a single room, instead of a shared room.
You will have a dedicated tour manager travelling with you. Besides that, you can call us anytime on the toll-free or office number. And in case of an emergency, there is an emergency number you can call any time of day or night.
It covers accommodation on twin/double sharing at hotels. Breakfast (but not other meals unless expressly stated). It covers all internal travel- bus, train or air. Overnight train (As of now we are not holding any rooms. Same will be processed after. All road taxes, parking fee, fuel charges, interstate taxes. Entrances at the monuments as mentioned in the program. (One Visit).
Services of STORYTELLERS, curators, experts, accompanying English speaking guides and escort throughout the tour.
Goods and Services Tax
There is a form under the page for each tour. Fill it in and send it to us. We will get back to you. Or you can call us.
English is the language we will use.
If you want a translator to travel with you please speak with us. We can organize translators in more languages than you may think. You will, of course, have to pay the extra charge: the tour costs and the fee for the translator.
Sure you can pick your own dates. Although rates will differ according to the tourist seasons. In December rates will often double. The Storytellers may be different from the ones we have mentioned- we will have to check their availability- but we will arrange.
Yes and yes. The rates will depend on the time of year (during holiday seasons everything cost a bit more). Since we have to fix a time with our storytellers in advance, there may be some variations in the tour design, but not much.
Yes. We can design tours for you specific to your area of work or interest.
We love the challenge of planning new tours. So get in touch and we create something new and beautiful. We do have tours specially designed for professional bodies – eg architects, artists, sports etc.
Yes. Do let us know what you would like to do, and we will either organize it ourselves or put you in touch with someone who can help with your specific needs.
Our tour starts at the hotel we indicate in the city we indicate as the start point of the tour. However, if you want your ticket booked and help with your visa, we or our tour partners will help you. Let us know and we will put you in touch with them.
Yes. But do make sure they are interested in a thematic tour. There are long bus journeys involved in some of the more inaccessible places. Do make sure they can handle that. Babies are welcome. We can make sure you are well taken care of if you are accompanied by a baby or toddler. If you wish to hire a nanny we can help, although it will cost you the price of the tour as well as the nanny’s fees.
Yes. We will take care of you so that you are safe while you can also enjoy your tour. We will, of course, expect you to maintain the discipline of the tour in terms of timings and other basic rules.
On every tour, there will be shopping days. But do understand that the focus of the tours are thematic, and shopping may not be a priority activity.
The package entitles you to free breakfast. You can pick what you want to eat for your other meals, and you will have to pay for it yourself. We will take you to restaurants during meals.
If you would like to be picked up from the airport in the city where the tour will begin, to be taken to the hotel from where the tour will begin, we can do that. Let us know the details of your arrival.
There is a start point mentioned in the tour itinerary. If you arrive a day or several days before, we can neither guarantee you the availability of a room nor can we take care of the cost. This cost you will have to bear yourself. Our travel partners, Cox and Kings can help you to find accommodation at your cost.
Unfortunately, we cannot say a blanket yes. India can be unsafe if you look different, behave differently if you are a woman if you are travelling alone, especially if you go into the more interior towns and villages. On the other hand, there are many people who have had no bad experience. So let’s just say it is difficult to predict. However, on the tour, you are well taken care of. Provided you stick to the norms and discipline of the tour, we can assure you are absolutely safe.
No there will no problem.
In general, in the big cities, service providers will speak English. Especially in the South of India. But on the street, there will be any number of local languages. In the North, most people speak Hindi besides their regional language. On the tour you will have a tour guide with you who can speak English and the local languages so you are in good hands
You can change money at the international airport you arrive in- the money change counters are open day and night. Or you can go to banks after you arrive, which will be during banking hours. There are many private companies/shops for changing money in the major Indian cities.
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Thank you. We’ll definitely get back to you.