Karnataka

Island tours

Your experience will begin as you are collected from your accommodation after breakfast. Get acquainted with your English-speaking guide and drive to the 240 acre Lalbagh Botanical Garden with more than 1,800 species of plants, shrubs and trees serves as the lungs of Bangalore. Built by the legendary Hyder Ali in 1760, Lalbagh Botanical Garden is a prominent landmark of Bangalore and is host to the world famous flower show. The Bull temple of Bangalore is dedicated to Nandi Bull, the vehicle of Lord Shiva. Situated in Basavanagudi, this temple has been built in the Dravidian style of architecture. Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bangalore, got the Bull temple built during his time. This temple counts amongst the oldest temples of the city and draws devotees from all over the country. We visit Vidhan Soudha, which houses the Legislative Chambers of the state government. The three hundred rooms accommodate twenty-two departments of the state government. The building rises to a height of almost 46 m, making it one of the most imposing tourist places to visit in Bangalore. Constructed purely out of granite and porphyry, Vidhana Soudha is adorned with four domes on its four corners. ISKCON was founded in 1966 in New York City by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Its core beliefs are based on select traditional Hindu scriptures, particularly the Bhagavad-gītāand the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. ISKCON was formed to spread the practice of bhakti yoga. ISKCON today is a worldwide confederation of more than 550 centres. We will visit the ISKCON Bangalore temple here located on a hill. The Bangalore Palace belonging to the Wodeyar Kings of Mysore is a majestic structure built in Tudor Style. The Palace has fortified towers, battlements and turrets. Interiors look regal with elegant wood carvings, floral motifs, and relief paintings. With furniture in Edwardian and Victorian themes, the Bangalore Palace has a striking resemblance to the Windsor Castle of England.

Pick up from Bangalore hotel at 730AM or 830AM We reach the historical town of Sri Rangapatnam which was the capital of Tipu Sultan. We will visit Dariya Daulat Bagh, the Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan. It is built in Indo- Saracenic style and has a few magnificent murals depicting the war of Tipu with the British. The most famous exhibit here is the famous painting “Storming of Srirangapatna” by Sir Robert Ker Porter. The theme of the painting is the final fall of Srirangapatna on 4th May 1799 when the British defeat Tipu’s forces. Colonel Bailey Dungeon is the famous dungeon where Tipu imprisoned several British Officers during the war. Tales about this notorious place will be told during the tour! We visit the grand Mysore Palace and spend the next couple of hours in this wonder built in Indo-Saracenic style with a blend of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles of architecture. The Palace is a three-storied stone structure, with marble domes and a 145 ft five-storied tower. The guided tour will take you through the Public Hall, Private Hall, Dolls Pavilion and the Royal Wedding Hall. We visit St Philomena church. Built in 1840, earlier it used to be called as the St. Joseph Chavez, which was later changed to its present name. Initially a small church, it gained its present form in 1933 during the reign of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. In 1843, Mysore King Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar built the church so as to cater to the needs of the European people who were residing in Mysore then. Today, it is the second largest church in Asia. Next in our tour to Mysore, we visit Devraja market, the charming old bazaar of Mysore. Its a sensorial delight made up of flowers, vegetables, fruits, jaggery, onions and potatoes, puffed rice and coconuts! Guests have a choice in this tour to choose either Srirangapatna (Dariya daulat Bagh & Bailey Dungeon) or Somnathpura. They can update their choice during the booking under remarks. 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. Five Sense Tours is a company approved by the ministry of Tourism and is a member of Indian Association of Tour Operators. We are mindful of the local community's livelihood and endeavor to strengthen it. We provide training to local youth and employ them as guides. We also ensure patronising local business to ensure the travel dollars stay where they are spent.

Discover the architecture and culture of Colombo on a tuk-tuk. Drive to the Old Parliament, check out the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Sambodhi Chaityha Buddhist Shrine, and Red Mosque. Buy souvenirs for your friends and family in an emporium if you like. Get into the tuk-tuk at your hotel to begin the tour. Head to the Old Parliament, a colonial building that faces the sea. Also, explore some of the affluent residential areas. See the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, which was a gift from the People's Republic of China. See other famous attractions, including the Sambodhi Chaityha Buddhist Shrine, which stands on 2 concrete arches. Other attractions to see include the lighthouse, and the Red Mosque, a popular landmark also known as Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque. Admire the red and white minarets here. View the Town Hall and Independence Square. Choose to visit a handicrafts emporium if you want to buy some souvenirs from your visit. Finally, ride back to your hotel by tuk-tuk to finish up your sightseeing tour.

Meet your guide at the meeting point at the designated time. Dive straight into the history of the city as you navigate the streets. The bustling market areas with narrow streets are bursting with stories that reflect the real soul of Bangalore. Depending on the starting time of the tour, have an indulgent breakfast or snack of the locals' favourite Masala Dosa and South Indian Filter Coffee. With a true Bangalorean as your guide, navigate the older parts of the city as you learn about its origins, including the fascinating history of the Mysore rulers and the British. Explore some of Bangalore's oldest neighbourhoods. Enjoy delicious snacks for a memorable day to an area often ignored by other travellers. Proceed to KR Market, which is the largest flower market in Asia! Walk through the busy market as you take in the smells and sights of colourful flowers and fresh produce. Next, head to the ruins of the Bangalore Fort, built in the 1700's and listen to the glory days of the South rulers with references to old photographs and sketches. Our final stop will be outside the Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan. Marvel at the teak wood columns and the influence of the Indo-Islamic culture on the frescoes. At the end of the memorable walking tour of Old Bangalore, your guide will assist you with booking a taxi or finding public transport for you to head back.

Private Car and Driver tour Your guide collects you from your hotel, train station, or airport in Bangalore and sets out for the historic city of Mysore, a journey of approximately 3 hours. Upon arrival in Mysore, embark on a tour that showcases the city's rich heritage and architectural marvels. Start at the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple located within Srirangapatna Fort. This expansive temple, dedicated to Lord Ranganatha (a form of Lord Vishnu), showcases exquisite Dravidian architecture and stands as one of Karnataka's largest spiritual sites. Next, visit the renowned Mysore Palace, an epitome of the Indo-Saracenic architectural style. Marvel at the detailed carvings, domes, and lavish interiors adorned with artworks, chandeliers, and period furniture. This 107-year-old palace provides insight into the opulent lifestyle of the Wodeyar Dynasty. Proceed to Chamundi Hill to explore the Chamundeshwari Temple. Built in the 17th century during the Vijayanagar Empire, this temple honors goddess Chamundeshwari, a revered form of Durga, and offers panoramic views of Mysore below. Experience the vibrant Devaraja Market, Mysore's bustling hub of commerce. Navigate through lanes lined with colorful stalls displaying fresh produce, spices, flowers, handicrafts, sandalwood items, and traditional Mysore silk sarees. Engage with local vendors and sample authentic Mysorean delicacies. The Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) Dam, located in Karnataka, India, was built in 1932 across the Kaveri River. It provides water for irrigation, drinking, and industrial use. The dam is also known for the Brindavan Gardens, a popular tourist spot with musical fountains and beautiful landscapes. After a full day of exploration, your guide returns you to Bangalore, dropping you off at your chosen location or hotel, marking the end of an unforgettable journey through Mysore's historical and cultural landscapes.

Discover the oldest and the most vibrant part of Bangalore on a guided walking tour. Go back in time to know the origins of the Garden City of India. Understand the contributions of various kings - right from Kempegowda to Tipu Sultan between the 16th and the 18th CE. Appreciate the contributions of the British who laid down the foundation for the future city. Listen to the growth story of how Bangalore became the Silicon Valley of India from being the City of Boiled Beans! Begin your tour by visiting a 230-year-old Tipu palace, built out of teak wood. Watch prayers offered by devout Hindus in the 320-year-old Vishnu temple. Marvel at the 16th-century Bangalore Fort, which was later renovated. Soak in the sights, smells, and sounds of the fruits, flowers, and vegetable market. Experience the quietude, carvings, and inlay work at the Jain temple. Navigate through streets filled with sellers, buyers, vehicles, cows, coolies, workers, walkers, and gawkers. Listen to the cacophony of the Indian streets and markets. If you want to see order in disorder, a method in madness, this is your tour!

Depart the pier and head towards Old Goa which stands testimony not only to the reality of the Portuguese rule in the country, but also to the grandeur and wealth of the city during their reign. Your first visit of the day will be to the St. Cajetan Church which was modelled on St. Peter’s in Rome and built of laterite blocks and lime plastered. The façade, having two towers on either side to serve as a belfry, has Corinthian columns and pilasters supporting a pediment, and four niches, which keep the statues of the apostles. Hidden beneath the church is a crypt where the embalmed bodies of Portuguese governors were kept in lead coffins before they were shipped back to Lisbon. Forgotten for a time, the last batch was removed only in 1992. Continuing, the next stop will be at the Basilica of Bom Jesus which was built by the Jesuits in the 16th century and is one of the most important churches in Goa. The embalmed body of St. Frances Xavier is enshrined here in a marble mausoleum, which is exposed to the public once every ten years. The last date this happened was in December 2014. Later Proceed to Shanta Durga Temple built between 1713-1738. Dedicated to Shanta Durga, the Goddess of Peace, this temple sports an unusual, almost pagoda-like, structure with a roof made from long slabs of stone. Goan temples are unique and stand apart from other Indian temples in their distinct architecture, location, spaciousness and environment. The temple’s main entrance hall has decorated wood doors coated with silver as does the main entrance hall path. Enjoy a guided tour here before spending some time to explore independently. Continue on to Tropical Spice Plantation - spices brought the Europeans to Asia and a trip to a plantation is very refreshing and rejuvenating to all the senses. Here you will learn how local spices and herbs are grown organically. On reaching the spice plantation, you will be given a warm Goan Traditional welcome and offered a refreshing herbal drink. Once inside you can immediately inhale the fragrances of fresh spices such as nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, black and white pepper, coriander, chilies, and betel nut. Interspersed in this plantation are also fruit trees and vegetables such as cashew, custard apple, banana, citrus fruits and pineapples. You also get to see the art of how Betel Nut pluckers climb these trees, over a hundred feet above the ground and then swaying from tree to tree, later enjoy your meal. Your final visit will be to the Panjim ‘Fontainhas’ area where the walking tour will begin. The Fontainhas is the Latin Quarter built by the Portuguese and we will be able to view from the outside the church and the old villas. Later, drive through Panjim, the capital city passing through streets lined with old villas that are characteristic of Portuguese Goa. Later return back to pier.

Ramakrishna Math Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple Ramanjaneya Gudda Temple Dodda Ganapathi Temple Big Bull Temple

Benefit from hotel pickup and drop-off and a comfortable air-conditioned car that will take you from one place to the next. Visit the temples, palaces and gardens of Bengaluru for a better understanding of the city's past and present. Make a pleasant start to your day by visiting one of the largest ISCKON temples in the world, revered by Hare Krishna followers. Proceed to Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace, an elegant complex built for the former ruler of Mysore. Get an insight into the life of a man revered in India for fighting against British rule. A combination of Indo-Islamic architecture is visible here, with teak wood arches, pillars and balconies. Take a pleasant walk through the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, spread over 240 acres in the middle of the city. Home to several ornamental plants and centuries-old trees, take a relaxing break from your sightseeing here. Enjoy a local, vegetarian South Indian meal for lunch. Your tour will then take you to the Bangalore Palace to explore the sprawling grounds and royal facades. Entrance here is optional, and you can purchase your ticket directly at the site. Admire the High Court, and the seat of the state legislature at Vidhana Soudha from the outside. End with a look at the historic Bull Temple (Nandhi Temple), which holds great significance for devotees of Lord Shiva.

The tour starts with a pick up and drive to Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace. Back in the 1700s, this palace used to be the summer residence of the Mysorean ruler, Tipu Sultan. Hear about Tipu Sultan and his rebellion against the British regime from your guide. Notice the Indo-Islamic architecture from up close before moving on to your next destination i.e. Mysore Palace. The Mysore Palace is the official residence of the Wadiyar dynasty in present times. This palace is a mix of Indian and Saracenic design. From the royal wedding hall to the museum, your guide will show you everywhere around the publicly open palace. Next up, you will stop by Chamundeshwari Temple. It is believed that Goddess Durga, a fierce form of Shakti, slayed demon king Mahishasura on this temple's spot. After seeking blessings at the temple, you will be served lunch on a traditional banana leaf. Then for the last part, you will see St. Philomena's Cathedral which is a remarkable gothic-style Catholic church built by the old Wadiyar king. You will be sent back to your hotel as the tour ends.