Deccan Dynasty Circuit: Hyderabad, Bijapur, Badami & Hampi

Route: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) to Taj Krishna, about 35 km

Your driver meets you at Hyderabad airport and takes you to Taj Krishna. Hyderabad was founded in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, who moved his court from the fort at Golconda to the plain by the Musi River.

If you arrive early, your guide takes you to Charminar in the late afternoon. The four-minaret monument was built in 1591, and the lanes around it hold Laad Bazaar, known for bangles, and shops selling pearls. Hyderabad is called the City of Pearls, as the Nizams traded in them.

Return to the hotel for dinner.

Experience of the Day

• Airport welcome and check-in

• Charminar and Laad Bazaar at dusk, if you arrive early

Food Recommended: Dinner at the hotel, with Hyderabadi dishes.

Must-Try: Hyderabadi biryani, cooked with rice and meat sealed under dough, and a small cup of Irani chai.

Shopping

• Pearls from licensed shops

• Glass bangles from Laad Bazaar

Activities to Do

• Rest after the flight

• Short walk around Charminar

Route: Hyderabad: Golconda Fort – Qutb Shahi tombs – Chowmahalla Palace

Begin the day with a morning visit to Golconda Fort, before the heat sets in. The Qutb Shahi kings ruled the fort until 1687, and the famous diamond market once stood at its foot. Beneath the entrance dome, clap your hands and listen as the sound carries towards the top of the hill, a remarkable acoustic feature once used as an early-warning system. Climb the steps to the upper palace to enjoy panoramic views of the city.

A short drive away, explore the Qutb Shahi Tombs, set within a peaceful garden. The domed tombs of the kings, built with grey granite and plaster, reflect the architectural style of the dynasty before it moved its capital to the plains.

After lunch, visit Chowmahalla Palace, the former seat of the Asaf Jahi Nizams, who ruled Hyderabad from 1724 until 1948. Explore its elegant courtyards, fountains and grand Durbar Hall, which showcase the royal heritage of a later era.

For a special evening experience, consider an optional dinner at Falaknuma Palace. This magnificent 19th-century palace, once associated with the Nizams, now operates as a luxury hotel. Dinner reservations are available at an additional cost.

Note on Opening Hours: Forts and palaces follow fixed opening hours, and some attractions may close one day a week. The order of visits will be planned according to the day's schedule, with opening times confirmed in advance.

Experience of the Day

• Explore the historic Golconda Fort and its impressive architecture.

• Visit the royal Qutb Shahi Tombs and their landscaped gardens.

• Discover the grandeur of Chowmahalla Palace and Hyderabad's royal heritage.

Food Recommendations

Lunch: Enjoy a meal at a local restaurant featuring authentic Hyderabadi cuisine.

Dinner: Return to Taj Krishna for dinner, or choose the optional dining experience at Falaknuma Palace.

Must-Try Dishes:

• Hyderabadi Haleem: A rich, slow-cooked wheat and meat stew, especially popular during the festive season.

• Hyderabadi Dum Biryani: A traditional rice and meat dish cooked together using the dum method.

Shopping

• Bidri Metalware: Discover traditional metal handicrafts featuring intricate silver inlay work at licensed local shops.

Activities to Do

• Enjoy an optional royal dining experience at Falaknuma Palace.

• Visit the Salar Jung Museum as an optional addition to the day's itinerary.

Route: Hyderabad – Kalaburagi – Vijayapura, about 380 km

This is the longest drive of the tour. Leave early and take the highway west into Karnataka. The plain is flat, with fields of cotton, sunflower and pulses.

Stop at Kalaburagi, once called Gulbarga. It was the first capital of the Bahmani sultans from 1347. Visit the fort and the Jama Masjid, built in the 14th century, whose courtyard is roofed over with small domes. See the Haft Gumbaz, a group of royal tombs on the edge of the city.

The Bahmani kingdom broke up in the early 16th century, and the Adil Shahis of Vijayapura were one of the successor states. Drive on to Vijayapura, and arrive in the early evening. The city is smaller and quieter than Hyderabad, and the hotel is simple. Rest and have dinner. Note on the hotel: Vijayapura has no luxury hotel. We use the best available one for one night, and the same room standard applies in all tiers.

Experience of the Day

• Kalaburagi fort and Jama Masjid

• Haft Gumbaz tombs

• Arrival in Vijayapura

Food Recommended: Lunch at Kalaburagi. Dinner at the hotel.

Must-Try: Jolada rotti, a flat millet bread, with a spicy brinjal curry. It is the local staple.

Activities to Do

• Rest at the hotel

• Short walk near the hotel

Route: Vijayapura – Badami, about 135 km

Start at Gol Gumbaz, the tomb of Sultan Mohammed Adil Shah, finished in 1656. Its dome is among the largest in the world, and spans about 38 metres. Climb to the gallery that runs round the base. A whisper at one side can be heard at the other, and a clap echoes for several seconds.

Visit the Ibrahim Rauza, a tomb and mosque of about 1627, known for its carved stone and slender minarets. Pass the old city walls and the large cannon at Malik-e-Maidan if time allows.

Leave for Badami by late morning. The road runs south over dry open country, and the red sandstone cliffs of Badami appear near the end. Check in at Badami Court, then walk to the caves in the late afternoon, when the light on the cliffs is warm.

Badami was the capital of the early Chalukya dynasty, which ruled from the 6th century. Four caves were cut in the cliff above a green lake, three Hindu and one Jain. Your guide explains the carvings, a dancing Shiva with eighteen arms and Vishnu on a serpent. Sunset at the lake follows.

Note on opening hours: Gol Gumbaz and the Rauza keep daytime hours and usually close by about 5:30 to 6 pm. We confirm before each visit.

Experience of the Day

• Gol Gumbaz and the whispering gallery

• Ibrahim Rauza

• Badami caves

• Agastya lake at sunset

Food

Recommended: Lunch on the road. Dinner at the hotel.

Must-Try: North Karnataka thali with jolada rotti, spicy chutney powders and curd.

Activities to Do

• Evening walk by the lake

• Optional visit to the Bhutanatha temples on the shore

Route: Badami – Pattadakal – Aihole – Hampi, about 190 km

Drive first to Pattadakal, about 22 km from Badami. It was the coronation site of the Chalukya kings. Ten temples of the 7th and 8th centuries stand in a garden beside the Malaprabha river. Some copy the northern style of tower, and some the southern, and the two styles meet here. Pattadakal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Go on to Aihole, a village about 13 km away, with over a hundred small temples. The Durga temple has a curved end and a covered walk, and the Lad Khan temple is a simple hall. This is where builders tried out roof forms, which Pattadakal later refined.

After lunch, drive east to Hampi, and arrive in the early evening. Evolve Back Hampi stands on the edge of the ruins. Rest, and have dinner at the resort.

Note on the day: This day is long. Pattadakal and Aihole each need about an hour. If you prefer a shorter day, we visit only Pattadakal, and arrive in Hampi earlier.

Experience of the Day

• Pattadakal temples

• Aihole temples

• Arrival at Hampi at dusk

Food

Recommended: Lunch on the road. Dinner at the resort.

Must-Try: Local jowar rotti with eggplant curry, and a glass of sugarcane juice on the road.

Activities to Do

• Rest by the pool

• Short evening walk at the resort

Route: Hampi: Vittala temple – royal enclosure – Hampi Bazaar – Virupaksha temple

Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara empire, which grew from about 1336. At its height in the early 16th century it was one of the largest cities in the world, with a population said to be over 500,000. In 1565 the armies of the sultans of Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar and Bidar defeated its army at Talikota. They then sacked the city over several months. You have already seen their capitals.

Begin at the Vittala temple in the morning. The stone chariot in the courtyard, and the musical pillars of its hall, are the best known works of the empire. Walk along the old bazaar street to the Virupaksha temple, a Shiva temple that has been in worship for centuries. Visitors are normally welcome in its courtyards.

In the afternoon, visit the royal enclosure, with the Lotus Mahal, the elephant stables and the stepped tank. Climb Hemakuta hill at the end of the day for the sunset over the boulders. Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Note on Hampi: Hampi is spread out and the heat is strong. We start early, and break at midday. The coracle crossing over the Tungabhadra river runs only when the water allows.

Experience of the Day

• Vittala temple and stone chariot

• Virupaksha temple and Hampi Bazaar

• Royal enclosure and Lotus Mahal

• Sunset from Hemakuta hill

Food

Recommended: Lunch at the resort or at a local restaurant. Dinner at the resort.

Must-Try: A thali of Karnataka dishes, and fresh sugarcane juice or buttermilk.

Shopping

Hand-block printed cottons and stone carvings from the bazaar, and Kinnal toys.

Activities to Do

• Optional sunrise at Matanga hill

• Optional coracle ride, where the river allows

Route: Hampi – Hubballi Airport (HBX), about 150 km

Spend the early morning at the resort, or visit a last corner of the ruins. After breakfast, your driver takes you to Hubballi airport. The road runs north-west through farmland and passes Koppal and Gadag.

Choose a flight that leaves after about 3 pm. Hubballi has flights to Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai, among other cities. Check the current schedule. A flight from Jindal Vijayanagar airport, about half an hour from Hampi, may be possible, but there is usually only one flight a day to each city.

Experience of the Day

• Last morning at Hampi

• Drive to Hubballi airport