Day 8:
-
After breakfast in hotel, A base to take a tour of Hampi or
Vijayanagara (1 hrs drive) one of the largest empires in the
history of India- in ruins.Hampi is identified with the historical
Kishkindha, the Vanara (monkey) kingdom
mentioned in the Ramayana. The first historical settlements in Hampi date
back to 1 CE. Hampi formed one of the cores of the capital of the
Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565, when it was finally laid siege to by
the Deccan Muslim confederacy.[1] Hampi was chosen because of its
strategic location, bounded by the torrential Tungabhadra river on one side
and surrounded by defensible hills on the other three sides. The site is
significant historically and architecturally. The topography abounds with large
stones which have been utilized to make larger than life statues of Hindu
deities.Hampi has various notable Hindu temples, some of which are still
active places of worship. Most notable ones are: Virupaksha Temple
complex: Also known as the Pampapathi temple, it is a Shiva temple situated
in the Hampi Bazaar. It predates the founding of the Vijayanagar empire. The
temple has a 160-foot (49 m) high tower at its entrance. Apart from Shiva, the
temple complex al so contains shr ines of the Hindu goddesses
Bhuvaneshwari and PampaExplore the ruined kingdom and return back to
Hospet for overnight stay.
Day 9:
-
After breakfast drive to Badami.The rock-cut Badami Cave
Temples were sculpted mostly between the 6th and 8th
centuries. The four cave temples represent the secular nature
of the rulers then, with tolerance and a religious
following that inclines towards Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. cave 1 is
devoted to Shiva, and Caves 2 and 3 are dedicated to Vishnu, whereas cave
4 displays reliefs of Jain Tirthankaras. Deep caverns with carved images of
the various incarnations of Hindu gods are strewn across the area, under
boulders and in the red sandstone. From an architectural and archaeological
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