Goa to Hyderabad The Deccan Route

Goa - Belgaum - Kolhapur (225kms/ 5hrs approx)
Pick up from your hotel in goa or Goa airport and drive to Kolhapur via visiting Belgaum.
Belgaum Fort- believed to have been built by the rulers of Ratt Dynasty in 1204 AD. With shrines of Goddess Durga and Ganapati at the entrance, the architecture fort features a fusion of Chalukyan, Deccan and Indo-Saracenic art forms and the incredible lotus design at the Mukhamantaapa leaves everyone awestruck. There are numerous Hindu and Jain temples and mosques, located inside the fort area. Fort served as an impenetrable barricade against the violent attacks of the enemies. It has undergone many renovations and additions throughout its existence because it played host to a legion of dynasties. The Belgaum Fort shot to fame when Mahatma Gandhi was captured here during the Freedom Movement of India. The fort was constructed after demolishing 108 Jain temples and 101 Shiva temples. Some of the stones and pillars can be seen as a part of the religious shrines over here, like the Jamia Masjid.
Kapileshwar Temple - a holy shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva considered as the southern Kashi. The temple is located beside the Shahpur Flyover which connects the central city of Belgaum to Shahpur. It is believed that the visit and darshan of the 12 Jyotirlinga scattered all over India will remain incomplete unless started from Kapileshwar Temple. There is a rare cluster of Banyan, Peepal and Ficus trees in the Compound of the Temple. The temple is open for devotees from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM every day. St. Mary’s Church one of the peaceful places to visit in Belgaum The church was built during the time of Britishers thus gives a reminiscence of the past of this city.
Continue drive to Kolhapur check in at hotel. Later city tour of Kolhapur.
Visit ancient Mahalakshmi Temple, a Hindu pilgrimage site. Built in the 7th century by Chalukya rulers it is one of the six abodes of Shakti (Goddess of Power).
The Bhavani Mandap an imposing old palace used to be the court and palace of Chhatrapati Maharaja in the yesteryear now been converted into small museum. The palace houses sculpture of Shahu Maharaj, stuffed animals, wooden throne etc and is an famous sightseeing attraction in the city. New Palace built between 1877 to 1884, an excellent specimen of Indian architecture built in black polished stone. It has extensive premises with a garden, fountain and wrestling ground. The whole building is eight-angled and has a tower in the middle. The clock on it was fixed in 1877. At separate distances there are small towers. On every glass are painted the events in Chhatrapati Shivaji's life. There is a zoo and a ground lake. Even today, it is the residence of Chhatrapati Shahu, the direct descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of Maratha Empire.
Overnight at hotel.

Kolhapur - Bijapur (185kms/ 4hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel drive to Bijapur check in at hotel. Later city tour of Bijapur.
Visit The Bijapur Fort which had a plethora of historical monuments of architectural importance built during the rule of Adil Shahi dynasty. The Adil Shahi Sultans who ruled nearly 200 years in Bijapur had expended their utmost authority, almost exclusively, on architecture and the allied arts. Each Sultan endeavored to excel his predecessor in the number, size, or splendor of his building projects. As a result, the buildings seen in and around Bijapur Fort and the town have been rightly called as the Agra of South India. Asar Mahal built by Muhammed Adil Shah in late 1640s, used to serve as a Hall of Justice. Moreover, hair from the beard of Prophet Muhammad was also used at this place. Owing to this, it is a place of worship for Muslim devotees. Bara Kaman the unfinished mausoleum of Ali Adil Shah II. Ali Adil Shah of the Adil Shahi dynasty wanted to build a mausoleum of unmatched architectural quality.
Gol Gumbaz the second largest dome in the world After St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The Gol Gumbad is 124 feet in diameter. The architecture of Gol Gumbad is unique in the sense that the four minarets themselves are the staircases, leading to the top dome. Jama Masjid the graceful twin minarets of Tipu's Jumma Masjid (1787) are decorated with an elegant arrangement of numerous pigeonholes, and terminate in bulbous domes above balconies. Prayers are offered, both at the mosque and at the mausoleum.
Malik - e- Maidan regarded as the biggest cannon ever made in the history of world, which translates to ‘The Ruler of the Plains’. Located in Gol Gumbaz, the largest masonry dome in the whole of India, the history related to the cannon is more than enough to tempt the travelers to pay a visit to this place.
Ibrahim's Rouza built by Ibrahim Adil Shah in the 15th century. It consists of mosque and tomb enclosed together in the square compound. Mosque and Tomb are separated from each other by tank and fountain. The mosque has finely crafted arches in its rectangular prayer hall and it’s shaded by chhaja and slender minarets at each corner. The bulbous dome with beautiful rows of petals at its base is enclosed in a square structure giving a majestic look to the mosque.
Overnight at hotel.

Bijapur - Gulbarga (170kms/ 3hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel drive to Gulbarga check in at hotel.
Later city tour visit the Gulburga Fort a leftover of the Brahmani era, which has stood with the time and is famous for its incredible architecture. It was originally built by Raja Gulchand. Later 15 towers were added by Allah-ud-din Bahmani in the existing structure of the fort. The fort was built with well planning the canal was made around the fort so that it becomes difficult to the enemy. The fort contained 15 towers and 26 guns of which one was 8 metres long. Jama Masjid - a Mosque located in Gulbarga City, it is regarded as one of the most architectural mosques in its form and structure in South Asia. The arches design of Jama Masjid Gulbarga reflects in the interiors of Spanish Mosque of Hyderabad. These are only two mosques in India which have the similarity in interiors of the Great Cathedral–Mosque of Córdoba in Spain. Dargah Hazrath Khaja Bandanawaz a famous Sufi saint of the Chishti Order, who advocated understanding, tolerance and harmony among various religious groups.
Overnight at hotel.

Gulbarga – Bidar - Hyderabad (260kms/ 5hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel and drive to Hyderabad via visiting Bidar.
Visit Bidar Fort one of the magnificent forts rebuilt by Sultan Ahmed Shah Wali of Bahmani Dynasty, when his capital was moved from Gulbarga to Bidar in 1430 along with a number of Islamic monuments. The Bidar fort is a specimen of the Persian architectural style having 1.21 km in length and 0.80 km in breadth, with a quadrangular layout. Surrounded by three miles long walls and comprising 37 bastions, it is surrounded by a triple moat. There are seven gates in the fort. Mahmud Gawan Madarsa one of the major historical a beautiful structure situated between the Fort and Chaubara Clock Tower an old Islamic university built by Khwaza Mahmud Gawan in 1472. Mahmud Gawan was a Persian merchant who arrived in the Bahamani Sultanate at around 1453 AD. Due to his honesty, simplicity and knowledge he impressed the Bahamani Kings. He ultimately reached to the post of prime minister and was much respected among the local population.
Bahmani Tombs important historical monuments in Bidar, after the Fort. The 12 tombs of Bahmani Sultans are huge structures with beautiful arches, niches and lofty domes. Among all the tombs of Ahmad Shah Wali is most popular. Ahmad Shah Wali the 9th Bahmani Sultan died in 1436 and his son Alauddin built a majestic tomb for his father. The walls are about twelve feet thick supporting a huge dome on the top. The Rangeen Mahal believed to be built in the mid-16th century by Mahmud Shah Bahamani. The tile work and the granite with mother-of-pearl inlay work are the exclusive features of the citadel walls. The external hall has intricately engraved wooden pillars. The palace has a six-bay hall with remarkable carved wood columns forming a rectangular foyer. The columns too enclose convoluted capitals and intricately engraved brackets, which shows the skills of the artisans of those days.
Narasimha Jhira a wonderful cave temple situated on the outskirts of Bidar town dedicated to the lion god Narasimha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The Temple is known for its natural beauty and is considered to be very sacred. This ancient temple is excavated in a 300 m tunnel under the Manichoola hill range. Within the cave, a stream of water is said to be flowing continuously since the foundation of the temple. Devotees have to walk waist deep in the water for 300 m for the darshan of Lord Narasimha. Guru Nanak Jhira one of holiest places for Sikhs. Legend has it that Guru Nanak visited the palace while the land was in the grip of a famine. The Guru performed a miracle at the request of the local people and a spring of water from the laterite rock mountain burst out. Till this day crystal clear water flows from the laterite trap. The belief is that drinking of these water cures many ailments.
After sightseeing drive to Hyderabad check in at hotel.
Overnight at hotel.

Hyderabad
Breakfast at hotel, explore this wondrous capital, a 400 year-old metropolitan city teeming with bustling-bazaars and Muslim monuments.
Visit Golconda Fort renowned for its diamond mines that have given the world the famous Kohinoor and Darya-i-noor diamonds. The ancient fort complex of Golconda will charm you with its history, tinged with legends and anecdotes.
Qutubshahi Tombs the tombs differ in size but all are comparable to each other in architectural grandeur and beauty. Charminar built in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah, the fifth sultan of the Qutub Shahi dynasty. The Mecca Mosque the biggest mosque in Hyderabad and lies 100 yards south-west of Charminar. The hall is 67 metres by 54 metres and 23 metres high. The roof is supported by 15 arches, five on each of the three sides. The western side is blocked by a high hall to provide the Mehrab.
Chowmohalla Palace (Friday closed) once regarded as the center of Hyderabad, the magnificent Chowmahalla Palace was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty where the Nizams entertained their official guests and royal visitors. Purani Haveli (Friday closed) located to the the south of Salar Jung Museum, built by the second Nizam for his son in 1777. The sixth Nizam Mir Mehboob Ali Khan spent most of his life here. He built a 240-foot long wooden chamber with some 150 walk-in-cupboards, arguably the world’s largest wardrobe.
Salarjung Museum (Friday closed) a treat for tourists famous for being the third largest museum in the country, having the largest antiques collection dating back to the first century. Established in 1951, the museum was under Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, better known as Salar Jung.
Birla Mandir dedicated to the supreme incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Lord Venkateshwara. This temple’s marvellous beauty leaves you awestruck as does the legend associated with the God. A blend of various types of architectural styles, this temple is made of 200 tonnes of pure white Rajasthani marble.
Hussain Sagar Lake one of the largest man made lake situated at the confluence of Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Begumpet. It is a sprawling artificial lake that holds water perennially. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it connects the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Rest time free and easy to relax.
Overnight at hotel.

Hyderabad - Departure
Breakfast at hotel. As per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.