Bangalore & Karnataka Holidays

When people think of Bangalore, they often think of the modern city it is now, however a walking tour will reveal its fascinating history. In the Footsteps of Rajas and Sultans covers the evolution of Bangalore from when it was founded in medieval times to its capture by the British, a fascinating period of time.  Explore the crowded bazaars, stopping at interesting sites including the market and an ancient temple. Along the way, your guide will share some intriguing stories about Bangalore.

The original city started off in 1537 as a mud fort, with a moat around it and a fortified settlement, or pettah, to the north which had different areas for people of a particular location, so there’d be districts of goldsmiths, traders and rice millers. You will weave south along labyrinthine streets that were formed in the 1500s.

The two-and-a-half-kilometre walk ends at what’s left of the stone fort built in the 18th century, which was damaged during the British siege of 1791 and later almost completely demolished. All that’s left is one massive gateway, which is a fitting spot to end because it marks the beginning of a new period in Bangalore’s history: the days of the Raj.

You’ll see a side of Bangalore that many people don’t even know exists on the SoBa walk. South Bangalore (SoBa) still holds on to its old-school way of life and this guided walk will take you to the temple where you can soak up the sounds and sights as people pay their respects. Wander through the market to enjoy the fresh smell of the flowers and vegetables as you watch the locals busy buying. Along the way, your guide may introduce you to some of the residents.

When you look at the city, it has four cities within it that tell you its whole story. The oldest part is right in the centre, then there is the colonial part that the British built. Modern high-tech Bangalore is another part of the city, but this tour focusses on South Bangalore – or SoBa as it is known.

Admire the beautiful traditional houses built in the 1940s and 1950s, little grocery shops where the customers still bargain for what they want and men and women dressed in traditional attire. Beyond the sights, your guide will also explain about the local culture and the history of the local language, Kannada. This tour provides guests with an authentic sense of what it means to be a Bangalorean, of the relaxed rhythm of every day and of a way of life that’s fast vanishing. SoBa is not modern Bangalore it’s a little time capsule.

People are often surprised to discover that wine is made in India so a visit to a vineyard on the outskirts of Bangalore is well-worth it. The winery is in a peaceful and beautiful setting at the foot of the Nandi Hills, where Tipu Sultan once had his summer retreat.

Kanwal Grover ‘the father of Indian viticulture’ and Georges Vesselle planted the first French varieties of grapes here in 1988, experimenting to see which of 33 different types would work best in the climate and soil.

The sight of rows of vines stretching away into the distance is magical. Some visitors appreciate the scenery as much as the New World wines. As you walk around the different parts of the winery, your guide will explain the processes involved in creating a finished bottle of red, white, rosé and sparkling wine. You will go on a journey from sorting and crushing the grapes to labelling and packaging. In the barrel room you can see where some of the more expensive wines are aged in oak barrels. Finally, under the guidance of a professional sommelier, you will get to taste some of the wines you’ve learned about.

Belur and Halebidu’s soapstone temples were built by the Hoysala dynasty who ruled the southern part of India from around 1006 to 1346. They built almost 1500 temples in 950 locations out of which only 80 temples survive today due to various invasions. These are beautiful pieces of architecture and unique in so many ways.

Belur was the first capital of Hoysala before they shifted it to Dorasamudra now famously known as Halebidu. At Belur, the main attraction is the 1st-century Chennakeshava Temple – chena meaning ‘beautiful’ and keshava being one of the 24 forms of Vishnu. It took almost 103 years to complete over three generations.

Most of the Hoysala temples are cleverly designed with a star-shaped platform called jagati at the base. Some of the most intricate artwork of the era is displayed on the outside of the temple including 38 madanikas (female sculptures) fixed at the end of the pillars. Over the years the weather has hardened the soapstone which gives the exterior a smooth, shiny glean. Inside you’ll see the sculptors’ remarkable work down to the finest detail around the navaranga hall with 48 pillars, most of which are carved by lathe. No two pillars are the same and you won’t find any stone left unfinished. You may even see the sculptors’ signatures which was rare because the kings never really credited the artisans.

After a spot of lunch (own expense) travel to Halebidu temple around a 25-minute drive away. Otherwise known as Hoysaleswara, this twin temple dedicated to Shiva was built around five years after Belur. Here you’ll find two huge monolithic bulls as well as very striking and varied artwork of processions, deities and animated stories – all minute carvings. All of this history is embedded into the walls as there were no written scriptures.

Most visitors to Bandipur have come to spot tigers, as there are more than 170 of them in the reserve, but there’s much more to enjoy including wild elephants, spotted deer and numerous types of birds. The national park is at the edge of the Western Ghats, at the junction of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, so you have different landscapes: the plateau in the north, rolling hills and plains covered in dense forest.

There’s so much wildlife that you’ll always see something – wild elephants, spotted deer and numerous types of birds. As you go deeper and deeper into the forest, you start to feel like you’re in a special place, especially in the early morning when the air is fresh and all you can hear is the birds singing in the trees.