Friday 08 February, 2019
Total Cost:
S$5,200.00 (Member)
NEW STUDY TOUR
Tour Leader: Abha Kaul; email: abhadkaul@gmail.com
Click here to register
This historically rich study tour to India takes us to the southwestern state of Karnataka with its varied cultural offerings, notably the ruined medieval city of Hampi, now recognised as one of the great tourist sites of the world. In the centre and south of the state, Karnataka entices us with some of the most important, ancient Hindu, Jain and Muslim buildings, while in the north, startling, unique architecture is well worth a visit to admire the remains of mighty Muslim sultanates of the Deccan Plateau that once flourished here. There’s also an exciting, newly excavated Buddhist stupa and Emperor Ashoka’s original inscription to be seen on this carefully curated itinerary.
Our journey begins in Hyderabad, in neighbouring Telangana state, home to the ruins of Golconda, one of India’s greatest and wealthiest medieval cities, and the famed Nizams of Hyderabad. From there, we will drive to the iconic cities of Gulbarga, Bidar, and Bijapur – erstwhile capitals of Deccan Sultans who controlled vital trade routes, ruled over lands of plenty and created amazing art. Their classic forts and tombs attest to a bygone era of opulence and sophistication that was the envy of the Mughals in north India, and attracted numerous foreign visitors and professionals to these parts.
We will then switch gears to explore the magnificent early cave and temple art and architecture left behind by the Chalukya Dynasty, in and around their ancient capital of Badami, including Aihole and Pattadakal – to see the wonderful experimentation and evolution of oldest Indian temple styles.
The latter is one of two exclusive UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Karnataka, the other being the spectacular capital of the Vijayanagar Empire, Hampi, which we will visit next.
At the remote, exceptionally beautiful, ruined city of Hampi on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, we will see many of the Vijayanagar Empire’s great artistic and architectural masterpieces that have survived, from the time when this powerful Hindu empire controlled much of southern India – before the first Deccan Sultanate at Gulbarga, then Bidar. Imposing monuments dot a sprawling landscape of hills, water and outsized stone boulders. This region is considered to be the legendary site of Kishkinda from the epic Ramayana, the birthplace of Hanuman and the kingdom of monkeys that helped rescue Sita, Rama’s wife, from Ravana of Lanka.
Leaving Hampi, we will head south for the sacred temple complexes of the Hoysala Dynasty at Belur and Halebid – superb examples of Hindu temple art at its most intricate. Passing by several Jain shrines, we will lastly stop at the Jain pilgrimage town of Shravana Belagola to visit the enormous monolithic statue of Bahubali or Gomteshwara, the son of the first Jain Tirthankara. This is believed to be the place where the founder of the Maurya Dynasty, Chandragupta, went to die after embracing Jainism in the 3rd century B.C.E.
We will end the tour in Bangalore from where we will fly back to Singapore. All along, we will discover significant archaeological sites, vibrant living temples, museums filled with rare treasures, and other interesting sights. This unique tour expands our understanding and appreciation of India’s great civilisation and artistic traditions, and gives Indophiles a chance to travel on a special journey together with FOM history and culture buffs.
It is almost a two-week long trip, as we will drive along a wide arc across Karnataka from point to point. As always, this is not a typical holiday or tourist route with high-end or well-developed commercial infrastructure, other than in a couple of spots, but is a circuit for heritage lovers with modest amenities. Participants must be fully prepared for this, but we will stay in the most comfortable hotels available and travel in modern vehicles. It is a travel experience to be remembered as one that informs and expands our learning.
The approximate cost of this study tour is SGD$5,200 per person, which includes airfare, double-sharing accommodation in best quality hotels, all meals, bottled water, transport, entrance fees, guides, tips, and also travel insurance and a contribution to the FOM general fund. It does not include visa fees and personal expenses such as alcoholic drinks, laundry or phone calls.
To register for the tour please fill and submit the online registration form linked to this page, and then bring or send the following to the FOM Office by September 15, 2018:
- a completed FOM Release Form (to download and print from the FOM website)
- a photocopy of the first page of your passport (containing relevant details), and
- a deposit cheque of SGD$1,500 payable to “FOM” (deposit payments may also be made via credit card or bank transfer)
FOM Office Mailing Address:
FOM Study Tours: Deccan Heritage, India 2019
Friends of the Museums
61 Stamford Road
#02-06 Stamford Court
Singapore 178892
PLEASE NOTE:
Cancellations incur penalties and can promise only partial refunds, so please register if you are sure you can travel in February.
Information on further payments will be sent out later with a detailed itinerary to registered participants.
All travellers must have updated membership status with FOM.
Overseas FOM members will be added to the list of participants after an initial registration period of one week, giving local Singapore-based members priority.
First pre-trip meeting: Thursday, September 27, 2018; 6.30 pm
If you have questions, please contact Abha Kaul at 9825 1769 or abhadkaul@gmail.com