Travelling in the Deccan Plateau
We are passionate about the Deccan and want to share our enthusiasm with you, our public. If you live in India and have not yet visited the region, or if you are a foreign tourist who has been to India several times but never to this area, we hope that you will consider the Deccan for your next adventure.
We have assembled below a few illustrative itineraries, guidebooks, travel articles and suggested readings to help you visualise the architectural treasures that await you, and assist you in planning your trip. These resources are by no means exhaustive, but they are a good start.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Deccan
The UNESCO World Heritage List, inaugurated in 1972, is a prestigious inventory of places around the world of outstanding universal value. The 10 UNESCO Sites in the Deccan represent exceptional examples of cultural significance, natural beauty or both, and exemplify the values, history and culture of the Deccan Plateau.
DHF Itineraries
Deccan Heritage Sites

Hampi
A majestic site situated in a mystical landscape, Hampi Vijayanagara will richly reward the intrepid traveler. At least two to three days are required to experience it properly.
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Gulbarga, Bidar and Bijapur
Off the beaten tourist track, these cities present the intrepid traveller with a wealth of architectural masterpieces built during the Bahmani and Adil Shah dynasties.
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Aurangabad, Daulatabad, Khuldabad and Ahmadnagar
Much more than a jumping-off point for visiting Ajanta and Ellora, Aurangabad and the surrounding areas beckon with superb tombs, mosques, palaces and citadels.
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Halebidu, Belur and Somanathapura
The 12th century temples of Halebidu and Belur, extraordinary achievements of Hoysala artists, are unsurpassed for their profusion of images and dense ornamentation.
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Hyderabad
Once one of India’s richest princely states renowned for its pearl trade and Golconda diamonds, Hyderabad is today a sprawling metropolis and a thriving IT centre.
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Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal
The rock-cut temples at Badami and the structural temples at Aihole and Pattadakal trace the evolution of early temple architecture under the Early Chalukya Dynasty.
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Mysuru
Formerly the capital of a rich princely state, Mysore is a charming city of tree-lined boulevards and palatial buildings, known for its silks and sandalwood. Within a half a day’s drive, visitors can explore a range of heritage monuments, from renowned Hindu and Jain pilgrimage sites, to intricate Hoysala temples and impressive Indo-Saracenic buildings.
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Suggested Reads

White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India
William Dalrymple

A Social History of the Deccan, 1300-1761: Eight Indian Lives
Richard M. Eaton

Malgudi Days
R. K. Narayan

Hyderabad — A Biography
Narendra Luther

The Days of the Beloved
Harriet Ronken Lynton and Mohini Rajan

Rebel Sultans: The Deccan from Khilji to Shivaji
Manu S Pillai