01 Day: Arrive Mumbai:
On arrival at International airport you will be meet
by our representative then transfer to the hotel where
we are holding the room on ready occupancy basis. Day
free to rest and leisure. Overnight stay at hotel
02 Day:
Mumbai:
After breakfast takes a sight seeing tour of Bombay,
drive to Gateway of India and from here cruise by motorboats
to Elephanta Caves. A flight of 100 steps takes you
to the top of the hill where it is set. The caves houses
large pillars that seem to hold the ceiling which is
made of cross beams. The picturesque presentations of
the 9 marvelous sculptured panels, set on the walls
are awe-inspiring. The most famous of the panels is
the Trimurthi, or triple-headed Shiva, where the God
is depicted as the destroyer, the preserver and the
creator. Later in the afternoon cruise back to Gateway
of India, one can have lunch at the Taj Hotel or other
several good Restaurants like Leopold & Mondegar
serving continental cuisines. Later visit Prince of
Wales Museum, Parliament House, Marine Drive, Jain Temple,
Hanging Gardens, Return back to the hotel for overnight.
Note: Elephanta Caves and Prince
of Wales museum are closed on every Monday.
03 Day:
Mumbai - Aurangabad (By Air )
After breakfast check out the hotel and transdfer to
the airport to board the flight for Aurangabad, on arvial
transfer to the hotel. Later take half day sighseeing
tour of the city, Aurangabad is the is the most elaborate
vase temples of India, although Buddhist monks began
excavating in the seventh century, the site grew to
include Hindu and Jain temples as the Buddhist faith
waned in popularity towards the end of the seventh century.
There are 34 caves - 12 Buddhist (Ad 600-800) 17 Hindu
(around AD 900) and they are numbered in that order
as you progress from south to North. After relaxation
visit at Daulatabad Fort. Originally the mountainous
Deogiri fortress, it was an old Hindu stronghold, finally
captured and plundered by deceit in the 13th century.,
later visit at Bibi ka Maqbara, It is the tomb of Begum
Rabia Durani, wife of Emperor Aurangzeb. Due to its
similar design, it is popularly known as the mini Taj
of the Deccan. Followed by visit at Panchakki, an intriguing
water mill, the Panchakki is famous for its underground
water channel which traverses more than 8 kms to its
source away in the mountains. Later return to the hotel
for overnight stay.
04 Day: Aurangabad - Ellora
(30 Kms - ½ hour):
After breakfast take a sight seeing tour of Ellora,
one of the highly visited World heritage sites of India.
It houses 34 monasteries and temples with some exclusive
uninterrupted sequence of monuments that date back from
600 to 1000 AD. The temples of Ellora are dedicated
to Brahmanism, Jainism, and Buddhism. It also has some
of the excellent stonework depicting the legends related
to Lord Shiva. After visit return back to Aurangabad.
After lunch visit to Bibi ka Maqbara Built by Azam Shah
in 1678, the Bibi ka Maqbara is a son's loving tribute
to his mother, Begum Rabia Durrani, the Queen of Mughal
emperor Aurangzeb. Standing spectacularly on the lawns
of the landscaped garden with ponds, fountains and water
channels, the white marbled monument rises majestically
in an intentional bid to copy and rival the world famous
Taj Mahal of Agra and Panchakki - An engineering feat
of the time is the Panchakki, or the water mill built
by Malik Ambar in 1695. The water, channeled from a
spring on a distant hill was used to power the flourmill
and grind grain for the pilgrims.
05 Day:
Aurangabad - Ajanta (105 kms - 2 hours) Aurangabad -
Mumbai (406 Kms - 8 hours):
After breakfast excursion to the famous Ajanta caves.
Ajanta is one of the few historical and architectural
marvels of India. Recognized as the World Heritage Site
today, it was discovered during the 19th century by
a group of British officers who were on a tiger hunt.
The Ajanta group of caves, located deep within the Sahyadri
hills above the Waghora, depicts the story of Buddhism
that prevailed here during 200 BC to 650 AD. Ajanta’s
wondrous cave temples are cut into the rocky sides of
a dramatic crescent-shaped gorge, at the head of which
is a waterfall that drops over the mountain rim in a
series of seven steps to a pool far below –deep
inside the mountain are the Buddhist chaitya –
vihara prayer and monastery caves. They cover a span
of 800 years where under the royal patronage of ruling
dynasties, professional artists helped Buddhist monks
to create magnificent murals narrating the story of
Buddha in his cycle of incarnations, while simultaneously
creating a painted record of the panorama of life in
ancient India. Etched and painted in mineral dyes, the
paintings have a languorous stylized beauty and magical
eloquence. After visiting Ajanta Caves drive back to
Aurangabad. Return to Aurangabad and checkout and drive
to Mumbai via Pune. On arrival transfer to the hotel.
Overnight stay in Mumbai.
Note: The Ajanta Caves are
closed to public on all Monday and Ellora caves on Tuesday.
06 Day:
Mumbai:
After breakfast takes a sight seeing tour of Bombay,
drive to Gateway of India and from here cruise by motorboats
to Elephanta Caves. A flight of 100 steps takes you
to the top of the hill where it is set. The caves houses
large pillars that seem to hold the ceiling which is
made of cross beams. The picturesque presentations of
the 9 marvelous sculptured panels, set on the walls
are awe-inspiring. The most famous of the panels is
the Trimurthi, or triple-headed Shiva, where the God
is depicted as the destroyer, the preserver and the
creator. Later in the afternoon cruise back to Gateway
of India, one can have lunch at the Taj Hotel or other
several good Restaurants like Leopold & Mondegar
serving continental cuisines. Later visit Prince of
Wales Museum, Parliament House, Marine Drive, Jain Temple,
Hanging Gardens, Return back to the hotel for overnight.
07 Day:
Mumbai - Home Town (By Air):
Today after breakfast morning is free for individual
activities and relaxation. At the time of departure
transfer to the international airport to board the scheduled
flight to hometown. On departure tour concludes with
happy memories.
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