01
Day: Arrival Mumbai
On arrival you will be welcome by our representative,
and then transfer to the hotel where we have held the
room on ready occupancy basis. Overnight stay in the
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 - Pune
(170 Kms - 3 hours)
Morning after breakfast check out the hotel and drive
to Pune. En route you can visit Lonavala to see the
Bhushi Dam; you can enjoy lunch at Amber hotel in good
surrounding. After visit continue to drive to Pune.
On arrival transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day is
free to explore this cultural capital of Maharashtra
on your own. Overnight at Pune.
04 Day: Pune
Today after breakfast, take a sightseeing of Pune visiting
Raja Kelkar Museum, Shaniwarwada, Saras Bagh, Kasturba
Smarak (Inside Agha Khan Palace). Rest of the day will
be free for relaxation and leisure activities. Overnight
at hotel in Pune.
05 Day: Pune - Bhimashankar
- Pune (90 Kms - 1 ½ hour)
Morning after breakfast take an excursion to Bhimashankar.
It is the temple containing one of the five Jyotirlinga
found in Maharashtra. Nana Fadnis, an eminent statesman
of the Peshwa days, constructed the beautiful Shiva
Temple at Bhimashankar. The wooden entrance of the temple
is beautifully carved. On Mahashivratri day, over 20,000
devotees attend a special religious fair. Bhimashankar
is endowed with beautiful scenery and an all-around
vibrant atmosphere. Also visit Bombay Point, Gupta Bhimashankar:
the origin of Bhima River, Hanuman Tank and Nagphani
Point. After visit drive back to Pune for overnight
stay.
06 Day: Pune - Aurangabad
(226 kms - 6 hours)
Morning after breakfast check out the hotel and drive
to Aurangabad. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Rest
of the evening is free to enjoy the atmosphere of Aurangabad.
Overnight at Aurangabad
07 Day: Aurangabad
on arrival board to the connecting flight for Aurangabad,
on arrival transfer to the hotel, 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 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 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 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.
Note: The Ajanta Caves are closed to public
on all Monday and Ellora caves on Tuesday
08 Day: Aurangabad - Ajanta
(105 kms - 1 ½ 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 for overnight.
09 Day: Aurangabad - Ellora
(30 kms - ½ hours)
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. A particular interest
are the architectural marvel of the monolithic Kailasa
Temple, the Buddhist Vishvakarma Chaitya and Vihara,
the famous Jain cave number 32 famous for a magnificent
Yakshi statue and ceiling paintings. It also has some
of the excellent stonework depicting the legends related
to Lord Shiva. After visit return to the Aurangabad
for overnight stay.
Note: The Ajanta Caves are closed to public
on all Monday and Ellora caves on Tuesday
10 Day: Aurangabad - Grishneshwara
- Aurangabad (11 Kms - ½ hour)
Morning after breakfast visit to Grishneshwara. It is
an ancient pilgrimage site revered as the abode of one
of the 12 Jyotirlinga of Shiva. It is located at a distance
of 11 km from Daulatabad near Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
Daulatabad was once known as Devagiri. After visit drive
back to Aurangabad for overnight stay.
11 Day: Aurangabad - Shirdi
(130 Kms - 3 hours)
Morning after an early breakfast check out the hotel
and drive to Shirdi On arrival transfer to the hotel
Move towards most reputed temple in Shirdi. "The
Temple of Sai Baba of Shirdi". Spend your day at
the sacred atmosphere of Shirdi. Roam around in the
spiritual atmosphere. Overnight hotel.
12 Day: Shirdi - Shanishinganapur
- Shirdi (70 Kms - 2 hours)
Morning after breakfast takes an excursion to Shanishinganapur.
Visit the presiding deity of Shinganapur, Sri Shaneshwara
or Shanidev- the personification of the planet Saturn
is worshipped with utmost reverence and devotion by
multitudes of people from all over the world. The spectacle
of the deity in black stone is overwhelming. A unique
aspect of this place is that no temple structure houses
the Shanidev. There is only a simple platform on which
stands the swayambhu idol, in black stone. After visit
drive back to Shirdi. Evening is
free to move around the temple area and for shopping.
Overnight at Shirdi.
13 Day: Shirdi - Nasik
(125 Kms - 3 hours)
Morning after breakfast check out the hotel and drive
to Nasik. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Then visit
to Ramkund - This holy tank is 27 m by 12 m and was
built in 1696 by Chitrarao Khatarkar. It is believed
that Rama and Sita used to bathe in this tank during
their exile. And Muktidham Temple - This famous temple
is located near Nashik station, just 7 kms from the
city. The Muktidham Temple is pure white, the colour
signifying holiness and peace. White Makrana marble
was used to build this temple, which has very unusual
architecture. Unique to this temple are the 18 chapters
of the Gita written on the walls. A visit to this temple
by Hindus is considered as a visit to the 4 dhams or
holy centers. After visit drive back to the hotel for
overnight stay. Overnight at Nasik
14 Day: Nasik - Trimbakeshwar
- Nasik (35 Kms - 1 hours)
Early morning after breakfast drive to Trimbakeshwar.
Visit famous Trimbakeshwar Temple and as the source
of the Godavari River. Trimbakeshwar enshrines one of
the 12 jyotirlingas dedicated to Shiva and this one
is considered to be the main Jyotirlinga. After visit
drive back to Nasik for overnight stay. Overnight at
Nasik.
15 Day: Nasik - Mumbai
(190 Kms - 5 hours)
Morning after breakfast check out the hotel and drive
to Mumbai. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Afternoon
is free at leisure. After relaxation you can take a
visit to the city life of Western Suburan visiting Iscon
Temple and shopping at the big malls like Shoppers Stop,
In Style, West End. If you are staying at South Mumbai,
you can visit to Gateway of India, Marine drive also
known as queens necklace in the night, Mahalaxmi Temple
and for shopping visit to Cross Road, Phoenix Mill-
Bombay Bazaar. Optionally you can have dinner at choice
of city restaurants. Overnight at the hotel.
16 Day: Mumbai - Hometown
(By Air)
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
and Hanging Gardens. After dinner transfer to the international
airport to board the scheduled flight for your hometown.
On departure tour concludes with happy memories.
Note: Elephanta Caves and Prince of Wales museum
are closed on every Monday.
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