Caves Of Western India

• Day 1: Arrive Mumbai

  Met on arrival at Mumbai airport and transfer to the hotel. Mumbai - Mumbai, earlier called as Bombay, is the commercial capital of India. It is also known as the "city that never sleeps". Mumbai is a perfect blend of culture, customs and lifestyle. Mumbai is India's most cosmopolitan city, its financial powerhouse and the nerve center of India's fashion industry and also the Hollywood of India, fondly called "Bollywood". Mumbai is dotted with plenty of architectural landmarks from the Victorian era and the days of the Raj. You will then be met by our representative at the Mumbai airport and will be escorted to hotel and be assisted with the check in formalities. Rest of the day is at your own leisure. Relax at the hotel or explore the surroundings on your own. Overnight in Mumbai.

• Day 2: In Mumbai

  After a relaxing breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and will be taken for a guided sightseeing tour of Elephanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Elephanta Caves: A Ferry Ride across the Harbour, from the Gateway of India, takes you to the World Heritage Elephanta Caves, located 9 km from Mumbai The rock-cut temple complex cover an area of 60,000 sq ft (5,600 m2) consisting of a main chamber, 2 lateral ones, courtyards and subsidiary shrines. The site of these magnificent caves contains beautiful reliefs, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu god Siva. The caves are hewn from solid rock. The temple complex is said to be the abode of God Shiva. Later, guided sightseeing tour of Mumbai. Tour includes visits to the following places of interest: The Prince Of Wales Museum: The Prince of Wales Museum is located in the heart of South Mumbai, neighboring the Gateway of India. The Prince of Wales Museum is the main museum in Mumbai. The museum is constructed in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. The museum building is fenced by a garden of palm trees and formal flower beds. The museum has roughly 50,000 displays of the age-old history and also objects from foreign origins. With its Art, Archaeology and Natural History subdivisions, the Prince of Wales Museum is one of the best museums in the country. Victoria Terminus: The Victoria Terminus or Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus as it is now called is a World Heritage site and an historic railway station in Mumbai. To commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, the station was constructed in 1887 in the Bori Bunder area of Mumbai. The construction was designed by Frederick William Steves. The Terminus is one of the city’s largest buildings with influences from an intricate Italian Gothic design. The first train to steam out of this station, abbreviated as VT, to Thane was in 1853. Gateway of India: Gateway of India Gateway of India is a monument constructed during the British Raj. It is a conventional arch constructed in 1927, to honor the visit of King George V and Queen Mary. Gateway of India is situated in the southernmost peninsula of the city. It was constructed in honey-colored basalt, and the design and the plan of this gateway was inspired by the 16th century Gujarati architecture. The altering light of the rising and the setting sun bestows different strokes of gold, russet and pink to the striking arch. The Gateway of India clinches historical importance as the last of the British armed forces leaving Independent India by sea, marched through the doorways of Gateway of India. Marine Drive: The Marine Drive, one of the landmark thoroughfares of South Mumbai, is also known as the Queen’s Necklace because of the shimmering lights that dot this road, that are visible from long distances. Flora Fountain: The Flora fountain is an embellished and elegant sculpted architectural heritage monument, which stands at a five-point juncture in the heart of the commercial Fort area. This attractive fountain was constructed in the memory of the Governor Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere, as an honor for his influence towards the construction of Mumbai. Malabar Hill: The Malabar Hill , now one of the poshest residential neighbourhoods of South Mumbai, is so named since it stands on a hillock. The area offers wonderful views over the Back Bay. The Hanging Garden called as the Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens, on top of the hill, Parsi Towers of Silence, Kamala Nehru Park, the temple of Walkeshwar and the Sand Lord makes it a very popular tourist spot in Mumbai. Overnight in Mumbai.

• Day 3: Fly Mumbai – Aurangabad

  After a relaxing breakfast at the hotel, you will be met by our representative and he will assist you with the check-out formalities. You will then be escorted to Mumbai airport in time to board flight for Aurangabad. Aurangabad- A large industrial city in the Western Indian State of Maharashtra, serves as the Gateway to the World Heritage sites of the Ajanta and Ellora caves. Also, the city in itself, has a very rich heritage, since for a part of Aurangzeb's rule, Aurangabad had become the seat of the Mughal dynasty. The Mughal dynasty contributed to such architectural wonders as the Bibi-ka-Makbara, and the Daulatabad Fort. You will then be met by our representative at the Aurangabad airport and he will escort you to the hotel and help you with the check in formalities. In the afternoon, you will be picked up from your hotel and will be taken for a guided sightseeing tour of Ellora Caves. Ellora Caves: The cave temples and monasteries at Ellora, excavated out of the vertical face of an escarpment are 26 kms north of Aurangabad. Extending in a linear arrangement, the 34 caves contain Buddhist Chaityas, or halls of worship, and Viharas, or monasteries, Hindu and Jain temples. Spanning a period of about 600 years between the 5th and the 11th century A.D., the earliest excavation here is of the Dhumar Lena (cave 29). The most imposing excavation is, without doubt that of the magnificent Kailasa Temple (cave 16), which is the single largest monolithic structure in the World. Ellora too has been designated a World Heritage Site. Overnight in Aurangabad.

• Day 4: In Aurangabad

  After a relaxing breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and will be taken for a guided sightseeing tour of Ajanta Caves. Ajanta Caves: The next most popular attractions around Aurangabad are the Ajanta Caves - about 107 km away, the rock cut caves of Ajanta nestle in a panoramic gorge, in the form of a gigantic horseshoe. Among the finest examples of some of the earliest Buddhist architecture, cave paintings and sculptures, these caves comprise Chaitya Halls, or shrines dedicated to Lord Buddha and Viharas or monasteries used by Buddhist monks for meditation and the study of Buddhist teachings. The paintings that adorn the walls and ceilings of the caves depict incidents from the life of Buddha and various Buddhist divinities. Ajanta has been designated as a World Heritage Site, to be preserved as an artistic legacy that will come to inspire and enrich the lives of generations to come. Overnight in Aurangabad.

• Day 5: FLY AURANGABAD - MUMBAI & DEPART

  After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, you will be met by our representative and he will assist you with the check-out formalities. Your Caves of Western India tour ends with a transfer to Aurangabad airport in time for your flight for Mumbai to connect your further flight home.

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