Duration: 05 Nights / 06 Days
Places to See: Mumbai - Aurangabad - Mumbai
Day 01: Arrive Mumbai
Arrive
at Mumbai airport or station. Transfer to hotel. Check in and relax for the
evening. Mumbai's skyline is recognisable in advertisements and pictorial depictions
stating the country's technological and financial hub. It's an imposing skyline.
The contours are hazy but the residents don't seem to mind. They love this place
and this all-ening love is infectious. Overnight will be at Mumbai.
Day 02: Mumbai - Aurangabad
Breakfast will be at hotel or onboard the aircraft. Relax in the morning or
visit the local market. Transfer to airport for flight to Aurangabad. Reach
and check in at hotel. The city of Aurangabad was founded in 1610, on the site
of a village, Khirki by Malik Ambar - the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah
II. When Fateh Khan, Malik Ambar's son turned successor in 1626, he gave the
city the name 'Fatehpur'. Aurangabad today is a bustling city of Maharashtra
with diverse big and small industries, fine silken textiles, and exquisite hand
woven brocades of silver and gold fabrics, Himroo of world frame. To scholars
and lovers of art and culture the city is more familiar as the gateway to the
ancient caves of Ajanta and Ellora, both famous as treasure houses of Indian
Art and Sculpture. Overnight will be at Aurangabad.
Day 03: Aurangabad
Breakfast will be served at the hotel. Proceed for a full day sightseeing with
excursion to Ajanta Caves.
Ajanta
caves: Nestling in an inner fold of the Sahyardi hills, 100 km from Aurangabad
in the shape of a mammoth horse- shoe, are the 30 rock-hewn caves of Ajanta.
The Caves date from the 2nd century BC. Discovered in 1819 by a group of British
army officers, these startling achievements took around 600 years to create.
Carved with little more than a hammer and chisel, Ajanta, once the retreat of
Buddhist monastic orders features several 'chaityas' (chapels) and 'viharas'
(monasteries). Return to Aurangabad and overnight will be at Aurangabad.
Day 04: Aurangabad
Breakfast will be at the hotel. Proceed for a visit to the Ellora Caves, Daulatabad
Fort and Aurangabad Caves.
Ellora Caves: Impressive in their own right is the rock-hewn temples
and monasteries of Ellora that lie just 30 km away from Aurangabad city. In
all, there are 34 cave temples, 12 Mahayana Buddhist caves (550-750 AD), 17
Hindu caves (600-875 AD) and 5 caves of the Jain faith (800-1000 AD) 22 more
caves, dedicated to Lord Shiva, were recently discovered. Kailas Temple (cave16),
the central attraction at Ellora, is the most remarkable.
Aurangabad
Caves: The almost forgotten caves of Aurangabad lie just outside the city.
Excavated between the 2nd and 6th century AD, they reflect TANTRIC influences
in their iconography and architectural designs. In all there are nine caves
which are mainly viharas. Overnight will be at Aurangabad.
Day 05: Aurangabad - Mumbai
Breakfast will be at hotel or onboard the aircraft. Reach Mumbai and transfer
to hotel. Proceed for an excursion to the ELEPHANTA CAVES. On your way back,
proceed to see the interesting sites of Mumbai. Overnight will be in Mumbai.
Day 06: Mumbai - Home
Breakfast will be at hotel. Transfer in time to international airport for flight
home.
Ajanta & Ellora Caves Tour Reservation Form
