Home » Special Tour Packages » Khajuraho India Tour

Duration : 10 Nights / 11 Days
Destinations Covered : Mumbai - Nashik - Khajuraho - Pune

Day 01 : International Arrival
Arrive Mumbai. You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Mumbai city. Overnight at hotel.

Mumbai (Bombay), the gateway to India in the days of the Raj, is today India's commercial capital. The city dates back to around the first century AD when the area consisted of seven islands separated by the sea. In 1661 the Portuguese presented the port and islands of Mumbai to the British. In 1668 The East India Company leased all of the Islands of Mumbai from the British Govt. for £10.00 in gold per year. On independence in 1947 the Mumbai presidency became Mumbai state, and subsequently Mumbai became the state capital of Maharashtra.

Mumbai is a fascinating crossroad of the east and west where the sophistication and technology of the first world is combined with the eastern ability to sell almost anything against a backdrop of color, scents and sounds. Besides being the major port of India this cosmopolitan city with eight million population is the fastest moving, most affluent and most industrialized city in India. It is India's financial, commercial and industrial center, and the center of the film industry.

MUMBAI CITY TOUR:
On Mumbai city tour you drive along the Marine Drive, famous as the Queen's necklace, and Chowpatty Beach and pass by 'Towers of Silence' of the Parsis, who settled in Mumbai in 1670. Places of interest include the Hanging Gardens (in Kamala Nehru Park on the slopes of Malabar Hills, offering a panoramic view of Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach, a view especially enchanting at night), the Prince of Wales Museum, Dhobi Ghat and Mani Bhawan. We also drive through the Crawford Market.

GATEWAY OF INDIA:
Gateway of India was built in 1911-1914-18 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. Formerly the viceroys of India were received here and in 1948 the last British troop left this soil through its portals.

The arch is in Muslim style while the decorations are Hindu. The stone was obtained locally and the perforated screens were brought from Gwalior. Architecturally it is a conventional Arch de Triumph. Near this Gateway, there is a statue of Shivaji, the 17th century founder of the independent Hindu Kingdom of Maharashtra.

MANI BHAWAN:
Mani Bhawan is the house where Mahatama Gandhi, the father of the nation, spent a number of years and which has now been converted into a museum highlighting the dramatic events in Gandhi's life through beautiful displays.

Day 02 : Mumbai
Morning visit to the Elephanta Caves. Afternoon free.
The Elephanta caves are situated on an island about six miles from Mumbai in the Arabian Sea. These are four rock cut temples from between 450 and 750 AD. They were originally called the Gharapuri, the `fortress city'. The Portuguese renamed them Elephanta from the elephant like large stone on the landing place. Elephanta's size and beauty, and the power of its sculptures is impressive. There is one main cave with a number of large sculptured panels and bas-reliefs all relating to the Lord Shiva. The centerpiece is a massive 18 ft three headed bust of Lord Shiva.

Day 03 : Mumbai
Morning visit to Kanheri Caves. Afternoon free.

Day 04 : Mumbai to Nashik
Depart by road from Mumbai to Nashik, a journey of about four hours. Overnight at hotel Quality Inn Regency (Standard Room).

Day 05 : Nashik to Aurangabad
Depart by road from Nashik to Aurangabad, a journey of about four to five hours. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Aurangabad city. Overnight at hotel Ajanta Ambassador for three nights (Standard Room).

Aurangabad is the base from which to visit the Ajanta and Ellora caves. A tour of the city includes Bibi Ka Maqbara, the tomb of the wife of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, said to be modeled on the Taj Mahal.

Day 06 : Aurangabad
Full day visit to Ajanta Caves.
The Ajanta caves are situated 102kms from Aurangabad and pre-date those of Ellora. Dating from the 2nd century BC Ajanta recounts the life of Lord Buddha in the form of paintings. Although the dominant theme of the caves is religious, they also give an insight into the way of life at that time. A British officer on a hunting expedition only discovered these caves 150 years ago.

Day 07 : Aurangabad
Full day visit to Ellora Caves
The Ellora Caves are 30kms from Aurangabad. Here the Temples date from the 4th to 9th centuries AD, and unlike Ajanta are not exclusively Buddhist, but also honor the Jain and Hindu faiths.

Day 08 : Aurangabad to Pune
Depart by road from Aurangabad to Pune, a journey of about six hours. You may like to stop at Piathan Fort, Parenda Fort and Ahmednagar. Overnight at hotel Sagar Plaza for two nights (Standard Room).

Day 09 : Pune
Full day visit Pune, Sinhagad and Raigad.

Day 10 : Pune to Mumbai
Depart by road from Pune to Mumbai, a journey of about six hours. Overnight at hotel Fariyas (Standard Room).

Day 11 : International Departure
Transfer from hotel to Mumbai international airport for your flight home