Ajanta & Ellora Caves

This is a personalised tour conducted in private cars for both business and leisure travellers and can start on any day as per the choice of our guests.  

Mumbai- Aurangabad- Mumbai

4 nights/ 5 days

Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival at Mumbai

Arrival at Mumbai where our representative will receive you and take you to the hotel.
Afternoon, city tour of Mumbai - the great port city with its Victorian Gothic buildings from the British Raj Era mingling with the modern. The tour includes Gateway of India overlooking the Harbour, the Towers of Silence, Marine Drive and the Dhobi Ghat, the unique and colourful outdoor 'laundry'. Also visit Mani Bhawan, a small museum dedicated to the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi.
Overnight at Mumbai.

Day 2: Sightseeing in Mumbai

Morning visit the Prince of Wales Museum (closed on Mondays) - this beautiful gothic structure with its imposing dome was built in 1905 to commemorate the first visit of King George V to India. It stands in oriental grandeur in spacious palm decorated gardens. This Museum boast one of the finest collection of elegantly carved ivory artworks; a collection of fascinating 18th & 19th century miniature paintings; and a rich collection of Nepalese and Tibetan art, along with archaeology & natural history in the country.
Continue to Flora Fountain at the Hutatma Chowk was built in 1869 in honour of Sir Bartle Frere, Governor of Bombay, and the man responsible for much of Bombay; the stately Rajabai Clock Tower rises from the ornamented building of the Mumbai University; the High Court building next door was built in Neo-Gothic style as an imposing edifice to British Justice; the lavishly iced cake of the Gothic Victoria Terminus (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus), the main railhead on the Central Railway; Mumbai's famous Crawford Market, the Afghan Church in Colaba. Overnight at Mumbai.

Day 3: Mumbai to Aurangabad
Morning check out from hotel and drive to the airport for flight to Aurangabad. Arrival at Aurangabad where our representative will meet you and take you to the hotel.

Later proceed for sightseeing of the Ellora caves. Ellora Caves (30 kms) from Aurangabad lie the finest rock cut cave temples of Ellora - 10th & 11th century, which encompasses the three religion Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Of the 34 caves that are both monasteries and temples, the most remarkable is the magnificent Kailasa temple. The entire structure was carved out of a monolith and took over 100 years to complete. The temple itself is decorated with themes and incidents from the ancient legends and puranas in a manner that leaves one in rapturous delight. Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Sightseeing at Ajanta Caves

This morning proceed for sightseeing of Ajanta Caves (100 Kms). Nestled in an inner fold of the Sahyadri hills, 100 kms away from Aurangabad are the 30 rock-cut caves of Ajanta, famous for its cave painting or frescoes of many colors. These magnificent rock-cut caves, date from 2nd BC to 7th Century AD. They are exclusively Buddhist; unique in the way they combine three forms of art - architecture, sculpture and painting. The superb frescoes and paintings depict episodes from the Jataka stories and the life of Lord Buddha. Caves 1,2,16 and 17 have the best-preserved paintings. The magnificient depictions of the bodhisattvas Avalokitesvara and Padmapaniin are particularly well known. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 5: Aurangabad to Mumbai
Check out from hotel and drop at airport for flight to Mumbai. Arrival at Mumbai and later drop at International Airport for flight back home or to an onward destination.

End of Tour.