Ancient Caves Temples Beach and Hills (20 Days)

Ancient Caves Temples Beach and Hills (20 Days)

The 20 day Incredible Ancient Caves, Temples, Beach & Hills tour will begin in India commercial capital Mumbai. You will visit the ancient caves of Elephanta, Ajanta, Ellora, Karla & Bhaja. Temples in Nasik, Shirdi & Nanded. You will also explore the architecture of Golkonda, Bidar, Gulbarga, Hampi, AIhole & Pattadakkal. Unwind yourself on the Hippy loved beach of Goa & Ratnagiri, and enjoy the scenic beauty of Lonavala hill on Western Ghats.

Itinerary

Day 1: Mumbai

Pass By: Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra
On arrival at Mumbai airport meet with our office executive assistance and transfer to hotel (hotels check in time 1200hr afternoon, early check in subject to room’s availability).

Pass By: Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Rest time free for personal activities relax, you can take a walk to have a glance of the city, visiting local markets and restaurants.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: Mumbai

Stop At: Elephanta Caves, Mumbai India
Breakfast at hotel. Excursion to Elephanta Island located 10kms away from the Gateway of India. Motorboats take passengers from Gateway of India to Elephanta Island. These caves house rock cut temples dating back to the 5th century BC.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, DN Road Mumbai CST Area, Mumbai 400001 India
Later Mumbai city tour visiting Maharashtra State Assembly (view from outside), Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), a UNESCO World Heritage Site (view from outside), Dhobhi Ghat see the city's famous open-air laundry in action, Prince of Wales Museum (Monday closed) a heritage museum comprises of a number of ancient artifacts & Mani Bhawan.


Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Mumbai - Nashik (170kms/ 3hrs approx)

Stop At: Nashik, Nashik, Nashik District, Maharashtra
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Nashik check in at hotel
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Sundarnarayan Temple, Panchavati, Nashik 422001 India
Later city tour visiting the ancient holy city, known for its links to the “Ramayana” the epic poem. Visit Sundarnarayan Temple, Ram Kund water tank, Shri Kalaram Sansthan Mandir, Sita Gufaa caves, ISKCON temple. Also excursion visit to Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga an ancient Hindu temple 28km from the city & Pandavleni Caves. If interested you can visit vineyards in west of the city.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Nashik - Shirdi - Aurangabad (200kms/ 4hrs approx)

Stop At: Shirdi, Shirdi, Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Aurangabad via visiting Shirdi. Shirdi is known as home of revered spiritual leader Sai Baba, and as a major pilgrimage site. Continue drive to Aurangabad check in at hotel.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Bibi Ka Maqbara, Begumpura Gulistan-e-Jauhar KARACHI, Aurangabad 431004 India
Later city tour, visit Bibi ka Maqbara built by Azam Shah in 1678, a son's loving tribute to his mother. Also visit Panchakki which literally means 'Water Mill' and Museum.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 5: Aurangabad - Excursion to Ellora (30kms one way)

Stop At: Ellora Caves, Ellora Cave Rd Ahead of Hiranya Reosrts, Aurangabad 431005 India
Breakfast at hotel, excursion to visit Ellora, a UNESCO World heritage sites (Tuesday closed). 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. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines mentioned in the Shiva Purana. On way back visit Daulatabad Fort one of the most powerful forts of the medieval Deccan. Back to hotel in Aurangabad for overnight stay.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 6: Aurangabad - Excursion to Ajanta (100kms/ 2hrs approx one way)

Stop At: Ajanta Caves Road, Ajanta 431001 India
Breakfast at hotel.Full day excursion to Ajanta Caves (Monday closed). The Caves at Ajanta are older than those at Ellora, which date from about 200 B.C to 650 A.D. Thirty beautiful Buddhist Caves with mesmerizing sculptures and paintings depicting Buddha's life as well the lives of the Buddha in his previous births. Evening back to hotel in Aurangabad for overnight stay.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 7: Aurangabad - Nanded (260kms/ 5hrs approx)

Stop At: Nanded, Nanded, Nanded District, Maharashtra
Breakfast at hotel drive to Nanded check in at Gurudwara Sarai/ hotel.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Nanded, Nanded, Nanded District, Maharashtra
Later visit Hazur Sahib one of the Panj Takht, the five seats of higher authority for Sikhs, built at the site of cremation of Guru Gobind Singh by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. His remains and weapons are preserved at the site. Also visit Nanded fort on the bank of Godavari river.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Gurudwara Sarai/ hotel.

Day 8: Nanded - Hyderabad (260kms/ 5hrs approx)

Stop At: Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Hyderabad District, Telangana
Breakfast at hotel drive to Hyderabad, a major center for the technology industry & home to many upscale restaurants and shops. Check in at hotel and rest time free and easy to relax and visit the city with your driver.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Hyderabad

Stop At: Golconda Fort, Ibrahim Bagh, Hyderabad 500008 India
Breakfast at hotel, explore this wondrous capital, a 400 year-old metropolitan city teeming with bustling-bazaars and Muslim monuments. Visit to Golconda Fort, Qutub Shahi tombs, Salar Jung Museum, Hussain Sagar, Charminar and Grand Mecca Masjid.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Hyderabad - Bidar - Gulbarga (280kms/ 5hrs approx)

Stop At: Bidar Fort, Bidar India
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Gulbarga en route visiting Bidar Fort & Jami Masjid. On arrival check-in at Hotel, rest time free & easy to relax.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Gulbarga - Hampi (280kms/ 5hrs approx)

Stop At: Sharana Basaveshwara Temple, Kalburgi Town, Gulbarga India
Breakfast at hotel city tour of Gulbarga a Hindu city before the Muhammadan conquest. Visit Sharan basaveshwara temple & Hazrat Khwaja Bande Nawaz mausoleum. Afternoon drive to Hampi check-in at Hotel.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 12: Hampi

Stop At: Hampi, Hampi, Bellary District, Karnataka
Breakfast at hotel city tour of Hampi an UNESCO world Heritage sites dotted with numerous ruined temple complexes from the Vijayanagara Empire on the bank of the River Tungabhadra. Visit Hazara Rama Temple, King's Balance, Mahanavami Dibba, Royal enclosures, Statue of Ugra Narasimha Temple, Virupaksha Temple, Vithala And Lotus Mahal, Vithala Temple Complex and ASI Museum.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 13: Hampi - Lakkundi - Gadag - Badami (180kms/ 4hrs approx)

Stop At: Lakkundi, Lakkundi, Gadag District, Karnataka
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Badami via visiting Lakkundi & Gadag (Guide service not available in Lakkundi & Gadag, subject to availability local guide will be hired by our driver). Arrive Badami check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 14: Badami - Pattadakal & Aihole (40kms one way)

Stop At: Pattadakal, Pattadakal, Bagalkot District, Karnataka
Breakfast at hotel. Excursion visits to Aihole & Pattadakal both UNESCO World heritage site.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Badami, Badami, Bagalkot District, Karnataka
Aihole is a major archaeological site featuring over one hundred and twenty stone and cave temples from fourth century through the twelfth century CE. Over one hundred Aihole temples are Hindu, a few are Jain and one is Buddhist. The site is spread over about 5 square kilometers.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal India
Pattadakal, represents the high point of an eclectic art under the Chalukya dynasty. An impressive series of nine Hindu temples, as well as a Jain sanctuary, can be seen there. One masterpiece from the group stands out – the Temple of Virupaksha, built c. 740 by Queen Lokamahadevi to commemorate her husband's victory over the kings from the South.
Duration: 8 hours

Stop At: Badami, Badami, Bagalkot District, Karnataka
Return to Badami and city sightseeing.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 15: Badami - Goa (250kms/ 5hrs approx)

Stop At: Goa, Goa
Breakfast at hotel drive to Goa check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax on the beach.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 16: Goa

Stop At: Agonda Beach, Agonda India
Breakfast at hotel. Goa coastlines stretching along the Arabian Sea. Its long history as a Portuguese colony prior to 1961 is evident in its preserved 17th-century churches and the area’s tropical spice plantations. Known for its beaches, ranging from popular stretches at Baga and Palolem to those in laid-back fishing villages such as Agonda. Full day city tour of Goa covering Churches of Old Goa, Panjim city, Altinho, Dona Paula viewpoint and famous beaches. Rest time free and easy to relax.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 17: Goa - Chiplun (340kms/ 7hrs approx)

Stop At: Sindhudurg Fort
Breakfast at hotel drive to Chiplun. Enroute you can visit Singhudurg fort. On arrival check in at hotel. Rest time to explore the surrounding.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 18: Chiplun - Lonavla (210kms/ 5hrs approx)

Stop At: Sawatsada Waterfall, Near Parshuram Temple, Chiplun India
Breakfast at hotel sightseeing in Chiplun a hill station in forested Western Ghats range. Visit SawatSada Waterfall Soaring waterfall, best seen during monsoon season, with a wading pool & serene surroundings. Parshurama Temple a temple of Lord Parshurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu. Gowalkot a small fort located on the southern bank of Vashishti River. This fort is guarded by the river on three sides and a trench on the fourth side.
Duration: 8 hours

Stop At: Lonavala, Lonavala, Pune District, Maharashtra
Afternoon drive to Lonavala check in at hotel.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 19: Lonavla

Stop At: Lonavala, Lonavala, Pune District, Maharashtra
Breakfast at hotel, sightseeing in Lonavala, a hill station surrounded by green valleys. The Karla Caves and the Bhaja Caves are ancient Buddhist shrines carved out of the rock. These are caves carved from solid granite rocks around 160 BC. It has an Ashoka stambh at the entrance. The caves have rooms for the monks who resided here a prayer hall and a huge stupa. It also has the temple of Ek Veera the goddess of the Koli flock who are the original residents of Mumbai. They feature massive pillars and intricate relief sculptures. South of the Bhaja Caves sits the imposing Lohagad Fort, with its 4 gates. West of here is Bhushi Dam, where water overflows onto a set of steps during rainy season.


Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 20: Lonavla - Mumbai (80kms/ 2hrs approx)

Stop At: Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Mumbai to board evening flight for your onward destination.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.