Mumbai Ajanta and Ellora Caves Tour (7 Days)

Mumbai Ajanta and Ellora Caves Tour (7 Days)

The private tour will begin in Mumbai a city famous as the heart of the Bollywood film industry, the country's financial powerhouse, the nation's industrial heartland, and economic nerve center. Get up close look at the stunning Ajanta and Ellora Caves two unique UNESCO World Heritage sites. Explore 34 caves at Ellora, dating from between the 6th and 11th centuries AD, as well as 29 caves at Ajanta, dating back to between 2nd century BC and 6th century AD.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Mumbai

Pass By: Mumbai Hotels Near Airport, Behram Rood, Apollo Bandar, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050, India
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 rooms availability).
Mumbai is a city that is disciplined by no time frame neither day nor night. It is also the country's financial powerhouse, the nation's industrial heartland, and its economic nerve center. Dazzling shopping arcades, exciting sport activity, nightclubs & discotheques, theatre & music, gourmet restaurants and interesting sightseeing. It offers visitors a heady mix of all this and more.

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.
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: Mumbai city tour

Stop At: Elephanta Caves, Mumbai India
Breakfast at hotel, city tour of Mumbai.
Drive to Marine Drive: one of the most beautifully laid boulevards in the city. Afterwards visit to Elephanta caves (Monday closed), from Gateway of India here cruise by motorboats to Elephanta Caves. A flight of 100 steps takes you to the top of the hill where it is set. Afterwards in the afternoon cruise back to Gateway of India and then city tour starts visiting Parliament House: The Maharashtra State Assembly (view from outside), Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), formerly Victoria Terminus, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (view from outside), Dhobhi Ghat: to see the city's famous open-air laundry in action, Prince of Wales Museum (Monday closed): is a heritage museum comprises of a number of ancient artifacts, Mani Bhawan: Known also Gandhi Museum, here Gandhi laid the foundation for many independence movements; The three storied building has now converted into a museum in honour of Father of Nation. If time permits visit to Bandra and Juhu area where bollywood celebrity houses are located like Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan etc, (can be seen from outside). Mount Mary Church, an ancient church, built in 1640 and then rebuilt in 1761, The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount is also an important religious place in Mumbai. In the evening, visit Iskcon Temple: dedicated to Lord Krishna, The architectural splendour of the ISKCON Temple is adorned with murals and sculptures. Afterwards return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Duration: 8 hours

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

Day 3: Mumbai – Aurangabad (flight)

Pass By: The Bombay Store - Mumbai, Sir Pherozeshah Mehta Road Linking Road, Inorbit Malad & Inorbit Vashi, Mumbai 400001 India
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport to board the flight for Aurangabad. On arrival assistance and transfer to hotel.

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, the Bibi ka Maqbara is a son's loving tribute to his mother. Due to its similar design standing spectacularly on the lawns of the landscaped garden with ponds, fountains and water channels, the white marbled monument is popularly known as the mini Taj of the Deccan and Panchakki - which literally means 'Water Mill' by Malik Ambar in 1695. It receives water from an underground channel, with its source being 6 km away in the mountains. An artificial waterfall has been created near the mill, through which this water is discharged on to the wheel to power the flour mill and grind grain for the pilgrims. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Duration: 4 hours

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

Day 4: Aurangabad – Ajanta (105kms/ 2 hrs approx one way)

Stop At: Ajanta Caves Road, Ajanta 431001 India
Breakfast at hotel.

Full day excursion to Ajanta Caves (Monday closed). The Buddhist Caves of Ajanta were discovered by the British officers in 1819 while tiger hunting. Ajanta Caves were first mentioned in the writings of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang who visited India between A.D 629 and 645. 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. Five of these Caves are Chaityas (Place of worship) while the other twenty-five are Viharas (monasteries). Ajanta Caves are divided in two categories based on two schools of Buddhist thought - Hinayana Caves and Mahayana Caves.

Evening back to hotel in Aurangabad for overnight stay.
Duration: 8 hours

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

Day 5: Aurangabad – Ellora (36kms/ 1 hrs approx 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. It also has some of the excellent stonework depicting the legends related to Lord Shiva.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Ghrishneshwar Mandir pujari, Ghrishneshwar temple, Ellora, Maharashtra 431102, India
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines mentioned in the Shiva Purana. The temple is an important pilgrimage site in Shaivism tradition of Hinduism, which considers it as the last or twelfth Jyotirlinga (linga of light).

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Daulatabad Fort, Daulatabad, Daulatabad India
On way back visit Daulatabad Fort one of the most powerful forts of the medieval Deccan. The defence system that made Daulatabad virtually impregnable comprises fortifications with double and even triple rows of massive walls.

Back to hotel in Aurangabad for overnight stay.
Duration: 2 hours

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

Day 6: Aurangabad – Mumbai (flight)

Stop At: Infiniti Mall, New Link Rd, Phase D, Oshiwara, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400053, India
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport to board flight for Mumbai. On arrival assistance and transfer to the hotel. Day free & easy for shopping and individual activities.

Mumbai is shopping paradise. There are bargains to be found everywhere, whether you're looking for antiques, curios, carpets, handicrafts, textiles, Jewelry, or literally anything. Visit Cross Road, West End, Fashion Street, which is in main Mumbai city and Linking Road at Bandra in western Suburban is one of the famous markets for everything. And there are numbers of malls in the western suburban: In orbit Mall and Infinity Mall and other shops in Juhu and other places. Optionally you can do the shopping in famous markets and shops include Dadar, Fort, Colaba Causeway, Cottage Industries, and Handloom Emporiums amongst many others. Afterwards return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Duration: 6 hours

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

Day 7: Mumbai – Departure (flight)

Pass By: The Bombay Store - Mumbai, Sir Pherozeshah Mehta Road Linking Road, Inorbit Malad & Inorbit Vashi, Mumbai 400001 India
Breakfast at hotel, as per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.

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