Duration :- 7 Nights / 8 Days
Places to See:- Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Samode - Delhi
Day
01: Mumbai: Arrival
Arrive at Mumbai airport in the evening. Transfer to hotel. Check in and relax.
Overnight will be at Mumbai.
Day 02: Mumbai - Aurangabad:
By Air
Flight : IC 887 (Indian Airlines)
Aircraft : Airbus 320
Departure : 1540 hr
Arrival : 1625 hr
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Its young, its lively and a confluence of varied cultural currents and cross
currents have given Mumbai a unique position of the most multi-ethnic city
of India. The capital city of Maharashtra State formerly known as Bombay lies
in the southwestern part of India and occupies a peninsular site originally
composed of seven islets lying off the KONKAN COAST of western India. Oozing
with the cocksure self-confidence of a maverick moneymaker and "Bindass"
(carefree) attitude, Mumbai is also country's financial and commercial hub
and has a principal port on the Arabian Sea.
Yet, there's another face of Mumbai too that is of the most densely populated
cities in the world. Mumbai is located on a site of ancient settlement and
took its name from the local Goddess "Mumba" - a form of Parvati,
the consort of Shiva, one of the principal Gods of Hinduism - whose temple
once stood in what is now the southeastern section of the Mumbai city.
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'.
Later in 1653, when Prince Aurangzeb became Viceroy of the Deccan, he made
the city his capital and called it Aurangabad. Aurangzeb added the walls that
enclose the central part of the city in 1686 in order to withstand attacks
from the Marathas. There are four principle gateways to the city - the Delhi
Darwaza, the Jalna Darwaza, the Paithan Darwaza and the Mecca Darwaza. Nine
secondary gateways also formed a part of the defensive system of this city.
Aurangabad district has always been a prominent region on the Deccan plateau.
Having been inhabited since the Stone Age, it has a long artistic and cultural
history - to which several dynasties have made major contributions over the
years. Maurya rule marked the arrival of Buddhism in Maharashtra.
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 at 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). The exquisite wall and ceiling paintings, panels
and sculptures of Buddha's life are famous throughout the world as the earliest
and finest examples of Buddhist pictorial art.
Overnight will be at Aurangabad.
Day 04 Aurangabad - Mumbai:
By Air
Flight : IC 888 (Indian Airlines)
Aircraft : Airbus 320
Departure : 1730 hr
Arrival : 2055 hr
Proceed for breakfast at hotel.
Visit 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. Chiseled by hand
from a single massive rock, it includes a gateway, pavilion, courtyard, vestibule,
sanctum, sanctorum and tower which bear testimony to the excellence of Dravidian
art. It is believed to have taken 7000 laborers, working in continuous shifts
and 150 years to build the structures. Ever since the first European visitors
in 18th Century, Ellora has attracted chroniclers, antiquarians, scholars
and in more recent years, ever- increasing number of tourists.
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 (monasteries).
The most interesting among these are Caves 3 and 7. The former is supported
on 12 highly ornate columns and has sculptures depicting scenes from the legendary
'Jakata' tales. Cave 7 with its detailed figures of bejeweled women also has
a dominating sculpture of a 'Bodhisattva' praying for deliverance.
Daulatabad Fort: Once known as 'Devgiri', this magnificent 12th century
fortress stands on a hill just 13 km. from Aurangabad. It was given the name
Daulatabad, the 'city of fortune', by Muhammad Tughlaq, Sultan of Delhi. Initially
a Yadav stronghold, it passed through the hands of several dynasties in the
Deccan. One of the world's best preserved fort of medieval times, surviving
virtually unaltered, Daulatabad yet displays the character that made it invincible.
This
is a fortress that was conquered only by treachery. A series of secret, quizzical,
subterranean passages lie coiled like a python amidst the fort. Here flaring
torches were thrust upon an unwary enemy. Or hot oil poured down his path, as
he deliberated in the labyrinth. Also the heat from a brazier was blown into
the passage by a process of suction suffocating the entire garrison within.
The Fort itself lies in the body of an isolated hill; the steep hill - sides
at the base falling so sharply to the moat that no hostile troops could scale
the height.
The moat, 40 ft. deep with mechanical drawbridges teemed with crocodiles.
A 5-kilometer sturdy wall, artificial scarping and a complicated series of
defenses made Daulatabad impregnable. The 30-meter high Chand Minar (Tower)
built much later with 3 circular galleries had a defensive and religious role
in the fortress.
Transfer to airport for flight to Mumbai. Reach and transfer to hotel. Overnight
will be at Mumbai.
Day 05 Mumbai:
Cosmo culture
For the day you'll be taking a sightseeing tour of this cosmopolitan city
of India which has a very distinct and appealing culture of its own.
Evening will be free to shop.
Overnight will be at Mumbai.
DAY 06 Chiplun:
Trail through the Konkan Coast.
Start the breathtaking journey, traversing the beautiful Konkan Coast - the
narrow strip between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
Arrive and check in hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure or explore the town.
Overnight will be at Chiplun.
DAY 07 Goa:
Rome of the Orient
Proceed to Goa after breakfast. Pass through the lush green belt of Konkan
Coast. Arrive and check in hotel.
Rest of the day will be free to relax.
Overnight will be at Goa.
DAY 08 Goa:
Sun Bathing
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Complete day free for personal activities or at leisure. Overnight will be
at Goa.
DAY 09 Goa:
Sightseeing of the churches and beaches
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Proceed for a full day sightseeing tour of Goa Beaches and Churches.
Overnight will be at Goa.
DAY 10 Goa - Mumbai:
By Air
Flight : IC 866 (Indian Airlines)
Aircraft : Airbus 320
Departure : 0725 hr
Arrival : 0820 hr
Transfer to the airport after breakfast for flight to Mumbai.
Reach and proceed to airport for connecting flight home.
Tour Ends
West Coast Thrills Tour Reservation Form
West Coast Thrills Tour
Copyright©,
Luxury Vacations.
All Rights Reserved