Day 01: Mumbai
Arrive Mumbai where you would be met and escorted to the hotel. Afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of Mumbai.
The Gateway of India is the main attraction of Mumbai city. The Mani Bhawan or the Gandhi memorial was once used to be the residence of Mahatma Gandhi in Mumbai. Considered as one of the best museums in the country, Also known as Queen’s Neckless, Marine Drive. Juhu is a 5-km-long beach that attracts a large number of visitors on any day of the week. Also visit gardens like the Hanging Garden and the Kamla Nehru Garden and Chowpatty gives you the view of one of the most happening beaches of Mumbai.
Overnight: Mumbai
Day 02: Aurangabad
In the morning you will be met and escorted to the rail terminal in time to board your train Tapovan Express (0610/1330) to Aurangabad.
Upon arrival in Aurangabad you will be met and escorted to your hotel Ambassador for the stay of two nights.
Overnight: Aurangabad
Day 03: Aurangabad
Full day enjoy an excursion to the Ajanta and Ellora caves.
Nestling in an inner fold of he Sahyadri hills, 100 kms from Aurangabad in th eshape of a mamoth horse- shoe, are the 30 rock-hewn caves of Ajanta, dating from 2nd century B.C.
Discovered in 1819, by a group of British Officers, these startling acheivements took around 600 years to create. Carved with little more than a hammer and chisel, Ajanta, once the retreat of the Buddhist monastic orders features several “chaityas” and viharas. The exquisite paintings and sculptures of Buddha’s life belong to the Mahayana period.
Impressive in their own right are he rock-hewn temples and monastries of Ellora that lie just 30 kms away from Aurangabad city. In all, there are 34 cave temples,12 Mahayana Buddhist caves (550-750 A.D.), 17 Hindu caves (600-875 A.D.) and 5 caves of the Jain faith (800-1000 A.D.) 22 more caves, dedicated to Shiva, are recently discovered.
Kailas Temple, the central attraction at Ellora, is the most remarkable. Chiselled by hand from a single massive rock, it includes a gateway, pavillion, courtyard, vestibule, sanctum, sanctorum and tower.
Overnight: Aurangabad
Day 04: Hyderabad
Morning is at leisure to explore on own. Later in the day you will be escorted to the Rail terminal in time to board your overnight train MMR SC Express (1920:0835*) to Hyderabad. You will travel in the second air-conditioned sleeper class from Aurangabad to Hyderabad. (Suggest carrying packed dinner from the Hotel with some fresh fruits for the train journey)
Overnight: Train
Day 05: Hyderabad
Upon arrival in Hyderabad you will be met and escorted to your hotel for the stay of one night. Afternoon enjoy a city sightseeing tour.
The city's primary feature is the Golconda Fort, one of the least visited and most magnificent fortress complexes in India. Located 10km west of the city, it comprises a citadel built on a 120m high granite hill surrounded by crenellated ramparts constructed of large masonry blocks. A huge triumphal arch, Charminar, in the centre of the walled city was built to commemorate the end of a plague in 1591. Salar Jung Museum is one of the best-known museums in India where you can find private collections of the Nizams.
Overnight: Hyderabad
Day 06: Gulbarga
In the morning you will be driven to Gulbarga visiting Bidar enroute. Travel to Gulbarga by surface (245 kilometres, approximate driving time of 6 hours).
En route visit Bidar, You can see the fortress and its palaces, mosques, a madarsa or college and the royal tomb (Rangin Mahal) composed of glazed mosaics imported from Kashan in northern Persia, Zenana Mahal. Further in Gulbarga see Bahamani tombs, known as ‘Haft Gumbaz’ or ‘Seven Domes’ with the memorial of the four kings of this dynasty. Also visit fort of Gulbarga. See Jama Masjid, a rare example of a mosque in India with no open courtyard.
Overnight: Gulbarga
Day 07: Bijapur
Morning you will be driven to Bijapur (156 kilometres, approximately 4 hours driving time).
Afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of Bijapur including; Gol Gumbaz, Mohammed Adil Shah’s Tomb, which has the world’s second largest dome (unsupported by pillars), Jama Masjid, built in 1558- 80 during the Bahamani period. Ibrahim Rauza, a tomb and a mosque, is an attractive garden retreat; Mihatyar Mahal and Begum Mahal.
Overnight: Bijapur
Day 08: Badami
Morning you will be driven to Badami (155 kilometres, approximately 3 hours driving distance). You will check into your hotel for the stay of two nights.
Badami, more than anything else, is known for its rock-cut cave temples. Numbering five, these temples are over thirteen hundred years old. They have been carved out of the red sandstone hills surrounding Badami. Two temples are dedicated to Vishnu, while one is dedicated to Shiva, and other two are related to Jainism and Buddhism.
Overnight: Badami
Day 09: Badami Full day enjoy an excursion to Aihole and Pattadkal temple complexes.
Along with Badami and Pattadakal, Aihole completes the third dimension of Chalukyan architectural centres. Aihole had an important position during the rule of the Chalukyas. There are a number of richly carved Hindu temples constructed in the 6th and 7th centuries. Some of the important temples of Aihole are Lad Khan Temple, the Meguti Temple, and the Durga Temple. There is also a small museum run by the archaeological department that showcases objects found in Aihole, mostly of the Chalukyan era.
Pattadakal was the second capital of the mighty Chalukyans. It is a place, which hosted most of the important state functions at that time. Along with Badami and Aihole, Pattadakal is also a centre of Chalukyan architectural extravaganza. There are many temples here, mostly dating back to 6th and 7th centuries AD. Some of the important temples are of the Virupaksha Temple, Mallikarjuna Temple, and the Papanatha Temple. Pattadakal is situated some 20 km from Badami
Overnight: Badami
Day 10: Hospet
Morning you will be driven to Hospet (130 kilometres, approximately 3 hours driving distance). You will check into your hotel in Hospet for the stay of two nights. Rest of the day is at leisure to explore on your own.
Overnight: Hospet
Day 11: Hospet
Full day enjoy an excursion to the Hampi ruins.
Hampi is a world Heritage Site and the erstwhile capital of the Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar. A living testimony to the greatness of a bygone era, this ruined town is guarded by rivers and granite ridges. The travellers from Europe who visited the place at the height of Vijayanagar Empire wrote that the city was as large and as beautiful as Rome and hesitated to describe its grandeur for fear of it being thought fabulous. Most of the tourist centres in Hampi can be divided under two broad regions, the Hampi Bazaar area and the Royal Centre.
Overnight: Hospet
Day 12: Goa
Early morning you will be escorted to the rail terminal in time to connect your train Hari Priya Express (0515/1030) to Londa. Travel in the air-conditioned sleeper class. Upon arrival in Londa, you will be met and escorted to your hotel in Goa (1 ½ hours driving distance). Stay at your hotel for two nights. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight: Goa
Day 13: Goa
Full day is at leisure in Goa.
Overnight: Goa
Day 14: Mumbai / Onward Destination Morning is at leisure. Later in the day you will be escorted to the airport in time to connect your flight to Mumbai. Upon arrival in Mumbai, you will be met and escorted to the hotel for the meal. After the meal you will be escorted to the International airport in time to board your flight to Onward Destination.
