West India Tour Packages
Ajanta - Ellora Caves Tour
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Duration
05 Nights / 06 Days |
Places Covered
Mumbai - Aurangabad - Mumbai. |
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Day 01: Arrive Mumbai
Arrive at Mumbai airport or station. Transfer to hotel.
Check in and relax for the evening.
Mumbai's skyline is recognisable in advertisements and pictorial
depictions stating the country's technological and financial
hub. It's an imposing skyline. The contours are hazy but the
residents don't seem to mind. They love this place and this
all-ening love is infectious. Overnight will be at Mumbai.
Day 02: Mumbai – Aurangabad
Breakfast will be at hotel or onboard the aircraft.
Relax in the morning or visit the local market. 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'. 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 served at the 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). Return
to Aurangabad and overnight will be at Aurangabad.
Day 04: Aurangabad
Breakfast will be at the hotel.
Proceed for a visit to 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.
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).
0vernight will be at Aurangabad.
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Day 05: Aurangabad – Mumbai
Breakfast will be at hotel or onboard the aircraft.
Reach Mumbai and transfer to hotel. Proceed for an excursion
to the ELEPHANTA CAVES.
On your way back, proceed to see the interesting sites of Mumbai.
Overnight will be in Mumbai.
Day 06: Mumbai – Home
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Transfer in time to international airport for flight home.
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