Ajanta - Ellora Caves Tour
Duration: 05 Nights/06 Days
Destinations 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-encompassing 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.
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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