Western India Cave Temples

Duration: 11Days / 10Nights
Places Covered:Mumbai - Aurangabad - Ellora - Ajanta - Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Ajmer - Pushkar  Udaipur - Mumbai

Day 01
Departure from your own Country.

Day 02
Arrive Bombay. Transfer to Hotel.
Afternoon tour of Bombay. Kamla Nehru Park and Hanging Gardens situated on the slopes of Malabar Hill, offering a panoramic view of Marine drive & Chowpatty Beach, Prince of Wales Museum, Mani bhawan, Dhobi Ghat, Gateway of India and drive through the Crawford market, Marine drive & Flora Fountain.
Overnight Bombay.

Day 03
Transfer to airport for Aurangabad flight. Arrive and transfer to hotel. Overnight Aurangabad.

Day 04
Full day tour of Ajanta and Ellora Caves. Ajanta Caves are 106 kms from Aurangabad and date back to the 2nd century BC. The 30 rock hewn caves are adorned with Buddhist sculpture and the frescoes portray in epic form the religious and secular life through eight centuries.
Ellora Caves (29 kms) encompasses 34 rock cut shrines representing Buddhist, Hindu & Jain art dating from the 4th to 9th century A.D. The most remarkable among them is the Kailash Temple, meant to be a replica of Lord Shivas celestial abode - Kailash is the best example of Rock cut architecture and an engineering marvel. Overnight Aurangabad.

Day 05
Transfer to airport in time for Delhi flight. Arrive and Transfer to Hotel. Overnight Delhi.

Day 06
Morning tour of Delhi visiting Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana - the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Jama Masjid and drive past Red Fort and Chandni Chowk.
Afternoon visit Qutub Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in 1199, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate (War Memorial Arch ), Lakshminarayan Temple - a modern Hindu Temple. Also drive past President's House, Parliament House, Government Secretariat Buildings and Connaught Place shopping centre.
Overnight Delhi.

Day 07
Drive to Agra. Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.
Afternoon visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by the Moghul Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. Later visit the Agra Fort containing the Pearl Mosque, the Halls of Public and Private Audience. Also visit the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daullah built by Empress Noorjehan in memory of her father.
Overnight Agra.

Day 08
Drive to Jaipur visiting Fatehpur Sikri enroute. Fatehpur Sikri is 40 kms from Agra and built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other Palaces. Overnight Jaipur.

Day 09
Morning visit Amber Fort. Amber Fort was the ancient capital of the State. Visit the Sheesh Mahal or the Hall of Victory glittering with mirrors. Ascend the Fort on Elephant back.
Afternoon tour of Jaipur. Jaipur - the capital of Rajasthan was given a colour coat of pink a century ago in honour of a visiting Prince. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the notable astronomer, this city is 260 years old. Visit Maharaja's City Palace, the Observatory & Ram Niwas Gardens. Drive past Hawa Mahal & through the pink rose residential & business areas.
Overnight Jaipur.

Day 10
Drive to Pushkar/Ajmer.
Afternoon visit the Tomb of the Sufi Saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, the Dargah Sharif. The city was founded by the Chauhan ruler, Aiaipal, during the 11th century & is dominated by the Taragarh Fort built by Prithviraj Chauhan. In Pushkar, visit the holy Lake and also the famous Brahma Temple. Pushkar is one of the holiest places for Hindus. Overnight Pushkar.

Day 11
Drive to Udaipur. Overnight Udaipur.

Day 12
Morning tour of Udaipur. Visit the city palace, Jagdish Temple, drive around Fatehsagar Lake, Sahelion ki bari (Queen's resort for her friends) and Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir ( Folk art museum ). Check-out at 1200 hrs. Later transfer to airport for Bombay flight. Arrive Bombay domestic airport & transfer to International airport.