Luxury Travel
» Aurangabad & Mumbai Caves Tour
Aurangabad & Mumbai Caves Tour
Duration: 5 Nights / 6 Days
Destinations: Mumbai - Aurangabad - Mumbai
Day 01: Mumbai Arrival
Arrive at Mumbai airport or station. Transfer to hotel.
Check in and relax for the evening.
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.
Overnight will be at Mumbai.
Day 02: Mumbai - Aurangabad
By Air
Flight : 9W 3103 (Jet Airways)
Aircraft : ATR
Departure : 0715 hr
Arrival : 0810 hr
Breakfast will be at hotel or onboard the aircraft.
Proceed 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 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). 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.
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. 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. 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.
0vernight will be at Aurangabad.
Day 05: Aurangabad - Mumbai
By Air
Flight : 9W 3104 (Jet Airways)
Aircraft : ATR
Departure : 0840 hr
Arrival : 0935 hr
Breakfast will be at hotel or onboard the aircraft.
Reach Mumbai and transfer to hotel. Proceed for an excursion to the ELEPHANTA
CAVES.
The Elephanta Island is the site of the magnificent Elephanta caves, containing
beautiful carvings, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu God, Lord Shiva. These
caves are located at a distance of 11 km from Mumbai and are now designated
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island of Elephanta, being a commercial,
military and religions centre for centuries has traces of early Buddhist culture.
The Elephanta caves are thought to date back to the Silhara kings belonging
to the period between 9th - 12th centuries. With the Brahminical resurgence
during the reign of Gupta dynasty in 3rd century AD, these great cave dedicated
to Lord Shiva exploded into existence at Elephanta. Legends and history suggest
that the great warrior prince of Chalukya dynasty Pulkesin ll raised the shrine
to celebrate his victory. Some historians also suggest that these caves were
built by the Kalchuri King Krishnaraja in 6th century AD.
As the worship of the figure of the Buddha began to be encouraged with rise
of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism, a shrine was introduced to house Buddha's
image, replacing the cells at the centre of the back wall. The Monasteries of
Ajanta lead us directly to Elephanta.
After your return to the city, proceed to see the interesting sites of Mumbai.
Gateway of India: Mumbai's principal landmark, the Gateway of India is a huge
archway on the water's edge at Apollo Bunder. It is the starting point for most
tourists who want to explore the city. This famous monument was built to commemorate
the visit of the first ever British Monarch, King George V and Queen Mary in
1911.
Chowpatty Beach: Chowpatty beach situated at the end of Marine Drive has a moderate
expanse of sand and is the only beach in the central part of Mumbai. One can
witnesses many Hindu religious ceremonies taking place at Chowpatty like the
Annual Thread-Tying Ceremony initiating young boys into the Brahmin caste, 'Nariel
Purnima' towards the end of the monsoons and 'Ganesh Chaturthi' immersions.
Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus/Western Railway Station)
At the site of the Koli's original temple to Mumba Devi now stands Chatrapati
Shivaji Terminus - one of Mumbai's most prominent buildings and architecturally
one of the finest stations in the world. It is built in a style that combines
Gothic and Indian influences.
It was completed in 1885. Designed by F.W. Stevens the building commenced in
1878. This Italian gothic Building has a frontage of over 15,00 feet. The administrative
offices form three sides of a rectangle enclosing an ornamental garden, the
entrance gate guarded by a massive stone Lion and Tiger. The most prominent
feature of this building is the high 160 feet dome crowning the centre. On top
of the giant dome is a figure of a women with a torch held aloft to symbolise
progress.
Mumbai High court
An attractive building in early English Gothic style, situated next to the Oval
Ground is well worth a visit for its impressive architecture. Statues representing
Justice and Mercy surmount the Central structure.
Rajabai Clock tower
Rajabai Clock tower, situated at the gardens of the Bombay University building
rises above the portion of the library section. Consisting of five elaborately
decorated storeys the tower is 280ft.in height. The top of the cupola is ornamented
with sixteen statues depicting various Indian castes.
Overnight will be in Mumbai.
Day 06: Mumbai - Home
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Transfer in time to international airport for flight home.
TOUR END
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