|
|
Ajanta Ellora with Goa Beaches
offered by supplier M16463 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 10
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 25
people
Destination(s):
India
Specialty Categories:
Caving
Ecotourism
Season: January - December
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 600 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 600 US Dollar (USD)
|
|
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: 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. A walk on marine drive, the gateway of India, warden road, university buildings, fort, townhall, Mumbai high court to name a few. The pub and bar scenario here is quite state of the art and ranges from the sophisticated ones in the five stars to the hip and trendy ones in colaba and the suburbs. Overnight will be at Mumbai.
Day 2: 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. Aurangabad was founded in 1610. 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 3: 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 4: 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). 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.
Day 5: 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 6: Mumbai. Mumbai arrival in mumbai and day for leisure.
Day 7: Bombay / Goa. A short flight takes us to the one time Portuguese colony of Goa, which offers a unique blend of India with a strong Portuguese influence. We are transferred to our beacheside resort to enjoy the relaxing Goan lifestyle and sea activities. The beach in Goa offers both quite and a public area where one would find lots of families enjoying the silver sands and the local hawker selling home cooked snacks. Overnight at hotel.
Day 8: Goa. Today is free for leisure activities in this tropical beach resort. You may also wish to visit the World Heritage Site of the churches and convents of Goa, the former capital of the Portuguese Indies. Of particular interest is the Church of Bom Jesus, which contains the tomb of St Francis-Xavier, a great illustration of the evangelization of Asia. These monuments were influential in spreading forms of Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art to all the countries of Asia where missions were established.
Day 9: Goa. Day free to relax on beach.
Day 10: Depart Goa. Depart to your home twon after having a rich cultural and heritage experinece with relaxation on beach.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
India
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Caving
Ecotourism
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
|
|
|
