Treasures Of Central India

Arrive in Mumbai; traditionally known as Bombay, the city is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. An exciting place to start our journey, it is the most populated, richest and one of the most vibrant cities in India. For those arriving on time today our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 5pm for the welcome meeting and to give us our first taste of the colour and chaos of the Mumbai with a have a late afternoon orientation of the Colaba area on foot. The Colaba is the gateway of Mumbai so we will start by visiting the honey-coloured Gateway of India arch. This arch was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911 but it was not completed until 1924. As this arch was built for a British King it was appropriately the place where the last British troops left India. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), which is 1.5 hours/20 km from the airport. Please note that if you wish to join the Colaba tour today, you must arrive at the hotel by 5pm. If you are booking your own flights, we recommend giving yourself at least 1 hour to clear the airport. From the airport to the hotel is around 1.5 hour's drive, so therefore the latest your flight can arrive is 3.30pm. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

Today we spend a full day sightseeing with our local guide. A highlight of the day will be our visit to the area where the film 'Slumdog Millionaire' was set, a thriving and industrious quarter called Dharavi. We also visit the Mahatma Gandhi Museum where we learn a little about the great man's life and ideas, through an impressive collection of books, photographs and letters. On Malabor Hill we drive past the Towers of Silence. Built by the Parsis fleeing persecution in Persia during the 17th century, the Towers were a mortuary for the dead. Being traditionally Zoroastrians they were deposited in these towers to allow nature to dispose of them. We also visit the municipal dhobi ghats and the Prince of Wales Museum, which has an excellent collection of Indian miniatures from the Mughal and Rajasthan schools.

This morning will be left free for you to explore Mumbai on your own. After an early lunch we transfer to the station to catch a train to Aurangabad, depending on timings we may take lunch on the train. The journey is around seven hours and is a great opportunity to mix with the locals as we leave Mumbai behind and pass through countryside, towns and villages.