Three Jyitirlinga & Caves In Maharashtra

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Mumbai

Stop At: Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra
On arrival at Mumbai airport meet with our office executive assistance and transfer to hotel. (hotel check in / out time 1200hr afternoon early check in subject to rooms availability). Rest time free and easy to relax.

Mumbai is a city that is disciplined by no time frame neither day nor night. Dazzling shopping arcades, exciting sport activity, nightclubs & discotheques, theatre, music & gourmet restaurants offers visitors a heady mix of all this and more.
Duration: 4 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: Mumbai

Stop At: Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to Gateway on India. From here cruise by motorboats to Elephanta Caves (Monday closed). A flight of 100 steps takes you to the top of the hill. These caves house rock cut temples dating back to the 5th century BC. Afterwards in the afternoon cruise back to Gateway of India and then city tour drive through Marine Drive one of the most beautifully laid boulevards in the city. Parliament House the Maharashtra State Assembly (view from outside), Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly Victoria Terminus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (view from outside). Visit Dhobhi Ghat the city's famous open-air laundry in action, Prince of Wales Museum (Monday closed) a heritage museum comprises of a number of ancient artifacts. Mani Bhawan a Museum, Gandhi laid the foundation for many independence movements from here. Mount Mary Church, an ancient church, built in 1640 and then rebuilt in 1761, The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount an important religious place in Mumbai. In the evening, visit Iskcon Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, The architectural splendour of the ISKCON Temple is adorned with murals and sculptures. If time permits visit to Bandra and Juhu area where bollywood celebrity houses are located like Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan etc. (can be seen from outside).
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Mumbai – Nashik (170kms/ 4hrs)

Stop At: Nashik, Nashik, Nashik District, Maharashtra
Breakfast at hotel transfer to airport to board flight for Hyderabad. On arrival assistance and transfer to hotel. Rest time free for personal activities relax.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Nashik – Shirdi - Aurangabad (170kms/ 4hrs)

Stop At: Shirdi, Shirdi, Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra
Breakfast at hotel, visit the ancient holy city, known for its links to the “Ramayana” epic poem. On the Godavari River is Panchavati, a temple complex. Nearby, Lord Rama was thought to have bathed at Ram Kund water tank. Shri Kalaram Sansthan Mandir is an ancient shrine to Rama, while Rama and Sita are said to have worshipped at Sita Gufaa caves.
Sundarnarayan Temple marks the site of a legend of Lord Vishnu. Tapovan is a pilgrimage site next to the Nasardi River, close to where Lord Rama purportedly lived. Colorful statues of Hindu gods fill ISKCON, a modern temple for the worship of Lord Krishna. The temple complex Muktidham, in white sculpted marble, has painted scenes depicting the lives of Krishna and several chapters of the "Bhagavad Gita," an ancient Hindu scripture. On a small hill to the southwest are the 24 Pandavleni Caves, dating back millennia. They are marked by Buddha carvings, rare inscriptions and cisterns. Vineyards dot the land west of the city.
Later drive to Aurangabad via visiting Shirdi. Shirdi is known as home of revered spiritual leader Sai Baba, and as a major pilgrimage site. Devotees gather daily at the Sai Baba Temple complex to honor his legacy. Here, the Samadhi Mandir shrine has an ornate marble statue of Sai Baba, alongside his tomb. Close by are Dwarkamai, a mosque where Sai Baba once lived, and tree-lined Lendi Garden.
Continue drive to Aurangabad check in at hotel.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hotel

Day 5: Aurangabad – Ajanta (105kms/ 2hrs approx one way)

Stop At: Ajanta Caves Road, Ajanta 431001 India
Breakfast at hotel. Full day excursion to Ajanta Caves (Monday closed). The Buddhist Caves of Ajanta were discovered by the British officers in 1819 while tiger hunting. Ajanta Caves were first mentioned in the writings of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang who visited India between A.D 629 and 645. The Caves at Ajanta are older than those at Ellora, which date from about 200 B.C to 650 A.D. Thirty beautiful Buddhist Caves with mesmerizing sculptures and paintings depicting Buddha's life as well the lives of the Buddha in his previous births. Five of these Caves are Chaityas (Place of worship) while the other twenty-five are Viharas (monasteries). Ajanta Caves are divided in two categories based on two schools of Buddhist thought - Hinayana Caves and Mahayana Caves.
Evening back to hotel in Aurangabad for overnight stay.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 6: Aurangabad – Ellora (36kms/ 1hrs approx one way)

Stop At: Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, Grishneshwar, Ellora Nr. Ellora Caves, Aurangabad India
Breakfast at hotel, excursion to visit Grishneshwar jyotirlinga & Ellora Caves. Grishneshwar Temple - also called Ghushmeswara temple was constructed by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, in the Maratha style of architecture. It is made of red and black stones and boasts intricate carvings and patterns.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Ellora Caves, Ellora Cave Rd Ahead of Hiranya Reosrts, Aurangabad 431005 India
Visit Ellora Caves - a UNESCO World heritage sites (Tuesday closed). It houses 34 monasteries and temples with some exclusive uninterrupted sequence of monuments that date back from 600 to 1000 AD. The temples of Ellora are dedicated to Brahmanism, Jainism, and Buddhism. It also has some of the excellent stonework depicting the legends related to Lord Shiva.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Daulatabad Fort, Daulatabad, Daulatabad India
On way back visit Daulatabad Fort one of the most powerful forts of the medieval Deccan. The defense system that made Daulatabad virtually impregnable comprises fortifications with double and even triple rows of massive walls.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Aurangabad, Aurangabad, Aurangabad District, Maharashtra
Later city tour of Aurangabad visit Bibi ka Maqbara Built by Azam Shah in 1678, the Bibi ka Maqbara is a son's loving tribute to his mother. Due to its similar design standing spectacularly on the lawns of the landscaped garden with ponds, fountains and water channels, the white marbled monument is popularly known as the mini Taj of the Deccan.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 7: Aurangabad – Pune (240kms/ 5hrs approx)

Stop At: Shani Shingnapur, Sonai Nevasa, Ahamadnagar, Shingnapur 414 105 India
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Pune via visiting Shani Shingnapur. Shingnapur is famous for the fact that no house in the village has doors, only door frames. Despite this, officially no theft was reported in the village.
Arrive Pune check in at hotel. Later city tour visit Shaniwarwada - a historical fortification built in 1732. It was the seat of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire until 1818, when the Peshwas lost control to the British East India Company after the Third Anglo-Maratha War. The Aga Khan Palace - built by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III is a majestic building. The palace is closely linked to the Indian freedom movement as it served as a prison for Mahatma Gandhi, his wife Kasturba Gandhi, his secretary Mahadev Desai and Sarojini Naidu.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Pataleshwar Cave Temple, Jungli Maharaj Road, Pune India
The Pataleshwar Cave Temple - a rock-cut cave temple, carved out in the 8th century in the Rashtrakuta period. The temple, made of basalt rock, is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The sanctum - a cube-shaped room about 3–4 metres on each side - houses a linga - the symbol of Shiva and there are two smaller cells on each side. In front of the cave is a circular Nandi mandapa, its umbrella shaped canopy supported by massive square pillars. Shreemant Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple - dedicated to the Hindu God Ganesh, temple is visited by over hundred thousand pilgrims every year. The main Ganesh idol is insured for sum of ₹10 million.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 8: Pune – Lonavala (220kms/ 5hrs approx)

Stop At: Lonavala, Lonavala, Pune District, Maharashtra
Breakfast at hotel drive to visit Bhimashankar jyotirlinga. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Bhimashankar Temple is sixth among the 12 jyotirlingas. Rajasthani and Gujarati influences can be clearly seen in the Nagara (or Indo-Aryan) architectural style of the garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum) and shikahara (tower) of the temple. You can view scenes from Indian epics including Mahabharata, Ramayana, Krishna Leela and Shiv Leela on the outer walls of the sanctum. In the courtyard, the records of grants given to the temple are inscribed on the walls. Constructed by Nana Phadnavis during the 18th century, this temple also boasts a sabhamandap. Bhimashankar is also the source of River Bhima, which merges with River Krishna near Raichur.
After sightseeing drive to Lonavala/ Khandala check in at hotel.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Lonavala/ Khandala

Stop At: Lonavala, Lonavala, Pune District, Maharashtra
Breakfast at hotel. Sightseeing in Lonavala, a hill station surrounded by green valleys in western India. The Karla Caves and the Bhaja Caves are ancient Buddhist shrines carved out of the rock. These are caves carved from solid granite rocks around 160 BC. It has an Ashoka stambh at the entrance. The caves have rooms for the monks who resided here a prayer hall and a huge stupa. It also has the temple of Ek Veera the goddess of the Koli flock who are the original residents of Mumbai. They feature massive pillars and intricate relief sculptures. South of the Bhaja Caves sits the imposing Lohagad Fort, with its 4 gates. West of here is Bhushi Dam, where water overflows onto a set of steps during rainy season.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Lonavala – Mumbai (85kms/ 2hrs approx)

Stop At: Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Mumbai check in at hotel.
Mumbai is shopping paradise. There are bargains to be found everywhere, whether you're looking for antiques, curios, carpets, handicrafts, textiles, Jewelry, or literally anything. Visit Cross Road, West End, Fashion Street, which is in main Mumbai city and Linking Road at Bandra in western Suburban is one of the famous markets for everything. And there are numbers of malls in the western suburban: In orbit Mall and Infinity Mall and other shops in Juhu and other places. Optionally you can do the shopping in famous markets and shops include Dadar, Fort, Colaba Causeway, Cottage Industries, and Handloom Emporiums amongst many others. Afterwards return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Mumbai – Departure (flight)

Pass By: Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Breakfast at hotel, as per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.