Vadodara To Mumbai Man-made Wonder Of India

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Vadodara

Stop At: Lukshmi Vilas Palace, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Vadodara 390001 India
On arrival at Vadodara airport assistance and transfer to hotel check in.
Later visit Lakshmi Vilas Palace, reputed to have been the largest private dwelling built till date and four times the size of Buckingham Palace. At the time of construction, it boasted the most modern amenities such as elevators and the interior is reminiscent of a large European country house. It remains the residence of the royal family, who continue to be held in high esteem by the residents of Baroda. The Palace compound is of over 500 acres and houses a number of buildings, particularly the LVP Banquets & Conventions, Moti Bagh Palace and the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum building.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Maharaja Fatesingh Museum, Laxmi Vilas Palace Estate Next Motibaug Cricket Ground, Vadodara 390001 India
Maharaja Fatehsingh Museum, originally built as a school for the Maharaja's children, now houses a wide range of antiques and art pieces that once belonged to the Maratha royal family. The exhibits range from portraits of the royal family and depictions of Hindu mythologies to flawless marble and bronze sculptures. Kirti Mandir, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III built this monument to celebrate the fifty years of his mighty administration by commemorating the cremation of his family members. The 33 m high central arch is also ornamented with the sun, the moon and the earth and the rooms behold the sculptures and photographs of the members of the Gaekwad family.
Duration: 1 hour

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

Day 2: Vadodara - Pavagadh - Champaner - Sardar Sarovar Dam, Statue of Unity (150kms/ 3hrs approx)

Stop At: Statue Of Unity, Statue of Unity Rd Sardar Sarovar Dam, Narmada 393151 India
Breakfast at hotel drive to Statue of Unity via visiting UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pavagadh - Champaner. The site encompasses forts, temples, mosques, mausoleum complexes, pavilions, wells and tanks and Champaner’s Jami Masjid, built around 1523, is considered the high water mark of 16th century Indo-Saracenic architecture. There are three groups of temples here. The first one is the Bhavanaderi temple also known as Navlakha Temple. The second group is the temples of Suparshvanath and Chandraprabhu. The third group of temples is located on the south-east point of Pavagadh Hill next to the Dudhia tank. It is said the temples were built in or around the 14th/15th centuries in white stone. However, they could be even more ancient. Unfortunately, Mahmud Begada laid waste the temples but devotees undertook repairs in 1880.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Sardar Sarovar Dam, Narmada River Navagam, Kevadia India
Continue drive to Sardar Sarovar Dam, Statue of Unity, check in at Tent City or hotel near Statue of Unity.
Later visit Sardar Sarovar Dam, Selfie Point and Valley of Flowers. Evening Laser Show - A Light and Sound show using laser technology projected on the Statue of Unity takes place every evening except Monday. The colourful laser lighting system is accompanied by an excellent narration of the history and life of Sardar Patel, his contribution to the Independence Movement and the unification of India as one nation. Dinner at the Dining Area along with Live Music.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Tent/ Hotel.



Day 3: Sardar Sarovar Dam, Statue of Unity - Nashik (310kms/ 6hrs)

Stop At: Statue Of Unity, Statue of Unity Rd Sardar Sarovar Dam, Narmada 393151 India
Breakfast at hotel. Visit Statue of Unity world’s tallest statue with a height of 182 metres. A huge exhibition hall covering an area of 4,647 square metres has been set up in the pedestal of the Statue of Unity. The hall showcases the life of Sardar Patel, his contributions to the Freedom Movement against British rule and his role in the merger of princely states. The high-speed elevators will take you to a height of about 400 feet through the core of the statue where you can get panoramic view of the surroundings.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Nashik, Nashik, Nashik District, Maharashtra
After sightseeing drive to Nashik check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax.


Duration: 2 hours

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

Day 4: Nashik

Stop At: Trimbak, Trimbak, Nashik District, Maharashtra
Breakfast at hotel, excursion to visit Trimbakeshwar Temple one of the 12 jyotirlingas located on the outskirts of Nashik. Made entirely of black stone, it is a beautiful pilgrimage center for Hindus, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The linga is adorned by a crown made of diamonds, emeralds and other precious stones. The crown is displayed every Monday for an hour in the evening. Within the temple, you will also come across images of other gods and goddesses such as Goddess Gangadevi, Lord Jaleswara, Lord Rameswara, Lord Gautameswara, Lord Kedarnath, Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Lord Parasurama and Lord Lakshmi Narayana. It is located near the town of Trimbak, from where River Godavari originates. Kusavarta, a pond within the temple premises, represents the origin point of the holy river. While you’re here, you can also explore the impressive Brahmagiri Fort, and Gangadwar, located in close vicinity to the temple.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Panchavati, Nashik, Maharashtra, India
Later city tour 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.
Duration: 2 hours

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

Day 5: Nashik – Shirdi - Aurangabad (170kms/ 4hrs)

Stop At: Shirdi, Shirdi, Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra
Breakfast at hotel 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.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Aurangabad, Aurangabad, Aurangabad District, Maharashtra
Continue drive to Aurangabad check in at hotel.
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 6: 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.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Aurangabad, Aurangabad, Aurangabad District, Maharashtra
Evening back to hotel in Aurangabad for overnight stay.
Duration: 1 hour

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

Day 7: Aurangabad – Ellora (36kms/ 1hrs approx one way)/ Mumbai (flight)

Stop At: Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, Grishneshwar, Ellora Nr. Ellora Caves, Aurangabad India
Breakfast at hotel, excursion to visit Grishneshwar jyotirlinga & Ellora Caves. Visit Grishneshwar Temple one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines mentioned in the Shiva Purana. The temple is an important pilgrimage site in Shaivism tradition of Hinduism, which considers it as the last or twelfth Jyotirlinga. Made of red and black stones boasting intricate carvings and patterns the temple was constructed by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, in the Maratha style of architecture.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Ellora Caves, Ellora Cave Rd Ahead of Hiranya Reosrts, Aurangabad 431005 India
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: 1 hour

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.
Rest time free and easy to relax and shopping in the local market.
Duration: 30 minutes

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

Day 8: Mumbai

Stop At: Elephanta Caves, Mumbai India
Breakfast at hotel, city tour of Mumbai. Drive to Marine Drive one of the most beautifuly laid boulevards in the city. Afterwards visit to Elephanta caves (Monday closed), from Gateway of India cruise by motorboats to Elephanta Caves. A flight of 100 steps takes you to the top of the hill where it is set.
Duration: 5 hours

Stop At: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, 159 - 161 Mahatma Gandhi Road, Mumbai 400032 India
Afterwards in the afternoon cruise back to Gateway of India and then city tour. Visit Parliament House (view from outside), Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), formerly Victoria Terminus a UNESCO World Heritage Site (view from outside), Dhobhi Ghat see 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 here Gandhi laid the foundation for many independence movements.
Rest time free for personal activities relax, you can take a walk to have a glance of the city, visiting local markets and restaurants.
Duration: 3 minutes

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



Day 9: Mumbai – Departure (170kms/ 4hrs)

Stop At: Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Breakfast at hotel. As per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.
Duration: 1 hour

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