Spiritual & Cultural India

Upon arrival at the Mumbai you will be transferred to the hotel. Check into the hotel and relax. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight :
Mumbai

After breakfast, proceed for the excursion to the Elephanta Caves. It is a complex of rock-cut caves inspired from Brahmic architecture displaying vibrant sculptures. It is famous for the life-sized three-headed rock-cut sculpture of Lord Shiva. Board your ferry back to the Gateway of India. Spend time clicking photographs at the 20th century Gateway of India built in honor of the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India in 1911.

Later, visit the Prince of Wales Museum, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, inspired from Indo-Saracenic architecture. It is said to have more than 60,000 objects on display for visitors. Head to the Hanging Gardens built in 1881. It is located atop the Malabar Hills and is popularly known for its mesmerizing sunset views over the Arabian Sea. The flower clock is one of its must-see attractions. Later in evening, spend time at the Marine Drive. At night, it is lighted up with a string of lights that resembles a necklace. This is why, it’s called the Queen’s Necklace. Return to hotel to rest for the day.

Overnight : Mumbai

After breakfast, check out hotel and transfer to airport to board flight for Aurangabad. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel and relax.

Later, you will proceed for sightseeing of Ellora caves (30kms from city). They were carved out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills between the 6th and 10th centuries. The carving work began around 550 AD, about the same time the Ajanta Caves (100km northeast) were abandoned. At the time, Buddhism was declining in India and Hinduism was beginning to reassert itself. There are 34 caves in all: 12 Buddhist caves, 17 Hindu caves and 5 Jain caves. The coexistence of structures from three different religions serves as a splendid visual representation of the prevalent religious tolerance in India. The Kailash Temple in cave 16 is a stupendous piece of architecture, with interesting spatial effects and varied sculpture. Its construction was a feat of human genius – it entailed the removal of 250,000 tons of rock, and took 100 years to complete. The Ellora Caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Overnight : Aurangabad

After breakfast, enjoy a tour of the Ajanta Caves (98kms from city) showcasing some of the best Buddhist art in India. These are a series of 29 Buddhist cave temples, some of which date from the 2nd century BC. They were carved out of a horseshoe-shaped cliff and used by Buddhist monks as prayer halls (chaitya grihas) and monasteries (viharas) for about nine centuries, and then abruptly abandoned. The Mahayana caves feature colorful murals and statues depicting the life (and former lives) of the Buddha and various Bodhisattvas.

Later in evening board on flight for Delhi; check in at a hotel on arrival and then relax.

Overnight : Delhi

Today, you will proceed for a full-day tour of Old and New Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid, which is the largest mosque in India, commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan. Enjoy a rickshaw ride in Chandni Chowk, the busiest market in Old Delhi. Visit Red Fort (closed every Monday), President House, India Gate and several other government buildings in Edwin Lutyen’s modern Delhi before you head to Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi that marks the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948.

Thereafter, visit Humayun’s Tomb, commissioned by Humayun’s wife Hamida Banu Begum in 1562. It was the first garden tomb built in the Indian sub-continent where the Persian architect used red sandstone on a large scale. Later in the evening visit the Qutab Minar, which is the tallest brick minaret in the world; it was commissioned by Qutbuddin Aibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi.

Overnight : Delhi

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