DAY 01 - PUNE / AURANGABAD

BY SURFACE – 240 KM / 6 HRS

 Aurangabad - The city of Aurangabad was founded in 1610, on the site of a village, Khirki by Malik Ambar - the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah II. When Fateh Khan, Malik Ambar's son turned successor in 1626, he gave the city the name 'Fatehpur'. Later in 1653, when Prince Aurangzeb became Viceroy of the Deccan, he made the city his capital and called it Aurangabad. Aurangzeb added the walls that enclose the central part of the city in 1686 in order to withstand attacks from the Marathas.

Later in 1653, when Prince Aurangzeb became Viceroy of the Deccan, he made the city his capital and called it Aurangabad. Aurangzeb added the walls that enclose the central part of the city in 1686 in order to withstand attacks from the Marathas. There are four principle gateways to the city - the Delhi Darwaza, the Jalna Darwaza, the Paithan Darwaza and the Mecca Darwaza. Nine secondary gateways also formed a part of the defensive system of this city. 

On arrival check in  at hotel. Later proceed for half day visit 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.

Overnight in Hotel.

DAY 02 - AURANGABAD /MUMBAI

BY Flight 9W 102 – (1740/1815 HRS)

After breakfast leave for half day excursion to Ellora 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.

Chiseled by hand from a single massive rock, it includes a gateway, pavilion, courtyard, vestibule, sanctum, sanctorum and tower which bear testimony to the excellence of Dravidian art. Is believed to have taken 7000 laborers, working in continuos shifts and 150 years to build. Ever since the first European visitors in 18th Century, Ellora has attracted chroniclers, antiquarians, scholars and in more recent years, ever- increasing number of tourists.

Afternoon transfer to airport to board flight for Mumbai.

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END OF TOUR

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COST / TERMS / CONDITIONS

Hotels:

CITY                           HOTEL

Aurangabad               Ambassador Ajanta

Cost of Accommodation  & Transportation (In US$ Per Person):

USD 60  per single room (for 01 person)

USD 75 per double room (for 02 person)

USD 450 using air – conditioned car (for maximum 2 persons)

Supplement (In US$ Per Person):

Entrance fee at Ajanta and Ellora Caves : USD 15 per person

Cost of air tickets for the sector  Aurangabad / Mumbai : USD 110 per person