DAY 01 - PUNE / AURANGABAD

BY SURFACE – 240 KM / 6 HRS

Morning board flight for Aurangabad.  On Arrival in Aurangabad transfer to hotel. 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. 

Later proceed for half day visit 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.

DAY 02 - AURANGABAD

After breakfast leave for full day excursion 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 is at the hotel.

DAY 03 - AURANGABAD / MUMBAI

BY Flight 9W 102 – (1740/1815 HRS)

After breakfast proceed for half day sight seeing of Aurangabad. The most famous monument in Aurangabad is the Bibi ka Maqbara, the mausoleum of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s queen. Inspired the Taj Mahal, it was built as the final resting place of Begum Rabi’a Daurani. Close to the begum’s tomb is the unmarked grave of her devoted nurse. A poor replica of the Taj, it was designed and built by Ata Ullah whose name is engraved on its door. But some questions remain unanswered - was it built for the Emperor’s first wife or his second?

A couple of km north of the Bibi ka Maqbara is a cluster of nine rock cut Buddhist caves which date back to the 4^th - 8^th century when the Vakatakas and Chalukyas ruled over the region. They are categorized into eastern and western caves but all belong to the Mahayana Vihara type except the 4^th one, which is a chaitya or prayer hall of the Hinayana sect of Buddhism. The 6^th is the most intriguing as it has a Ganesha (a Hindu god). They have their own story to tell and are certainly worth a visit.                            

The Panchakki is an interesting water-powered flourmill built in the 17^th century, an engineering masterpiece of its day. The water is pumped from a reservoir 6 km away into a tank, that today houses entire shoals of khol fish. It lies in the same complex as a memorial to the Sufi saint Baba Shah Muzaffar, Aurangzeb’s spiritual guide.Afternoon transfer to airport to board flight for Mumbai. On arrival transfer to hotel or connect flight for banglore.

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 120  per single room (for 01 person)

USD 150 per double room (for 02 person)

USD 500 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