MUMBAI
Arrive in Mumbai and transfer to the hotel. After breakfast, transfer to Gateway of India from where we go by boat for an excursion to Elephanta Caves in Elephanta Island. The caves excavated in the volcanic lava high up the slope of the hill date back to the 7th century AD, which also express spiritual truths in massive carvings of extraordinary grace. Back to Mumbai around noon and then city tour in the afternoon.

MUMBAI/PUNE
After breakfast drive 190 kms/5 hrs to Pune. Enroute visit Karla & Bhaja Caves dating from 2 nd century BC. The rock cut caves in the hills are among the oldest and finest examples of early Buddhist rock temple art in India.

PUNE /AURANGABAD
Visit to the city in the morning and then drive to Aurangabad which 240 kms/5 hrs drive from Pune.

04

AURANGABAD
After breakfast drive 175 kms/5 hrs to Ajanta Caves which are cut into the steep face of a horseshoe-shaped rock gorge on Waghore River. These are the Buddhist Caves which date from 200 BC to 650 AD and predating those at Ellora. Drive back to Aurangabad for the overnight.

05

AURANGABAD
Visit Ellora Caves which are 35 kms from Aurangabad. The Caves are the pinnacle of deccan rock-cut architechture dating between 7 th to 9 th century AD from Buddhist, Hindu and Jain. The sculptural work at Ellora shows the increasing influence of Tantric elements in India’s three great religions and their coexistence at one site indicates a prolonged period of religious tolrence. We also visit magnificent hilltop fortress of Daulatabad on way back to Aurangabad for the overnight.

06

AURANGABAD/SHOLAPUR
We visit Aurangabad Caves in the morning which are overshadowed by Ellora. They are carves out of the hillside around the 6 th and 7 th century AD. Thereafter drive 260 kms/6 hrs to Sholapur for the overnight.

07

SHOLAPUR/BIJAPUR/BADAMI
Drive 100 kms/2 hrs to Bijapur and visit Golgumbaz, Ibrahamim Roza Museum, Jama Masjid and the Citadel. It’s a distinguished town with a wealth of scattered ruins and still-intact gems of 15 th to 17 th century Muslim architecture. It is dotted with mosques, musoleums, palaces and fortifications including world famous golgumbaz. Thereafter drive 150 kms/4 hrs to Badami set in a beautiful contryside at the foot of a red sandstone ridge.

08

BADAMI
Excursion to Pattadakal and Aihohe. There are Verupaksha and Mallikrjuna temples in Pattadakal which are built 740-45 AD on the basis of the pillar inscription put up to record a grant to the Vijeyesara temple. Virupaklsha temple is a huge structure and massive columns are covered with intricate carvings depicting episodes from Ramayana and Mahabharat. The temples at Aihole were built between 553 AD to 642. Here we see the Hindu temple architecture in its embryonic stage. The centre of the village is a fenced enclosure with the most impresive buildings in Aihoe – Durga Temple dating from the 7 th century. Drive back to Badami for the overnight.

09

BADAMI/HOSPET
Hospet is 150 kms/4 hrs drive from Badami. It’s fairly a typical town with village atmosphere with bullock carts, bicycles, scooter. The main bazar with old houses and character is interesting to walk around.

10

HOSPET/HAMPI/HOSPET
We make excursion to Hampi which was once the seat of Vijayanagar Empire and a great centre of Hindu rule for 200 years from its foundation in 1336. The place is one of India’s most remarkable former capital city sites. The rocky outcrops of the peninsula provided the 14 th century Vijayanager kings with an apparently impregnable hill fortress in which they built a stupendous range of palaces and temples which are though largely in ruins but the site is still impressive. Drive back to Hospet for the overnight.

11

HOSPET/BELGAUM
Drive 260 kms/6 hrs to Belgaum which is on a bald plateau in the north-west corner of Karnataka. Enroute we visit 11 th and 12 th century temples at Lakkundi village and cotton market at Gadag town. We also visit old oval shaped stone Fort in Belgaum if time permits.

12

BELGAUM/GOA
Goa is 140 kms/4 hrs drive from Belgaum. We drive to Goa. Rest of the time at leisure.

13

GOA/MUMBAI
Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to the airport for flight to Mumbai (1620/1720). Arrive in Mumbai and fruther transfer to the international airport for onward departure.

14

MUMBAI/DEPARTURE
Departure from Mumbai.