Sun Sand & Cave Temples Tour

Day 1: Arrive Mumbai

On arrival at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, meeting, assistance & transfer to your chosen hotel. Bombay now renamed Mumbai is the Capital city of the State of Maharashtra, lying on the west coast of India blessed with a deep natural Harbour. Balance day is at leisure for own activities.

Mumbai is a land comprising of 7 islands and is also the business hub of India. The seven islands that came to constitute Mumbai were home to communities of fishing colonies. When in 1661 King Charles II married the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza, as part of her dowry Charles received the ports of Tangier and the seven islands of Bombay. In 2009, Mumbai was named an alpha world city. Mumbai is the financial, commercial and entertainment capital of India and is the wealthiest city of India. It is the fashion epicenter and a pulse point of religious tensions. Mumbai is big. It’s full of dreamers and hard-workers, starlets and gangsters, stray dogs and exotic birds, artists and servants and fisher folk and crorepatis (millionaires) and lots and lots of people. It has India’s most prolific film industry (Bollywood), some of Asia’s biggest slums (as well as the world’s most expensive homes) and the largest tropical forest in an urban zone. Overnight stay in hotel. Room check in 1400 hrs.

Day 2: Mumbai

Morning after breakfast proceed for half day guided city sightseeing tour of Mumbai City. Drive past Afghan church & Flora fountain built in 1869, in honor of then Bombay's governor Sir Bentley. Visit St. Thomas Cathedral, Jain Temples, the Town Hall, Hanging Garden & the Tower of Silence – A Parsi funeral site situated on the slopes of Malabar Hills offering majestic views of the Mumbai Skyline and the Arabian ocean.

Drive on further to Kamla Nehru Park, visit Mani Bhawan (where Mahatma Gandhi stayed), marvel at the Dhobi Ghats (Laundry cleaning place) and lose yourself in history at the Prince of Wales museum (closed on Monday’s). Finish your tour visiting The Gateway of India a monument built during the 20th century, overlooking the Arabian Sea, to commemorate the landing of King George V and Queen Mary when they visited India. Built in Indo-Saracenic style, the foundation stone for the Gateway of India was laid on 31 March 1911. Don’t miss the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel which lies right across this magnificent Gateway which has been referred as the Taj Mahal of Bombay. Return to your hotel via the colorful Crawford Market & Marine drive also called the Queen’s Necklace.

Afternoon is free to explore the exotic & colorful markets, handicraft & jewelers shops, clothes boutiques, museum and art galleries of Mumbai (Vehicle and driver will be at disposal). Overnight stay.

Meals : Breakfast

Day 3: Bombay – Elephanta Caves - Aurangabad (flight)

Morning after breakfast is reserved for half day guided excursion to Elephanta Caves. Drive to the boat jetty located at Gateway of India and board a motorized steamer boat for a sea excursion to the ancient rock cut Elephanta Island.

The island, located on an arm of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves—the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, the second, a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, representing the Shaiva Hindu sect, dedicated to the Lord Shiva. The rock cut architecture of the caves has been dated to between the 5th and 8th centuries, although the identity of the original builders is still a subject of debate. The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. All the caves were also originally painted in the past, but now only traces remain. Return to hotel to complete check out formalities.

Later on time, transfer to the domestic airport to board Jet Airways flight at 1545 hrs to Aurangabad. On arrival at Chikkalthana Airport at 1650 hrs, meet & greet and transfer to your hotel. The original name of this town was Khadki (rocky place). It was later renamed Fateh Nagar. Aurangzeb made it his capital from where he was able to rule Deccan. Today, it is a part of the State of Maharashtra and lies in the Marathwada region. Balance day is at leisure. Overnight stay

Meals : Breakfast

Day 4: Aurangabad

Morning after breakfast, proceed for full day guided excursion to Ajanta caves. The Buddhist caves of Ajanta situated 40 Kms outside the city of Aurangabad and 400 km northeast of Bombay, are the caves of Ellora. They constitute one of the most beautiful expressions of the art of the Indian Middle Ages and are designated as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are noteworthy as three major Indian religions have laid joint claim to the caves peacefully since they were created. These breathtaking caves are a must visiting for their remarkable reliefs, sculptures and architecture. They date from around 200 B.C. and their carvings and sculptures are considered to be the beginning of classical Indian art. Return to hotel for Overnight stay

Meals : Breakfast

Day 5: Aurangabad – Mumbai – Goa (flight)

Aurangabad – Mumbai –Goa (flight)
Morning after breakfast, proceed on a half day guided excursion, to Ellora caves, one of the largest rock-cut monastery-temple caves complexes in the world, The caves constitute one of the most beautiful expressions of the art of the Indian earlier ages and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The site presents monuments and artwork of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism from the 600-1000 CE period

On our return journey visit Daulatabad Fort an ancient fortification that rises formidably from the midst of verdant greenery. Often hailed as one of the 'seven wonders of Maharashtra', this architectural marvel is believed to have been built in the 12th century. Also visit Bibi-ka-Makbara, a monument built by Emperor Aurangzeb's son in 1679 AD in memory of his mother Rabia (Aurangzeb's wife) the architect Ata Ullah modeled it on the Taj Mahal, but it came nowhere near the architectural splendor of the original. The Soneri Mahal, former residence & landscaped garden dating to the 1650s, now home to a small history museum & Ghrishneshwar Jyotirling Temple- One of the most beautiful temples of Lord Shiva

Return to hotel to complete check out formalities. Later on time transfer to the domestic airport to board your Jet Airways flight at 1720 hrs to Mumbai. On arrival at 1830 hrs transfer in transit for your Air India flight at 2100 hrs to Goa. On arrival at 2225 hrs meeting, assistance & transfer to your beach side resort for overnight stay

Meals : Breakfast

Day 6: Goa

Morning after breakfast proceed for Half day guided sightseeing tour of Old Goa a verdant natural paradise bounded on the one side by the foothills of the Sahyadri range and on the other by the Arabian Sea. It is a former Portuguese enclave and is a prominent place to travel. The allure of Goa is that it remains quite distinct from the rest of India and is small enough to be grasped and explored in a way that other Indian states are not. The region's easygoing ambience, good food, and salubrious winter climate have made it one of the most popular spots in South Asia.

Goa is famous for its white sand beaches, mesmeric sunsets, and for people of Goa for their tolerant behavior and finesse in etiquettes. It is also famous for its scenic beauty and the architectural splendors in its temples and churches. The old adage is true: Living in Goa is a 365-day vacation. Beaches, scenic sunsets, historical forts and an easygoing life make Goa one of the best beach destinations in India. Visit Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church which was one of the first churches to be built in Goa. It is said to have been built around 1541 AD. Also visit Churches of Old Goa (Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral, and others, Panjim city, Altinho and Dona Paula viewpoint. Return to hotel. Afternoon is free for personal activities. Overnight stay

Meals : Breakfast

Day 7: Goa

Morning after breakfast day is at leisure for own activities. A Day to write your memoires, drink a margarita by the poolside, read a book, get a sun tan, laze around on the beach, or simply go shopping. Overnight stay

Meals : Breakfast

Day 8: Goa

Morning after breakfast day is at leisure for own activities. A Day to write your memoirs, drink a margarita by the poolside, read a book, laze around or simply go shopping. Overnight stay

Meals : Breakfast

Day 9: Goa

Morning after breakfast day is at leisure for own activities. A Day to write your memoires, drink a margarita by the poolside, read a book, laze around or simply go shopping. Overnight stay

Meals : Breakfast

Day 10: Goa - Mumbai

Morning after breakfast, transfer to Dabolim Airport to board a morning flight for Mumbai. On arrival, meeting, assistance and transfer to your hotel.

After fresh & change proceed for a guided visit to a Bollywood Studio Complex. Why Mumbai is called the dream city (Maya Nagari) is visible here. Drawn by Bollywood dreams, the city sees an influx of Bollywood crazy wannabe stars, songwriters, singers, directors and dancers everyday Indian Film Industry being the poorer copycat cousin of Hollywood to the point of mishmash name Bollywood (the Hollywood of Bombay). In 2006, Bollywood produced 800 movies.

You will see a live shooting at the Film City situated in the forest cover of Borivali National Park which is the Mumbai’s biggest film studio. Out of bounds without prior permission, close to 20 shoots go on simultaneously at the sets and outdoor locations within its compounds. The property also has chalets where actors can live on location during extended shootings, a large storage facility for props that can be reused, and a workshop where the components of the sets are prefabricated. Have lunch at Bollywood café before returning to your hotel.

Balance day is free to explore the exotic & colorful markets, handicraft & jewelers shops, clothes boutiques, museum and art galleries of Mumbai (Vehicle and driver will be at disposal).

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch