Ahmedabad to Indore Architecture & Temple Tour
Package price On Request
Product Code : AGORA403
The private Ahmedabad to Indore Architecture & Temple tour will begin in Ahmedabad & include Patan, Vadodara, Champaner-Pavagadh, Statue of Unity, Maheshwar, Mandu Omkareshwar & Indore in its itinerary. Visit few marvelous UNESCO WHS sites at off beat location along with modern architecture wonder. Visit two Jyotirlinga temple and pay homage to Lord Shiva. Enjoy boat ride on the holy river Narmada & make an excursion visit the centuries-old Jahaz Mahal in Mandu. Private AC vehicle, entrances to monuments & accompanied English speaking guide services is well included in package price.
Day 1: Arrive Ahmedabad
On arrival at Ahmedabad airport assistance & transfer to hotel (hotel check in/ out time 12pm).
Later city tour of Ahmedabad. Visit Hatheesing Jain Temple established in 1850 by Seth Hatheesing a rich Jain merchant, the temple is dedicated to 15th Jain Tirthankar Dharamnath. Bhadra Fort a beautiful monument that is famous for its intricate carvings, pattern works and beautiful frescos suits. Located in the middle of lush greenery the huge 44 acre Fort got its name from the Bhadrakali Temple that it houses. Sabarmati Ashram once the residence of Mahatma Gandhi located on the tranquil and serene stretch of Sabarmati River. The museum is one of the most interesting sections of the ashram as it has on display some of Gandhi`s personal letters and photographs. Shaking Minarets one of the most intriguing architectural wonders & an unsolvable mystery that the world has ever seen. Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kalupur the first Temple of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, a Hindu sect. Kite Museum in the premises of Sanskar Kendra the museum had an elaborate display of about 125 uniquely carved kites including mirror embroidered kites, block print kites and Japanese kites such as Rokuku. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2: Ahmedabad
Breakfast at hotel. Excursion to visit Adalaj Stepwell a magnificent structure built in 1498 to provide access to groundwater in this arid region. Walk in to witness astonishing beauty captured in stone and feel soothing drop in temperature. The tale of its creation is full of love and war, devotion and betrayal.
Next head to Patan to visit Modhera Sun Temple a Hindu temple dedicated to the solar deity Surya built wetbeen 1026-27 CE during the reign of Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty. The temple complex has three components: Gudhamandapa, the shrine hall; Sabhamandapa, the assembly hall and Kunda, the reservoir. The halls have intricately carved exterior and pillars. The reservoir has steps to reach the bottom and numerous small shrines. Rani ki Vav 11th century Solanki era step well built by the Queen Udayamati & Karna in memory of her husband Bhima I. The stepwell is designed as an inverted temple highlighting the sanctity of water, divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels, more than 500 principal sculptures and over a thousand minor ones combine religious, mythological and secular imagery. And Panchasara Jain Temples, more than 100 Jain temples with exquisite domes & sacred carvings on the walls built by king Vanraj Chavada around 746 CE.
After sightseeing drive back to Ahmedabad. Overnight at hotel.
Day 3: Ahmedabad - Kevadia (200kms)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Kevadia via Vadodara. Visit Lakshmi Vilas Palace the largest private dwelling built till date, four times the size of Buckingham Palace. The striking Laxmi Vilas Palace was constructed in 1890 and took nearly twelve years to complete. Sprawling across an area of about 700 acres, it is still home to the royal family of Vadodara, the Gaekwads. It is built in the Indo-Saracenic style which is a hybrid of the Hindu, Gothic and Mughal architectural forms with the presence of domes, minarets and arches. The Laxmi Vilas Palace incorporates several other buildings within its complex including the LVP Banquets and Conventions, Moti Baug Palace and the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum building. Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum houses an extraordinary collection of paintings by Raja Ravi Verma and various other artifacts gathered from all around the world. Also visit Kirti Mandir, built to commemorate the memory of his beloved ancestors in 1936 as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of his mighty administration.
Next visit UNESCO World Heritage Site of Champaner-Pavagadh, located around the historical city of Champaner, a city which was founded by Vanraj Chavda, the most prominent king of the Chavda Dynasty, in the eighth century. The site encompasses forts, temples, mosques, mausoleum complexes, pavilions, wells and tanks built around 1523 in Indo-Saracenic architecture. The site encompasses forts, temples, mosques, mausoleum complexes, pavilions, wells and tanks built around 1523 in Indo-Saracenic architecture.
Arrive Kevadia, check in at hotel. Evening Light & Sound show at Statue of Unity. Lunch, Dinner and Overnight stay at tent city/ hotel.
Day 4: Kevadia - Maheshwar (265kms)
Breakfast at hotel. Visit world tallest Statue of Unity, visit Sardar Sarovar Dam, the world`s second-largest concrete gravity dam, located on the mighty Narmada river near the Statue of Unity. Sardar Sarovar Dam provides electricity, drinking, and irrigation water to four states in India. Valley of Flowers, a beautifully landscaped garden with the mighty Narmada river and the Statue of Unity in the background. Made to give a glimpse into local ecology, featuring hundreds of species of native flowers, shrubs, trees, bamboo, grasses, and more. Also featuring many selfie points for all visitors to capture photos from the most scenic spots.
Later drive to Maheshwar check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 5: Maheshwar - Mandu day trip
Breakfast at hotel. Morning excursion to visit Mandu an ancient fort city dotted with gateways, adorned with spell-binding Afghan architecture, surrounded by baobab trees, native to Africa. The grand palaces are still alive with royal romance while the gateways speak of a history of imperial conquests. Landmark buildings include Hoshang Shah`s Tomb, a domed marble mausoleum, the vast Jami Masjid mosque, with courtyards framed by colonnades and the imposing centuries-old Jahaz. Floating over it`s own reflection, the Jahaz Mahal looks like a ship that`s about to sail. However, for centuries this ship made of stone and mortar never did. Instead, it stood floating over the twin lakes, bearing a silent witness to Mandu`s long, rich and varied history.
Drive back to Maheshwar and visit Fort of Maheshwar built during 4th to 5th century, the best example of ancient Indian material construction, war tactics & defense policy. The present structure belongs to 17th to 18th century. There are five main entrance & several rooms for watching soldiers. It also has a five feet wide footpath to supervise the area around it. The monuments inside the fort are Rajwada Palace, having golden jhula & Rajrajeshwar temple. Overnight at hotel.
Day 6: Maheshwar - Omkareshwar - Indore (145kms)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Indore via visiting Omkareshwar one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, nestled in the Omkar mountain, an island in the middle of River Narmada. The five storeys temple has a large sabha mandap (prayer hall) standing on 60 brown huge stone pillars. Taking a dip in the Narmada river before going inside the temple is considered auspicious. The ancient shivling in the temple is barricaded by a glass box to avoid destruction.
Arrive Indore check in at hotel. Later visit Lal Bagh Palace Museum. Overnight at hotel.
Day 7: Indore - Mahakaleshwar - Indore (60kms one way)
Breakfast at hotel. Excursion to visit Mahakaleshwar Temple one of the 12 jyotirlingas in Ujjain, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Built in Bhumija, Chalukya and Maratha styles of architecture, the temple is an architectural marvel. Three floors of the building are occupied by lingams of Mahakalesvara, Omkaresvara and Nagachandresvara, respectively. There is also a kunda (tank) in the premises called Koti Tirtha that has been built in the sarvatobhadra style. On the path from the stairs of the kunda to the temple you will come across several images of the original structure of the temple, reflecting its grandeur during the period of the Paramaras (9th and 14th centuries).
Drive back to Indore & drop off to airport to board flight for onward destination.
Assistance on arrival at airport.
6 Nights' accommodation in selected price category hotels.
Daily breakfast at hotels. Any other meal (lunch/ dinner) if clearly mentioned in the itinerary).
Private air-conditioned deluxe car for airport transfer, sightseeing and excursion as per program.
English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per program.
Monument entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary.
Bottled drinking water in car.
Government taxes.
Hotels used or similar for 6 nights accommodation
Ahmedabad x 2 night
3* - WelcomHeritage Mani Mansion/ Parker Lords Eco Inn
4* - Ramada Hotel/ Lemon Tree Premier
5* - The House of MG/ Le Meridien
Kevadia x 1 night
3* - Tent City Narmada / Brg Budget Stay
4* - Statue of Unity Tent City 1 - Royal Cottages/ Ramada Encore
5* - Statue of Unity Tent City 1 - Royal Villa
Maheshwar x 2 nights
3* - MPT Narmada Resort/ Gurukripa Hotel and Restaurant
4* - MPT Narmada Resort/ Gurukripa Hotel and Restaurant
5* - Ahilya Fort
Indore x 1 night
3* - Citrus Hotels/ Hotel Nahargarh Palace
4* - Lemon Tree Hotel/ Pride Hotel
5* - Indore Marriott Hotel/ Sheraton Grand Palace
Any flight tickets.
Camera charges at monuments.
Meals other than mentioned in day plan.
Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc.
Gratuities & optional activities.
Anything not mentioned in inclusions.