Highlights of West India (Mumbai - Aurangabad - Udaipur - Ahmedabad & Statue of Unity)
Package price On Request
Product Code : AGORA300
10 Day private Highlights of West India (Mumbai - Aurangabad - Udaipur - Ahmedabad & Statue of Unity) tour will begin in Mumbai a city famous as the heart of the Bollywood film industry and economic nerve center. Fly to Aurangabad and get up close look at the stunning Ajanta and Ellora Caves two unique UNESCO World Heritage sites. Fly to Udaipur explore a series of artificial lakes and & lavish royal residences. Drive to the heritage city Ahmedabad, visit the magnificent Rani ki Vav Stepwell & sun-temple. Further drive to Vadodara visit Lakshmi Vilas Palace reputed to have been the largest private dwelling built till date. Also visit Statue of Unity world's tallest statue with a height of 182 meters.
Day 1: Arrive Mumbai
On arrival at Mumbai airport assistance & transfer to hotel (check in/out time 12pm). Mumbai is disciplined by no time frame neither day nor night. Dazzling shopping arcades, exciting sport activity, nightclubs & discotheques, theatre, music & gourmet restaurants offers visitors a heady mix of all this and more. Rest time free for personal activities. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2: Mumbai
Breakfast at hotel. City tour of Mumbai. Drive via Marine Drive one of the most beautifully laid boulevards in the city to reach Gateway of India. Board a ferry from here to reach Elephanta Caves (Monday closed). A flight of 100 steps takes you to the top of the hill where caves are located. Afterwards cruise back to Gateway of India and then city tour. Drive pass CST & Parliament House. Visit Dhobhi Ghat to see the city famous open air laundry in action. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay, a grade I Heritage Building of the city counted amongst one of the most prominent museums of India. The complex exhibits a myriad collection of ancient artefacts, artwork and sculptors of the country which give a unique insight into our past. Overnight at hotel.
Day 3: Mumbai - Aurangabad
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to airport to board morning flight to Aurangabad.
On arrival assistance & transfer to hotel. Later Excursion to visit the Ellora Caves (Tuesday closed), a UNESCO World Heritage Site from about 200 BC. to 650 AD. There are 34 monasteries and temples at Ellora, belonging to the three different religions Buddhism, Hinduism & Jainism. Grishneshwar Temple one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines mentioned in the Shiva Purana. On way back visit Daulatabad Fort one of the most powerful forts of the medieval Deccan.
Later visit Bibi ka Maqbara built in 1678 is a sons loving tribute to his mother, Panchakki which discharged water on the wheel to power the flourmill and grind grain for the pilgrims & Aurangabad Caves artificial caves that were dug out of soft rock during the 6th & 7th century. Overnight at hotel.
Day 4: Aurangabad
Breakfast at hotel. Excursion to Ajanta (Monday closed). The Buddhist Caves of Ajanta were discovered by the British officers in 1819 while hunting tiger. Ajanta Caves were first mentioned in the writings of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang who visited India between AD 629 and 645. The Caves at Ajanta are older than those at Ellora which date from about 200 BC to 650 AD. Thirty beautiful Buddhist Caves with mesmerizing sculptures and paintings depicting Buddha`s life as well the lives of the Buddha in his previous births. Five of these Caves are Chaityas (Place of worship) while the other twenty five are Viharas (monasteries). Ajanta Caves are divided in two categories based on two schools of Buddhist thought - Hinayana Caves and Mahayana Caves.
Drive back to Aurangabad for overnight stay.
Day 5: Aurangabad - Udaipur
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to airport to board flight for Udaipur.
On arrival assistance and transfer to the hotel. Evening boat cruise on Lake Pichola, Overnight at hotel.
Day 6: Udaipur
Breakfast at hotel. City tour of Udaipur located around azure water lakes and is hemmed in by lush green hills of Aravallis. The famous Lake Palace, located in the middle of Lake Pichola is one of the most beautiful sights of Udaipur. It is also home to Jaisamand Lake, claimed to be the second largest Man-made sweet water lake in Asia. The beautiful City Palace and Monsoon Palace add to the architectural beauty and grandeur of the city. Solar observatory in Lake Fateh Sagar is the only observatory in India located on an island and has been made on the pattern of Big Bear Lake in Southern California. Visit City Palace & Museum, Jagdish Temple, Saheliyon Ki Bari, Bada Mahal, Eklingji & Nagda Temple. Explore Hathi Pol Bazar, Bada Bazar & Shilpgram a craftsmens village.
Evening watch folk dance show Dharohar at Bagore ki Haveli. Overnight at hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 7: Udaipur - Ahmedabad (260kms)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Ahmedabad check in at hotel.
Later 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. VECHAAR Utensils Museum it house an elaborate collection of utensils ranging from hundreds of years back to the current times. 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 8: 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, Akshardham Temple, 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.
Drive back to Ahmedabad for Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 9: Ahmedabad - Kevadia (200km)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Kevadia via visiting Vadodara Visit Lakshmi Vilas Palace the largest private dwelling built till date four times the size of Buckingham Palace.
Also visit Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum & Kirti Mandir. And UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pavagadh-Champaner. The site encompasses forts, temples, mosques, mausoleum complexes, pavilions, wells and tanks built around 1523 in Indo-Saracenic architecture. Arrive Kevadia, check in at Tent City/ hotel.
Evening Light and Sound show at Statue of Unity. Lunch, dinner and Overnight tent/ hotel.
Day 10: Statue of Unity - Vadodara (98kms)
Breakfast at hotel. Visit worlds tallest Statue of Unity (height 182 metres). The high-speed elevators will take you to a height of about 400 feet through the core of the statue where you can get panoramic view of the surroundings.
Later drive to Vadodara drop off to your hotel/ airport.
Assistance on arrival at airport.
9 Nights accommodation in selected price category hotels.
Meal as per day plan (B- Breakfast, L- Lunch, D- Dinner)
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.
Monuments entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary.
Bottled drinking water in car.
Government taxes.
Hotels used or similar for 9 nights accommodation
Mumbai X 2 Nights
3* - Hotel Suba Palace/ BW Hotel Sahil
4* - Sun-N-Sand Hotel/ Fariyas Hotel
5* - Trident Hotel/ ITC Grand Central
Aurangabad X 2 Nights
3* - 7 Apple Hotel Aurangabad / Ginger Aurangabad
4* - Ambassador Ajanta / VITS Hotel
5* - WelcomHotel Rama International / Lemon Tree Hotel
Udaipur X 2 Nights
3* - Jaiwana Haveli/ Hotel Amar Kothi
4* - Hotel Lakend/ Hotel Amet Haveli
5* - Trident Hotel/ Aurika, Udaipur – Luxury by Lemon Tree Hotels
Ahmedabad X 2 Nights
3* - WelcomHeritage Mani Mansion/ Parker Lords Eco Inn
4* - Ramada Hotel/ Lemon Tree Premier
5* - The House of MG/ Le Meridien
Kevadia X 1 Nights
3* - Tent City Narmada / Brg Budget Stay
4* & 5* - Statue of Unity Tent City 1 - Royal Cottages/ Ramada Encore
Mumbai - Aurangabad - Udaipur & Vadodara - Mumbai flight fare approx INR 16,500 per person in economy class.
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.