Duration : 5 Nights / 6 Days
Places to Visit : Mumbai - Aurangabad - Ajanta - Ellora Caves - Mumbai.

Day 01 : Mumbai
Arrive Mumbai. Meeting at the airport and transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02 : Mumbai
Morning cruise across the harbour (9 kms) to see Elephanta Caves noted for huge rock cut temples dated back to 600 AD. Afternoon tour of Mumbai city. Main attractions are Kamla Nehru Park, Hanging Gardens, Chowpatty Beach, Prince of Wales Museum, Mani Bhawan, Dhobi Ghat, Gateway of India & drive through the Crawford Market, Marine Drive & Flora Fountain. Overnight at hotel.

Day 03 : Mumbai-Aurangabad
Morning excursion to Kanheri Caves. These caves are dated from 1st Century B.C. to 9th Century A.D noted for Buddhist residence. Afternoon transfer to the Airport to connect flight to Aurangabad. Upon arrival check in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 04 : Aurangabad - Excursion to Ajanta Caves
Full day sightseeing tour of Ajanta Caves. These caves were excavated between the 2nd and 6th century AD, they reflect tantric influences in their iconography and architectural designs. The caves are 100 kms away 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. (They are closed on Monday).

Day 05 : Aurangabad - Excursion to Ellora Caves
Morning excursion to 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. 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. It is believed to have taken 7000 laborers, working in continuous shifts and 150 years to build. (They are closed on Tuesdays).

Day 06 : Aurangabad - Mumbai
Morning city tour of Aurangabad which includes visit to the Aurangabad Caves, State Archaeological Museum, Nehru Udyan, History Museum of Marathwada University, Bibi ka Maqbara, Panchakki, Siddharth Udyan. Evening transfer to the Airport to connect flight to Mumbai. Upon arrival check in at hotel. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 06 : Mumbai - Out
Morning transfer to the airport to connect flight for onward destination.

Duration : 15Nights / 16 Days
Places to Visit : Mumbai - Aurangabad - Bangalore - Hospet - Hampi - Bangalore - Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Chennai - Bhubaneshwar - Delhi - Bhopal - Agra - Delhi. 

Day 1: Arrive Bombay (Mumbai) 
Upon arrival in Mumbai and after clearing immigrations and customs you will be met and transferred Airport/Hotel. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 2: Mumbai / Aurangabad
Morning sightseeing tour of the city.We will see the Gateway of India, a 262 feet high gateway overlooking the sea. We will drive past the Victoria Railway Station to the Flora Fountain. Known by the natives as Hutatma Chowk,Ahis spot is the centre of Mumbai's life. You will also visit the Hanging Gardens, which were laid out in 1881 and gets its peculiar name from the fact that they are built on top of a series of reservoirs that supply water to Bombay. Also visit the Prince of Wales Museum. You will then drive to the famous Marine Drive, which runs along the shoreline of the Black Bay and is one of Bombay's most famous promenade's backed by high rise residential and official buildings. Also visit Mani Bhavan or the Gandhi Museum and the DhobiGhats or the public laundry. Afternoon transfer to the Airport for your flight to Aurangabad. Upon arrival, assistance and transfer to airport/hotel. Aurangabad, once a Mughal capital is now a thriving industrial metropolis and an important base for visiting the Ajanta and Ellora Caves. Northern Maharashtra's largest city, Aurangabad is located almost 41 0 kms northeast of Mumbai and is situated on the northern part of the elevated Deccan Plateau in the region known as Marathwada. It stands along the River Kham and is a pleasant spacious town. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 3: Ajanta
This morning, we will visit Ajanta. Buddhist monks spent centuries carving 29 caves into a horseshoe-shaped cliff on the Waghora River. Completed around the 7th century A.D., masterpieces were lost for a century until a British-hunting party stumbled upon them in 1819. These dramatically cut caves contain some of India's most magnificent paintings. Their murals exquisitely depict scenes from Buddhist legends and reveal telling details of the culture of the time when they were painted. Five of the caves were temples and 24 were monasteries, thought to have been occupied by some 200 monks and artisans. Return to Aurangabad late in the afternoon. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight at the Hotel. 

Day 4: Ajanta/Mumbai/ Bangalore
In the morning, we will take a short drive to Ellora to visit the temples. Here, stonecutters removed an estimated 200,000 tonnes of rock to build the 34 caves. With statues, columns and decorative facades, these temples are a wonder of ancient art. Over 2,000 years old, they have been compared to the Pyramids for their amazing construction. The highlight of the 34 caves is the mighty Kailasa Temple, the zenith of Hindu rock-cut temple architecture with enclosures, galleries, a bridge, two large stone elephants. Later in the afternoon, drop at the airport to board the flight for Bangalore. Upon arrival, assistance and transfer to the Hotel. Though a modern bustling city and an important industrial centre, with a lot of scientific and research activity, 

Day 5: Bangalore/ Hospet
Morning a brief orientation drive through Bangalore city, driving past the Vidhan Sabha, the Secretariat, gardens and the main shopping district. Later in the afternoon drive to Hospet (350 Kms - 6 hrs), which is the base of our explorations into the ruins of Hampi. In the evening drive to the Tungabhadra Dam if possible. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 6: Hampi
Full day excursion to Hampi. The Vijaynagar city ruins near the village of Hampi are one of the most fascinating historical sites in south India. These superb ruins are set in a strange and beautiful landscape which has an almost magical quality ..... a hill country that is partly desolate and strewn with enormous, rounded boulders and partly irrigated and cultivated. There are many sites to see and some to visit. Virupaksha Temple has a 160 ft high gopuram. Vittala Temple is a world heritage monument. This temple is a world heritage monument. The incredible sculptural work of the Vittala is of the highest standard and is the pinnacle of VijayNagar art. The outer pillars are musical as they reverberate when tapped. The stone chariot or cart in front of the temple is one of the most photographed objects here. The Achyutaraya Temple is even more atmospheric than the Vittala temple and the carvings are just as fine. The royal enclosure area of Hampi and the elephant stables are two other interesting stops. Also visit the Hampi bazaar. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 7: Rampi/ Bangalore/ Chennai
Morning drive to Bangalore airport for your flight to Chennai. Upon arrival, assistance and transfer to the hotel. Madras/ Chennai - the gateway to the sunny south and the capital of Tamil Nadu is also the seat of an ancient civilization, with a rich heritage of fine arts, sculpture and architecture. Historically, Madras has formidable credentials, going back 2000 years, when its old temple quarter, Mylapore, was a port on the fabled Coromandel Coast, busily trading with the Chinese, the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans and later the French, the Portuguese, the Armenians and the Arabs. St. Thomas, Christ's own Apostle, landed here in 58 AD and was martyred in 72 AD on an island hillock. Nearly three and a half centuries later, Madras the modern city now sprawls over 174 sq-kms and is home to nearly four million people! Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Mahabalipuram
Morning tour of Madras city. Our brief tour will include visits to St. Thomas's Cathedral which houses the grave of St. Thomas the Apostle, the Bronze Museum, the Mylapore Temple etc. Afternoon excursion to Mahabalipuram - "the city of the seven pagodas" which was once the harbour and naval base of the great Pallava Empire. I witness the breathtaking display of the pagodas or rathas, small sized shrines that have all been chiseled out of boulders in the form of temple chariots dedicated to the Pandava princes. But the masterpiece at Mahabalipuram is the "Penance of Bhagirath", the wood's largest bas-relief in stone. Its vitality makes its figures appear to be alive. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 9: Madras / Bhubaneshwar
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Bhubaneshwar. The town's history dates back over 2000 years and is also known as the Temple Town and Cathedral City on account of its many temples built in extravagant styles dating back to the 8th century. Afternoon visit the Lingaraj Mandir, dedicated to Tribhuneshwar or Lords of the Three worlds, also known as Bhubaneshwar. The temple compound is about 150 square meters and is dominated by a 40 meter high temple tower .You will visit some more temples like the Parsurameshwar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva built in 650 AD and the Brahmeswar Temple, known for its detailed sculptures. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 10: Konark 
You will drive to Konark, which is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and we will visit the famous Sun Temple, which was constructed in the mid 13th century. The entire temple was conceived as a chariot for the Sun God, Surya which is said to have been built by the Orissan King Narashimhadev I, to celebrate his victory over the Muslims. It went into misuse in the 17~ century until the early 1900's when the debris and sand were cleared around the temple base and the sheer magnitude of the architect's imagination was revealed. Seven mighty stone horses haul at the temple and the immense structure is covered with carvings, sculptures, figures and bas-reliefs. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 11: Konark / Delhi 
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Delhi. Delhi is the capital of India. Her history goes back 3000 years. Various rulers built eight successive cities in and around present day Delhi. Few capitals in the world have as many monuments of which Delhi is justly proud. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 12: Qutab Minar and iron Pillar
Morning tour of New Delhi. Designed in 1911 by the British, New Delhi is one of the greenest capitals in the world. Your tour includes a visit to the impressive Qutab Minar, a 234 foot sandstone tower and Humayun's Tomb, a predecessor to the famous Taj Mahal. Later drive past the government buildings and presidential palace along the broad and majestic Rajpath, Diplomatic Enclave etc. Afternoon tour of Old Delhi. See the Red Fort, a symbol of Mughal power. Drive past Chandni Chowk (old shopping street) and the Jama Mosque area. On return visit the Raj Ghat, a memorial to the great Mahatma Gandhi. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 13: Delhi / Bhopal 
Morning transfer to the rail station for a train ride to Bhopal. Upon arrival, assistance and transfer rail station/hotel. Bhopal, the capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh was founded by Raja Bhoja in the 11th century. The city and its surroundings are a good example of the co-existence of the old and the new. Bhopal is really important as the base from which one could visit Bhimbetka, Sanchi and Ujjain than for what the city itself can offer the tourist. Afternoon, a brief sightseeing tour of the city visiting the Jama Masjid, the Taj-ul-Masjid, the Birla Mandir and Archaeological Museum, the Laxmi Narayan Temple, and a museum of modem, rural and urban-l.00'­arts, as we drive past picturesque lakes. We will also visit the Bharat Bhawan, a complex for verbal,visual and performing arts. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 14: Sanchi/ Bhimbetka
Full day excursion to Sanchi and Bhimbetka. The Sanchi Stupa - 48 kms from Bhopal is a world heritage monument and one of the world's most important Buddhist pilgrim centres. The construction of the Stupa began during the rule of Emperor Ashoka. The four gateways of the stupa are exquisitely carved and recount the life of Gautam Buddha. 8 kms away at Vidisha is the famous Besnagar monolithic pillar dating back to 90 BC, which states that Heliodorus - the Greek Ambassador in the court of Takshashila (Taxila) , raised the pillar. Heliodorus refers to himself as the worshipper of Vishnu. The Bhimbetka ruins are famous for a large number of cave paintings dating back from the Old Stone Age to medieval times. Like the Aboriginal rock paintings in the outback of Australia, the cave paintings of the bushmen in the Kalahari desert in Africa or the Paleolithic Lascaux Caves of France, the Bhimbetka caves are a must-see. Amongst forests of teak and sal in the craggy cliffs of an almost African setting, some 1000 rock shelters have been discovered. These remarkably well-preserved natural pigment paintings depict the vibrant social life of our ancestors and are breathtakingly life-like! Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 15: Bhopal / Taj Mahal 
Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to the rail station, to board train to Agra. Upon arrival, assistance and transfer to the hotel.The earliest reference to Agra is in the epic "The Mahabharat". Alexander the great geographer also called it Agra. It was however in the medieval period that Agra earned prominence as a capital city under the Mughals. its many wonderful monuments and the Taj Mahal, the greatest of them all, have given it a unique position as a major tourist centre. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 16: Agra / Delhi 
Taj Mahal, simply, is beauty - not just in design and technique, but in desire and intent. It was built as a monument to love, a manifestation of life's most powerful emotion. When his wife died unexpectedly, Emperor Shahjahan vowed to honour her with a memorial of unmatched beauty. He commissioned the world's best craftsmen and 20,000 workers to build this beautiful structure. The result stands before you today - a delicately carved, white marble jewel, which seems to float on a sea of red limestone. Visit the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort in the morning. Afternoon excursion to Fatehpur Sikri, the once fabled Mughal capital which has taken on a sleeping beauty quality, lying quietly but wonderfully preserved. We will see the Halls of Public and Private Audiences, the tower of Victory and the tomb of Salim Chisti, which is laced with mother of pearl. In the evening, transfer to the rail station to board train ride to Delhi. Alternatively drive to Delhi Airport (200 kms - 4 hrs) for your connecting flight back home.

Duration : 15Nights / 16 Days
Places to Visit :Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Mumbai - Aurangabad - Ajanta - Bangalore - Mysore - Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Chennai. 

Day 1 Arrive Delhi 
Upon arrival in New Delhi you will be met and transferred to the hotel. Delhi is the capital of India. Her history goes back 3000 years. Various rulers built eight successive cities in and around present day Delhi. Few capitals in the world have as many monuments of which Delhi is justly proud. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 2 Delhi 
Morning tour of New Delhi. Designed in 1911 by the British, New Delhi is one of the greenest capitals in the world. Your tour includes a visit to the impressive Qutab Minar, a 234 foot sandstone tower and Humayun's Tomb, a predecessor to the famous Taj Mahal. Later drive past the government buildings and presidential palace along the broad and majestic Rajpath, Diplomatic Enclave etc. Afternoon tour of Old Delhi. See the Red Fort, a symbol of Mughal power. Drive past Chandni Chowk (old shopping street) and the Jama Mosque area. On return, visit Rajghat, a memorial to the great Mahatma Gandhi. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3 Delhi / Agra 
Early Morning transfer to the rail station for a two hour train ride to Agra. The earliest reference to is in the epic "The Mahabharat". Alexander the Great geographer also called it . It was however in the medieval period that earned prominence as a capital city under the Mughals. Its many wonderful monuments and the Taj Mahal, the greatest of them all, have given it a unique position as a major tourist centre. Taj Mahal, simply, is beauty - not just in design and technique, but in desire and intent. It was built as a monument to love, a manifestation of life's most powerful emotion. When his wife died unexpectedly, Emperor Shahjahan vowed to honour her with a memorial of unmatched beauty. He commissioned the world's best craftsmen and 20,000 workers to build this beautiful structure. The result stands before you today - a delicately carved, white marble jewel, which seems to float on a sea of red limestone. Visit the Taj Mahal and the Fort in the Morning. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 4: Agra / Jaipur
You drive to Jaipur today via Fatehpur Sikri, the once fabled Mughal capital which now lies quietly but wonderfully preserved. We continue to Jaipur - the rose pink capital of Rajasthan. Surrounded on all sides by rugged hills, crowned with forts, Jaipur is aptly called the "Pink City" of India. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel and rest of the day at leisure. 

Day 5: Jaipur
Morning, travel just north of Jaipur to visit Amber and it's famous palace. Riding on elegantly caparisoned elephants,you approach the palace in the traditional way. The high gateway allows you to enter on these broad-backed animals. Inside you will find lavish courtyards, beautifully decorated halls and the Chamber of Mirrors.
Afternoon visit Jantar Mantar, an observatory which is equipped with instruments of astonishing size and precision, including a 90 foot high sun dial which is remarkably accurate. You will also see the ornate and elaborate Palace of Winds, the Hawa Mahal - a famous landmark of Jaipur and the City Palace Museum. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: Jaipur/ Mumbai 
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Mumbai (Bombay). Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the hotel. A beautiful harbour studded with hilly islands and a palm-fringed shore rising gradually to the peaks of mountain ranges form a fine waterfront for Mumbai, "the Gateway of India". Besides being the major port of India, Mumbai is also a great industrial centre. A cosmopolitan city, it owes it's prosperity to the industry and enterprise of it's population of about eight million. It is the commercial capital of India. Afternoon at leisure for you to explore Bombay's many museums, markets, cinema and theatre. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 7: Mumbai 
Morning tour of Mumbai city. Visit the Gateway of India, a 262 feet highway overlooking the sea, built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. We will drive past the Victorian Railway Station to the Flora Fountain. Known by the natives as Hutatma Chowk, this spot is the centre of Mumbai's life. We will also visit the Hanging Gardens, Prince of Wales Museum, the Gandhi Museum and the Dhobi Ghats - the public laundry. Afternoon again at leisure. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 8: Mumbai / Aurangabad
transferred airport/ hotel. Aurangabad, once a Mughal capital , is now a thriving industrial metropolis and an important base for visiting the Ajanta and Ellora Caves. Northern Maharashtra's largest city, Aurangabad is located almost 410 kms northeast of Mumbai and is situated on the northern part of the elevated Deccan Plateau in the region known as Marathwada. It stands along the River Kham and is a pleasant spacious town. 
In the afternoon, take a short drive to Ellora to visit the temples. Stonecutters removed an estimated 200,000 tonnes of rock to build the 34 caves. With statues, columns and decorative facades, these temples are a wonder of ancient statues sightseeing of the city art. Over 2000 years old, they have been compared to the (-W1tour will include visits to S10 pyramids for their amazing construction. The highlight of the Thomas's Cathedral which 34 caves is the mighty Kailasa Temple, the zenith of Hindu houses the grave of S10 Thomas rock-cut temple architecture, with enclosures, galleries, a the Apostle, the Bronze bridge, two large stone elephants. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 9: Ajanta
This Morning will visit Ajanta. Buddhist monks spent architecture of South India. centuries carving 29 caves into a horseshoe-shaped cliff on Waghora River. Completed around the 7th century A.D., the hotel. masterpieces were lost for a century until a British-hunting party stumbled upon them in 1819. These dramatically cut caves contain some of India's most magnificent paintings. Their murals exquisitely depict scenes from Buddhist legends and reveal telling details of the culture at the time they were painted. Five of the caves were temples and 24 were monasteries, thought to have been occupied by some 200 monks and artisans. Return to Aurangabad late afternoon for balance of the day at leisure. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 10: Aurangabad/ Mumbai / Bangalore 
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangalore via Mumbai. Upon arrival, assistance and transfer airport/hotel. Though a modern bustling city and an important industrial centre, with a lot of scientific and research activity, Bangalore still remains one of India's most pleasant cities and very lately it's being known as the "Silicon Valley" of India. At a height of 3250 ft, it boasts of a salubrious climate with innumerable parks, gardens, lakes and tree-lined avenues. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 11: Bangalore / Mysore
You will drive this Morning to Mysore,visiting enroute to the Somnath Temple. Mysore has a long history of eminent dynasties that ruled from here and created a city, that even today, is one of the finest in southern India with tree-lined boulevards, beautiful gardens and stately palaces. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Day 12: Mysore
Morning tour of Mysore city. As the principal residence of a former royal family - Mysore offers palaces with a profusion of exquisite domes, arches and turrets. On Chamundi hill find the summer palaces and the 2000 year old temple of Chamundeswari, dedicated to the deity of the Mysore royal family. Nearby find the 16 foot high monolithic sculpture of the Nandi bull adorned with garlands and bells. It was carved out of a single stone. Afternoon, excursion to the summer palace of Karnataka's ruler, Tipu Sultan at Srirangapatnam and also visit the Brindavan Gardens formed by damming the River Kauvery. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 13: Mysore/ Bangalore / Chennai
You will drive back to the Bangalore airport this Morning In time for your connecting flight to Chennai (Madras). The gateway to the sunny south and the capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is also the seat of an ancient civilization, rich with a heritage of fine arts, sculpture and architecture. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 14 Chennai
Full day sightseeing of the city your tour will include visit to ST. Thomas's Cathedral which houses the grave of St. Thomas the Apostle, the Bronze Mudeum the Mylapore Temple and Dakshinchitra, which shoe cades the traditional art and architecture of South India. Afternoon is at leisure.Overnight at the hotel.

Day 15 Excursion Mahabalipuram Kanchipuram 
You drive today to Mahabalipuram - the "city of the seven pagodas", which was once the main harbour and naval base Embellishments at a of the great Pallava Empire. Visit to temple in South India Sightseeing of the city will include the breathtaking display of the pagodas or rathas, small sized shrines that have all been chiseled out of boulders in the form of temple chariots dedicated to the Pandava princes. But the masterpiece at Mahabalipuram is the "Penance of Bhagirath", the world's largest bas-relief in stone. 
In the afternoon will drive to the spectacular temple city of Kanchipuram which has successively been the capital of the major kingdoms of the south. Kanchi is also very famous for it's hand woven silk fabrics. You will visit the Kailasanatha Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Built in the 7th century during the Pallava dynasty, it reflects the simplicity and freshness of early Dravidian architecture. Also visit the Sri Ekambaranathar Temple dedicated to Shiva and one of the largest temples in Kanchipuram, covering 9 hectares with a 59 metre high gopuram. Return to Mahabalipuram. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 16 Depart Chennai
 

Duration: 07 Nights / 08 Days
Places to Visit: Mumbai - Aurangabad - Bangalore - Mysore and Hassan..

Day 1: MUMBAI 
Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Mumbai (Bombay) - the "Gateway of India", a cosmopolitan city and the commercial capital of India. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 2 : MUMBAI / AURANGABAD 
Morning visit the Gateway of India, drive past the Victoria Railway Station to the Flora Fountain, the centre of Bombay's life. Also visit the Hanging Gardens, Prince of Wales museum, the Gandhi Museum and the Dhobi Ghats - the public laundry. In the afternoon, fly to Aurangabad, once a Mughal capital, but now an important base for visiting the Ajanta and Ellora caves. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 3 : AURANGABAD 
This morning - visit the Ajanta caves. Buddhist monks spent centuries carving 29 caves into a horse-shoe shaped cliff on the Waghora river. Completed around the 7th century AD and lost for centuries to be rediscovered in 1819, these caves contain some of India's most magnificent paintings. Their murals exquisitely depict scenes from Buddhist legends and reveal telling details of the culture at the time they were painted. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 4 : AURANGABAD / MUMBAI / BANGALORE
Morning visit the Ellora temples. The temple's stonecutters removed an estimated 200,000 tons of rock to build the 34 caves. The highlight is the mighty Kailasa Temple. The temple measures about 55 yards cube of one piece of stone hewn from solid rock - top down now appears free standing. In the afternoon take a flight to Bangalore via Mumbai. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 5 : BANGALORE / MYSORE 
Morning a brief orientation drive through the city driving past the Vidhan Sabha, the Secretariat, gardens and the main shopping district. Later drive to Mysore (140 kms /3 hrs) visiting en route the Somnathpur Temple, built around 1260 AD - the walls of this star shaped temple are covered with superb sculptures in stone depicting various scenes from the great epics - the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Bhagvad Gita and also of the life and times of the Hoysala kings. Mysore has a long history of eminent dynasties that ruled from here and created a city, that even today, is one of the finest in Southern India with tree-lined boulevards, beautiful gardens and stately palaces. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 6 : MYSORE 
Morning tour of Mysore city. As the principal residence of a former royal family - Mysore offers palaces with a profusion of exquisite domes, arches and turrets. On Chamundi hill, we find the summer palaces and the 2000 year old temple of Chamundeswari, dedicated to the deity of the Mysore royal family. Nearby we see the 16 foot high monolithic sculpture of the Nandi bull adorned with garlands and bells. Afternoon, excursion to the summer palace of Karnataka's ruler, Tipu Sultan at Srirangapatnam and the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a popular place of pilgrimage for the Hindus. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7 : MYSORE / HASSAN 
Morning drive to Hassan (120 kms /3 hrs), en route see the 17 metre tall naked statue of Mahavira at Sravanbelgola, one of the tallest monolithic statue, oldest and most important Jain pilgrimage centres in India. Later visit Belur Temple - with it's exquisite temples. The Chenakeshava Temple is covered with intricate sculptures and friezes. Later visit the Halebid Temples. What astounds one about the Hoysaleswara Temple here is the wealth of sculptural detail. The walls of the temple are carved endlessly, yet no two facets of the temple are the same. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 8 : HASSAN / BANGALORE 

Duration: 13 Nights / 14 Days
Places to Visit: Delhi - Agra - Gwalior - Bhopal - Mandu - Indore - Mumbai - Aurangabad - Ellora - Hyderabad . . 

Day 1 ARRIVAL DELHI 
Upon arrival in New Delhi you will be met and transferred airport/ hotel. Delhi is the capital of India. Her history dates back to 3000 years. Various rulers built eight successive cities in and around present day Delhi. Few capitals in the world have as many monuments of which Delhi is justly proud. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 2 DELHI 
Morning tour of New Delhi. Designed in 1911 by the British, New Delhi is one of the greenest capitals in the world. Your tour today includes a visit to the impressive Qutab Minar, a 234 foot sandstone tower and Humayun's tomb, a predecessor to the famous Taj Mahal. Later drive past the government buildings and presidential palace along the broad and majestic Rajpath, Diplomatic Enclave etc. Afternoon tour of Old Delhi. Drive past the Red Fort, a symbol of Mughal power, the Chandni Chowk (old shopping street) and the Jama Mosque area. Later visit Raj Ghat, a memorial to the great Mahatma Gandhi. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 3 DELHI / AGRA
Early morning transfer to the rail station for a train ride to Agra (about 2 hours).The earliest reference to Agra is in the epic "The Mahabharat". Ptolemy, Alexander the Great's geographer, also called it Agra. It was however in the medieval period that Agra earned prominence as a capital city under the Mughals. It's many wonderful monuments and the Taj Mahal, the greatest of them all, have given it a unique position as a major tourist centres. Taj Mahal, simply, is beauty - not just in design and technique, but in desire and intent. It was built as a monument of love, a manifestation of life's most powerful emotion. When his wife died unexpectedly, Emperor Shahjahan vowed to honour her with a memorial of unmatched beauty. He commissioned the world's best craftsmen and 20,000 workers to build this beautiful structure. The result stands before you today - a delicately carved, white marble jewel, which seems to float on a sea of red limestone.
Visit Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort in the morning. Afternoon excursion to Fatehpur Sikri, the once fabled Mughal capital which has taken on a sleeping beauty quality, lying quietly but wonderfully preserved. We will see the Halls of Public and Private Audiences, the tower of Victory and the tomb of 
Salim Chisti which is laced with mother-of-pearl. Overninght at the hotel.

Day 4 AGRA / GWALIOR 
Morning transfer to the rail station for a train ride to Gwalior. (about 1-1/2 hours). Gwalior is famous for it's old and very large fort, which is over a thousand years old. Within the fort walls are several interesting temples and ruined palaces. Gwalior's legendary beginning stems from a meeting between a warrior called Suraj Sen and a hermit, Gwalipa, who lived on the hilltop where the fort stands. It is said, that the hermit cured Suraj Sen of an incurable disease who as a gesture of gratitude founded Gwalior. Over the centuries, Gwalior became a city if immense importance and remained the scene of continual intrigues and clashes with the neighbouring powers. It became the birthplace of many dynasties whose rulers patronized it's strategic location, each leaving it's own indelible mark over the city. We will visit the Gwalior Fort and Palace. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 5 GWALIOR / BHOPAL 
Morning transfer to the rail station for a train ride to Bhopal. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred Airport/Hotel. Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, was founded by Raja Bhoja in the 11th century. The city and it's surroundings are a good example of the co-existance of the old and the new. Bhopal is really important as the base from which one can visit Bhimbetka, Sanchi and Ujjain than for what the city itself can offer the tourist. Afternoon a brief sightseeing tour of the city as we drive past picturesque lakes visiting the Jama Masjid, the Taj-ul-Masjid, the Birla Mandir and Archaeological Museum, the Laxmi Narayan Temple, and a museum of modem, urban and rural arts. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 6 BHOPAL
Full excursion to sanchi and the Bhimbeltka caves. The Sanchi Stupa, located 48 Kms from Bhopal, is a world heritage monument and one of the most important Budhhist pilgrim centres. The construction of the stupa began during the rule of Emperor Ashoka. The four gateways of the stupa are exquisitely carved and recount the life of Gautam Buddha. 8 Kms away at Vidisha is the famous Besnagar monolithic pillar dating back to 90B.c., which states that Heliodorus – the Greek Ambassador in the court of Takshashila (Taxila) raised the pillar. Helidorous refers to himself as the worshipper of Vishnu.
The Bhimbetka ruins are famous for a large number of cave paintings dating back from the old Stone age to medieval times. Like the Aboriginal rock paintings in the outback of the bushmen in the Kalahari Desert in Africa or the Paleolithic Lascaux caves of France, the Bhimbetka caves are a must-see. Amongst forests of teak and sal in the craggy cliffs of an almost African setting, some thousand rock shelters have been discovered. These remarkably well preserved natural pigment paintings depict the Vibrant social life of our ancestors and are breath- takingly life-like! Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 7 BHOPAL / MANDU 
Morning we drive to Mandu (275 kms / 5 hrs). The extensive hilltop fort of Mandu is one of the most interesting sights in Central India. Founded as a fortress and retreat in the 10th century by Raja Bhoj, Mandu is a celebration in stone of life and joy, of the love of the poet-prince Baz Bahadur for his beautiful wife, Rani Roopmati. Perched along the Vindhyan ranges at an altitude of about 2000 feet, Mandu with it's natural defences, was originally the fort capital of the Parmar rulers of Malwa. Towards the end of the 13th century, it came under the Sultans of Malwa, the first of whom renamed it Shadiabad - the city of joy. It's rulers built exquisite palaces like the Jahaz and Hindola Mahals, ornamental canals, baths and pavilions. Each of Mandu's structures is an architectural gem. Some are outstanding like the Jami Masjid and Hoshang Shah's Tomb, which provided inspiration to the master builders of the Taj Mahal centuries later. Under Mughal rule, Mandu was a pleasure resort, it's lakes and palaces, the scene of splendid and extravagant festivities. The glory of Mandu lives on in it's palaces and mosques, in legends and songs. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Mandu. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 8 MANDU/ INDORE 
Morning you drive to Indore (90 kms - 1-1/2 hrs). The city derives it's name from the 18th century Indreshwar Temple. Situated in the heart of the Malwa plateau it was the base of the Holkars, the former rulers of this erstwhile state. Indore, in fact was planned and built by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar. Today it is a throbbing, vibrant city coloured by it's brave past. It is naturally endowed with a beautiful landscape and a salubrious climate. Of interest here are numerous monuments associated with the Holkars. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 9 INDORE / MUMBAI / AURANGABAD 
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Aurangabad via Mumbai. Upon arrival in Aurangabad you will be met and transferred airport/hotel. Aurangabad, once a Mughal capital , is now a thriving industrial metropolis and an important base for visiting the Ajanta and Ellora Caves. Northern Maharashtra's largest city, Aurangabad is located almost 410 kms northeast of Mumbai and is situated on the northern part of the elevated Deccan Plateau in the region known as Marathwada. It stands along the River Kham and is a pleasant spacious town. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 10 AURANGABAD 
This morning, you will visit Ajanta. Buddhist monks spent centuries carving 29 caves into a horse-shoe shaped cliff on the Waghora River. Completed around the 7th century AD, these masterpieces were lost for centuries until a Britishhunting party stumbled upon them in 1819. These dramatically cut caves contain some of India's most magnificent paintings. Their murals exquisitely depict scenes from Buddhist legends and reveal telling details of the culture of the time when they were painted. Five of the caves were temples and 24 were monastries, thought to have been occupied by some 200 monks and artisans. Return to Aurangabad late in the afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 11 AURANGABAD / ELLORA 
Morning you take a short drive to Ellora to visit the temples. Stonecutters removed an estimated 200,000 tonnes of rock to build the 34 caves with statues, columns and decorative facades. Over 2000 years old, these ternples are a wonder of ancient art and have been compared to the pyramids for their amazing construction. The highlight of the 34 caves is the mighty Kailasa Temple, the zenith of Hindu rock-cut temple architecture. Later in the afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight to Hyderabad via Mumbai. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred airport/hotel. Hyderabad is an important centre of Islamic culture and central India's counterpart to the Mughal splendours of the northern cities of Delhi and Agra. Hyderabad is also famous as the former seat of the fabulously wealthy Nizams. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 12 HYDERABAD 
Full day sightseeing tour of Hyderabad. You will visit the Golconda Fort, one of the most fascinating fort complexes in India and the tombs of the Qutab Shahi kings, the builders of the fort. Also visit the Salar Jung Museum which is often said to be India's answer to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, which houses exhibits from all corners of the world. Also visit the Charminar, standing in the heart of the old walled city, surrounded by lively bazaars and the triumphant arch built to commemorate the end of the plague in Hyderabad in 1591. Also visit the Mecca Masjid, one of the largest mosques in the world, built in 1687 which can accommodate upto 10,000 worshippers. You will also visit the Bir1a Mandir, a modern Hindu temple built out of white marble. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 13 HYDERABAD / MUMBAI 
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Mumbai. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred airport/hotel. A beautiful harbour studded with hilly islands and a palm-fringed shore rising gradually to the peaks of mountain ranges form a fine waterfront for Mumbai, "the Gateway of India". Besides being the major port of India, Mumbai is also a great industrial centre. A cosmopolitan city, it owes it's prosperity to the industry and enterprise of it's population of about eight million. It is the commercial capital of India. Afternoon tour of Mumbai city. Visit the Gateway of India, a 262 feet highway overlooking the sea, built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. Drive past the Victorian Railway Station to the Flora Fountain. Known by the natives as Hutatma Chowk, this spot is the centre of Mumbai's life. Also visit the Hanging Gardens, the Prince of Wales Museum, the Gandhi Museum and the Dhobi Ghats- the public laundry. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 14 LEAVE MUMBAI 
Day at leisure and transfer to the airport for your flight back home.