Untold Stories of Southern India with Speaking Caves of Aurangabad

Day 01- Arrive Mumbai by international flight

On arrival at Mumbai International airport after clearing immigration formalities, you will meet our representative in arrival hall holding paging of your name. He will further assist you to your vehicle and then hotel check-in formalities. (Standard check-in time is 1200/1400 hours)

Mumbai is the commercial and Bollywood capital of India. It is densely populated where people come

from every corner of India to fulfill their dreams. It is India’s largest populated city. On the Mumbai waterfront stands the iconic gateway of India built by British Raj in 1924. On the offshore there are Elephanta caves dedicated to Hindu Lord Shiva. City is colorful with its different culture population, cuisine, festivals, being a financial capital, Bollywood and as well can be called fashion capital due to movies, events etc.

Evening visit Crawford market.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02- Mumbai

Breakfast at hotel

Today explore the walking of Mumbai to know the inside story of this beautiful city and locals.

Meet at Churchgate Station

See dabbawalas

Train to Dhobi Ghat

See laundry from bridge

Train to Dharavi

Walk through Dharavi

Evening will be at leisure to relax

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03- Mumbai

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast proceed to visit of Elephanta caves.(Closed on Monday) It is a Unesco World Heritage site. These Caves located on island in Arabian Sea. A collection of temples in the caves dedicated to Hindu God Shiva

Later proceed for city tour of Mumbai including visits to Marine Drive, Malabar Hill, Mahalakshmi Temple, the Tomb of Haji Ali and Mani Bhavan. The tour will also include a visit to interesting Prince of Wales museum (closed on Mondays)

Evening will be at leisure.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 04- Mumbai – Aurangabad by flight

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast you will transferred to airport to board the flight for Aurangabad.

Meeting and assistance on arrival at the airport and transfer to hotel. After check in proceed to visit Ellora caves. It located 30 Kms from Aurangabad city and another fine example of ancient Indian rock cut architecture art. It is a unesco world heritage site. These caves are among the largest rock-hewn monastic-temple complexes in the entire world. Ellora has a total of 34 caves including Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave temples which were built long back in the 6th and 9th centuries. (Closed on Tuesday)

Later visit Daultabad F, visit rt, this hilltop fortress is about 15 kms from the city and enroute to Ellora. It was built by Yadava Kings through 12^th century. Later it was renamed as Daultabad the city by Delhi Sultan Muhammad Tughlaq. He then shifted his capital from Delhi to here but due to water crisis had to return to Delhi. Also visit Bibi ka Maqbara.

Rest of the day at leisure will be at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05- Aurangabad

Breakfast at hotel

Later drive to Ajanta Caves (approx. 01 hour). It is also a Unesco Heritage site, houses 30 rock cut Buddhist caves. These secluded caves date from around the 2^nd century BC to the 6^th century AD and were among the earliest monastic institutions to be constructed in the country. (Closed on Tuesday). The caves is well known for its great art and Indian craftsmen. You will get to see lots of painting and carving (Closed on Monday).

Evening return to hotel for overnight stay.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 06- Aurangabad – Hyderabad by flight

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast proceed Later assisted transfer to airport to board the flight for Hyderabad.

Arrive Hyderabad by flight

Meeting and assistance on arrival at Hyderabad international Airport and transfer to hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel

Day 07- Hyderabad

After breakfast proceed for half day city tour. The sightseeing tour will begin with visit to Salarjung Museum; The Salar Jung Museum is an art museum located at Dar-ul-Shifa, on the southern bank of the Musi River in the city of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is one of the three National Museums of India. Originally a private art collection of the Salar Jung family, it was endowed to the nation after the death of SalarJung III. It was inaugurated on 16 December 1951.It has a collection of sculptures, paintings, carvings, textiles, manuscripts, ceramics, metallic artifacts, carpets, clocks, and furniture from Japan, China, Burma, Nepal, India, Persia, Egypt, Europe, and North America. It is one of the largest museums in the world.

The next stop would be Hyderabad’s most famous charming minarets – Charminar The Charminar is a monument in Hyderabad, India. The structure was built in 1591 AD. It is the most famous building of Hyderabad and also one of the most famous buildings in India.It was built by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shahi to celebrate the end of a deadly plague. The Charminar lies near the bank of the river Musi. It is close to Laad Bazaar and Makkah Masjid.  Some people write Charminar was the first structure to be constructed in the newly built city of Hyderabad. Enjoy famous delicious Biryani lunch at local restaurant.

Later visit Golkonda, a ruined city of south-central India and capital of ancient Kingdom of Golkonda is situated 11 km west of Hyderabad.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 08- Hyderabad – Gulberga ( 5.5  hours)

Breakfast at hotel

Enjoy the breakfast and you will be driven further to Gulbarga (approx.. 230 kms / 05.5 hours). On arrival proceed for check-in at your hotel.

Later enjoy the visit to The Gulbarga Fort is located in Gulbarga City in the Gulbarga district of North Karnataka. It was subsequently significantly enlarged in 1347 by Al-ud-din Hasan Bahmani of the Bahmani Dynasty .

The Jama Masjid built later, within the fort, in 1367, is a unique structure built in Persian architectural style, fully enclosed, with elegant dome.The other sites Jumma Majisd, Khwaza Bande Nawaz Dargah and Shrine of Sharana Basaveshwara will also be visited during the sightseeing tour.

Day 09- Gulbarga – Bijapur (03 hours by road)

After breakfast, you will be driven to Bijapur (approx.. 170 kms / 03 hours). On arrival proceed for check-in at your hotel.

After quick wash and change proceed for sightseeing tour of Bijapur visiting the Gol Gumbaz, This gigantic mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah has to its credit the second largest dome in the world after that of St. Peter’s in Vatican City. It also has a whispering gallery where a message carries through 38 meters repeating 11 times. Continue your drive to visit Ibrahim Roza, quite at the other end of the stylistic spectrum from the Gol Gumbaz. This graceful monument is the tomb of Ibrahim Adil Shah and his family.

Day 10- Bijapur – Badami (02 ½ hours by road)

Enjoy the breakfast at your hotel.

Later you will be driven to Badami (approx.. 123 kms / 2 ½ hours). On arrival proceed for check-in at your hotel.

Later proceed for excursion to Aihole & Pattadakal. Our first stop will be Aihole (50 Kms / 01.30 hours). Famous as the “Cradle of Indian Architecture”, Aihole has over a hundred temples scattered around the village. Continue to visit Pattadakal.  This place is an art historians dream. It has a set of nine temples built almost in a single file, showing the architects’ desire for experimenting in various styles. Pattadakal represents the culmination of early Chalykyan art.

After sightseeing drive back to Badami (30 Kms / 45 min).

Day 11- Badami – Hospet (03 hours by road)

In the morning after breakfast enjoy the brief tour of Badami visiting Agasthya Lake temples, Cave Temples and Badami Museum.

The next stop of your trip would be Hospet where you stay for 02 nights. The drive from Badami to Hospet will be of approx.. 140 kms and can be covered in 3 hours.On arrival proceed for check-in at your hotel. The remainder of the day will be at leisure to relax or stroll in local area.

Day 12- Hospet – Hampi – Hospet

After early breakfast, you will proceed for a full day excursion to Hampi, a World heritage centre is the most beautiful and evocative of all the ruins in Karnataka. The erstwhile Capital of the Vijayanagar Kingdom, Hampi is full of delightful surprises.

After sightseeing drive back to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 13- Hospet – Hassan (approx.260 KMs/6 hours by road)

Today you will leave for Hassan.

Hassan : Located in the state of Karnataka in India, Hassan is the headquarters of the district of Hassan. This city gets its name from the Hindu goddess Hassanamba. For a lover of history, monuments and temples this is the right place to be. Hoysala Empire ruled this city for a long time and their influence can be seen in the art and inscriptions on the different monuments. This is one place in India that’s covered in temples and monuments that are several centuries old and hence extremely popular among tourists, pilgrims, and history lovers.

En-route visit Sarvanbelagola. Sarvanbelagola, it is a holy place for Jain tourists. It is the largest monolithic idol of Lord Gomeethshwara in the world. It is a rare combination of beauty and serenity.

Later drive to Hassan. On arrival check in at hotel in Hassan.

Overnight stay at hotel

Day 14- Hassan – Mysore by road (approx. 110 Kms/2.5 hours)

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast visit Halebeedu Temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temples is outstanding example of Hindu architecture. The temple has nearly thousand figures on temple walls depicting the story of Mahabharat and Ramayan.

Later visit The Chenekesva Temple, Belur another fine example of beautiful architecture.

Post lunch drive to Mysore en-route Srirangapatnam. It was the historical capital of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan who fought several battle against British rule.

The city has glorious rich historical past. The city is also rich in tradition having traditional local market showcasing beautiful incense stalls, Mysore silk, and local market for fruit, vegetable and flower.

On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 15- Mysore

Breakfast at hotel.

Post breakfast visit Sri Chamundieshwari Temple which offers spectacular view of the city.

Mysore Palace: one of India’s grandest Palace belongs to Wodeyar Maharajas. The interior is amazingly lavish with stained glass, mirrors and gaudy colors. Further Palace showcases carved wooden doors and royal family member’s beautiful paintings which for a moment alive the atmosphere for the visitors.

Evening visit Bengaluru market. Overnight stay at hotel

Day 16- Mysore – Bengaluru (140 Kms/ 4 hours)

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast drive to Bengaluru.  Bangaluru: Formally known as Banglore is one of India’s most developed city. It has several good restaurants, drinking, shopping option and a modern metro system. Though the city doesn’t have world class sight but still attracts the travelers towards its lively city crowd. It is a gateway to cover beautiful travel destination like Mysore, Ooty, Hassan etc.

En-route visit nadi astorology centre to have a astrology session. Nadi astrology is a divine science practiced in southern India which deciphers the past, present and future of destined humans through the text recorded on palm leaves by Hindu 18 sage.

Later continue drive to Bengaluru. On arrival check in at hotel. Afternoon sightseeing of the city, visiting Lalbagh-Botanical Garden Lalbagh Botanical Garden or shortened Lalbagh, is an old botanical garden in Bangalore, India.

Later visit local market and explore local cuisine and local life.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 17- Depart Bengaluru

Breakfast at hotel

Post breakfast you will be transferred to airport to board the flight for onward destination.