Historical Tour Of Madhya Pradesh & Maharastra
DURATION: 15 Nights 16 Days
TYPE OF TRIP: Road TRIP
TRIP WAY: Mumbai – Aurangabad (By flight) – Ellora – Ajanta – Jalgaon – Indore – Mandu – Dhar – Maheshwar – Omkareshwar – Ujjain – Bhopal – Bhimbetka – Bhojpur – Sanchi – Khajuraho – Orchha – Gwalior – Delhi (By train) – Delhi
Day 01: Arrive Mumbai
Meet on arrival at Mumbai Airport by our representative and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day free for your own activity. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 02: Mumbai - Aurangabad (By flight)
Morning after breakfast proceed for city tour of Mumbai. Originally comprising seven islands, Mumbai is now the financial center of India. A tour to Mumbai provides you an unforgettable experience. Afternoon, half day sightseeing tour of Mumbai starts with the Gateway of India – the most famous colonial landmark in the city, Prince of Wales Museum – one of the most eclectic museums in India, Hanging Gardens, Victoria Rail Terminus. Last but not the least a drive along Marine drive will prove to be a pleasant experience. Travel to Chowpatty Beach, where exuberance and excitement rule the roost. Evening transfer to airport to board flight for Aurangabad. Arrive Aurangabad, meeting & assistance on arrival & check in at your hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 3: Aurangabad - Ellora - Aurangabad
After breakfast explore the Ellora Caves, which consist of temples and monasteries hewn from rock by Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monks and craftsmen who depicted the evolution of these three religions. More than 2,000 years old, these structures have been compared to the Pyramids of Giza for their amazing construction, sculptures and frescoes. Your day concludes when you arrive at the airport for your onward journey (Closed on Tuesday). Afternoon visit Bibi Ka Maqbara, which is the tomb of Begum Rabia Daurani, wife of Emperor Aurangzeb. The monument is an excellent example of Persian Architecture. The arched alcove surmounted by a swelling dome, the idea had acquired its own reputation in India. Bibi Ka Maqbara is considered to be a poor imitation of Taj Mahal in Agra. The layout and surrounding of the tomb is very much similar to that of Taj but somehow the architecture fails to produce the magic of Taj. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 04: Aurangabad - Ajanta - Jalgaon
After breakfast drive to Jalgaon, enroute visiting Ajanta Caves, where 24 monasteries and five temples, embedded in rock in a horseshoe-shaped gorge, contain some of the finest Buddhist mural art and sculpture in the world. These caves are older than those at Ellora, dating as far back as 200 BC. The walls tell the life story of Buddha and mirror the culture of that period (Closed on Monday). After visit continue your drive to Jalgaon. On arrival at Jalgaon check in at your hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 05: Jalgaon - Indore
After breakfast drive to Indore. On arrival check in at your hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Indore. Local sightseeing of Indore includes Lal Baag Palace, Bada Ganapati, Kanch Mandir, Central Museum, Gita Bhavan. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 06: Indore - Mandu - Dhar
After breakfast drive to Dhar, enroute visiting Mandu, local sightseeing of Mandu which includes magnificent Jahaz Mahal, Hindola Mahal, Houshang’s Tomb, Ashrafi Mahal and Rupmati’s Pavilion. After visit continue your drive to Dhar. On arrival at Dhar check in at your hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 07: Dhar - Maheshwar
After breakfast drive to Maheshwar. On arrival check in at your hotel. Afternoon visit the historical monuments including the fort. Maheshwar was a glorious city at the dawn of Indian civilization when it was Mahishmati, capital of king Kartivarjun. This temple town on the banks of the river Narmada finds mention in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Revived to its ancient position of importance by the Holkar queen Rani Ahilyabai of Indore. Maheshwar’s temples and mighty fort-complex stand in quiet beauty, mirrored in the river below. Temples of Maheshwar – Temples of Maheshwar are famous for the unique overhanging balconies. Like temples of olden times in many parts of India, temples here also have intricately crafted walls. And the one thing that will capture your attention will be the exceptionally carved doorway that welcomes you to the world of history. Kaleshwar Temple, Rajarajeshwara Temple, Akhileshwar Temple and Vithaleshwara Temple are the most known temples of the area. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 08: Maheshwar - Omkareshwar
After breakfast half day excursion to Omkareshwar. Omkareshwar, the sacred island, shaped like the holiest of all Hindu symbols, ‘Om’, has drawn to it hundreds of generations of pilgrims. Here, at the confluence of the rivers Narmada and Kaveri, the devout gather to kneel before the Jyotirlinga (one of the twelve throughout India) at the temple of Shri Omkar Mandhata. And here, as in so many of Madhya Pradesh’s sacred shrines, the works of Nature complement those of man to provide a setting awe-inspiring in its magnificence. Evening drive back to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 09: Maheshwar - Ujjain - Bhopal
After breakfast drive to Bhopal, en-route visiting Ujjain. At Ujjain visit the Mahakaleshwar Mandir, Vedha Shala (Observatory), Navgraha Mandir, Kal Bhairav Mandir. After visit continue drive to Bhopal. On arrival check in at your hotel. Later proceed to witness the fascinating amalgam of scenic beauty, historicity and modern urban planning of the historic city of Bhopal. local sightseeing of Bhopal which include Bharat Bhawan, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya , Laxmi Narayan or Birla Temple, Upper & Lower Lake and Jama Masjid. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 10: Bhopal - Bhimbetka - Bhojpur - Bhopal
After breakfast drive to Bhimbetka, enroute visiting Bhojpur This place have the biggest shivling in world. After visiting temples, and enjoy to boat ride to cross river and visit another temple. After visiting continue your journey to Bhimbetka. Bhimbetka here superimposition of paintings shows that the same canvas was used by different people at different times. The drawings and paintings can be classified under seven different periods. Evening drive back to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 11: Bhopal - Sanchi - Khajuraho
After breakfast, drive to Khajuraho enroute visiting Sanchi and witness the masterpieces of Buddhist Art, which speaks of the story of Emperor Ashoka’s becoming follower of Buddhism. Sanchi is known for its Stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars dating from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D. The most famous of these monuments, the Sanchi Stupa 1, was originally built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, the then governor of Ujjayini, whose wife Devi was the daughter of a merchant from adjacent Vidisha. Their son Mahindra and daughter Sanghamitra were born in Ujjayini and sent to Sri Lanka, where they converted the King, the Queen and their people to Buddhism. Later continue your drive to Khajuraho. On arrival check in at your hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 12: Khajuraho
Morning Enjoy sightseeing in Khajuraho, known for its temples built from 950 A.D. to 1150 A.D., by the Chandella Dynasty. This group of thirty temples is an example of Indian architectural excellence. The temples are best known for their erotic sculptures. Afternoon visit to Raneh Fall. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 13: Khajuraho - Orchha
After breakfast drive to Orchha.On arrival check in at your hotel. A medieval capital of the kingdom of Bundelkhand on the banks of the river Betwa. Visit its famous palaces including the Jahangir Mahal, Raj Mahal Ram Raja Temple and Chaturbhuj Temple. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 14: Orchha - Gwalior
After breakfast visit Orchha – Orchha is a small town placed on the banks of River Betwa and accurately translates to “hidden place “and is a well known traveler Destination. Orchha is residence to Bundella style of structural design and the palaces of Orchha bear observer to the magnificent work of medieval architects. The famous amongst this are Raj Mahal and Jahangir Mahal. The Raj Mandir – built on a square base has plain external with projecting windows. The Jahangir Mahal, built to welcome the Mughal emperor Jahangir is the magnificent example of Hindu structural design. The other attractions include the Raj Mahal, The Sheesh Mahal, the chaturbhuj temple. Along with these there are numerous Chhatris of royals or cenotaphs dotting the banks of the river Betwa.
Later drive to Gwalior via Datia. Datia mentioned in Mahabharata as the Daityavakra. Datia is most famous for the 17 th century, 7 storey hilltop Palace of Raja Bir Singh Deo. Among its main historical monuments Do not miss to see the temple with Mughal frescoes and the Gopeshwar Temple. On arrival at Gwalior check-in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 15: Gwalior - Delhi (By train)
After breakfast proceed city tour of Gwalior visiting enjoy a tour of the grand Gwalior Fort, the Man Mandir Palace, the Jivaji Rao Scindia Museum, Sas Bahu Ka Mandir, the tombs of Tansen and Ghias Mohammed and the Sun temple. Evening transfer to railway station to board train for Delhi. Arrive Delhi meeting & assistance on arrival & check in at your hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 16: Departure Delhi
Morning tour of Delhi visiting Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana – the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Jama Masjid and drive past Red Fort and Chandni Chowk. Afternoon visit Qutub Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in 1199, Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate (War Memorial Arch ), Also drive past President’s House, Parliament House, Government Secretariat Buildings. Late evening transfer to the Airport for your onwards destination.