AURANGABAD EXTENSION
Duration: 3 Days
DAY 1 MUMBAI - AURANGABAD
This morning, transfer to the domestic airport for your flight to Aurangabad
Leave: Mumbai at 07:10 hours by 9W- 3103
Arrive: Aurangabad at 08:05 hours
On arrival, meet and greet at the airport and transfer to your hotel.
The city of Aurangabad was founded by Malik Ambar, the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah II in 1610, on the site of a village, Khirki. When Fateh Khan, Malik Ambar's son succeeded the throne in 1626, he named the city 'Fatehpur'. In 1653, when Aurangzeb became the Viceroy of the Deccan, he made it his capital, and renamed it Aurangabad. A region that has been inhabited since the Stone Ages, Aurangabad has seen several dynasties come and go, absorbing the culture of each into itself.
This afternoon, visit the Ellora caves, located 30 kms from Aurangabad. The 34 caves are famous for their remarkable sculptures. What makes these caves unique is the fact that they are dedicated to three different religions - Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. One of the key features is the Kailasa temple at Ellora, an unparalleled piece of ancient Indian architecture.
Overnight in Aurangabad
DAY 2 AURANGABAD
Today full day excursion to Ajanta caves.
Way back in1819, a party of British army officers on a tiger hunt in the forest of western Deccan, suddenly spotted their prey, on the far side of a loop in the Waghora river. High up on the horseshoe-shaped cliff, the hunting party saw the tiger, silhouetted against the carved façade of a cave. On investigating, the officers discovered a series of carved caves, each more dramatic than the other. There are thirty caves, including some unfinished ones. Of the Ajanta caves, five are ‘chaityas’ or prayer halls and the rest are ‘viharas’ or monasteries. Hewn painstakingly as monsoon retreats or ‘varshavasas’ for Buddhist monks, the cave complex was continuously lived in from 200 BC to about AD650. The painting within the cave delineates the life and teaching of Buddha, his early life as a prince surrounded by women and the splendor of court life.
Overnight in Aurangabad
DAY 3 AURANGABAD - MUMBAI
This morning, sightseeing of Aurangabad city includes a visit to Bibi-Ka-Maqbara. The so called "poor-man's Taj Mahal" was built in 1679 as a mausoleum for Aurangezeb's wife, Rabd-ud-daurani. It is a cheap imitation of the Taj in both design and execution. On the main gate an inscription reveals that it cost precisely Rs 665,283 and 7 annas to build. It attracts hordes of visitors and would no doubt be considered a high point of Mughal architecture if the Taj did not exist. Later visit the Aurangabad Caves, situated three kilometers north of Aurangabad, the caves are very interesting though not a substitute for Ajanta and Ellora. They were carved out of the hillside around the 6th or 7th century AD. The caves fall into two groups of five each, about 1½ km apart; caves 1 to 5 are in the western group and caves 6 to 10 are in the eastern group.
Also visit Pan Chakki. Dating back to the 17th century, this ingenious watermill, that takes its name from the mill, which used to grind grain for the pilgrims, was designed to generate energy via water, brought down from a spring on a mountain, located nearby. The energy generated was, further, used to turn the large grinding stones of the flourmill. It was built by Malik Ambar himself, in 1695. In 1624, a Sufi saint who was much revered by Aurangzeb was buried here, the gardens and fish tanks serve as his memorial.
Later transfer in time for your flight to Mumbai -
Leave: Aurangabad at 17:30 hours by IC- 888
Arrive: Mumbai at 18:15 hours
On arrival, meet and greet at the airport and transfer to your hotel
End of the tour