The Holy Shiva Temples & Caves in Maharashtra

Duration	Destination	Departure
11 days and 10 nights	India (Mumbai, Nasik, Aurangabad, Nanded, Ahmednagar, Bhimashankar)	India (Mumbai)

Description

The Holy Shiva Temples & Caves in Maharashtra tour will begin in Mumbai. Visit the commercial capital of India & drive to Nasik the land of ancient hindu temple & a Jyotirlinga. Next drive to Aurangabad via visiting Shirdi Saibaba temple. While in Aurangabad visit Ajanta Cave, Ellora Caves & Grishneshwar jyotirlinga. Further drive to visit Aundha Nagnath an ancient lord shiva temple & Nanded Sikh Gurudwara. Return drive to Mumbai via visiting Shree Vaijnath shiva temple with night stay at Ahmednagar & Bhimashankar. Bhimashankar is a Jyotirlinga Temple in the laps of Sahyadri Hills. You will also visit the Karla Caves and the Bhaja Caves in Lonavala while driving back to Mumbai.

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Category
3 Star Hotels (Private Tour) Bed & Breakfast en
Price includes  Assistance on arrival at airport.  11 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. Price does not include  Any flight tickets.  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.
4 star hotels (Private Tour) Bed & Breakfast en
Price includes  Assistance on arrival at airport.  11 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. Price does not include  Any flight tickets.  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.
5 star hotels (Private Tour) Bed & Breakfast en
Price includes  Assistance on arrival at airport.  11 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. Price does not include  Any flight tickets.  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.

Program

Day 1:
Arrive Mumbai
On arrival at Mumbai airport assistance & transfer to hotel (hotel check in/ out time 12pm). Rest time free to relax and personal activities.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 2:
Mumbai
Morning excursion to Elephant caves (Monday closed). Later city tour visiting CST, Prince of Wales Museum, Mani Bhawan & Dhobhi Ghat.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 3:
Mumbai - Nashik (170kms)
Drive to Nashik check in at hotel. Excursion to visit Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, Brahmagiri Fort & Gangadwar.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 4:
Nashik - Aurangabad (170kms)
Visit Panchavati temple complex, Ram Kund water tank, Kalaram Temple & Sita Gufaa. Later drive to Aurangabad via visiting Shirdi Sai Baba Temple. Arrive Aurangabad check in at hotel.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 5:
Aurangabad - Ajanta (210kms round)
Full day excursion to Ajanta which house 30 rock-cut cave from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE. Drive back to Aurangabad.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 6:
Aurangabad
Excursion to visit Ellora Caves, 34 monasteries and temples date back from 600 to 1000 AD. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple & Daulatabad Fort. Also visit Bibi ka Maqbara, Panchakki & Aurangabad Caves.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 7:
Aurangabad - Nanded (265kms)
Drive to Nanded via visiting Aundha Nagnath (Nageshwaram Temple) built by the Seuna dynasty in 13th century. Arrive Nanded check in a hotel. Later visit Hazur Sahib Gurudwara one of the five takhts in Sikhism.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 8:
Nanded - Ahmednagar (325kms)
Drive to Ahmednagar via visiting Shree Vaijnath Temple. Surrounded by four strong walls, the temple consists of corridors and a courtyard. Arrive Ahmednagar check in at hotel. Later visit Ahmednagar Fort. Rest time free to relax.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 9:
Ahmednagar - Bhimashankar (170kms)
Drive to Bhimashankar check in at hotel. Later visit Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple located in the laps of Sahyadri Hills. Optionally trek in Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary famous for being a home to many endemic and pandemic animal and bird.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 10:
Bhimashankar - Mumbai (200kms)
Drive to Mumbai via visiting The Karla Caves and the Bhaja Caves 160 BC. ancient Buddhist shrines in Lonavala. The caves have rooms for the monks who resided here a prayer hall and a huge stupa. Also visit imposing Lohagad Fort & Bhushi Dam. Continue drive to Mumbai and check in at hotel.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 11:
Mumbai - Departure
As per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.
Meal plan: Breakfast

Price includes

 Assistance on arrival at airport.
 11 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.

Price does not include

 Any flight tickets.
 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.

Itinerary

Day	Overnight	Itinerary highlights
1	4 StarsMumbai	Mumbai - Mumbai Airport or your hotel in Mumbai
2	4 StarsMumbai
3	4 StarsNashik
4	4 StarsAurangabad
5	4 StarsAurangabad
6	4 StarsAurangabad
7	4 StarsNanded
8	4 StarsAhmednagar
9	4 StarsBhimashankar
10	4 StarsMumbai
11		Mumbai - Mumbai Airport

Accommodations provided in each place

Place	3 Star Hotels	4 star hotels	5 star hotels
Mumbai	Hotel Suba Palace/ BW Hotel Sahil or similar	Sun-N-Sand Hotel/ Fariyas Hotel or similar	Trident Hotel/ ITC Grand Central or similar
Nashik	Lily Sarovar Portico/ Ibis Nashik - An AccorHotels or similar	Regenta Resort Soma Village/ Express Inn or similar	The Gateway Hotel Ambad/ Beyond By Sula or similar
Aurangabad	Amarpreet Hotel/ Key Hotel The Aures or similar	Ambassador Ajanta / VITS Hotel or similar	WelcomHotel Rama International/ Lemon Tree Hotel or similar
Nanded	Gurudwara Sarai or similar
Ahmednagar	Iris Premiere Hotel/ Hotel Raj Palace or similar
Bhimashankar	Neelam Hills Resort/ Blue Mormon Jungle Holiday Resort or similar