DAY 01.   ARRIVE BOMBAY
Arrive Bombay, meet and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure                        

DAY 02.   IN BOMBAY overnight train to JALGAON 
Full day Sight seeing includes Gateway of India, built by George Wittet on the waterfront at Apollo Bunder. It was conceived as a triumphal arch to commemorate the visit of George V and queen Mary for the Delhi darbar in 1911. Elephanta Island, site of a magnificent series of rock cut cave temples with large sculptured interiors. These were excavated in the 7th and 8th centuries. Evening transfer to railway station, board an overnight train for Jalgaon. 

DAY 03.   ARRIVE JALGAON – AURANGABAD via AJANTA         Drive 194 Km 4 Hrs.
Arrive Jalgaon and drive to Aurangabad, en-route visit famous Ajanta Caves. Arrive and check in at hotel. 

The thirty rock-hewn caves at Ajanta which are cut into the scrap of a cliff are Chaityas (Chapels) & Viharas (Monastries). Most of these are carved so that a flood of natural light pours into them at any given time of the day. Both the facade & the inside of the chambers faithfully reproduce the structural patterns known to those ancient builders. On the walls are paintings, many still glowing with their original colors. The outer walls are covered with brilliantly executed sculpture. The caves are not numbered in chronological order. Cave nos. 9,10, 12, 13 are the earliest belonging to Hinayana sect of Buddhism. Cave no 1 to 8, 11 and 14 to 30 are of Mahayana sect among these Mahayana Caves nos. 19, 26 & 30 are the Chaityas and rest of them are Viharas. The most notable of all these caves are 1,2,9,10,16,17,19 and 26, here ancient Indian art attained the zenith of its development and revealed a dynamic rhythm of life.

DAY 04.   IN AURANGABAD overnight train to HYDERABAD
Morning full day city tour Aurangabd includes, the mausoleum of Aurangzeb's Begum Bibi ka Maqbara, It was intended to be a replica of the Taj Mahal, but suffers from all the defects of second hand art. Aurangabad Caves just 3 km behind the Bibi ka Maqbara, there are 12 caves which were excavated between the 3rd and 11th century A.D. Daulatabad Fort half way to Ellora, this hill top fortress was built in 1187, by Mohammad Tuglak, who shifted his capital here, re-naming it Daulatabad ('city of Fortune'). The fort is surrounded by thick walls, spiked gates, steep gravelled sideways and a moat. Late evening transfer to Aurangabad station to board overnight train to Hyderabad. 

DAY 05.   ARRIVE HYDERABAD
Early morning arrive Hyderabad and transfer to hotel. Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh was founded in the late 6'th century by Qutab Shahi dynasty line of Kings known for their beautiful monuments and mosques, Medieval Indian, Saracenic, Mughal and Colonial architecture which, create an architectural richness rarely found in other parts of the country. Hyderabad has the atmosphere of an Arabian Nights fairy tale.

Afternoon explore Islamic monument including Charminar, built in 1591, is one of the landmarks of the city. It rises to four stories and has space for a mosque on its topmost floor. Built in typical Qutb-Shahi style, with carefully finished stucco ornamentation and style minars. Mecca masjid, reputed to be among the largest in the world. Its construction proceeded in stages over almost whole of the 17th century. As well as colorful markets.  

DAY 06.   HYDERABAD – GULBERGA                                       Drive 241 Km 5 Hrs.
Morning visit Golconda Fort, the capital of the Qutb Shahi Sultans in the 16th centaury, is rich in historical monuments, which include the famous Golconda fort. The main citadel is situated on a hill and is surrounded by walls of solid stone. The outer wall, surrounding the whole township is about 8 miles long and is also strongly fortified. And drive to Gulberga. Arrive and check in at hotel. Afternoon visit Jammia Masjid and the Tombs of Bahmani Sultans.  

DAY 07.   GULBERGA - BIJAPUR                                            Drive 145 Km 3 Hrs.
Morning depart and drive to Bijapur. Arrive and check in at hotel. Afternoon explore Jammia Masjid mosque and bustling daily market.  

DAY 08.   BIJAPUR – BADAMI                                                 Drive 135 Km 3 Hrs.
Morning a short drive to Badami, arrive and check in at hotel. Afternoon visit cave temples. The capital of the early Chalukyas, Badami is picturesquely situated at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills. It has four rock-cut cave temples, the largest being the third cave dedicated to Vishnu. Overlooking the temples is a reservoir, its banks dotted with temples dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva. The Bhutanatha Temples and the museum set up by the Archaeological survey of India, are the other attractions.  

DAY 09.   BADAMI – HOSPIT via AIHOLE                              Drive 214 Km 4 ˝ Hrs.
Morning depart and drive to Hospit, en route visit Aihole temples, famous as the 'Cradle of Indian Temple Architecture', Aihole has over 125 temples all intricately carved and rich in detail. The oldest temple here, is perhaps the 5th century Lad Khan Temple. The Durga (Fort) Temple, has a semi-circular apse and a complete portico. The Hutchmalli Temple, the Ravalphadi Cave Temple, the Konti Temple complex, the Uma Maheshwari Temple and the two storied Buddhist Temple are the other attractions at Aihole. Late afternoon arrive and check in at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. 

DAY 10.   IN HOSPIT – BANGALORE                        Train
Full day visit sites of Hampi, founded in the middle of the 14th century by two local princes, Hukka & Bukka, the Vijayanagara empire came to be celebrated for its might and wealth and as a showpiece of imperial magnificence. The emperors of this dynasty were great patrons of art and architecture, which can still be seen in the vast ruins of Hampi. Evening transfer to Hospit railway station for overnight train to Bangalore.
(Option train to Goa: Hospit - Londa train and drive to Goa)

DAY 11.   ARRIVE BANGALORE
Arrive Bangalore and transfer to hotel. Afternoon orientation tour of the city. Located 1000m above sea level, this bustling capital city of Karnataka, has a perpetual holiday atmosphere. Founded in 1537 by a local chieftain Kempe Gowda, Bangalore has seen much and imbibed even more. To day it is a sprawling city, one of the fastest growing in India.

Winston Churchill once lived here in one of the earliest clubs set up by the British. Indeed, at one time, Bangalore was a little British Island in the south, with a distinct British flavor, and old British connections remain evident in such names as Richmond Town, Cox Town and Russel Market.

DAY 12.   BANGALORE – MYSORE                                   Drive 139 Km 3 Hrs. 
Morning drive to Mysore, ‘city of fragrance’ en route visit Srirangapatnam, arrive and check in at hotel. Afternoon orientation tour. of ‘Mysore’ to explore the huge Maharaja's Palace, impressive enough by day, is spectacular at night, lit by thousand dazzling lights. At the top of Chamundi Hill stands an enormous monolithic sculpture of the sacred bull Nandi. Afternoon at leisure for personal exploration of Mysore Sandalwood arts and crafts.  

DAY 13.   MYSORE – HASSAN via SHARAVANABELAGOLA   Drive 120 Km 2 ˝ Hrs. 
 Morning a short drive to Hassan, en route visit Shravanbelgola, the most remarkable work of art – though not necessarily the most beautiful – is the 57-foot statue of a Jain saint Gomateswara, raised on a granite hill, itself 394 feet above ground level. Arrive Hassan and check in at hotel. Afternoon visit Belur and Helibid.

By the beginning of the 7th century, the transition from the rock cut medium to structural techniques was already underway. Belure 86 km away is a striking example of the later. As is Halebid about 17 km east of Belur. But easily the most remarkable work of art – is the 57-foot statue of a Jain saint Gomateswara, raised on a granite hill, itself 394 feet above ground level.

DAY 14.   HASSAN – MANGALORE Drive 172 Km – GOA (afternoon train to MADGAON)
Morning drive to Mangalore in time to catch Goa bound train. Arrive Madgaon station in Goa and transfer to hotel.  

DAY 15 - 16.   IN GOA 
For our first day in Goa we take a half-day orientation tour in the morning. Rest of the half-day and next full day at leisure for personal exploration and relaxing.

The Portuguese under Alfonso de Albuquerque made landfall here in the 16th century, captured the original Arab trade settlement and began building a city of fine houses, gardens and fountains, monasteries, chapels and dozens of churches (most of them gone), including the white, severe, shapely cathedral of St Catherine (early 17th century, which still stands). It eventually became the entry point for East and West, where merchants could buy pearls, coral, rubies, golden jewelry, Silk, China porcelain, lacquered furniture, ambergris and exotic spices. Panaji (Panjim) is now Goa's easy - going capital, a friendly, sleepy place of narrow winding streets and white - washed houses with red and green shutters. Close by the capital are the beaches of Gaspar Dias and Dona Paula, and across the Mandovi river from Panaji is the superb Calangute Beach, the Malabar beaches here are so long and so white against the Arabian Sea, but the careful - bathing in some areas can be marred by a strong undertow.

DAY 17.   GOA – BOMBAY – DEPARTURE 
Morning fly to Bombay and transfer to Bombay International airport for homeward journey.