Tripology

Arrive in the Mumbai international airport. You will meet and be assisted by our representative, who will help you transfer to your hotel for overnight stay.

Sightseeing

After breakfast, you will enjoy a guided tour of Mumbai city, visiting the Marine drive, the Hanging Gardens, the Crawford Market, the Afghan Church in Colaba, the Prince of Wales Museum, the Chowpatty, and the beach.

Hotel

Overnight in hotel.

Historical and Educational Tours

After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to Nashik (also pronounced NASIK), a sacred city on the banks of the River Godavari, which is now a throbbing industrial town. Its beautiful architecture, temples, and caves are a mute testimony to its rich, eventful history. It is an ancient city, yet one that has ridden astride the wheels of history and bears its footprints. The Egyptian historian Ptolemy (A.D. 150) had found this place to be a flourishing center for trade and commerce. The place is abounded in temples, some of them more than two hundred years old. The Sundranarayan Temple, with its richly carved and domed porticoes, and its highly ornamented central dome made of beautifully dressed stone, is a treat for the eyes. We will also visit the Kampaleshwar temple of Lord Shiva, where he is wearing a skull. The Temple of Balaji, which was built on the confluence of the Godavari and the Saraswati that flows underground, has copper images of Balaji, Ramadevi, and Laxmi decked with valuable jewelery. The other temples are the Kalaram Mandir, the Goraram Mandir, and the Rameshwar or Bell temple. In some temples, the lingas date back to the age of Rama. It is no wonder then that Nasik is called the Benares of southern India and the Godavari, the Ganges of the South.

Hotel

Overnight in hotel.

Historical and Educational Tours

In the morning, we will drive to Trimbakeshwar. It is famous for the Trimbakeshwar Temple and source of the Godavari River. Trimbakeshwar enshrines one of the 12 Jyotir lingas dedicated to Shiva and this one is considered to be the main jyotirlinga. Legend has it that Guatam Rishi performed a rigorous ritual of prayer and penance or tapasya to Shiva on Brahmagiri Hill, which rises above the present-day temple. Pleased with this devotion, Shiva is said to have blessed him and brought down to earth from heaven the sacred rivers of Ganga, Gautami and Godavari. At the Kushavarta Teerth, devotees usually dip themselves into the waters and purify themselves of all sins before entering the temple. To this day, Hindus offer shraad prayers (prayers for the souls of the departed) here. It is also believed that bathing in the waters of the Godavari will bring "moksha" or salvation. Mondays are considered particularly holy and the priests carry the idol of Trimbakeshwar in a palanquin on their shoulders around the temple.

Sightseeing

The annual festival of Shivratri is also celebrated and attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over.

Hotel

For overnight return to Nashik.

Sightseeing

After breakfast, the day is free at leisure to perform holy activities at Trimbakeshwar.

Hotel

Overnight at hotel in Nashik.

Sightseeing

Breakfast at hotel. Proceed to Shirdi to visit Mahasamadhi temple of Sri Sai Baba. Abode one of Maharashtra's most revered saint -- Sai Baba of Shirdi. Popularly known as the 'Child of God', Sai Baba preached tolerance towards all religions and the message of universal brotherhood. Every activity at Shirdi revolves around the vast temple complex dedicated to Sai Baba. Devotees start queuing up in the early hours of dawn to catch a glimpse and seek the blessings of the life-size statue of Sai Baba.

Sightseeing

Thursday is marked by special pujas and darshan of the Sai Baba statue. You will visit the Dwarkamani Mosque where the Baba meditated and slept on alternate nights. Near the mosque, in a corridor, is the dhuni or eternal flame that burns day and night. Other places of importance are the Gurusthan, the Kandoba Temple, Shani Mandir, Narsimha Mandir, Changdev Maharaj Samadhi, and the Sakori.

Hotel

Overnight at hotel.

Sightseeing

Day free on own to attend prayers and activities at the temples and the local village.

Private Car Service

Morning drive to the most enchanting caves in the world, the Ajanta and Ellora caves in Auragabad, a world heritage site.

Hotel

On arrival, check-in to the hotel to freshen up.

Sightseeing

Later proceed for a half day guided excursion of the ancient Ajanta caves. The 30 odd Buddhist caves at Ajanta are full of sculptures and frescoes of life of Lord Buddha. Evening at leisure.

Hotel

Overnight at hotel in Aurangabad.

Sightseeing

After breakfast, there is a guided excursion to the Ellora Caves, where one can see Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu shrines dating back to 4th to 9th century A.D.

Commercial Flight

Afternoon transfer to the Aurangabad airport to board flight for Mumbai domestic airport. Shift to international airport for flight for onward destination.

Hotel

Stay in Mumbai airport hotel to connect later flight.