6D4N INDIA: Mumbai & Maharashtra UNESCO

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1 EL SOL TRAVEL & TOURS SDN BHD - 54B, 1st Flr, Jln Desa Bakti, Tmn Desa, KL Tel: Fax: david@elsoltravel.com 6D4N INDIA: Mumbai & Maharashtra UNESCO MUMBAI ELEPHANTA ISLAND AURANGABAD DAULATABAD FORT ELLORA AJANTA MUMBAI 4 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE Elephanta Caves, Ellora Caves & Ajanta Caves; (India s finest cave temples) + Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Terminal (Victoria Terminus) DAY 1: MUMBAI arrival 7.50pm Malindo Air KLIA2 KLIA2. Arrival Mumbai airport 10.25pm. Overnight in Mumbai. DAY 2: MUMBAI ELEPHANTA CAVES overnight train AURANGABAD (B/L/D) After breakfast, enjoy excursion to Elephanta island, located 10 km away from the Gateway of India. The UNESCO World Heritage Elephanta Caves are rock cut temples (as old as 5th century) located in caves on this island. It consists of two groups of caves; a group of five Hindu caves and a group of two Buddhist caves. The Elephanta island was named by the Portuguese, after the statue of an elephant near the corridor area of the island.

2 Return back to Mumbai and go on a short drive-by sight-seeing around Kala Ghoda district which has a large number of the city's heritage buildings, and is full of museums, art galleries and educational institutions like the Jehangir Art Gallery, the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (formerly Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, opened in 1922) and The Arts Trust. Next, a photo-stop at Gateway of India, Mumbai s top tourist attraction. The Gateway of India was completed in 1924 to commemorate the landing of their Majesties King George V and Queen Mary at the waterfront during their 1911 visit. Then a photo-stop at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai's first harbour landmark, built in 1903 by the industrialist Jamsedji Tata. Transfer to a budget hotel for use of shower facilities before dinner & train journey. After dinner, transfer to Mumbai Railway station to catch your overnight train to Aurangabad (Devagiri Express: Dep / Arr nd class Air-Con Sleeper Coach). DAY 3: AURANGABAD DAULATABAD FORT - ELLORA CAVES AURANGZEB TOMB - AURANGABAD (B/L/D) Early morning arrival in Aurangabad railway station. Transfer for breakfast. Transfer to visit Daulatabad Fort, one of the world s best preserved fort, built by Raja Billamraj during the 12th century. In the 14th century, the fort was briefly made a capital city by Muhammad-bin-Tughluq in Daulatabad means the abode of wealth.

3 Then to UNESCO World Heritage Ellora Caves, known for its Buddhist, Jain and Hindu cultural influences. It is an archaeological site of 34 "caves", that are actually structures excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills. The Buddhist, Hindu and Jain rockcut temples and viharas and mathas were built between the 5th century and 10th century by the Rashtrakuta dynasty and represents the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture. The existence of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves in close proximity demonstrates the religious harmony prevalent during this period of Indian history. Visit all 12 caves of Buddhist group, all 17 caves of Hindu group and all 5 caves of Jain group. Next is visit of Aurangzeb s Tomb, the sixth Mughal Emperor who ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly half a century before passing away on 20th February Transfer back to Aurangabad to overnight. DAY 4: AURANGABAD & AJANTA CAVES day trip (B/L/D) After breakfast, transfer to visit UNESCO World Heritage Ajanta Caves. Nestling in an inner fold of the Sahyadri hills, 100 kms from the city of Aurangabad in the shape of a mammoth horseshoe are the 30 rock-hewn caves of Ajanta, dating from 2nd century B.C. Discovered in 1819 by a group of British Officers, these startling achievements took around 600 years to create. Carved with little more than a hammer and chisel, Ajanta, once the retreat of the Buddhist monastic orders features several Chaityas and Viharas.

4 The caves include paintings and sculptures described by the government Archaeological Survey of India as "the finest surviving examples of Indian art, particularly painting"; masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, with figures of the Buddha and depictions of the Jataka tales. Visit Cave 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 16,17,19, 24, 26 & 27. If extra time available, visit other caves (subject to these caves being opened to visitors). Go to the 2 lookout points for view of the horse-shoe shape gorge of Ajanta. Then return to Aurangabad and visit Bibi Ka Maqbara, the burial place of Aurangzeb s wife Rabia-Durrani, built by Aurangzeb s son in 1679 AD in memory of his mother. It is known as Little Taj Mahal. Overnight in Aurangabad. DAY 5: AURANGABAD day train MUMBAI departure (B/L/D) Early morning, transfer to Aurangabad Railway station (with packed breakfast) to catch your train to Mumbai (Shatabdi Express: Dep / Arr Air-Con Chair Coach Class)

5 Arrival at Mumbai s UNESCO World Heritage Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly known as Victoria Terminus), an historic railway station which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. Designed by Frederick William Stevens with influences from Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture and traditional Mughal buildings, the station was built in 1887 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. It was renamed in 1996 after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Indian warrior king who founded the Maratha Empire. Enjoy a short photo session in front of the terminus. Then visit Crawford Market, one of south Mumbai's most famous markets, named after Arthur Crawford, the first Municipal Commissioner of the city. Then view from outside, Jama Masjid, a mosque built by India s oldest Muslim community in 6th century. Next is Mirchi Galli, the oldest spice market of the city; followed by Mangaldas Cloth Market, a major cloth center of Mumbai. Then to Zaveri Bazaar, a jewelry market and a major hub for B2B jewelry industry of India. Proceed to visit Wellington Fountain built in 1865 to commemorate the visit of the Duke of Wellington to India and have a short walk in the area filled with colonial buildings. Later in the evening, proceed to Marine Drive to enjoy sunset and dinner at a nearby restaurant. After dinner, transfer to Mumbai airport to catch your 11.15pm flight home. DAY 6: KUALA LUMPUR arrival Arrival at KLIA2 at 6.25am.

6 RATES: per person, twin sharing, based on group sizes as below: 3 star HOTEL OPTION: Le Grande Hotel, Mumbai or similar (1 night) Hotel Green Olive, Aurangabad or similar (2 nights) NOTE: March 18 23, 2017 group departure tour uses 3 star hotel option 6 paxs: RM paxs: RM paxs: RM 1970 Single Supplement: RM star HOTEL OPTION: Kohinoor Continental Hotel, Mumbai or similar (1 night) Hotel Lemon Tree, Aurangabad or similar (2 nights) 6 paxs: RM paxs: RM paxs: RM 2360 Single Supplement: RM 860 Rates & itinerary subject to changes in FOREX rates, price of air tickets/train tickets, unforeseen surcharges, train/flight schedules, weather, local conditions, etc. INCLUSIVE: a) Airport-hotel transfers and tour excursion using tour vans / tour bus on private basis b) Train tickets: DAY 2 Mumbai to Aurangabad (2nd class Air-Con Sleeper Coach) DAY 5 Aurangabad to Mumbai (Air-Con Chair Coach Class) c) Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast according to option chosen d) Meals as per listed in itinerary above e) English speaking tour guide accompanying throughout tour from Day 1 to Day 5 f) Entrance fees for all attractions inclusive as per itinerary g) Return ferry ride and tourist train ticket for Elephanta Island visit h) 2 x 500ml bottles of drinking water /traveler/day for Day 2 to 4 and 1 bottle for Day 5 EXCLUDING: a) Malindo Air air tickets & airport taxes; approx. starting from RM 1,400. If group size is 8 persons or more, group booking airfare approx. starting from RM 900. Air fares and group booking terms & conditions subject to change by Malindo Air. b) India Visa as per Indian High Commission regulation, to be applied directly in-person at India visa center; RM198 /person OR applied online using e-visa facility USD 40 /person c) Travel insurance (AXA Assurance Smart Traveler VIP Plan: RM 52 per person) d) Tipping for tour guide and drivers: recommended minimum USD 30 /traveler e) Expenses of personal nature like activities not part of itinerary, video/camera fees (where applicable), laundry charges, mini bar charges, tipping for services of personal nature, etc.