This 6-day tour follows the Buddhist trail in Maharashtra, visiting several important cave sites from ancient Buddhist periods. The itinerary includes: Day 1: Travel from Mumbai to Aurangabad. Day 2: Visit the Ajanta Caves, famous for paintings and carvings depicting Buddha's life. Day 3: Tour the Ellora Caves, with 34 caves of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. Travel to Nasik and overnight. Day 4: Visit the Pandavleni Caves and travel to Lonavala. Day 5: Tour the Karla and Bhaja caves, examples of early Buddhist art. Travel back to Mumbai

1. MAHARASHTRA UNLIMITED
Experiences
Frainy Villa, 10. Henry Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400001
Tel : (022) 61559771-75 e-mail : holidays@codeindia.com
Website: www.codeindia.com
TOUR NO MUFIT 601: Tour Itinerary: 05 Nights / 06 Days
FOLLOWING THE BUDDHIST TRAIL:
Aurangabad – Nasik – Lonavala – Mumbai
Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Pandavleni Caves – Karla Caves – Bhaja Caves and the Kanheri Caves.
DAY 01: MUMBAI – AURANGABAD
Morning, pick up from your Mumbai Hotel at 0630 hours. Leave for Aurangabad by road (372 km). Arrive Aurangabad
and check in at the hotel. Evening at leisure. Overnight at the hotel. (D)
DAY 02: AURANGABAD – AJANTA CAVES
Morning, after breakfast, visit the World Famous Ajanta Caves and the highlight of the Best of Maharashtra Tour. The
intriguing Ajanta Caves are carved out of large rocks architecture and are 30 in number. These caves of the Hinayana
and Mahayana period, made of basalt rock, dug top to bottom are dedicated to Lord Buddha. The carvings and the
paintings in the caves depict the life stories of Lord Buddha. Along with this, several types of human and animal
figures are also carved out of the rocks. Return at Aurangabad. Evening at leisure. Overnight at the hotel. (B, D)
DAY 03: AURANGABAD – ELLORA CAVES – NASIK
Morning after breakfast check out of the hotel and leave for a half day tour of the Ellora Caves. Ellora represents one
of the largest rock-cut monastic-temple complexes in the entire world (built during the 7 – 12 Century), of three
different religions, viz., Buddhist, Hindu and Jain. In total, there are 34 caves in the hill range. Cave No. 1 to 12 are the
Buddhist Caves, 13 to 29 are the Hindu Caves and 30 to 34 are the Jain Caves. After the Ellora tour leave for Nasik
(218 km). Arrive Nasik and check in at hotel. Overnight at the hotel. (B, D)
DAY 04: NASIK (PANDAVLENI CAVES) – LONAVALA
Morning after breakfast, check out of the hotel and visit the Pandavleni Caves. Located high in the mountains of
Pandavleni are a group of 24 Hinayana Buddhist Caves, dating from around the 1st century BC. Situated on a
tableland atop the Trivashmi Hill. Amongst all the caves, the most significant ones are Caves eighteen and twenty. All
the caves with the exception of cave 18 are viharas (monasteries) and are counted amongst the oldest structures
situated in the vicinity of Nasik. The caves had an excellent arrangement for water, with skillfully chiseled water tanks,
exquisitely carved into the rocks. The climb up to the caves might be arduous but once there you will be awestruck
with the simple beauty of the viharas in the caves. Afternoon leave for Lonavala (221 km) Arrive Lonavala and check
in. Dinner and Overnight at the hotel. (B, D)
DAY 05: LONAVALA – KARLA CAVES – BHAJA CAVES – MUMBAI
Morning after an early breakfast leave to visit the Karla and Bhaja Caves. The Karla caves are centuries old and
probably have the largest collection of Chaityas. The caves with Viharas were excavated for the Buddhist monks, who
used to gather here during the monsoons. Built in the time of the Hinayana sect, during the Satavahanas rule, these
caves do not actually show the Buddha. A steep 350-step climb leads to the caves. The Bhaja caves, a group of 18
caves, built during the reign of the Mauryan rulers in the 2nd century BC, are a fine illustrations from the early
Theravadin phase of Buddhism. Also embellishing the Bhaja caves are the images of some animals and situations of
some of the Buddhist tales. Afternoon / Evening leave for Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai and check in at your hotel in Mumbai.
Overnight at the hotel. (B, D)
DAY 06: MUMBAI – KANHERI CAVES – AURANGABAD
Morning after breakfast leave for a half day tour of the Kanheri Caves situated within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
Kanheri Caves is an excellent illustration, which portrays the rise and fall of Buddhism in India. Majority of the caves
are monasteries, intended for living, study and meditation. All of them have elaborately carved sculptures, reliefs and
pillars and encompass rock-cut stupas for worship. No less than a hundred inscriptions have been found here, in
Brahmi, Devanagari and Pallavi scripts. Afternoon drop at your Mumbai hotel / Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport /
CST Terminus for onward destination. (B). Tour ends.
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