Rimjhim Sinha Sales Manager the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel Mumbai +
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Rimjhim Sinha Sales Manager The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel Mumbai +91 22 6665 1052 [email protected] www.tajhotels.com ITINERARY-Bombay-Pune-Hyderabad-Madras-Bangalore-Goa 18 Days Day 01: Arrive Mumbai from Abroad. Transfer to The Taj Mahal Hotel Mumbai / Taj President and overnight. Day 02: Morning depart for Half day excursion of Elephanta. A Mute testimony of the Golden Age in Indian History during the Gupta Period and built to honour Lord Shiva. Elephanta is a 03Km long elaborated island, consisting of two hills separated by a valley. The cave with rock cut figures and carvings are believed to be carved by the sculptors of Ajanta or Udaygiri. Afternoon leave for City Tour of Mumbai - It includes a visit to the Gateway of India erected to commemorate the landing of King George 5th and Queen Mary in 1911,Prince of Wales Museum, Marine Drive, Chowpatty Beach, Hanging Gardens, Crawford Market, Victoria Terminus and the Mani Bhavan. Overnight at hotel. Day 03: Day free for Independent activities and shopping. Overnight at hotel. Day 04: Early morning transfer to Mumbai Central Railway Station to take Shatabdi Express (2027) for Pune. Dep: 06:40 hrs. and Arr: 10:05 hrs. Transfer to Blue Diamond Hotel. In the afternoon leave for Half Day Tour of Pune. Visit the Aga Khan Palace, The Bund Garden, Chaturshingri Temple, Snake Park, Shaniwar Wada, University Building and the Yoga Institute. Overnight at hotel. Day 05: Depart for full day return trip to Karla & Bhaja Caves. Dating back to the 2nd Century BC, The Monuments at Karla are one of the oldest Buddhist shrines in India. The Magnificent Chaitya Hall is the Largest and most evolved example of its class. The 03 most important features are the Pillars, The Roof Vault and the great Sun Window. There are 37 Columns in all. This is the only place in India where 2000 years old woodwork can be seen. Overnight at hotel. Day 06: Afternoon depart to the Railway Station to take Hyderabad Express (7031) to Hyderabad. Dep:16:40 hrs. and Arr: 06:05 hrs. (Overnight in the train). Day 07: Transfer to Taj Krishna Hotel / Taj Residency / Taj Banjara. Afternoon depart for half Day tour of Hyderabad. The Centre of Muslim Culture and learning, Hyderabad evokes the great days of it's past though it's historical monuments. Visit the Charminar - The symbol of Hyderabad, Meena Masjid, Birla Temple, Hussain Sagar and the remarkable Salarjung Museum. Overnight at hotel. Day 08: Depart for full day return trip to Nagarjuna Konda. Earlier called as Vijaypuri in Ancient times it is an important Buddhist site located 150 Kms from Hyderabad. It is names after Buddhist saint Acarya Nagarjuna and reveals one of the most outstanding civilizations of the 03rd Century AD. A replica of the excavated site has been created and carefully preserved on an island known as Nagarjuna Konda. The Excavations have brought to light the Mahachaityas, the most sacred of the Supas. An inscription in Brahmi characters states that the relics of Buddha lie within the Mahachaitya. Tools of the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages can also be found there. Overnight at hotel. Day 09: Morning free for independent activities. Afternoon depart to the railway station to take Charminar Express (2760) Dep: 18:00 and Arr: 07:55 or Chennai Express (7054) Dep: 15:50 and Arr:05:55 (overnight in the train) Day 10: Transfer to Taj Coromandel / Taj Connemara Hotel. Afternoon depart for Half day tour of Chennai. Visit the Marina Beach - Second longest Beach in the world, it is an elegant promenade, the Fort St. George - the 1st foothold of the British Empire in India, Covelong Beach etc. Overnight at hotel. Day 11: Depart for full day return trip to Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram. Mahabalipuram: 61Kms away from Chennai, it is well known for its marvelous monuments created by the Pallava Kings. The Shore Temple, Monolithic rathas (Chariots), Caves, Mandapams and Arjuna's Penance, a sculptural panel is worth seeing. Kanchipuram: 71Kms away from Chennai, it is known as the Golden City of a Thousand temples. It was once a capital of the Pallava Dynasty. It is one of the seven sacred cities of India. Adi Shankaracharya established his Episcopal seat here. The Vaikuntha perumal Temple, Kailashnath Temple, Ekambareshwara temple and Sri Kamakshi Temple are worth visiting. Overnight at hotel or maybe choose to stay on the Fisherman’s Cove in Covelong.. Day 12: Day free for Independent activities. Evening depart to the Railway station to take Bangalore Mail (6007) to Bangalore. Dep: 22:15 and Arr: 04:50 or the Mysore Express Dep: 22:45 and Arr: 05:55. (overnight in train). Day 13: Transfer to Taj West End / Taj Residency Hotel. Afternoon depart for half day Tour of Bangalore. Termed as the fastest growing city in India, hailed as the Air-conditioned and Garden City of India, Bangalore delights the visitors by its charm and beauty. Visit the Lalbagh, Gole temple, The Government Building, Visheshwara Museum and the Ulsoor Lake. Overnight at hotel. Day 14: Morning depart by surface to Mysore. On arrival check in at Hotel. Afternoon leave for City Tour of and around Mysore. The Royal City, the jewel of Karnataka, the Sandalwood city, Mysore is a Magnificent Tourist paradise. It has gorgeous palaces, beautiful parks, wonderful Museums and art galleries. Visit the Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hills, Lalitha Mahal palace, Zoological garden etc. Around Mysore. Krishnarajasagar Dam & the Brindavan Gardens - The world famous Brindavan Gardens on the terraces of the KRS Dam across the river Cauvery is a meticulously planned garden which comes alive in a burst of dazzling colours when the dancing fountain lends it an enchanting view. Srirangapatna - It was the island fortress of Tipu Sultan and is a mute witness to the days of chivalry and valour of the age. Overnight at Hotel. Day 15: Morning depart by surface to Chikmagalur with enroute visit to Sravanbelgola, Belur & Halebid. Sravanbelgola - A great centre for Jain culture, it is situated at a distance of 100 kms from Mysore. It is famous for the colossal 17 Metre high statue of Gomateshwara (Bahubali) carved out of a monolithic stone. The place attained historical importance when Chandragupta Maurya settled here in 3rd Century BC. There are also Jain Monasteries. Belur & Halebid - The Hoysala Dynasty built more than 150 temples, each a masterpiece. The Temples of Belur & Halebid are hailed as "Nectar in Stone". They surpass some of the world's well-known creations in their beauty and execution. Overnight at Taj Garden Retreat Chikmagalur. Day 16: Transfer from Chikmagalur to Bangalore to connect flight 9W 3515 to Goa. On arrival transfer to Taj Exotica / Fort Aguada Beach Resort / Taj Holiday Village. Rest of the day free for Independent activities. Overnight at Hotel. Day 17: Morning depart for Half day tour of Goa. A former Portuguese colony, it still retains a Latin atmosphere heightened by white washed Churches, Taverns and Pubs. miles of virgin unspoilt Beaches and Bougainvilleas nestled on the silver shores of the Arabia Sea makes Goa an irresistible place. Visit the Se Cathedral Church, which is the largest church in Asia and the Basilica of Bom Jesus which houses the relics of St. Francis Xavier, which is an international pilgrim, centre. Overnight at Hotel. Day 18: Day free for relaxation and Beach activities. Day 19: Depart to Airport / Railway station for onward destination. SUGGESTED TAMIL NADU ITINERARY CHENNAI – MAHABALIPURAM – KANCHIPURAM – MADURAI (4 NIGHTS / 5 DAYS) DAY 1: CHENNAI Touchdown at Chennai Airport. Check in to Taj Coromandel Hotel OR Taj Connemara Morning: Is at leisure Afternoon: Proceed on a visit of Chennai Start the tour with a visit of Fort St. George, which is presently the Secretariat and the Legislative Assembly. The museum within has a fascinating collection of memorabilia from the days of the East India Company of the British Raj. Around the walls hang many paintings of Fort St. George's Governors and other officials of the British regime. Visit St. Mary's Church built in 1678 and was the first English Church and is the today the oldest surviving British construction in India. Robert Clive was married here in 1753, as well as Elihu Yale, one of the governors of Chennai who subsequently founded the famous university bearing the name in the USA. Visit the High Court building, which is said to be largest judicial building in the world after the courts of London. Visit the Government Museum and Art Gallery in which the Archeological section and the Bronze Gallery are most interesting. This building originally belonged to a group of eminent British citizens known as the Pantheon committee who were charged with improving the social life of the British in Chennai. Drive on to the Kapaleshwara Temple, which is a Shiva Temple. Drive past the Marina Beach, which is said to be the second longest in the world. Overnight at Taj Coromandel or Taj Connemara Hotel DAY 2: CHENNAI - MAHABALIPURAM Morning: Drive to Mahabalipuram (50 kms/ 1 hr 30 mins.), the dream world of Tamil art that awes even the uninitiated. Here is an open-air museum of sculpture in living rock, which has no parallel in the world. The piece-de- resistance of this monumental art exhibition is undoubtedly Arjuna’s Penance or the Descent of the Ganga, the world’s largest bas-relief, 764 ft by 288 ft and one of the major masterpieces of Indian art. It is a beautiful composition of hundreds of celestial beings, humans and animals, all hurrying to a natural rock cleft that divides the giant stone canvas. Dominating the scene is a 16 ft long elephant leading a procession of elephants to the scene of the penance by the cleft, where Arjuna stands on one leg to propitiate Lord Shiva to help him win back the Pandava kingdom.