INDIA MUMBAI AURANGABAD PUNE SAWANTWADI WEST NASHIK AKLUJ GANPATIPULE PANJIM

Insider Tips:

Ÿ This itinerary is best done from October till May.

Ÿ Not more than 10 people in a group as the hotel inventory is limited in some places.

Ÿ To experience the delicious varieties of mangoes of coastal , the best time to travel is between mid-April to May.

Ÿ The harvesting season of the Akhluj Vineyard is between January to March where you can even pick grapes.

Ÿ Wednesday is the best day to walk around the ghats by Nashik Aurangabad the river Godavari in Nashik because of the weekly haat Pune Mumbai (market). People from in and around Nashik come here Akluj with their knick-knacks and set up shops by the river. Ganpatipule Sawantwadi Great time to soak in the sights, smells and sounds, as Panjim people negotiate, buy and sell.

Ÿ Every February, Mumbai plays host to the the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, a community celebration of music, dance, theatre, literature, cinema, visual arts, urban design and architecture within one of the most beautiful and historic precincts of the city, The Kala Ghoda Art District.

WST2 > 17 DAY TOUR DISCOVER MAHARASHTRA Maharashtra, one of the largest and most populous states in , is an exciting new destination with an amazing contrast in landscape, monuments, culture and experiences. While its colourful festivals galvanize its millions into fervent motion, there exist lazy palm-fringed beaches, lofty cool-green mountains, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, impressive national parks and bustling cosmopolitan cities. This is an India which is equally vibrant, colourful and beautiful when compared to some of its well-trodden destinations, yet unexplored. The region of coastal Maharashtra and mangoes is an unbeatable combination. Very rarely do travellers get to see where this delicious fruit grows during their India holiday. How exciting it would be to eat, drink and sleep mangoes for a few days! This itinerary, during April-May, offers just this. Stay near a mango orchard, pluck mangoes from the trees and enjoy an unlimited supply of the king of fruits! MALVANI CUISINE Originating from Malvan, a coastal sleepy town of Maharashtra bordering Goa, Malvani cuisine pays ode to the spice lover. A delectable marriage between quintessential coastal elements, Malvani food is liberally laden with coconut concoctions and fish curries rich in spices like red chilies, black peppercorn, cardamom, ginger, cloves and sometimes raw mango. { Even though the cuisine is predominantly non-vegetarian, it's also home to some of the finest { vegetarian preparations indigenous to the Konkan/Malvan region

TOUR ITINERARY | WST 2

DAY 01 ARRIVAL MUMBAI three major religions – Buddhism, spend the morning in the orchard Warm welcome at the airport by our Hinduism and Jainism – between the plucking the different varieties of representative and transfer to the 5th and the 10th century AD. Also mangoes, and at other times, visit hotel. visit the Daulatabad Fort before the Ganapatipule Temple. Later in returning to Aurangabad. DAY 02 IN MUMBAI the day, explore town and Visit the main sights of Mumbai such DAY 07 AURANGABAD – FRATELLI end your day by climbing up the as the Gateway of India, Prince of VINEYARDS Ratnagiri lighthouse. Wales Museum, the Dhobi Ghat and Drive to Fratelli Vineyards. Stop en DAY 12 GANAPATIPULE – Mani Bhawan. route at the Ahmednagar Fort which SINDHUDURG FORT – also has a unique Cavalry Tank DAY 03 MUMBAI – NASHIK SAWANTWADI Museum. Drive to the temple town of Nashik Drive to Sawantwadi for two nights to explore the age old temples, the DAY 08 FRATELLI VINEYARDS – at a homestay. Take a short boat myths and legends. Walk by the PUNE ride en route to visit the 17th ghats of river Godavari to discover Enjoy a guided tour of the vineyard century sea fort of Sindhudurg how religion supports local and winery followed by a wine- which the Portuguese called ‘the livelihoods. tasting session. Post lunch, drive to most precious jewel in the necklace of forts.’ In the evening, enjoy a DAY 04 NASHIK – AURANGABAD Pune. cooking session with the hosts on Visit the flower market early morning DAY 09 IN PUNE the regional cuisine. and explore a few hidden temples Spend time exploring the old city of by the river Godavari. Later, drive to Pune, learning about the traditional DAY 13 IN SAWANTWADI Aurangabad, which was a place of architectural styles. Visit the historic Visit the Sawantwadi Palace where great importance due to its location market of Tulshibaug and the neo- the Bhonsle family resides and trace on the famous ‘Silk Route’ that gothic architecture of the Phule their antecedents to Shivaji, the MARATHI traversed across the breadth of Asia Mandai vegetable market. In the Maratha warrior who built Maharashtra is a hot and dry state and monsoons are very heavy. to reach Europe. afternoon visit the Raja Dinkar Sindhudurg Fort. Enjoy a leisurely All our Guides are fluent in the local language - walk in the Sawantwadi market and Marathi. While most locals understand Hindi, DAY 05 IN AURANGABAD Kelkar Museum. learn about the local art and craft English may not be understood by all. Today explore the 2nd century BC DAY 10 PUNE – GANPATIPULE tradition of Sawantwadi. Ajanta caves. Drive to Ganapatipule on the Most often used phrase is: 'Tu kasa ahes?', DAY 14/15/16 SAWANTWADI – GOA which means 'how are you' in Marathi. DAY 06 IN AURANGABAD western coastal highway to stay two Drive to Goa for a relaxing three Visit the Ellora Caves which are nights at a homestay. Spend the nights by the beach. amongst the most splendid evening watching the sunset from Kokum Sarbet, a summer coolant is a examples of rock architecture in the Aare Ware beach. DAY 17 DEPARTURE popular and exotic local drink in Maharashtra. It is made from thick India. The carvings in the Ellora DAY 11 IN GANPATIPULE Transfer to the Mumbai airport in extracted juice of kokum, sugar and citrus Caves track the changing fortunes of Between mid-April to mid-May, time for the international flight. acid. Give it a go!