Maharashtra

Day Trips

To start off your tour of Elephanta island, choose a pickup time that fits your schedule, though it’s best to get an early morning start. Take a beautiful, hour-long ferry ride across the bay from Mumbai to Elephanta Island, and begin your exploration of a labyrinth of caves, temples, and shrines with your own private guide. An elaborate system of man-made caves cut directly into solid basaltic mountains, the Elephanta Caves were used as sacred places of Hindu and Buddhist worship starting in the 5th to 7th century. Amble through the vast columns and arched colonnades, gazing at elaborately carved sacred shrines to deities.  The main cave, otherwise known as the Shiva Cave, contains numerous carvings depicting various aspects of Lord Shiva including his wedding, his slaying of Andhaka, and more. The most significant sculpture in the cave is the 20-foot-tall, three-headed Shiva, known as the Trimurti. Other wings of the caves have shrines dedicated to Shiva’s sons, Kartikeya and Ganesh, with similarly spectacular carved statues.  All the while, enjoy insightful commentary from a local guide, expert in the history of the Elephanta Caves, as well as Hinduism and Buddhism as a whole. After touring the magnificent island, you will be ferried back to the harbor. From there, your driver will drop you back at your hotel, marking the end of a memorable tour through over 1,500 years of history.

This 8-hour tour takes you from Mumbai to the rock art of the Elephanta Caves of Elephanta Island. You will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the Gateway of India at Mumbai. From here, cruise by boat to reach the Elephanta Caves. On your arrival at the island you will proceed to the Elephanta Caves which contains a collection of rock art linked to the sect of Shiva. At Elephanta, Indian art found one of its most perfect expressions, particularly in the huge and high reliefs of the main cave. There are seven cave excavations in the Elephanta group, all carved from solid basalt rock and dating from approximately the 6th through to the 7th-Centuries AD. Among the cave excavations, Cave 1 is the most impressive, representing a superb example of evolved Brahmanical rock-cut architecture. The full-day tour showcases all aspects of Mumbai, from the city’s narrow geographical layout, its coastline, the neighborhoods that make up the city, the old heritage district, the old commercial and residential districts, the up-and-coming areas, and the movie studios of Bollywood. This is an ideal opportunity to learn about the history and culture of Mumbai, and to experience the phenomenon of Bollywood.

After pick-up from the airport or your hotel in Aurangabad at 8:00 AM, you will start the 3-hour drive to the Ajanta Caves. The amazing caves are one of the world's oldest UNESCO World Heritage sites. The cave complex features 30 Buddhist cave monuments enclosed in the hillside. Ancient Indian history is revealed through beautiful paintings and carvings inside the caves. See the gigantic carved pillars and ancient stupas (Buddhist burial mounds). Learn about Buddhist philosophy and teachings through the carvings and paintings in the Ajanta Caves. Once you have explored the caves, you will head towards the Ellora Caves, approximately a 2-hour drive away. The Ellora Caves are an imposing complex of rock shrines that represent the three faiths of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. The complex has 12 Buddhist caves, 5 Jain temples, and 17 Hindu temples to explore. After the sightseeing, you will be dropped back at your hotel or at the airport in Aurangabad.

Your private guide will pick you up at 8 AM in an air-conditioned car at your hotel or accommodation in Mumbai. From there, you’ll depart on a 10-hour tour visiting the essential sights while learning all about Mumbai's history and culture. As this is your private tour, you can choose the places and customize the itinerary. Your experienced guide will be there to help you get the most out of your trip. Some of the popular destinations include the Gateway of India, Victoria Terminus, Marine Drive, Girgaon Chowpatty beach, Gandhi's residence Mani Bhavan, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Crawford Market, Malabar Hill, the Dhobi Ghat open air laundromat, the Flora Fountain, the Kala Ghoda are district, University of Mumbai, and Bollywood’s Film City. Your tour will end at approximately 8 PM when the car will drop you back at your hotel.

After hotel pick-up, explore the Gateway of India, a prime landmark of Mumbai. Opposite to the Gateway stands the Royal Taj Mahal Hotel. Board the ferry to reach Elephanta Island, and listen to an introduction to Hinduism. Hop off the boat and explore Elephanta Cave, a kilometers' stroll from the wharf. Ride a toy train from the jetty to the base of the hill. Trek the 120 steps to the caves. Step into an enormous hall upheld by a large pillar and see the vast Mahesamurti statue. The whole cave complex is around 60,000 square feet and is made out of natural rock. Capture excellent pictures with the Arabian Sea in the backdrop, and head out of the caves to see the beautiful Elephant-shaped rock structure.  After completing your Elephanta tour, head back to the ferry at 1:30 PM to travel back to India's Gate. On reaching the harbor, the chauffeur will drive you back to your hotel.

Enjoy a full-day of adventure from Mumbai that is perfect for people interested in eco-tourism and travel experiences that will take you back to nature. Following an early morning pick-up, relax as you drive along the Western Express Highway and Sion-Chembur-Vashi-Panvel road to the start of your trek. Trek the green grassy hills of Sagar Gad, approximately 4-hours from Mumbai. Sagar Gad sits 1,482 feet (452-meters) above sea level, and offers breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea and Konkan coast. Famous for its waterfalls, Sagar Gad is also home to an underground tunnel that connects to Colaba Island Fort, 4.2 miles (7 kilometers) away. On your hiking trip you will get to see wildlife such as White Rumped Vultures and Crested Serpent Eagles. The hills are a stunning setting for a 2-hour hike with cooling pools to dive into when it gets hot. End your day of hiking in convenience with a relaxing transfer back to your hotel accomodation. 

Get to know Mumbai on a half-day sightseeing tour by air-conditioned vehicle, starting with a pick-up from your hotel (or cruise ship port subject to a small supplement). Drive to Malabar Hill to see Mumbai’s up-market residential district and enjoy spectacular views of the city surrounds. As you climb, look at the Jain temple dedicated to Adinath, the 1st Jain tirthankara (one who helps achieve enlightenment). Drive past the Hanging Gardens and Kamala Nehru Park, before visiting Mani Bhavan, the former residence of Mahatma Gandhi. The pretty, 2 floor building was where the Quit India Movement was conceptualized in the year 1942, and now houses a reference library of over 2,000 books, as well as a photo exhibition and diorama depicting the Mahatma's life. Next, go to the Dhobi Ghat to see the world largest outdoor laundry. Watch the traditional laundrymen at work, pounding dirty clothes in vast rows of concrete wash pens, each fitted with its own flogging stone. En route back to your hotel, drive past the UNESCO designated Victoria Terminus railway station, and continue to the fort area to Gateway of India monument, built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary.

You will be picked up from your hotel, the train station, or the airport in Aurangabad between 8:00 and 9:00 AM. Drive by air-conditioned car for approximately 3-hours to the Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The mesmerizing caves are located on a rocky cliff, surrounded by gorgeous waterfalls. The caves contain incredible giant sculptures, build by Buddhist monks. Although this monument was built in ancient times, parts of the caves remain well-preserved today. The cave complex contains Buddhist temples and monasteries, and the monuments are numbered according to when they were built. See carvings and painting that reveal the life of the Buddha and explain the Jataka tales. The most astounding feature of the Ajanta Cave is the 9-meter sculpture of the Buddha, cut out of the rock. The wall paintings and frescoes of the caves will also leave you enthralled. After exploring the Ajanta Caves, you will be dropped off back in Aurangabad.  

Take a journey out of the city to visit the majestic Ajanta and Ellora Caves in Aurangabad. This full-day sightseeing tour will take you to places that seem to have been born out of a fairy tale: stunning temples carved into rock that astound the imagination. The amazing Ajanta Caves have been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. They consist of 29 temples and prayer caves cut into the side of the rock. Dating back to the 2nd century, they hold stunningly gorgeous paintings and sculptures that are considered to be Buddhist masterpieces. Much of the art depict the Jataka tales of the Buddha’s previous lives. These pieces of art were created over 800 years and not only document the story of Buddha in his cycle of reincarnations, but also paint a record of life in ancient India. Professional artists and Buddhist monks created these unique and irreplaceable pieces of art under the royal patronage of ancient ruling dynasties. After you have had your fill of Ajanta’s ancient art, you can admire the famous rock-cut temples of the Ellora Caves. Here you can see an amazing example of different religions living in harmony: the 34 caves contain temples and monasteries of the Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain faiths. Built between the 5th and 10th centuries, these caves also contain gorgeous paintings and sculptures that have helped make them a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cave 16, the Kailash temple, is of particular interest. Though it is carved out of one rock, it appears to be a freestanding temple complex with multiple stories. The city of Aurangabad is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. And, thanks to the marvelous caves, it is also a tourist hub. Grab this opportunity to see not one, but two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and explore the astonished architectural accomplishments that are these rock-cut temple complexes. You won’t regret it!

Be picked up from the airport or hotel in Aurangabad at 8am. From there, your journey to Ajanta Cave will be about 100km and will take around 3 hours. Visit one of the oldest UNESCO World Heritage sites, Ajanta Caves. Discover the 29 Buddhist caves, which are enclosed in the hill side and learn about the ancient Indian history which is revealed through beautiful paintings and carvings inside the cave. Be taken to the era of ancient time by the carvings which cover the gigantic pillars, stupas, and ceilings. These carvings and paintings clearly depict the major dominance of Buddhist Philosophy. Once you’re done with exploring the miracles of Ajanta caves, head towards the Ellora caves. Located at a distance of 95km, the drive towards Ellora caves will take 2 hours. Here, explore the Ellora Cave, an imposing complex of rock shrines that represent the three faiths of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. It was formed between the 5th and the 13th centuries CE and it has 12 Buddhist caves, 5 Jain temples and 17 Hindu temples. Finally, after the sightseeing, you would be dropped at the hotel or airport in Aurangabad.