Arrive at Mumbai International airport. After completing the immigration and customs, proceed towards the arrival area. Meeting and assistance upon arrival with a traditional welcome of garlanding and transfer to the hotel (Room being held from 1400 hrs).

Mumbai once a group of seven islands and over the century has been the most vibrant, commercial, industrial and center of theatre, art, music center of India which the British had acquired from the Portuguese in 1665 and handed it over to the East India Company in 1671.

Overnight in Mumbai

This morning after leisurely breakfast, we set off to explore a few highlights of the financial capital of India, Mumbai Gateway of India, Prince of Wales Museum, Dhobi Ghat. We start with the visit of Gateway of India, a crude jetty use by the fishing community which was later built and renovated to commemorate the visit of King George and Queen Mary to India in 1911 and the only gateway available to India before the invention of air travel. This will be followed by the drive along the Marine drive, known as the Queen's Necklace. The Jain Temples built of marble and dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankara. Take a drive via Tower of Silence – a round-shaped stone building where the dead of Parsi people are placed and vultures come and eat them, also drive to Hanging Gardens which is constructed over Bombay's reservoir. We cannot miss the Dhobi Ghat(open-air laundry) at Mahalaxmi, where some 5000 men use rows of open-air thoughts to beat the dirt out of the thousands of kilograms of soiled clothes brought from all over the city each day. This is followed by the visit to Mani Bhawan (Gandhi Memorial), the house where the Father of the Nation stayed during his early visits to the city.

We will wind up the day by visiting The Prince of Wales Museum and one of the UNESCO Terminus. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya also known as Prince of Wales Museum was established to commemorate and honour the visit of George V to India in the 2nd century. Note that the museum remains closed on Mondy. The foundation was laid in 1905 by Prince of Wales. The museum boasts of a significant collection of Indus valley artefacts and the miniature paintings – nearly 2000 of them are from various stylistic schools of India.

Mumbai VT, also known as Victoria Terminus. It is a UNESCO world heritage site and a historic railway station built-in 1887 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

Overnight in Mumbai

This morning after leisurely breakfast, we proceed to the excursion of Elephanta Caves. The excursion begins with the transferred to the Gateway of India to board the motor launch(shared) for an hour's travel, the only way to access the Caves located 22 km off the coast of Mumbai. An amazing collection of 7th-century rock-cut caves containing a fine example of Hindu architecture. The beauty and power of these sculptures are dedicated to Shiva depicting the different manifestation of Shiva.

On our return, we disembark at the Gateway of India and proceed to our hotel.

Later in the afternoon, we proceed for the local shopping experience where you will be taken first to the Crawford Market for introduction to Indian Spices. Crawford Market itself has a rich history behind it wherein it has been in existence from 1871 as the main Municipal Market in South Mumbai. This will be followed by a visit to Zaveri Bazaar and Lohar Chawl both of which is a vibrant market known for its history and old culture. Walking past these markets you will come across many old heritage buildings which are still intact and few of them have given way to the new development, which gives a good balance of seeing new merged with old. Our next visit is Chor Bazaar ( Thief Market ) which is a unique place in itself – the place again is one of the oldest markets in Mumbai. It is good to visit on a Friday then you are in for a stroke of luck as there is a Flea Market in Chor Bazaar.

Overnight in Mumbai

This morning, we start the Byculla Heritage Walk - it takes us through many places of interest such as the market area, Masina Hospital, Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, among others.

We will make a stop at interesting places so that we can click photographs. These places include old Irani cafes, vintage cinema screens and of course, of the architecture.

Later, we will enjoy our Dabbawala tour. Dabbawala word can be translated to English as ‘lunchpail man’ or ‘box carrier’. Dabba in Hindi and Marathi means box which is generally a cylindrical container made up of aluminium. More specifically, this word is used for the person in Mumbai who delivers home-made fresh food in lunches to different offices.

After this experience, we start off to explore Dharavi Slums(tour of the commercial area of the slum) locally. From Churchgate Station, we board a local train(this is an experience in itself) till Mahim Station and reach Dharavi (10 minutes of walk from the Train Station).

On this tour, you will be taken to the commercial area of the slum. The waste recycling in Dharavi is considered as a big business activity. From plastic chairs to old aluminium cans, the workers and residents who are involved in scavenging work, collect the waste from all over the city and bring them to the small workshops where the waste is cleaned, processed and recycled. This place also produces foodstuffs like biscuits or pottery. A visit to the roof straight in the center of the settlement provides a view to get the complete impression of how vast the place and the crowd of people working and living here. A tour of Dharavi takes you close to its people and introduces you to its lifestyle, living standards and teaches you history.

We return to the hotel after this experiential day with some interesting highlights, which are very rarely available.

Overnight in Mumbai

This morning, we start very early, maybe around 0430 hrs for the Mumbai by Dawn Experience - one of the signature experiences, where we can see the real unseen side of Mumbai. Our first halt is at the Victoria Terminus Railway Station now called Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus to witness the madness in the morning when the newspaper vendor is busy sorting the editions received in the morning of various newspapers in so many other languages besides Hindi or English. Also, see the Milk Vendors busy getting ready to deliver it to homes and the Milk Man riding past the milk cans nicely tucked up on the sides of their bicycles.

We take a drive to the City Bakery where you will be introduced to the staple bread Pav or the Mumbai Bread, without which the Mumbaikars can’t survive. Our next visit is at the Dadar Flower market – located under the Dadar bridge is a place where you get all sorts of flowers in the early morning. It is also a place for photographers to catch the essence of Mumbai and the locals busy shopping during the early morning.

To wind up this mesmerizing experience we will stop at the Sassoon's Dock in Colaba – the place is home to Mumbai's traditional Koli fishing community. This place was built in the year 1875 on reclaimed land, by David Sassoon & Co. The time is best spent by observing the auction of the fishes by the local fisherman.

As the sun starts to rise and the Mumbaikars awake and start their day, you have experienced one more aspect of Mumbai’s life as to how it gets ready for the long day.

This afternoon, we are in for another exciting visit to Mumbai city – Bollywood tour (without movie) and learn about the how Bollywood (the Indian Film Industry) has evolved and originated, starting from the era of silent movies to today’s full-fledged movies. You will also get a chance to see the shooting and other mechanics. In case you are lucky can also witness a shooting, get a chance to dawn your dancing skills by tapping your feet into the beats of a Bollywood number. During this tour, you will also experience the feel of a recording studio to understand the VFX working which might be amazing.

From here we head to take a glimpse of the residences of a few famous Film Stars (from outside). We will then take you to watch a Bollywood film for a short while to wind up the experience.

Overnight in Mumbai

This morning we start very early from the hotel to the airport to board the flight to Aurangabad – dating back from the time of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Many Mughal monuments can be seen in and around the city.

Meeting on arrival at Aurangabad airport and we will proceed for the excursion of Ellora caves(27 km - closed on Tuesday) - though it is more raucous, has always been a place of worship. This comprises 34 rock-cut shrines representing the high point of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain art (4th–9th centuries A.D.). Ellora also holds the distinction of being, in a sense, Shivaji's native place. The extravagantly beautiful Kailasa Complex depicts scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

We return to Aurangabad with a stop by at Daulatabad Fort - a massive hilltop fort and was often described as impregnable. Once known as "Devgiri" this magnificent 12th Century fortress stands on a hill just 13kms from Aurangabad. It was given the name Daulatabad – the city of fortune by Muhammad Tughlaq, the sultan of Delhi. We visit the Jama Masjid with 106 pillars taken from a Hindu temple and a large tank located on the opposite.

Late afternoon, we proceed for the visit of Aurangabad visiting Bibi Ka Maqbara which Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb commissioned in 1660 in the memory of Dilras Banu Begum who was her chief and first wife and is regarded as the symbol of the emperor's ‘conjugal fidelity’. The architecture of the monument resembles that of Taj Mahal dedicated to Mumtaz Mahal, Aurangzeb’s mother. Since it resembles with Taj, this monument is also referred to as Dakkhani Taj and Panchakki (the watermill). Attached to Baba Shah Musafir dargah, the building is situated in a garden which is close to Mahmud Darvaza and contains a madrassa, a minister’s house, a mosque, zananas houses and a Sarai.

Overnight in Aurangabad

This morning after breakfast we head for the excursion to Ajanta Caves (Closed on Monday), winding through ancient hills to visit the Buddhist cave temples and monasteries cut into the rock, dating from 200 BC to 650 AD. The caves here are renowned chiefly for their magnificent wall paintings, depicting scenes from the life of Buddha. In addition, there are notable sculptures and of course, the overwhelming architecture. Caves 16 and 17 contain the finest paintings in Ajanta. Caves 1,2,4,6,7,8,9,10,19,27,28,29 also contains paintings and sculptures which are worth seeing.

We return to the hotel.

The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Aurangabad

This morning, we depart early from the hotel to the airport to board the flight to Mumbai.

Meeting on arrival at Mumbai airport and straight drive to visit Kanheri Caves, a group of rock-cut monuments demonstrating the Buddhist influence on the art and culture of India which deeply nestles surrounded by the tranquillity of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali. More than 100 Buddhist caves are found there which are also called Kanhagiri or Krishnagiri as per an ancient inscription which translates to black mountains (Krishna means Black and Giri means Mountains), famously named due to deposits of black basaltic stone.

After the visit proceed to your hotel, where the rest of the day is at leisure

Overnight in Mumbai

Today, as per the international flight schedule, you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight back home with some historical memories of the trip, Modern Cities – Ancient Caves.