West & South India Rail Tour

( 12 Nights & 13 Days )
Mumbai (Bombay) - Aurangabad - Hyderabad - Chennai (Madras) - Mysore - Bangalore - Mumbai (Bombay)

Day 01

Arrive Bombay. Transfer to hotel.Overnight Bombay

Day 02

Morning tour of Bombay. Kamla Nehru Park, Hanging Gardens situated on the slopes of Malabar Hill offering a panoramic view of Marine drive, Chowpatty Beach, Prince of Wales Museum, Mani Bhawan, Dhobi Ghat, Gateway of India & drive through the Crawford Market, Marine Drive & Flora Fountain. Check-out at 1200 hrs. Late evening transfer to airport for Aurangabad night train.

Night on board train.

Day 03

Morning arrive Aurangabad and transfer to hotel. Full day tour of Ajanta Caves (Closed on Mondays). Ajanta Caves are 106 kms from Aurangabad and date back to the 2nd century BC. The 30 rock hewn caves are adorned with Buddhist sculpture and the frescoes portray in epic form the religious and secular life through eight centuries.

Overnight Aurangabad.

Day 04

Morning visit Ellora Caves (29 kms - Closed on Tuesdays) encompassing 34 rock cut shrines representing Buddhist, Hindu & Jain art dating from the 4th to 9th century A.D. The most remarkable among them is the Kailash Temple, meant to be a replica of Lord Shivas celestial abode - Kailash is the best example of Rock cut architecture and an engineering marvel.

Overnight Aurangabad.

Day 05

Day free. Check-out from the hotel 1200 hrs. Evening transfer to rail-station for Hyderabad night train.

Night on board train.

Day 06

Morning arrive Hyderabad and transfer to Hotel. Afternoon tour of Hyderabad. Visit Charminar - Rectangular Four Arched Monumental Gate often described as the -The Arch of Triumph of the East, The Mecca Mosque & visit the Salar Jung Museum - one man collection of Manuscripts, ancient weapons, costumes & curios. Visit the High Court buildings.

Overnight Hyderabad.

Day 07

Day free or optional tour to Golconda. Check-out at 1200 hrs. Evening transfer to rail-station for Madras night train.

Night on board train.

Day 08

Morning arrive Madras. Transfer to hotel. Afternoon city tour. Visit the Museum to see the Art and Bronze Gallery (Closed on Fridays and Public holidays). Drive through the Flower and Fruit market, High court, Fort museum, Marina Beach, Santhome Cathedral and snake park.

Overnight Madras.

Day 09

Full day tour of Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram (64 kms from Chennai) is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. The first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century and has paintings on the walls. Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks. The city of Mahabalipuram is famous for the seven pagodas. Here on the seashore is an interesting group of ancient rock hewn temples which are the examples of Dravidian style of Architecture.

Overnight Chennai.

Day 10

Morning transfer to rail-station for Mysore train. Arrive Mysore and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon visit the palace of the Maharaja built in 1911 - 1912. The palace is of harmonious syntheses of the Hindu and saracenic styles of architecture with archways, domes, turrets, colonnades and sculptures which are magnificent. Visit the Art Gallery; drive upto Chamundi hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple and a panoramic view of Mysore. On the way back, see the Nandi Bull. .

Overnight Mysore

Day 11

Full day tour of Belur and Halebid. The Chenna Kesava temple of Belur built 900 years ago is an exquisite example of Hoysala art. Halebid's 12th century Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples are master pieces of Hindu art.

On the return, visit Sravanbelgola. At Sravanbelgola, hewn out of a single rock and visible from a distance of 25 kms is the statue of Lord Gomteshwara which is bathed with milk and honey once every 12 years.

Overnight Mysore.

Day 12

Drive to Bangalore. Afternoon tour of Bangalore.
In this Garden City - visit the Lal Bagh with a variety of old trees, fountains, lotus pools, terraces & an assortment of tropical and sub-tropical herbs.
Also see the Maharaja's Palace & Government Buildings.

Overnight Bangalore.

Day 13

Transfer to airport for Bombay flight. Arrive and transfer to city center.(No hotel)
Later Transfer to airport.

Day 14

Departure