The state of Maharashtra has Mumbai (Bombay) as its capital and in terms of area is one of the largest states in India. There is a considerable number of places of interest in Maharashtra, particularly the world famous cave temples of Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta.
Mumbai: Once an island surrounded by malarial mud flats, then a Portuguese possession, Bombay passed to the English crown as part of the dowry of Catherine of Braganza for her marriage to Charles II in 1662. The British proceeded to drain the marshy area and connect the island with the mainland, and then turned it into their “Gateway to India”. Bombay prospered as an important trading centre and today it is the second largest city in India - and certainly the most prosperous. If New Delhi is the government centre, Varanasi the spiritual centre, Calcutta the intellectual centre, then Mumbai is the business and financial centre of India (not to forget Bollywood). In the historical heart of Mumbai are colonial buildings, museums, cathedrals, exclusive clubs and the modern blocks of India’s largest commercial centre.
Ajanta: The world famous monastery and temple caves of Ajanta are 107 km from Aurangabad and some 54 km from Jalgaon. The Ajanta caves were stumbled upon by a hunting party of British officers in 1819. Dug from solid rock, there are some 30 in all, in different stages of completion – some unfinished, others carved with extreme detail and completely covered with wall paintings. The earliest, caves 9 and 10, are contemporary with early caves like Bhaja and Pitakhora in western India (1st century B.C.). The rest of the caves date to the 5th-6th century. The group, as a whole, carved into the semicircular scarp with a stream running by, is a very impressive sight. A visit to this Buddhist site is a great human experience.
Ellora: Some 19 km from Aurangabad, Ellora has a most interesting series of cave temples that extend for more almost 2 km. The first group of caves is Buddhist, the second Brahmanic, and the last Jain. They contain exquisite examples of architectural and sculptural work. There is a total of 34 caves, 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu and 5 Jain, all either vihara or chaitya. Most fantastic of the caves is the Kailasa, a huge Hindu temple which covers an area twice as large as the Parthenon in Athens and is 1½ times as high. All temples were cut from the top down to the ground. It has been estimated that cutting the Kailasa involved the removal of 200,000 tons of rock.
Elephanta: The vast majority of India’s 1,200 cave sites were created as temples and monasteries between the 3rd century B.C. and the 10th Century A.D. The temple cave on Elephanta Island, dedicated to Shiva, was probably excavated during the 8th century by the Rashtrakuta Dynasty which ruled the Deccan from 757-973 A.D., though the cave may have had earlier Buddhist originals. The island of Elephanta is located in Mumbai harbour about 11 km from the city. There are a number of caves at Elephanta, but the principal and the most imposing is cave 1.
Karla and Bhaja Caves: The great Karla cave dates from around 80 B.C. and is one of the best preserved Hinayana Buddhist caves in India. It is comparatively little known and unvisited, compared to Ajanta and Ellora. The Bhaja Caves, located in the village of Bhaja, are the famous chaitya caves that are among the oldest in Western India.
The tentative programme will be as follows:
Friday, 28 November: Bangkok – Mumbai
16.30 hrs. Meet at Suvarnabhumi Airport
18.45 hrs. Depart Bangkok to Mumbai by TG 317
21.55 hrs. Arrival Mumbai Airport, transfer to hotel
- Overnight at Intercontinental Hotel (or similar grade)
Saturday, 29 November: Mumbai – Lonavala
08.30 hrs. After breakfast at hotel, proceed to Lonavala visit Karla and
Bhaja Caves, Dating back to the 1st Century BC and are
amongst the oldest and finest examples of Buddhist rock cut
temple art in India. The magnificent Chaitya hall at Karla is the
largest and most evolved example of its class. Bhaja caves has
18. Cave No. 12 is the largest and has a fine stilted vault. The
last cave to the south has excellent sculptures including that of
the famous 'Dancing Couple'
Late afternoon: Proceed to Lonavala
- Dinner at restaurant and overnight in Lonavala at
Fariyas Holiday Resort (or similar grade)
Sunday, 30 November: Lonavala - Mumbai – Aurangabad
08.30 hrs. Proceed to visit Kanheri Caves
Noon Lunch at local restaurant
Afternoon Sightseeing tour of Mumbai, to places like Gateway of India –
The stone archway designed by Wittett in the 16th century Gujarati
style, Prince of Whales Museum
- Transfer to airport for flight to Aurangabad (flight 9W 3109, time:
18.25-19.25 hrs.)
- Arrive in Aurangabad and transfer to the hotel
Evening: Dinner and Overnight at Taj Residency Hotel (or similar grade)
Monday, 1 December: Aurangabad – Ajanta Caves
Morning Proceed to visit Ajanta caves, 107 kms from Aurangabad. The Ajanta
Caves are a land mark in Indian art and culture, illustrating the evolution
of Buddhism from the 2nd century BC to the 7th century A.D. The caves
at Ajanta offer a unique opportunity to study Vakataka architecture,
sculpture, and particulary painting
Noon Lunch at local restaurant
Late Afternoon Return of Aurangabad
Evening: Dinner and overnight at Taj Residency Hotel (or similar grade)
Tuesday, 2 December: Aurangabad–Ellora Caves–Aurangabad Caves-Mumbai
08.30 hrs. After breakfast proceed to visit the caves of Aurangabad.
Excavated between the 2nd and 6th century AD, they reflect
TANTRIC influences in their iconography and architectural
designs. In all there are nine caves which are mainly viharas.
After that visit Daulatabad Fort, once known as 'Devgiri',
this magnificent 12th century fortress stands on a hill just
13 km. from Aurangabad. It was given the name Daulatabad,
the 'city of fortune', by Muhammad Tughlaq, Sultan of Delhi
Noon Lunch at local restaurant
Afternoon Visit Ellora caves, encompasses 34 rock cut shrines
representing Buddhist, Hindu & Jain are dating from the
4th to 9th century A.D. The most remarkable among them
is the Kailasa Temple, meant to be a replica of Lord Shivas
celestial abode - Kailasa is the best example of rock cut
architecture and an engineering marvel.
- Transfer to airport for flight to Mumbai
- Arrive at Mumbai Airport, transfer to hotel
- Dinner and Overnight at Hotel Hilton Towers (or similar grade)
Wednesday, 3 December: Mumbai – Elephanta Caves - Bangkok
08.30 hrs. After breakfast, excursion to Elephanta Caves, the 2-9th century
A.D. rock-cut cave temples dedicated to Lord Shiva; located an
hour's boat ride from Mumbai
Noon Lunch at local restaurant
Afternoon Sightseeing in Mumbai, after dinner at local restaurant transfer
to airport
23.35 hrs. Depart for Bangkok by flight TG 318
Thursday, 4 December: Bangkok
05.30 hrs. Arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport
Your contribution of Baht 97,800 will cover all transportation, accommodation (two persons per room), all meals as mentioned in programme, entrance fees to monuments and museums, airport taxes in Thailand and India and all other necessary arrangements to make this trip possible. For single room occupancy, please add Baht 25,500. Extra cost for nom-members Baht 2,500.
VISA: Visa fees vary according to nationality and are not included in the
tour price.
A deposit of Baht 20,000.must be paid when making the booking, with the balance payable 30 days before departure. The Siam Society regrets there can be no refunds for cancellations within 25 days of departure. The size of the group will be limited: PLEASE BOOK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
พระบรมราชูปถัมภ์