Treasures of Central India

Treasures of Central India

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14 Days From

$2200

$1760

Treasures of Central India

14 Days Starting in Mumbai, India and ending in Goa, India

Visiting: Mumbai, Aurangabad, Ajanta Caves, Hyderabad, Bidar, Gulbarga, Bijapur, Hospet, Hampi, Goa

Tour operator:

Explore!

Tour code:

CG

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Physical rating:

FullOn

Age range:

16-

Tour operated in:

English

Activities:

Sightseeing

From: $2200 $1760 Operator discount: -$440 -20%

NB: Prices correct on 29-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of India with the "Treasures of Central India" tour. Starting in the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, this cultural adventure takes you beyond the city to explore the historical and cultural gems of central India. Discover the architectural marvels of the Ajanta and Ellora Caves, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the impressive Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur. Experience the vibrant life of Hyderabad, the ancient ruins of Hampi, and the serene beauty of Goa's beaches. Along the way, immerse yourself in the rich history and diverse traditions of this fascinating region, with guided tours, local insights, and the chance to connect with the local culture. This tour promises a deep dive into the treasures of central India, offering a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty.

Highlights

  • A full exploration of central India's historical and cultural riches beyond Mumbai

  • Visit the vast Gol Gumbaz, the Deccan mausoleum of King Mohammed Adil Shah in Bijapur

  • Explore the UNESCO-listed painted caves and rock-cut temples of Ajanta and Ellora

  • Sightseeing in Mumbai, including the Dharavi area and Mahatma Gandhi Museum

  • Excursion to the Ajanta Caves, a treasure trove of Buddhist art

  • Visit Daulatabad Fort and the rock-cut masterpiece, the Kailasa Temple at Ellora

  • Explore the bustling bazaars and Islamic monuments of Hyderabad

  • Discover the ancient ruins and temples of Hampi, once the capital of the Vijayanagar Kings

  • Sample spicy food and explore the Portuguese influence in Goa

Places You'll See

Gateway Of India, Mumbai

Itinerary

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Day 1 : Join Tour In Mumbai

Location: Mumbai

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: The Sahil Hotel Mumbai

We join the tour in Mumbai today. Mumbai, traditionally known as Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populated and one of the most vibrant cities in India as well as the richest city in India, with this in mind it is a very exciting place to start our journey. For our first introduction of Mumbai we will have a late afternoon orientation of the Colaba area on foot. The Colaba is the gateway of Mumbai so we will start by visiting the honey-coloured Gateway of India arch. This arch was built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911 but it was not completed until 1924. As this arch was built for a British King it was appropriately the place where the last British troops left India.

Day 2 : Sightseeing In Mumbai

Location: Mumbai

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: The Sahil Hotel Mumbai

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we spend a full day sightseeing with our local guide. A highlight of the day will be our visit to the area where the film 'Slumdog Millionaire' was set, a thriving and industrious quarter called Dharavi. We also visit the Mahatma Gandhi Museum where we learn a little about the great man's life and ideas, through an impressive collection of books, photographs and letters. On Malabor Hill we drive past the Towers of Silence. Built by the Parsis fleeing persecution in Persia during the 17th century, the Towers were a mortuary for the dead. Being traditionally Zoroastrians they were deposited in these towers to allow nature to dispose of them. We also visit the municipal dhobi ghats and the Prince of Wales Museum, which has an excellent collection of Indian miniatures from the Mughal and Rajasthan schools.

Day 3 : Train To Aurangabad

Location: Aurangabad

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: The Fern Aurangabad

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning will be left free for you to explore Mumbai on your own. After lunch we transfer to the station to catch a train to Aurangabad (approx 7hrs).

Day 4 : Excursion To Ajanta

Location: Ajanta Caves

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: The Fern Aurangabad

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning we make an excursion to the Ajanta Caves, spectacularly located in a pass in the Vindhya Hills. In 1819 a British soldier John Smith, on a tiger hunt stumbled on this series of remarkable caves, which have become a treasure trove of Buddhist art (2nd century BC to 7th century AD). As late as the 1920s Murray's Handbook declared them ‘quite out of the range of the ordinary tourist’. Today, when we come upon this lost world, it seems as secluded and restful as a Cistercian monastery. The wall paintings lovingly illuminate the Buddhist stories in flowing colours: real, live, sensuous characterisations, without the rigid hieratic postures one normally expects – an art form sanctioned by a transcendental philosophy, where lovers drink wine together and handsome kings and beautiful princesses sit serenely on their thrones attended by adoring handmaidens.

Day 5 : Visit Daulatabad Fort And Ellora Caves; Overnight Train To Hyderabad

Location: Aurangabad

Accommodation: Overnight Train

Accommodation Name: Overnight Train from Aurangabad to Hyderbad

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning we visit the impressive Daulatabad fort - towering 250m above the surrounding countryside on a volcanic lava rock. Its three main walls have ingenious defences against elephant charges consisting of multiple, spike-studded doorways. Nearby are the World Heritage listed Buddhist group of caves, the Temples of Ellora. Dating from the 6th-8th century AD, they contain elaborate sculptures of intricate detail. These caves are not naturally formed, but have been painstakingly hewn out of the hillside over a period of five centuries. They consist of over thirty monastic chambers and shrines and are a triple record of the aspirations of Buddhism, Jainism and Brahmanism. As Indian Buddhism entered its fatal decline, Hinduism reasserted itself once more and Siva is sculpted in his eternal dance of life and death. Here stands the amazing rock-cut masterpiece, the Kailasa, a replica of the mountain abode of Siva, probably the world's biggest monolithic structure: it measures 33m deep by 81m long and 47m wide, and the stonemasons removed some three million cubic metres of rock to create it. In spite of its massive proportions, the temple is carved all over in the most intricate detail as if it were an ivory miniature - except for the inner sanctum, the holy of holies, where Siva appears quite simply as a lingam or phallus, the symbol of regeneration. On our route back to Aurangabad we stop at Bibi-ka Maqbara (an imitation of the Taj Mahal built as a mausoleum for Aurangzeb's wife). Once we arrive back in Aurangabad we transfer to the train station where we board our overnight train for our overnight ride to Hyderabad.

Day 6 : Arrive In Hyderabad; Tour Of Hyderabad

Location: Hyderabad

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Quality Inn Residency

We arrive in Hyderabad and transfer to the hotel before our guided tour. Founded in 1589, the city went on to father some of the richest men in India, due in no small part to the diamond mines around nearby Golconda. In the late morning we plan to explore the lively bazaars and colourful Islamic monuments of this bustling capital. Most of the city's historical sites are found in the Old City, close to the bazaars, and are best explored on foot. We visit the Birla Temple and the Charminar, or 'Four Towers', built to celebrate the end of a plague in 1591. This magnificent cream square archway stands on four 56 metre towers near to the colossal black granite Mecca Masjid Mosque, the sixth largest mosque in India, made of huge slabs and accommodating up to 10,000 worshippers. In the afternoon we drive to visit the extensive ruins of the Golconda Fort, its citadel towering 120m above the 16th century battlements. Intriguing elements to the fort are the excellent acoustics, hot and cold water system, natural air conditioning and Turkish Baths. Built by the Qutb Shahi dynasty, the fort was once considered impregnable and even its massive gates were equipped with elephant proof spikes! Battles fought here were significant in the struggle between the Moghuls and Qutb Shahi kings, who once dominated the area. We also visit the nearby Qutb Shahi tombs. There are 10 tombs in the area, all made of black granite or greenstone and housed beneath an onion dome. The most impressive is that of King Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad who ruled until 1612.

Day 7 : Drive To Bidar; Afternoon Visit Palaces And Tombs

Location: Bidar

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Mastiff Select Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

We start our day by driving to the town of Bidar, the roads are poor in this region and it will take us around 4 to 5 hours to complete the journey. On arrival we will will vist Bidar's fort with its ruined palaces and tombs of the Bahamani kings. Large parts of the fort are now in ruins but the walls remain in good condition which gives us a good idea on how vast the fort would have been. We'll walk through the formal gardens and view the large mosque which unfortunately is no longer in use. We'll also make a short stop at cannon point to see one of the larger bastions used to protect the city against invaders.

Day 8 : Drive To Gulbarga, Drive On To Bijapur

Location: Gulbarga

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel Madhuvan International

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning we leave Bidar and drive to Gulbarga, the founding capital of the Bahmani dynasty. We take an orientation tour of the city, taking in the major sights, including the Bala Hissar Citadel, the elegant domed Jami Masjid and the Tomb of Bahmani Sultans. We depart Gulbarga and continue our journey on to Bijapur.

Day 9 : Bijapur; Visit Mosque And Bazaar. Drive To Badami

Location: Bijapur

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel Badami Court

Meals Included: Breakfast

Before leaving Bijapur today we visit the Gol Gumbaz, the vast mausoleum of its 17th century ruler Mohammed Adil Shah. The mausoleum's unsupported dome is second in size only to St Peter's in Rome, an astounding 38 metres in diameter. It is not cast in the florid architectural style of the East, but is more Turkish in character - severely bare and restrained, with a remarkable whispering gallery. We'll test out the dome by standing on opposite sides and whispering in to the walls, the effect is incredible. We also visit the Jami Masjid Mosque, acclaimed by many as one of the finest in India, remarkable for the harmony and grace of its slender minarets and stroll through the colourful and bustling daily market in the middle of Bijapur. We depart from Bijapur and drive to Badami.

Day 10 : Morning In Badami And Drive To Hospet

Location: Hospet

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel Malligi

Meals Included: Breakfast

We wake up in Badami this morning. Once the capital of the Chalukyan, but now a small village with a busy bazaar nestling between sandstone hills. We will take a short drive to the famous Cave Temples of Badami. Now a World Heritage Site, the temples were hewn out of solid rock as early as 550AD and their interiors are lavishly adorned with reliefs and statues, one even containing an 18-armed Shiva. Later on this morning we drive to Pattadakal, situated on the banks of the Malaprabha River. Another World Heritage Site, its pink-tinged sandstone temples date back to the 7th century and represent a mixture of South and North Indian temple styles, confirming its importance as a meeting point of both traditions. After a guided tour here, we then stop at the temples of Aihole. The sheer number of Aihole's 70 temples vividly brings to life the glories of the post-Gupta period and reveals the genesis of Hindu medieval art (c.600). It is easy to imagine what this place would have been like in those heady days of creative construction; here is Hindu temple architecture in its most embryonic form. Stopping to visit a number of the temples, we then continue to our destination for today, the town of Hospet, our base from which we explore the astonishing archaeological site of Hampi.

Day In Hampi

Location: Hampi

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel Malligi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hampi was once the flourishing capital of the Vijayanagar Kings (14th to 16th centuries), who ruled one of the largest Hindu empires in Indian history. Suddenly destroyed in 1565 after the battle of Talikota, the ancient ruins are almost ethereal, a place of departed spirits. We aim to visit the temples of Virupaksha and Vittala, with its remarkable carvings, and amid the desolate and fantastic boulder-heaped landscape we come upon the Queen's Bath and the richly carved King's Throne, the finely sculptured pillars of the Ramachandra Swami Shrine, the vaulted Elephant Stables, the two-storied Lotus Pavilion and the huge granite image of Narasimha, one of Vishnu's incarnations. The city was reputedly the size of Rome at its peak, with a population of half a million people and with numerous temples and monuments in the South Indian Dravidian style of architecture, the site is one of the most remarkable in all India. We will have a full day there with a local guide and return to our hotel in Hospet at the end of the day.

Day 12 : Train To Goa

Location: Goa

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Welcome Heritage Panjim Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast

Leaving Hospet behind, we take the early Amaravati Express train to Madgaon, arriving at the palm-fringed shores of Goa in the late afternoon, the one time Portuguese colony on the Arabian Sea. Under Alfonso de Albuquerque, the Portuguese landed here in the 16th century, captured the original Arab trade settlement and began building a city with houses, gardens and fountains, monasteries, chapels and churches (most of them gone), including the white, 17th century cathedral of St Catherine, which still stands. Goa eventually became the entrepôt for East and West, where merchants could buy pearls, coral, rubies, golden jewellery, silks, China porcelain, lacquered furniture, ambergris and exotic spices. The Portuguese influence is still very much apparent – the main religion is still Roman Catholic and siestas are still widely practised in the hot afternoons. Like most areas in India, Goa has its own food specialities, you may also want to sample the locally brewed spirit feni – a spine-tingling drink made from coconut or cashews.

Day 13 : Morning Visit To Old Goa And Then Free Afternoon

Location: Goa

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Welcome Heritage Panjim Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning we will visit Old Goa where your tour leader will take you on an orientation tour. The afternoon is then free for you to discover Goa yourself. We are based in Panaji, Goa's easy going capital; a friendly, sleepy town of narrow winding streets and whitewashed shuttered houses. Close by the capital are the superb beaches of Gaspar Dias and Dona Paula. The Malabar beaches here are very long and very white against the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea, but be careful, as bathing in some areas can be marred by a strong undertow.

Day 14 : Tour Ends In Goa

Location: Goa

Meals Included: Breakfast

Tour ends in Goa.

What's Included

  • Guided Tours

    Enjoy guided tours in Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Hampi, including visits to historical sites and local markets.

  • Excursions

    Excursions to Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, and Daulatabad Fort are included.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation is provided throughout the tour, including stays in Mumbai, Aurangabad, Hyderabad, and Goa.

  • Transportation

    Transportation includes train journeys and transfers between cities such as Mumbai, Aurangabad, Hyderabad, and Goa.

  • Meals

    12 breakfasts are included during the tour.

What's Not Included

  • International Flights

    International flights to and from India are not included.

  • Travel Insurance

    Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.

  • Personal Expenses

    Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and beverages are not included.

  • Optional Activities

    Optional activities and excursions not mentioned in the itinerary are not included.

  • Visa Fees

    Visa fees for entry into India are not included.

Meals

Breakfasts: 12

Mode of Transport

Travel through central India by train, including a scenic seven-hour journey to Aurangabad and an overnight sleeper train to Hyderabad, offering a chance to mingle with locals and enjoy the changing landscapes.

Accommodation

Experience comfort at The Sahil Hotel Mumbai, The Fern Aurangabad, and Quality Inn Residency, with a unique overnight train journey to Hyderabad, and enjoy the charm of Welcome Heritage Panjim Inn in Goa.

Videos

Check out our Q&As

  • What is the starting point of the Treasures of Central India tour?

    The tour starts in Mumbai, India.

  • What is the final destination of the tour?

    The tour ends in Goa, India.

  • What time should I arrive at the hotel in Mumbai to join the Colaba tour?

    You should arrive at the hotel by 5pm to join the Colaba tour.

  • What can I expect during the train journey from Mumbai to Aurangabad?

    The train journey from Mumbai to Aurangabad takes around seven hours, providing an opportunity to interact with local passengers and enjoy the changing landscape.

  • What is unique about the Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur?

    The Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur is known for its vast unsupported dome, which is second in size only to St Peter's in Rome, and features remarkable acoustics.

  • What are the Ajanta Caves known for?

    The Ajanta Caves are known for their rock-cut Buddhist temples and monasteries, which contain a treasure trove of Buddhist art dating back to the second century BCE.

  • What is special about the Ellora Caves?

    The Ellora Caves are a World Heritage site featuring elaborate sculptures and rock-cut temples that represent the aspirations of Buddhism, Jainism, and Brahmanism.

  • What can I expect during the overnight train journey to Hyderabad?

    During the overnight train journey to Hyderabad, you will travel in second-class sleeper carriages with four beds per compartment, separated by curtains. The carriages are air-conditioned, and bedding is provided.

  • What historical sites will be visited in Hyderabad?

    In Hyderabad, you will visit the Birla Temple, Charminar, Mecca Masjid Mosque, Golconda Fort, and the Qutb Shahi tombs.

  • What is the significance of Hampi in Indian history?

    Hampi was once the flourishing capital of the Vijayanagar Kings, who ruled one of the largest Hindu empires in Indian history. It is known for its remarkable temples and monuments.

  • What is the cultural influence in Goa?

    Goa has a strong Portuguese influence, evident in its Roman Catholic religion, architecture, and culinary specialities, including the locally brewed spirit feni.

  • I'm going on a walking/cycling trip-do I need to train?

    It will depend on the grade and how fit you already are. Check the trip page for details of the walking or cycling grade and how far you’ll be walking/cycling each day. For moderate or challenging trips in particular we’d recommend doing some walks or cycles before you leave to build up your fitness and prepare you for the distances being covered.

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    We have a wide range of ages nationalities on our small group trips and they come from all walks of life.

  • Should I get travel insurance?

    Yes–it is a condition of booking that you are fully insured when travelling with us

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    At Explore, we're the experts in adventure travel. Our small group adventure holidays have been running since 1981. Today, Explore is one of the most trusted travel companies in the UK with over 500 trips to more than 120 countries.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    Yes, but there are no concessions for doing so, and we must have a record in your booking advising as such before the trip departs.

  • Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?

    Being a responsible company is a large statement, something that has to be entwined within the very fibre of a company. Discover the charities and partnerships we support as part of this at https://www.explore.co.uk/about/sustainability/charities-and-partners

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    We want to be as clear as and as honest as possible about what happens if you decide to that you no longer wish to travel on your trip. Our booking conditions have details of the costs you’ll incur when you cancel-these charges depend on how long it is before your planned departure.

  • What is the accommodation like?

    We choose comfortable accommodation in the best locations possible. We opt for small, local and family-run accommodation where we can, as opposed to large chain hotels. We typically use hotels that are the equivalent of European 3-star, and you’ll usually have an en suite room. Occasionally, where we want to get off the beaten trail we may stay in more basic accommodation.

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Sustainability is embedded within the fibre of Explore, it emanates from the inside out. But as we enter a new decade it is clearer than ever that our world needs help, and Explore has created a sustainability strategy based on the 2015 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Our flexible booking and safety policies mean you're protected before and during your travels with us. Receive a full refund if your trip is cancelled, transfer your trip free of charge up to 10 days before departure minus any irrocoverable costs.

  • Do I need to be very fit to book with you?

    All our trips require some level of active participation. This could be on a cultural trip, trek, safari, expedition or voyage. It is in the interests of all members of the group that everyone should be capable of fully participating in the activities of their chosen trip.

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Final documents will include a comprehensive trip itinerary, climate and country information, budgeting and packing advice visa and passport information and details on optional activities available.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Yes on most of our trips. Most trips are based on customers sharing twin-bedded rooms. If you book a group trip as an individual, you will share a room with someone of the same sex. However, on many trips we offer the opportunity to pay a supplement to pre-book a single room, known as our single room option. On some trips a single room will be provided every night, on others it will be provided o

  • Do we have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel

    It’s now a condition of booking a trip with us that customers should have one of the following before they travel - — Be vaccinated against COVID, having received the full recommended course, and allowing enough time for immunity to take effect. Full vaccination includes any booster required to keep the vaccine valid. — Have taken a negative test (rapid antigen or PCR) within 72hrs of departure.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Explore will only offer hotels that have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with local government guidelines. We will ensure these measures include; enhanced room cleaning, ventilation, social distancing, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in public areas, food safety, staff re-training and minimising contact within the properties.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Caroline  

Treasures of Central India

This was an excellent trip with very interesting s

This was an excellent trip with very interesting sites to visit, exceptionally led. I would thoroughly recommend.

Alistair  

Treasures of Central India

We chose to stay on a few days at at the end and I

We chose to stay on a few days at at the end and I’m glad we did as the tour is very tiring, perhaps extend the tour with another day in Panjim, especially as the whole of our second last day was spent traveling

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Saturday - Friday

Jan 18, 2025 - Jan 31, 2025
$2200 $1920

Operator discount: -$280

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$2200 $1760

Operator discount: -$440

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Operator discount: -$240

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Operator discount: -$240

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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Explore! allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 70 days before the start of the tour.

  • Low Deposit

    Explore! requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of explore! charges.

    Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 13 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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