preserver and the creator. Later in the afternoon cruise back to Gateway of
India, one can have lunch at the Taj Hotel or other several good Restaurants
like Leopold & Mondegar serving continental cuisines. Later visit Prince of
Wales Museum, Parliament House, Marine Drive, Jain Temple, Hanging
Gardens, Return back to the hotel for overnight.
Day 23:
-
After breakfast the day is free for leisure, you can visit various
shopping malls Like Inorbit, Cross Road, West Side and local
fort market like fashion street, after lunch transfer to the
domestic airport to board the afternoon
flight for Aurangabad. On arrival transfer to the hotel. After some relaxation in
the evening enjoy the city atmosphere.. Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 24:
After breakfast for excursion to famous Ajanta caves. A two
and half hour drive from Aurangabad takes you to the world
heritage site of Ajanta. Although it is nearer to the cities of
Jalgaon and Buldhana, Ajanta caves are better
approached from Aurangabad. The caves are built in a horseshoe shaped
curve of the steep rocky gorge that rises above the river Waghore. These
rock hewn caves, still glowing in their own natural colours, are the finest
achievements of the Buddhist monks who arrived here in 2nd century B.C.
and reflect the zenith of ancient Indian art and architecture. Though most
were carved in the first 400 years span, but the work continued till 7th century
A.D. The caves were suddenly abandoned, most probably to the nearby
Ellora caves. They remained unknown and forgotten for centuries, until, in
1819, soldiers from a British hunting party found them, accidentally. The
exquisite paintings on the walls of the caves and some sculptures depict the
development in Buddhism, over the span of eight centuries. The central
theme of the frescoes remain the life and times of Buddha. Then there are
descriptive Jataka tales, when Buddha assumed forms of animals on the
earth in his previous births. There are lions, elephants, monkeys, peacocks
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