Destinations Covered: Mumbai – Bandhavgarh – Kanha – Pench – Mumbai
DAY 01: ARRIVE IN MUMBAI
Arrive Mumbai By flight.
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel for check in.
Rest of the day at leisure (No transportation envisaged)
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 02: MUMBAI SIGHTSEEING
Today morning after breakfast proceed for the Excursion to Elephanta by motor launch (Caves closed on Mondays)
The island of Elephanta is just an hour away from Mumbai by motor launch. The cave temples here, excavated between the 5th and 8th centuries AD, are famous for their magnificently sculpted panels. The best known is one that depicts the Maheshmurti - a three-headed image of Lord Shiva. This island was so named by the Portuguese after the large stone elephant near the landing place and which now stands at the Victoria and Albert Museum in the mainland. The caves are reached by a stairway up the hillside from the ferry landing.
Later you start by driving to Mani Bhawan.
As poignant as it is tiny, this museum is in the building where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during visits to Bombay from 1917 to 1934. The leader formulated his philosophy of satyagraha (nonviolent protest) and launched the 1932 Civil Disobedience campaign from here. Exhibitions include a photographic record of his life, along with dioramas and documents, such as letters he wrote to Adolf Hitler and Franklin D Roosevelt and tributes from Ho Chi Minh and Albert Einstein.
Next, drive through the Fort Heritage District, the historic downtown area that derives its name from earlier colonial fortifications. This is a great way to explore Bombay’s British history and architecture. There are also numerous art galleries, museums and cultural spaces, including pavement galleries along with several restaurants, popular shops, and designer boutiques all of which add great diversity to the area.
You will drive past at Victoria Terminus or ‘VT’ as it is still popularly called. Officially renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) in 1998, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2004. It’s a meringue of Victorian, Hindu and Islamic styles whipped into an imposing Daliesque structure of buttresses, domes, turrets, spires and stained-glass windows. Designed by Frederick Stevens and inspired by St. Pancras Station in London, today it is Asia’s busiest train station.
Your last stop is a photo stop at the city’s open air laundry, “Dhobi Ghat”. Even if you have no interest in other people's dirty laundry, you'll be fascinated by this stop. Each morning, washing from all over Mumbai is brought here to be soaped, soaked, boiled, beaten, and thrashed. The next day, after being aired, pressed, folded and wrapped, the bundles are returned from whence they came. The secret that keeps the operation running smoothly is the coded symbol that each dhobi-wallah places on every item. Invisible to the untrained eye, this mark ensures that nothing will be lost!
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 03: FLIGHT FROM MUMBAI TO JABALPUR - BANDHAVGARH
In time transfer to airport to board flight for Mumbai
Mumbai / Bandhavgarh 6E 791 1015 / 1205 hours
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to a hotel in Bandhavgarh (04 Hrs. drive)
Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 04: BANDHAVGARH
Morning and afternoon jungle visits by Shared Jeep
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 05: BANDHAVGARH
Morning and afternoon jungle visits by Shared Jeep
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 06: BANDHAVGARH - KANHA
Morning post breakfast in the day transfer to Kanha National Park (04.5 – 05 hrs. drive)
Upon arrival check in at the hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 07: KANHA
Morning and afternoon jungle visits by Shared Jeep
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 08: KANHA
Morning and afternoon jungle visits by Shared Jeep
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 09: KANHA - PENCH
Morning post breakfast in the day transfer to Kanha National Park (03 – 04 hrs. drive)
Upon arrival check in at the hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 10: PENCH
Morning and afternoon jungle visits by Shared Jeep
Overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 11: DRIVE FROM PENCH TO NAGPUR AND FLY TO MUMBAI
Morning Jungle Visits by Shared Jeep
After lunch leave Pench and drive to Nagpur (2 – 2.5 hrs drive) take flight for Mumbai
Nagpur – Mumbai 6E 5036 1840 / 2015 hrs.
Overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 12: DEPATURE FROM MUMBAI.
We bid farewell to our guests in Mumbai. As we journeyed through these romantic lands, we hope that you fell in love just as much as we do with the beauty of our country.
END OF THE TOUR
