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SUGGESTED PROGRAM FOR GROUP TOURS:
WEST INDIA - A LESSER EXPLORED DESTINATION
Duration : 14 nights / 15 days
Cities covered :
Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Ahmedpur, Mandawi, Sasangir,
Porbandar, Dwarka, Wankaner, Bhuj, Mumbai.
Highlights : This
tour gives a fine combination of Culture, Wildlife,
Handicrafts coupled with finest beaches of lesser known
western part of India.
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[These Group Tour Programs are best
run with minimum 6 travelers to a group & more]
Day 1 - MUMBAI
Arrive Mumbai. Meeting and transfer to the hotel.
(Check in time 12 Noon). Overnight at hotel.
Day 2 - MUMBAI
Morning city tour visiting the Gateway of India -
built during the period 1924-1927 to commerate the visit to
India of King George V, of England in 1911. The Gateway is a
popular promenade along with sea. Visit the Prince of Wales
Museum - the victorian domed structure contains a fine
collection of miniature paintings. Its three sections are on
Ary, Archeology and Natural history. The Museum’s style of
architecture is Indo-Saracenic. Visit the 80 meter Rajabai
Clock Tower - the Gothic style Mumbai University Clock Tower
built in the last century. The Victoria Terminus is considered
the most beautiful edifice in the city. This sprawling
structure blends both Gothic and Indian architectural styles.
Also visit Kamla Nehru Park, Mani Bhawan, Dhobi Ghat, Afgan
Church, Flora fountain and drive past colourful Crawford
market, Marine drive, Nariman point to Malabar Hill which is a
winding stretch of road along the sea with tall buildings on
one side.
Rest of the day free. Overnight at hotel.
Day 3 - MUMBAI / AHMEDABAD
Morning transfer to the airport to board flight IC
613 for Ahmedabad.
Depart Mumbai at 0545 hrs
Arrive Ahmedabad at 0645 hrs
Arrive and transfer to the hotel.
Afternoon city tour visiting Teen Darwaza, a tripple
gateway 37 feet high built by Sultan Ahmed, the Jumma Masjid,
the Hathi Singh Temple, a richly carved marbel temple
surrounded by 52 smaller temples, Rani Sipri Mosque, Shaking
Minarets, Calico textile museum, the step wells of Dada Hari -
an example of remarkable style of monument that is a
speciality of Gujarat and Sabarmati Ashram.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 4 - AHMEDABAD
Full day excursion by coach to Modhera visiting one
of the most magnificient monuments of Gujarat - the Modhera
Temple, built by Solanki Kings in 1025 A.D. dedicated to Surya
- Sun God. The temple was constructed in manner that at
sunrise the rays fall straight on the image of Surya
illuminating the shrine. Return to Ahmedabad. Overnight at
hotel.
Day 5 – AHMEDABAD / BHAVNAGAR
(198 KMS)
Depart by coach for Bhavnagar. En route
visit Lothal, discovered 20 yeras ago, was the settlement of
the Harrapan era dates back to 2nd millenium B.C. The
excavation revealed a planned city with underground frainage
system. Thereafter, proceed for Bhavnagar. Arrive and check in
at Nilambagh Palace.
Nilambagh Palace, built at the turn of the century,
this palace of the ruler of Bhavnagar is no reoyal
extravagance, but rather a solid, comfortable residence. Made
of stone quarried in the southern part of the Indian
peninsula, this low, horizontal structure with colonnaded
verandahs and pillared porches. The original furnishing have
been retained from portraits of the Maharaja’s ancenstors,
Czech crystal chandliers, carved furniture and much more to
make it a unforgetable stay.
Rest of the day free to explore the palace. Overnight at
hotel.
Day 6 – BHAVNAGAR / AHMEDPUR / MANDWI
(238 KMS)
Depart by coach for Ahmedpur Mandwi. En
route visit Palitana which lies at the foot of Shatrunjaya
hills. The sacred hill rises in crescendo of magnificient 863
temples in all that soar in marble. The temples are built over
a span of 900 years with the contribution of each generation
of pilgrims to the shrine. The most temples are Shri Adishwar,
Kumarpal, Vimalshah and Sampriti Raja. The earliest temple was
built by a great Jain patron. The temple has fabulous
collection of jewels, and these can be seen following a
special permission. Thereafter, proceed for Ahmedpur Mandwi.
Ahmedpur Mandwi near to the sea has a picturesque sandy beach.
Arrive and check in at hotel.
Rest of the day relax on the beach. Overnight at hotel.
Day 7 – AHMEDPUR / MANDWI
Full day excursion to Diu (10 Kms). Diu was the
first landing point for the parsis when they fled from Persia.
It was a Portuguese colony until 1961.
Return to Ahmedpur Mandwi. Overnight at hotel.
Day 8 – AHMEDPUR / MANDWI / SASANGIR
(103 KMS)
Depart by coach for Sasangir. En route visit
Somnath, one of the 12 most sacred Shiva shrines in India. It
is widely believed that if one were to sail from here in a
straight line, the end of the journey would be at the North
Pole, and without in any place having to travel over land.
Thereafter, proceed for Sasangir.
Arrive and check in at lodge.
Sasangir Sanctuary, a spread of low hilly country
covered largely with thorn forests and other dry land trees
including the spectacular scarlet-flowered Palas. It is the
only natural home of the Asiatic Lion, as in Africa, hyaenas
thrive on the lion’s left overs. There are over a 100 bird
species as it is on the maon north-south migratory route. In
the sanctuary are villages of the Indo-African Siddhis:
descendants of people who migrated here with Ethiopian
merchant princess. There is also a crocodile breeding station
to re-stock rivers and lakes with these eco-balancers.
Late afternoon Game viewing by Jeep. Overnight at lodge.
Day 9 – SASANGIR / PORBANDAR
(160 KMS)
Depart by coach for Porbander. En route
visit Junagarh, located at the base of Girnar Hill, a temple
city in itself. The famous Fort of Uppar Kot is an imposing
reminder of the city’s medieval past. On top of the hill are
beautiful jain temples, the biggest among them is Neminath.
Thereafter, proceed for Porbandar. Arrive and check in at
hotel.
A small picturesque sea port town that is linked with India’s
history through its association with Mahatma gandhi who was
born here.
Later city tour visiting the Kirti Mandir, where Mahatma
Gandhi was born, Arya Kanya, Gurukul and Bharat Smriti and the
beach.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 10 – PORBANDAR / DWARKA
(100 KMS)
Depart by coach for Dwarka. Arrive and check in at
hotel.
Dwarka on the west coast of Gujarat lies by the Arabian Sea
and is the cradle of Krishna legends. It is here that Lord
Krishna is supposed to have ruled, andexcavations have
revealed that the present settlement is the sixth here, five
others having been obliterated by the sea.
Afternoon sightseeing tour visiting Jagat mandir forms the
sanctum of the Dwarkadish temple and dates back to 2,500
years. Jagat mandir has its own hall of audience and conical
spire. The roof of the hall is supported by 60 columns and the
main temple rises five storeys high. The main spire rises to a
heightof 157 feet and is richly carved. Rukmini temple and
Nageshwar Mahadev.
Time free to explore the religious city. Overnight at hotel.
Day 11 – DWARKA / WANKANER
(287 KMS)
Depart by coach for Wankaner. Arrive and
check in at hotel.
Evening Dinner at the Main Palace with folk dances followed by
a visit to the personal museum of Prince. Overnight at hotel.
Day 12 – WANKANER / BHUJ
(200 KMS)
Depart by coach for Bhuj.
Arrive and check in at hotel.
Afternoon visit the local market to see tie and dye and silk
fabrics.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 13 - BHUJ
Full day Jeep Safari in Banni. You drive through
the Rann of Kachchh, a varied desert-terrain. The arid land
which covers a large part of the district is composed of salt
deposits of the receding sea.
The safari would give you an oportunity to see the desert
wildlife like chinkara, Indian busturds, conman cranes in
thousands and various species of birds. The above all a unique
experience of being in a land of salt yet civilized.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 14 – BHUJ / MUMBAI
In time transfer to the airport to board flight for
Mumbai
Depart Bhuj by IC 145 at 1420 hrs
Arrive Mumbai at 1615 hrs
(Flight operates on Wednesday/Fridays)
OR
Depart Bhuj by IC 136 at 1605 hrs
Arrive Mumbai at 1710 hrs
(Flight operates on Tuesday/Saturdays)
Arrive and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 15 – DEPART MUMBAI
In time transfer to the international airport to
board flight for onward destination.
Note: Flight schedule subject to
change. |