AURANGABAD - AJANTA - ELLORA - SHIRDI (FROM MUMBAI)

Historical & Heritage | Pilgrimage

Photo Credit: Flickr
This trip demands considerable trekking / walking

ITINERARY SUMMARY

Trip Starting Point: Mumbai City

Mode of Travel: Car (or Cab)

Trip Duration: 4 Days

Ideal Start Time: 6 AM:9 AM:9 AM:9 AM

Total Places Visited: 8

DAYS

DAY 1 : TRAVEL TO AURANGABAD & AURANGABAD SIGHTSEEING

Travel from Mumbai to Aurangabad

Historical & Heritage

At a distance of 5 km from Aurangabad Railway Station, Bibi Ka Maqbara is a beautiful mausoleum situated in Aurangabad. Maintained by Archeological Survey of India, Bibi Ka Muqbara is one of the top tourist places to visit in Aurangabad.

The Bibi-Ka-Maqbara is dedicated to Rabia-ul-Daurani alias Dilras Banu Begum, the wife of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb's son, Prince Azam Shah built the mausoleum between 1651 AD and 1661 AD in the memory of his mother Begum Rabia Durani. This mausoleum is a replica of the world-famous Taj Mahal. Also known as Mini Taj, the mausoleum is far less ornamental than the Taj Mahal in Agra. It is one of the must include places in Aurangabad tour packages.

An inscription found on the main entrance door mentions that this mausoleum was designed and erected by Ata-Ullah, an architect, and Hanspat Rai, an engineer .....

Historical & Heritage

At a distance of 2 km from Bibi Ka Maqbara and 6 km from Aurangabad Railway Station, Sunheri Mahal is a palace located at the foothill of the Aurangabad Caves in the Paharsingpura area of Aurangabad. It is one of the top places to visit in Aurangabad.

Soneri Mahal was built by a Bandalkand chief who accompanied Aurangzeb into the Dakhan. The Mahal was built between 1651 AD and 1653 AD at a cost of Rs.50, 000 and in 1934 AD it was sold to the Nizam of Hyderabad for Rs.26, 400. The Mahal is named after the paintings in the palace that were once painted in gold.

It is a grand two stored building constructed in typical Rajput style. The palace is made up of lime and stone. Sprawling over two storeys, the palace stands as a testimony of Indian architectural splendor with some intricate decorations all over. A well-manicured garden adds to its beauty. The entrance of the Palace is decorated with beautifully .....

Museum & Gallery

At a distance of 5.5 km from Aurangabad Railway Station, Chhatrapati Shivaji Museum is located near Nehru Bal Udyan in Aurangabad. This is one of the best tourist attractions in Aurangabad.

The museum is dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the great Maratha ruler. Founded by the Municipal Corporation of Aurangabad, the cost of the museum is around 194 lakhs. The building has a total of 6 exhibition halls. A visit to this museum takes visitors back into the days of Maratha valor and their love for their homeland.

The exhibits on display tell stories of the glorious reign of the brave king, showcased in six galleries. The display comprises Maratha war weapons and other artifacts from the battlefield of some of the most popular wars that the Marathas fought. The main exhibits here include the 500 year old war suit, a copy of the Aurangzeb's handwritten Quran, and a 400 year old Paithani sari.

The first hall is decorated with the wooden craft which reminds us the .....

Overnight Stay in Aurangabad

DAY 2 : VISIT AJANTA & TRAVEL TO AURANGABAD

Travel from Aurangabad to Ajanta Caves

Historical & Heritage

At a distance of 98 km from Aurangabad, 98 km from Ellora Caves, 202 km from Shirdi, 272 km from Nashik, 326 km from Pune, and 443 km from Mumbai, Ajanta Caves are ancient Buddhist caves situated near Ajanta village in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. Ajanta Caves are one of the oldest UNESCO World heritage sites in India and also one of the top attractions you must include in Maharashtra tour packages. The caves are now protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Ajanta - Ellora Caves are one of the most visited ancient monuments in India, and among the major heritage places to visit near Aurangabad. The Caves were carved between the 2nd Century BC and 6th Century AD. Construction of the caves was carried out in two phases; the first group of caves was built around the 2nd century BC, while the second group .....

Overnight Stay in Aurangabad

DAY 3 : VISIT ELLORA & TRAVEL TO SHIRDI

Travel from Aurangabad to Ellora Caves

Historical & Heritage

At a distance of 16 km from Aurangabad Railway Station, Daulatabad is an ancient hill fort situated on the way to Ellora Caves from Aurangabad in Maharashtra. It is one of the best-preserved places of heritage in Maharashtra, and also one of the best Aurangabad tourist places.

The historical triangular fort of Daulatabad was built by Yadava king Bhillama V in 1187 AD. It is one of the best historical places near Pune. The city was then called 'Deogiri', meaning the hill of gods. Daulatabad or 'the abode of wealth' was the name given by Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq when he made his capital here in 1327 AD. The region and the fort passed on into the hands of Bahamani rulers under Hasan Gangu in 1347 AD and Nizam Shahis of Ahmednagar in 1499 AD. Daulatabad became the capital of the Nizam Shahi dynasty .....

Historical & Heritage

At a distance of 28 km from Aurangabad, 98 km from Ajanta Caves, 104 km from Shirdi, 176 km from Nashik, 253 km from Pune, and 344 km from Mumbai, Ellora Caves are ancient historical caves located at Verul near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Ellora is the most visited monuments of heritage in India, and among the top tourist places in Maharashtra.

Locally known as 'Verul Leni', these caves are were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Ellora is one of the top places to visit near Aurangabad. The caves at Ellora were carved out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills between the 6th and 10th centuries AD. The carving work began around 550 AD, about the same time the Ajanta Caves were abandoned. Kailash Temple (Cave16), which is the most remarkable structure .....

Overnight Stay in Shirdi

DAY 4 : SHIRDI SIGHTSEEING & TRAVEL TO MUMBAI

Start Shirdi Sightseeing

Pilgrimage

At a distance of 600 m from Shirdi Bus Stand, Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple is situated in the center of Shirdi town. It is one of the most famous shrines of pilgrimage in India and also prime place to include in your Shirdi Tour Packages.

The Shirdi Temple is dedicated to Sri Sai Baba and he is revered as one of the greatest saints ever seen in India, endowed with unprecedented powers, and is worshipped as an incarnation of God. Baba first made his appearance in Shirdi as a youth and remained there until he died in 1918. He transformed the lives of those who met him and continuously is doing so even after his Samadhi for those who pray him for his blessings. This is one of the popular places to visit in Shirdi.

The temple complex of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba is spread in approximately 200 square meters. Samadhi .....

Pilgrimage

At a distance of 72 km from Shirdi and 44 km from Ahmednagar, Shani Shingnapur or Sonai is a village in Nevasa taluka of Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra. The village is known for its popular temple of Shani Mahadev, the Hindu god associated with the planet (graha) Saturn. This is one of the most popular Shani temples in India and also among the famous pilgrimage places to visit near Pune.

The idol of Lord Shanidev at the Shingnapur temple is swayambhu and the temple is believed to be a jagrut devasthan, meaning that a deity still resides in the temple. The idol is personified in the form of a black stone that is five and a half feet high installed on an open-air platform. There is a Trishul alongside the stone as well as a Nandi on its south. In front are the small images of Shiva and Hanuman. An east-facing multi deity temple was built west of the Shani idol later. The premises also contain a tomb of Saint Udasi Baba .....

Travel from Shirdi to Mumbai