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| Ananda
- Rediscover tranquility, in the mystical
embrace of Himalayan mountains and the Holy
River Ganges. It is South Asia's finest Resort
& Spa, Ananda in the Himalayas translated
from ancient Sanskrit to mean "bliss,
happiness, and self contentment". |
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Duration |
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08 Nights / 09 days |
| Destinations
Covered |
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Mumbai – Lonavala – Matheran
– Nasik - Shirdi – Mumbai |
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| Day
01: Arrive Mumbai - Arrive Mumbai,
meet assist at the airport. Transfer to hotel
and enjoy the day at leisure. Stay overnight
at Mumbai Hotel. |
| Day
02: Mumbai - After relish your breakfast
in the morning, proceed for sightseeing tour
of Mumbai covering Gateway of India, Hanging
Gardens on the slopes of Malabar Hills offering
nice view of Marine Lines & Chowpatty
Beach, Prince of Wales Museum, Kamla Nehru
Park, Mani Bhawan (where Mahatma Gandhi used
to stay) and then to Dhobi Ghat. Later proceed
for an excursion to the Elephanta Caves. Also
visit Afgan Church, Flora Fountain (Bombay
nerve centre), Colourful Crawford Market and
Marine Drive. Night stay in Mumbai. Return
to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay. |
| Day
03: Mumbai-Lonavala -After breakfast,
leave for Lonavala -The Ultimate Tourist Destination.
On arrival in Lonavala, transfer to the hotel
and relax. Later proceed for a short trip,
which will cover Karla & Bhaja Caves.
Overnight at hotel. |
| Day
04: Lonavala-Matheran -Morning free
to explore the beautiful surroundings and
your personal activities. In evening, proceed
to the lovely locale Matheran. On arrival
in Matheran transfer to the hotel and stay
overnight in Matheran. |
| Day
05: Matheran-Nasik - Morning will
be kept free, so as to explore the fabulous
surroundings. Afternoon drive to Nasik a sacred
city on the banks of the River Godavari, is
now a throbbing industrial town. Its beautiful
architecture, temples and caves are a mute
testimony to its rich, eventful history. On
arrival transfer to the hotel and relax. Evening
city tour covering Sunder Narayan Temple -
Sita Gupta Caves - Trimbak - Overnight at
hotel. |
| Day
06 : Nasik -Nasik Ghats
Drive to Trimbakeshwar. It is famous for the
Trimbakeshwar Temple and source of the Godavari
River. Trimbakeshwar enshrines one of the
12 jyotirlingas dedicated to Shiva and this
one is considered to be the main jyotirlinga.
Legend has it that Guatam Rishi performed
a rigorous ritual of prayer and penance or
tapasya to Shiva on Brahmagiri Hill which
rises above the present-day temple. Pleased
with this devotion, Shiva is said to have
blessed him and brought down to earth from
heaven the sacred rivers of Ganga, Gautami
and Godavari. At the Kushavarta Teerth, devotees
usually dip themselves into the waters and
purify themselves of all sins before entering
the temple. To this day, Hindus offer shraad
prayers (prayers for the souls of the departed)
here. It is also believed that bathing in
the waters of the Godavari will bring moksha
or salvation. Mondays are considered particularly
holy and the priests carry the idol of Trimbakeshwar
in a palanquin on their shoulders around the
temple. The annual festival of Shivratri is
also celebrated with great pomp and gaiety
and attracts thousands of pilgrims from all
over. For overnight return to Nasik. |
| Day
07 : Nasik-Shirdi -Early
morning drive to Shirdi. On arrival transfer
to the hotel and relax. Later proceed for
temples in Shirdi, visit Mahasamadhi temple
of Sri Sai Baba. Abode of one of Maharashtra's
most revered saint -- Sai Baba of Shirdi.
Popularly known as the 'Child of God', Sai
Baba preached tolerance towards all religions
and the message of universal brotherhood.
Every activity at Shirdi revolves around the
vast temple complex dedicated to Sai Baba.
Devotees start queuing up in the early hours
of dawn to catch a glimpse and seek the blessings
of the life-size statue of Sai Baba. Thursday
is marked by special pujas and darshan of
the Sai Baba statue. Visit Dwarkamani Mosque
where the Baba meditated and slept on alternate
nights. Near the mosque, in a corridor is
the dhuni or eternal flame that burns day
and night. Other places of importance are
the Gurusthan, the Kandoba Temple, Shani Mandir,
Narsimha Mandir, Changdev Maharaj Samadhi
and the Sakori. Return to the hotel for dinner
and stay overnight at Hotel. |
| Day
08 : Shirdi-Mumbai -After breakfast
drive to Mumbai. On arrival in Mumbai, transfer
to hotel and relax. Enjoy the rest of the
day at leisure. Stay overnight at the hotel. |
| Day
09: Mumbai Departure -After breakfast
in the morning, transfer to the airport for
flight to onward journey. |
| Tour
Highlights - |
•
Excursion to Elephant Caves.
• Visit to Gateway of India, Kamla Nehru
Park and Mani Bhawan
• Explore the fabulous surroundings
in Lonavala & Matheran
• Visit the Sunder Narayan Temple -
Sita Gupta Caves – Trimbak in Nasik
• Visit Mahasamadhi temple of Sri Sai
Baba in Shirdi |
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