Maharashtra Splendour – A Luxury Train Journey

Itinerary

Day 1 – To Mumbai:

Overnight flight from London to Mumbai with British Airways. (N)

Day 2 – Mumbai:

Arrive and transfer to The LaLiT Mumbai (or similar) for an overnight stay. (N)

Day 3 – To Nashik:

Morning at leisure. Later this afternoon, board the Deccan Odyssey train for a 7-night journey through Deccan. Overnight train journey to Nashik. (B, D)

Day 4 – Nashik:

Arrive in Nashik today and take a tour of a vineyard that produces fine Indian wines from the Chenin, Chardonnay and Shiraz variety of grapes. Enjoy a wine tasting session accompanied by lunch before returning to the train.

Day 5 – Ellora Cave Temples:

This morning, arrive in Aurangabad and proceed to visit the Ellora Cave Temples. These caves are a spectacular culmination of Deccan rock-cut architecture. Over five centuries, generations of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monks carved monasteries, chapels and temples from a 2-kilometre-long escarpment and decorated them with a profusion of sculptures of remarkable imagination and detail. (B, L, D)

Day 6 – Ajanta Caves

This morning, arrive in Jalgaon and proceed to visit the spectacular caves at Ajanta. These Buddhist cave temples date from around 200BC, and continued to be added to until 650AD, predating those at nearby Ellora. As Ellora developed and Buddhism gradually declined, the Ajanta Caves were abandoned and eventually forgotten. But in 1819, a British hunting party stumbled upon them, and their remote beauty was soon unveiled. Their isolation contributed to the fine state of preservation in which some of their remarkable paintings remain to this day. Ajanta is listed as a world heritage site by Unesco. Overnight train journey to Nashik. (B, L, D)

Day 7 – Kolhapur:

Arrive into Kolhapur, a city of many hidden treasures. After an early lunch disembark for a tour of the city. Visit the New Palace Museum, a lovely basalt and sandstone octagonal Palace from the 19th century. Continue to the Town Hall Museum, a sombre neo-Gothic building, its front porch flanked by towers with steeply pyramidal metal roofs. Later, explore the local markets for a pair of beautifully handcrafted Kolhapuri chappals. Visit the Mahalakshmi temple, also called Shakti Pethas, or place associated with the Goddess Shakti, said to be the consort of Lord Vishnu. Following your temple visit, witness a traditional martial arts performance called ‘Mardani Khel’. (B, L, D)

Day 8 – Goa:

Arrive into Goa, India’s smallest state with strong Portuguese influences, having been a colony of Portugal until as late as 1961. Take a tour of the Latin Quarters, known as Fontainhas, the Ribandar, erstwhile capital of Goa and the ruins of the once lofty St. Augustine tower that continues to valiantly withstand the vagaries of nature. (B, L, D)

Day 9 – Ratnagiri:

The train arrives into Ratnagiri this morning – a veritable jewel on the Konkan coast. Disembark after and take a tour of the Ganpatiphule temple, popular with locals and tourists, it houses 400 year old idol that is believed to have sprung from the soil. Return to the train for lunch bfeore visiting a mango and acashew plantation. (B, L, D)

Day 10 – Mumbai:

Morning arrival in Mumbai, where you will disembark. Continue to The LaLiT Mumbai (or similar) for an overnight stay. (B)

Day 11 – To London:

Fly to London with British Airways. (B)