Golden Triangle of Maharashtra Tour - 8 Nights / 9 Days

Begin the day with one of Mumbai's most iconic and culturally significant excursions, a one-hour ferry ride across the Mumbai Harbour to Elephanta Island, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Elephanta Caves.

Return to the city by early afternoon and proceed on a guided heritage walk through South Mumbai's extraordinary colonial architecture, Crawford Market, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (the UNESCO-listed Victorian Gothic railway station), the High Court, and the University of Mumbai's Rajabai Clock Tower. In the late afternoon, join an expert-guided walk through Dharavi, one of Asia's most densely populated and economically active urban communities. End the evening on Marine Drive, the famous 3.6-kilometre seafront promenade known as the Queen's Necklace for the arc of streetlights that glitters along it at night.

Overnight Stay in Mumbai

Spend your third Mumbai day exploring the city's more contemporary, creative, and popular cultural landmarks. Begin with a visit to Dhobi Ghat, the world's largest open-air laundry.

Next, cross to the western suburbs and explore Bandra, Mumbai's most fashionable and culturally vibrant neighbourhood, home to Bollywood celebrities, art galleries, independent cafés, street murals, and the iconic Bandra-Worli Sea Link bridge. After lunch in Bandra's celebrated restaurant strip, proceed for a guided Film City tour, the 520-acre studio complex in Goregaon where most of Bollywood's productions are filmed. End the evening at Juhu Beach, Mumbai's most beloved public beach, with a plate of bhel puri, pav bhaji, or corn-on-the-cob from the legendary Juhu street food stalls, watching the Arabian Sea swallow the last light of day.

Overnight Stay in Mumbai

After breakfast, depart Mumbai and drive to Pune, Maharashtra's second city, approximately 150 kilometres southeast of Mumbai via the Pune Expressway.

Upon arrival in Pune, check in to your hotel and begin afternoon sightseeing with a visit to the Aga Khan Palace, one of Maharashtra's most historically significant and emotionally moving landmarks.

Overnight Stay in Pune

Today is dedicated to Pune's extraordinary depth of history, spirituality, and culture. Begin at Shaniwar Wada, the fortified palace that served as the seat of the Peshwa rulers of the Maratha Empire from 1732 until 1818. A sound and light show is held at Shaniwar Wada in the evenings, a dramatic and evocative retelling of the Peshwa era (entry at own cost).

Next, visit the extraordinary Pataleshwar Cave Temple, a rock-cut temple complex carved from a single basalt outcrop in the 8th century AD.

In the afternoon, visit the OSHO International Meditation Resort, the global headquarters of Osho's movement. Whether or not you participate in meditation sessions, the resort's architecture, gardens, and visitor experience are unlike anything else in India. End the evening with dinner on FC Road or Koregaon Park, Pune's two most vibrant dining and café precincts.

Overnight Stay in Pune

Today, embark on a full-day excursion into the magnificent Western Ghats.

The first destination is Lonavala, a hill station 65 kilometres from Pune.

After Lonavala, drive to the legendary Sinhagad Fort, one of the most historically significant hill forts in Maharashtra and a cornerstone of Maratha military history. Return to your hotel and relax.

Overnight Stay in Pune

After breakfast, bid farewell to Pune and drive north to Nashik. It is approximately 210 kilometres through the Deccan Plateau and the northern Sahyadri foothills. Nashik, situated at 565 metres on the banks of the sacred Godavari River, is one of India's most ancient and spiritually significant cities. It is one of the four sacred sites of the Kumbh Mela, the world's largest human gathering, held at Nashik every twelve years along the Godavari.

Upon arrival, check in and make your way to Ramkund. It is Nashik's most sacred ghat on the banks of the Godavari. Stroll the narrow lanes around the temple complex as dusk falls and the ghats are lit by the warm glow of diyas.

Overnight Stay in Nashik

Today is Nashik's most layered and rewarding day, combining one of India's most sacred Jyotirlinga shrines, a remarkable ancient cave, and complete. Begin with an early morning drive to Trimbakeshwar, 28 kilometres from Nashik, home to the Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple, one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas of India.

Return to Nashik and visit the Pandavleni Caves, a complex of 24 Buddhist cave shrines carved into the basalt hillside of the Trirashmi Hills, constructed between the 1st century BC and the 3rd century AD during the Hinayana period of Buddhist art.

Overnight Stay in Nashik

After a leisurely final breakfast in Nashik, check out and begin the drive back to Mumbai, approximately 170 kilometres via the Mumbai-Agra National Highway, a journey of 3 to 4 hours through the rolling Sahyadri foothills and the Thane district. En route, if time permits, stop at the ancient Vaitarna Lake, a picturesque reservoir in the Sahyadri hills that supplies water to Mumbai and offers a peaceful, scenic rest stop on the homeward journey.

Arrive in Mumbai by early afternoon, with time for any last-minute shopping at Crawford Market, a final visit to a favourite landmark, or a quiet hour on Marine Drive before heading to the airport or station.

Tour Concludes