Day 1 - Mumbai Arrival
Welcome to India! Upon arrival in Mumbai, you will be met and then transferred to the hotel for check-in. Mumbai is a cluster of seven Islands and derives its name from Mumbadevi, the patron goddess of the koli fisher folk, its oldest inhabitants. The islands were tossed from one king to another emperor for two millennia, until the maritime trade empire of the British decided to develop the natural harbour into a city. In the four hundred years since then, the city has grown by a series of land reclamations which now link the original islands into one mass. Today, Mumbai pulsates with activity. It is a city that is disciplined by no time frame, neither by day nor by night. Mumbai is also the country's financial powerhouse, the nation's industrial heartland, and its economic nerve centre. With dazzling shopping arcades, exciting sport activity, night clubs & discotheques, theatre & music, gourmet restaurants and interesting sightseeing, Mumbai offers visitors a heady mix of all this and more.

Overnight at the Taj Mahal Palace

Day 2 - Mumbai
After breakfast proceed for an excursion to the Elephanta Caves. Located one hour by boat out of Mumbai, are the rock-cut temples on peaceful Elephanta Island. Thought to have been carved between 450 and 750 AD, the temples survived Portuguese vandalism (one cave was reputedly used by a Portuguese battalion as a shooting gallery) and remain equal in size, beauty and power to the caves at Ajanta and Ellora. The main cave contains large sculpted panels relating to Siva, including the astonishing 6m/20ft-high triple-headed Trimurti - in which Siva embodies the roles of creator, preserver and destroyer.In 1987, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. First, transfer to the jetty at the Gateway of India to board chartered boats (small local launches) to Elephanta Island where you will see a 8th-century shrine cut from the hillside. Among the sculptures is the magnificent "Maheshmurti," or Hindu Trinity, representing the three aspects of Shiva the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer. These caves provide an exciting glimpse of Indian sculpture dating from about 600 A.D. Huge panels depict episodes relating to Lord Shiva, each executed with power, grace and an amazing sense of movement.

Located on an island in Mumbai harbor, these are a complex of temples hewn from the rock, dated to between AD 450 and 750. The temples are adorned with intricate sculptures of Hindu gods. The island rises in two conical hillocks. The architect sculptors carved out of solid basalt rock create a representation of the heavenly mountain residence of Lord Shiva. Opening out from three sides, the temple lets in light from many angles making the sculptures seem to move with the changing angles of light. Inside the temple is a large hall, with nine sculptured panels representing Lord Shiva in different moods.

Continue your city tour with a visit to the Gateway of India, Mumbai's principal landmark. The Gateway of India is a huge archway on the water's edge. This famous monument was built to commemorate the visit of the first ever British Monarch, King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. Visit the Crawford Market named after Bombay's first municipal commissioner, Arthur Crawford, the Crawford Market is at the northern end of the old British part of the town, and faces the crowded inner city. Later, visit the Prince of Wales Museum (Closed on Monday) - boasting a good collection of ancient Indus Valley artefacts dating back to 2000 BC, plus some priceless Tibetan and Nepali Art. There is an entire gallery devoted to Buddhist tankha scrolls and another to Tibetan bronzes, but the chief attraction here is the collection of over 2000 miniature paintings from the various art schools of India. *Kindly note that Elephanta Caves and the Prince of Wales Museum are closed every Monday.

Overnight at the Taj Mahal Palace

Day 3 - Mumbai - Departure
After breakfast at the hotel, and at the appropriate time, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

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