First, 3 nights in Mumbai
Trident, Nariman Point
Trident, Nariman Point, Mumbai: sea-view rooms above Marine Drive, pool terrace, spa, Frangipani and Ness. A premium base for South Mumbai.
Mumbai · Hotel · Premium★★★★★
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Classic Maharashtra — Premium
About This Journey
Classic Maharashtra — Premium
This is Maharashtra's classic route in nine days. It joins three very different cities. Mumbai is the colonial and commercial harbour. Aurangabad is the base for the rock-cut caves. Pune is the quieter, older seat of the Peshwas.
You spend three nights in Mumbai, three in Aurangabad and two in Pune. The pace is steady. A private guide takes you through each site, and the long legs are timed around lunch.
- 01
Colonial Mumbai on foot
A full day in the Fort district takes in the Gateway of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and the Victorian Gothic streets between them. A guide ties the buildings to the city's story.
- 02
A ferry to Elephanta
A boat crosses the harbour to Elephanta Island. Steps climb to rock-cut temples to Shiva, centred on the huge three-faced Maheshmurti.
- 03
Ellora and Ajanta, back to back
Ellora's Kailasa temple is carved top-down from one rock. Ajanta's Buddhist caves hold painted murals in a quiet gorge. We order the two days around their weekly closing days.
- 04
Peshwa Pune
Shaniwar Wada and the Aga Khan Palace close the route. Both give a calmer, more reflective end to the journey.
Chapter Two — Where You'll Stay
3 Real Stays, In Order
Handpicked along your own route — not a hotel chain repeated city to city.
Next, 3 nights in Aurangabad
Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Rama International
Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Rama International in Aurangabad: 228 rooms in landscaped gardens, pool, Madhuban dining. Base for Ajanta and Ellora.
Aurangabad · Resort · Premium★★★★★
Finally, 2 nights in Pune
Novotel Pune Nagar Road
Novotel Pune Nagar Road, Pune: 311 rooms in Viman Nagar, pool, fitness centre and four dining venues. A smart premium base near the airport.
Pune · Hotel · Premium★★★★★
Chapter Three — Day by Day
Real Maharashtra Attractions in This Itinerary
7 of your 9days — the full itinerary follows below. Scroll to travel the route.
Day 2 · Mumbai
Colonial Mumbai: Fort, Gateway and CST
A day in the old Fort district with a private guide. The area is a stretch of Victorian Gothic and Art Deco, built when Mumbai was Bombay. You see the Gateway of India, finished in 1924, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, a UNESCO World Heritage railway station. A walk through the Fort's lanes follows. We end with chai and sea air on the waterfront. Timings for interiors vary, so we confirm them on the day.
Day 3 · Mumbai
Elephanta Caves by Ferry
A ferry from the Gateway of India takes about an hour across the harbour. On Elephanta Island, steps climb to a group of rock-cut cave temples to Shiva. The Maheshmurti, a huge three-faced figure, is the centrepiece. The caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are generally closed on Mondays, and ferry times depend on the weather, so we confirm both. Back in the city, the evening is yours.
Day 4 · Mumbai → Aurangabad
Mumbai to Aurangabad
A short flight takes about an hour from Mumbai to Aurangabad, now also called Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. By road the journey is about six hours. You arrive in time for a late lunch. In the afternoon, rest, or take a short drive through the old city. The next two days belong to the caves.
Day 5 · Aurangabad
Ellora Caves and Daulatabad Fort
Ellora lies about 30 km from the city. Thirty-four caves, Buddhist, Hindu and Jain, are cut along one basalt hillside. Cave 16, the Kailasa temple, is carved top-down from a single rock. A local guide takes you through the best of it. On the way back, stop at Daulatabad Fort, a hill fortress with a winding, dark passage and sweeping views. Ellora is generally closed on Tuesdays, so we order the days to suit.
Day 6 · Aurangabad
The Ajanta Caves
Ajanta is about 100 km from Aurangabad, roughly two hours each way. Its Buddhist caves curve around a quiet river gorge. They hold some of India's oldest surviving painted murals. Your guide explains the Jataka scenes and the carved halls. Lighting inside the caves is dim, and the paintings are fragile, so photography is limited. Ajanta is generally closed on Mondays, so we confirm the day.
Day 7 · Aurangabad → Pune
Aurangabad to Pune
A road day of about four and a half hours across the Deccan, with a lunch stop. The flat plateau gives way to the Sahyadri hills near Pune. Pune is the old seat of the Peshwas. It is greener and calmer than Mumbai. Check in and rest, and take a quiet walk in the evening.
Day 8 · Pune
Peshwa Pune: Shaniwar Wada and the Aga Khan Palace
A day of Pune's history with a local guide. Shaniwar Wada was the seat of the Peshwas. Its great gate and the stone remains of the fort remain. In the afternoon, the Aga Khan Palace, where Mahatma Gandhi was held in the 1940s, is now a quiet memorial and museum. We close with a stroll through the old Peth quarter.
Chapter Four — The Full Itinerary
9 Days, In Full
Every day, start to finish — including the transfers the day-by-day chapter above skipped.
Mumbai
Arrive in Mumbai
Your driver meets you at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Mumbai is India's financial capital, and it never really stops. Check in and rest. In the late afternoon, walk the sweep of Marine Drive as the light turns gold. The curve of the bay at dusk is called the Queen's Necklace. Dinner is a first taste of the city's cooking.
Mumbai
Colonial Mumbai: Fort, Gateway and CST
A day in the old Fort district with a private guide. The area is a stretch of Victorian Gothic and Art Deco, built when Mumbai was Bombay. You see the Gateway of India, finished in 1924, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, a UNESCO World Heritage railway station. A walk through the Fort's lanes follows. We end with chai and sea air on the waterfront. Timings for interiors vary, so we confirm them on the day.
Mumbai
Elephanta Caves by Ferry
A ferry from the Gateway of India takes about an hour across the harbour. On Elephanta Island, steps climb to a group of rock-cut cave temples to Shiva. The Maheshmurti, a huge three-faced figure, is the centrepiece. The caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are generally closed on Mondays, and ferry times depend on the weather, so we confirm both. Back in the city, the evening is yours.
Mumbai → Aurangabad
Mumbai to Aurangabad
A short flight takes about an hour from Mumbai to Aurangabad, now also called Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. By road the journey is about six hours. You arrive in time for a late lunch. In the afternoon, rest, or take a short drive through the old city. The next two days belong to the caves.
Aurangabad
Ellora Caves and Daulatabad Fort
Ellora lies about 30 km from the city. Thirty-four caves, Buddhist, Hindu and Jain, are cut along one basalt hillside. Cave 16, the Kailasa temple, is carved top-down from a single rock. A local guide takes you through the best of it. On the way back, stop at Daulatabad Fort, a hill fortress with a winding, dark passage and sweeping views. Ellora is generally closed on Tuesdays, so we order the days to suit.
Aurangabad
The Ajanta Caves
Ajanta is about 100 km from Aurangabad, roughly two hours each way. Its Buddhist caves curve around a quiet river gorge. They hold some of India's oldest surviving painted murals. Your guide explains the Jataka scenes and the carved halls. Lighting inside the caves is dim, and the paintings are fragile, so photography is limited. Ajanta is generally closed on Mondays, so we confirm the day.
Aurangabad → Pune
Aurangabad to Pune
A road day of about four and a half hours across the Deccan, with a lunch stop. The flat plateau gives way to the Sahyadri hills near Pune. Pune is the old seat of the Peshwas. It is greener and calmer than Mumbai. Check in and rest, and take a quiet walk in the evening.
Pune
Peshwa Pune: Shaniwar Wada and the Aga Khan Palace
A day of Pune's history with a local guide. Shaniwar Wada was the seat of the Peshwas. Its great gate and the stone remains of the fort remain. In the afternoon, the Aga Khan Palace, where Mahatma Gandhi was held in the 1940s, is now a quiet memorial and museum. We close with a stroll through the old Peth quarter.
Pune
Depart from Pune
A slow last morning. Your driver takes you to Pune airport in good time for your flight.
Guest Stories
What Our Travelers Say
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Nothing short of magical. Brijesh crafted a seamless itinerary that balanced sightseeing, culture, and relaxation, making our journey truly special.
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Chapter Five — Terms & Conditions
Straightforward, In Writing
Cancellation windows, refund timing, and rescheduling terms for this journey follow our one sitewide policy — nothing package-specific to dig through.
Read the Return & Refund PolicyFrequently Asked
Before You Book
How long are the drives?
Mumbai to Aurangabad is a short flight. Aurangabad to Pune is about four and a half hours by road, with a lunch stop.
Are meals included?
Daily breakfast is included. Lunches and dinners are not, unless specified, so you can eat where you choose. Special meals can be added on request.
Is a private vehicle included?
Yes. Every transfer and day of sightseeing is in a private air-conditioned vehicle, with an English-speaking driver-cum-guide.
Chapter Six — Similar Journeys
More of Maharashtra, Privately
Before you go
Planning Maharashtra
Travel Tips
Private Tour or Group Tour in India? An Honest Comparison
First-Time IndiaPlanning GuideTravel Tips
Travel Tips
Getting Around India: Trains, Flights or a Private Car?
First-Time IndiaPlanning GuideTravel Tips
Travel Tips
Eating Well in India Without Getting Ill: A Practical Guide
First-Time IndiaFood & CulturePlanning Guide
Why Choose Us
The Same Trust, Sized to This Trip
01
Planning, Built Around You
This route was shaped around Maharashtra's real places, not lifted from a fixed template.
13 years — Brijesh Sharma, Bespoke Itinerary Specialist
02
Handpicked Hotels
Every stay on this trip was chosen in person, not off a ratings page.
3 real stays, 5★
03
A Private Fleet, Always Yours
One driver, air-conditioned, for the whole route — no shared shuttle.
Premium sedans & SUVs · One driver, the whole trip
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