Enchanting Central India

Post breakfast, take the boat across to Elephanta Island (closed Mondays) to explore its ancient rock-cut temples and the stunning 20-foot Shiva sculpture. Back on shore, see the Gateway of India, built to commemorate the visit of King George V in whimsical Indo-Saracenic style. Drive up Malabar Hill to the Hanging Gardens and Kamala Nehru Park — welcome splashes of green with splendid city views — passing the Rajabai Clock Tower, and finish at Dhobi Ghat, India's largest open-air laundry, in full midday swing.

Early morning, transfer to airport for flight to Aurangabad. On arrival in Aurangabad, check-in at the hotel (check-in time: 1400 hrs). Later, visit Bibi ka Maqbara, a tomb located in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India. It was commissioned in 1660 by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's son Prince Azim Shah in the memory of his loving mother Dilras Banu Begum. It bears a striking resemblance to the Taj Mahal, the mausoleum of Aurangzeb's mother, Mumtaz Mahal. Overnight in Aurangabad.

After breakfast, visit the Ellora Caves (closed Tuesdays), among the finest cave temples in the world. Carved between roughly 350 and 700 AD, the 34 rock-cut sanctuaries embrace Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, crowned by the Kailasa Temple — a colossal shrine hewn from a single rock. Continue to Daulatabad Fort, a 13th-century stronghold set on a great conical hill, its 30-metre Chand Minar rising over the pass it commands. The evening is free to explore the local markets. Overnight in Aurangabad.

After breakfast, depart for Burhanpur, stopping at the Ajanta Caves (closed Mondays). Hidden for centuries until their 19th-century rediscovery, these 30 caves carved into the Sahyadri hills served as secluded retreats for Buddhist monks from around 200 BC to 650 AD. Ajanta is celebrated above all for its exquisite murals of the Jataka tales — the flying apsara of cave 17, the preaching Buddha of cave 16 and the seated Nagaraja among the highlights. Continue to Burhanpur and check in. Overnight in Burhanpur.

After breakfast, drive to Maheshwar, stopping at Omkareshwar — a sacred island in the Narmada and home to one of India's twelve revered Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva. Visit the Mamleshwar Jyotirlinga on the river's south bank, the 11th-century Kedareshwar Temple with its lovely views along the parikrama path, and the 13th-century Siddhanath Temple on Mandhata island, a fine example of ancient Indian craftsmanship. Continue to Maheshwar and check in at the hotel. Overnight in Maheshwar.

After a leisurely breakfast, set out on a full-day tour of Maheshwar, a centre of handloom weaving since the 5th century and famed for its delicate Maheshwari saris in cotton and silk. Mentioned in the Mahabharata and Ramayana, the town is rich in spiritual heritage. Explore Holkar Fort, named after the revered Rani Ahilyabai Holkar, with scenic views over the Narmada from its ramparts, and visit the Pandrinath and Jaleshwar temples. Overnight in Maheshwar.

After breakfast, enjoy a full-day excursion to Mandu, a romantic hilltop city in stone celebrating the love of poet-prince Baz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati. Visit Roopmati's Pavilion, gazing over the Narmada plains far below; the elegant Jahaz Mahal, a 120-metre 'ship palace' afloat between two lakes; the Hindola Mahal, named for its sloping walls; and Hoshang Shah's Tomb — India's first marble edifice, said to have inspired the builders of the Taj Mahal. Finish at the grand Jami Masjid. Overnight in Maheshwar.

After breakfast, drive to Ujjain and check in at the hotel. An ancient city on the Kshipra River and one of Hinduism's holiest pilgrimage sites, Ujjain is renowned for the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, revered as Swayambhu — self-manifested. Visit the Jantar Mantar observatory built in 1733 by Maharaja Jai Singh, on the meridian Indian astronomers traditionally took as prime. In the evening, witness the serene aarti ceremony on the steps of Ram Ghat. Overnight in Ujjain.

After breakfast, drive to Bhopal, stopping at the UNESCO-listed Bhimbetka rock shelters, whose 600-plus caves preserve vivid prehistoric paintings up to 12,000 years old, and the Bhojpur Temple with its 7.5-foot lingam. Reach lakeside Bhopal and visit the Taj-ul-Masjid, said to be India's largest mosque, begun under Shah Jehan Begum and completed only in 1971. Continue to the open-air Tribal Habitat Museum, then drive along VIP Road for views over the Upper Lake. Overnight in Bhopal.

After breakfast, enjoy an excursion to UNESCO-listed Sanchi, the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in existence — a hilltop ensemble of stupas, pillars and monasteries dating mostly from the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. The Great Stupa is encircled by superbly carved toranas, the finest of early Buddhist art, with the elegant Ashoka Pillar nearby. In the afternoon, continue to the Udayagiri Caves, twenty rock-cut Gupta shrines carved during the reign of Chandragupta II — a rich showcase of Gupta art. Overnight in Bhopal.

Post breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to Mumbai. On arrival in Mumbai, transfer to international airport for onward flight and tour terminates.