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Kailas temple in Ellora caves complex, Maharashtra state in India
Home Group Tours Ancient caves & rock paintings

Indian Subcontinent

Ancient caves & rock paintings

  • EXPERT-LED GROUP TOUR
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Start dateEnd dateDays
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Single SupplementTour ExpertGroup SizeStatus
17/11/21 26/11/219 days £4,295 ex. flights £780Dr Sethuraman Suresh15 Max AVAILABLE Reserve place
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Travel to a region of India where the past feels closer than the present, the Deccan Plateau. This unique tour explores the remains of a 2000-year-old culture in valleys and hills of Western India.

Begin in Mumbai by exploring the many architectural styles of this ‘maximum city’. Continue to the hills of the Deccan plateau where you stay at the comfortable Taj Aurangabad and, as well as Ajanta caves, visit the Baby Taj Mahal and the stunning temple complex of Ellora, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The cave temples hewn into the rock provide evidence of the architectural traditions that existed in a Buddhist society. A must-see is the Kailasha Temple, the largest single monolithic rock excavation in the world and, deservedly, the best-known of Ellora’s rock-cut temples. Complete the tour with a visit to the Bhimbetka rock shelters which exhibit the earliest of human life on the Indian Subcontinent.

Introducing your expert

Dr Sethuraman Suresh

Dr Sethuraman Suresh

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Dr. Sethuraman Suresh is an Archaeologist, Architectural Historian and Tourism Consultant based in Chennai, India.

He holds degrees in History and Archaeology from the University of Madras, a Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and another Ph.D. in Medieval Indian Architecture from the University of Mysore. He was a Fulbright Senior Research Fellow at the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington. He has lectured at several Universities including Harvard University, the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of California-Berkeley.

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Ajanta Cave, Maharastra, India 1

Archaeological heritage

Discover an abundant archaeological heritage through India’s magnificent cave temples

Ajanta Cave, Maharastra, India 2

Ancient caves

Visit the remarkable UNESCO heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora

Taj Ul Masajid, Bhopal, India 3

Stunning architecture

Explore the large marble domes and tapering minarets of the ‘Taj-ul-Masajid’

Wall paintings in Ajanta Caves 4

Fascinating history

Span a historical period of over two thousand years

Explore our suggested itinerary

Map View List View

  • Day 1

    Mumbai

  • Day 2

    Mumbai

  • Day 3

    Mumbai

  • Day 4

    Mumbai to Aurangabad

  • Day 5

    Ellora Caves

  • Day 6

    Ajanta Caves

  • Day 7

    Aurangabad to Lonavala

  • Day 8

    Lonavala to Bhopal

  • Day 9

    Bhopal

  • Day 10

    Bhopal

Day 1

Mumbai

Arrive in Mumbai. In the afternoon, meet with a local student from the Bombay School of Architecture to explore the architectural gems of this city.

Day 2

Mumbai

Visit the UNESCO Elephanta Caves, located on a small island, known locally as Gharapuri. In the afternoon continue your exploration of Mumbai.

Day 3

Mumbai

Drive to Kanheri Caves, deeply nestled among the tranquil surroundings of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park at Borivali. Continue to Mahakali Caves.

Day 4

Mumbai to Aurangabad

Fly from Mumbai – Aurangabad, one of the larger cities in present-day Maharashtra, Aurangabad has a rich historical past. Enjoy a private talk on Rock Cut Temples by Archaeologist from the Archaeological Survey of India, Dr. Dulari Qureshi.

Day 5

Ellora Caves

Explore Ellora, a magnificent UNESCO site. In the afternoon, explore the Aurangabad Caves located to the north of the city.

Day 6

Ajanta Caves

Ajanta caves local women

Visit the Ajanta Caves. Whilst here, learn more about the history of Buddhism in India.

Day 7

Aurangabad to Lonavala

Buddha statue in Namphake Buddhist Monastery, Assam

Travel from Aurangabad to Lonavala. En-route visit Bhaja Caves, which date back to 160 BC.

Day 8

Lonavala to Bhopal

Drive from Lonavala to Pune, from here. Fly to Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, known as the City of Lakes. Enjoy an afternoon walking tour of the city.

Day 9

Bhopal

Great Stupa, Sanchi, India

Explore the Udayagiri Caves, Sanchi, and the Bhimbetka Caves, which, contain the Indian Subcontinent’s oldest and richest collection of prehistoric artwork.

Day 10

Bhopal

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Inside Ajanta caves, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India
Aurangabad, India
Wall paintings in Ajanta Caves
India
Ajanta Cave, Maharastra, India
Aurangabad, India
Regions visited

Ajanta caves

Hidden in a horseshoe-shaped canyon in the Deccan Plateau, the caves of Ajanta were lost for hundreds of years, until accidentally discovered and brought to Western attention in 1819 by British colonial officer Captain John Smith.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Ajanta’s unique selling point is the extraordinarily detailed wall paintings. While vivid colours and mural wall-painting were abundant in Indian history, Caves 1, 2, 16 and 17 form the largest corpus of surviving ancient Indian wall painting. These masterpieces give a sense of three-dimensional life – a sense of perspective 1,000 years before the Renaissance. The discovery of Ajanta changed the thinking of painting in the world.

Kailas temple in Ellora caves complex, Maharashtra state in India
Kailas temple in Ellora caves , India
Ellora, Deccan Odyssey Train, Rajasthan, India
Deccan Odyssey Train, India
Regions visited

Ellora caves

An entire mountain, cut by hand into palaces of worship, held from collapse by elaborately carved columns and decorated with colossal statues from three major religions. The caves at Ellora are the largest rock-cut monastery-temple complexes in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Read more about our MD, Justin Wateridge’s time in India here

Group Tour FAQs

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Why should I travel to India with Steppes Travel?

India is one of the most exciting and fascinating countries on Earth. This tour allows you to step off the main tourist trail and travel through India’s fascinating ancient history.

Do I need a visa to travel to India?

All visitors need a visa for India. There is now a provision for an online e-visa for citizens of certain countries, including the UK. The visa has to be obtained before arrival in all circumstances. Tourist visas issued in the UK have six months’ validity from the date of issue.

What is the accommodation in India like?

During this tour, you will stay in a carefully selected range of small hotels and guesthouses. All hotels are at least a three-star standard and all offer restaurants on site, some offer pools and leisure facilities. These hotels have been chosen for their vantage points and good access to city sightseeing.

Is this tour suitable for solo travellers?

Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places does provide security and peace of mind. We handle all of the arrangements for you and there will be a local tour guide on hand throughout to provide advice and help if needed, as well as the expertise of a Tour Expert.

If you are willing to share, we will always do our best to match you up with another solo traveller of the same sex so that you do not have to pay for a single room.

If you would prefer the privacy of your own room and would like this guaranteed, then the single room price supplement will apply.

What will the weather be like in India in November?

Warm sunny days with cooler nights. November is the end of the monsoon rains. The average temperatures sit around 30 degrees, dropping to 17 – 18 degrees at night.

How fit should I be to enjoy this tour?

General overall fitness is required. There is a lot of walking however, at a leisurely pace with some stairs. We would suggest that you bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes, that are easy to take on and off as you will be required to remove your shoes when visiting mosques and temples.

Can I extend my stay in India?

Yes, this can easily be arranged at the end of the tour. Private travel arrangements with a car and driver will be provided and a private guide arranged for sightseeing.

From Mumbai, you can easily reach the beaches of South India. If Rajasthan is on the wish list then there is daily connectivity by air, easily enabling a short extension to visit the Taj Mahal and Jaipur.

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Why a Steppes expert-led group tour

1.Experience Matters

We have been running insightful and groundbreaking group tours since our inception in 1989. We have worked with institutions such as the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum and run wildlife tours in conjunction with conservation agencies such as Fauna & Flora International, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Orangutan Foundation, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Jane Goodall Institute.

2.Size Matters

Our average group size is typically eight to ten people, smaller than other group tours typically offered – a factor which many of our clients appreciate. Travelling as part of a smaller group provides a more intimate, personalised and relaxed atmosphere.

4.It’s about who you know

We have developed an enviable pool of expertise from which to choose our tour experts, who we carefully select based on their knowledge, companionship and personality. Often, these experts can use their influence to facilitate private access to sites not typically open to the public.

3.Like-Minded People

Steppes Travellers are like-minded people – interesting, interested and curious. Our group tours aim to create an easy and informal atmosphere – we have a lot of fun on our tours and many friendships have been formed.

5.Value for money

Our tours are well-priced to ensure you get real value for money. We include gratuities on the majority of our tours and do not pass on currency surcharges. We strive to look after single travellers as well as we can, keeping single supplements to a minimum.

6.Peace of Mind

When you travel on one of our group tours, you will be looked after by our local agents and your tour expert with the back-up of our 24-hour emergency number and duty manager. All our holidays are fully bonded and protected – our ATOL number is ATOL 6495.

Includes / Excludes

Important Information

Activity Level
Moderate Activity
Single Supplement

Travelling on your own? Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places provides security and peace of mind. We handle all of the arrangements for you and there will be a local tour guide on hand throughout to provide advice and help if needed, as well as the expertise of a Tour expert.

Flexibility

To allow flexibility, our group tours do not include international flights as standard. We can arrange international flights on your behalf, please get in touch with our travel experts for a quote. All international flights from the UK are ATOL protected.

What is included

  • Accompanied by an English speaking local guide
  • Entrance fees for sights mentioned
  • Accommodation throughout
  • Transportation throughout
  • Meals, as per the itinerary
  • Gratuities for local guides. drivers and porters
  • £25 to help fund the communities, conservation agencies and NGOs that we work with
  • £25 contribution to ‘Trees and Science’ in mitigation of your carbon emissions

What is excluded

  • International Flights
  • Travel Insurance
  • Visas if applicable
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Drinks throughout

Our future tour dates

For further information about any of these tours please call 01285 880 980

Start dateEnd dateDays
Prices from
Single SupplementTour ExpertGroup SizeStatus
17/11/21 26/11/219 days £4,295 ex. flights £780Dr Sethuraman Suresh15 Max AVAILABLE Reserve place

Reserve your place on this group tour

Our travel experts have a wealth of first-hand knowledge, so if you have any questions about this expert-led group tour, please get in touch. They would love to help. We hope you can join us on this tour.

01285 880 980

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Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.

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