India’s western gateway is Mumbai, with a major international airport and harbour. The city’s rise from the dowry of a Portuguese queen to the country’s foremost sea port, commercial centre and producer of films has been nothing short of meteoric.Mumbai’s Gothic architecture is embodied in the Gateway of India, Mumbai High Court, Old Secretariat, University Buildings and Victoria Terminus. Open spaces in this crowded city include Chowpatty Beach, Juhu Beach and Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the latter a fine wildlife park at Borivili. Mumbai is the country’s premier cultural centre. Jehangir Art Gallery attracts regular art exhibitions; Prithvi Theatre is well known for its theatrical performances, and the National Centre for Performing Arts periodically hosts Indian and international concerts of music and dance. The city’s shopping embraces informal fashion and accessories at Colaba Causeway, antiques – and clever reproductions of antiques – at Chor Bazar, gold and diamond jewellery at Jhaveri Bazar, high fashion at Kemps Corner, Bhulabhai Desai Road and the airconditioned shopping plaza at The Oberoi.

MUMBAI

Located in Sahyadri hills near the west coast of India, Pune is a fascinating city with a healthy climate all year around. Known until not so long ago as Poona, the city was the capital of the powerful Maratha empire and is closely associated with the great warrior king Shivaji. Today, Pune is distinctly divided into the spacious cantonment and the crowded old city, where locali-ties have been named after days in the week.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Shaniwar Wada, Saras Baug, Parvati Hill, Raja Kelkar Museum, Shinde's Chhatri, Bund Garden, Kasturba Smarak (Inside Agha Khan Palace) etc.

EXCURSIONS

Alandi-22 kms, Dehu-29 kms, Karla-55 kms, Purandhar-40 kms, Sinhagad-25 kms,  Panchgani-98 kms, Mahabaleshwar-120 kms, Shivneri Fort-94 kms, Bhima Shankar- 95 kms, Ashtavinayak Temples at Theur-20 kms, Ranjangaon-50 km, Morgaon-65 km, Madh-75 kms, Ojhar-75 kms, Pali-80 kms, Lenyadri-90 kms & Siddhatek-95 kms, Lonavala-64 kms, Bhatghar Dam-52 kms.

GENERAL INFORMATION

AURANGABAD - AJANTA & ELLORA

Aurangabad, 400 km from Mumbai, is linked by Indian Airlines flights. Spectacular rock cut caves and cave paintings exist at two nearby places, Ajanta and Ellora. The most notable feature of these cave temples is that entire hillsides were cut away with the artisan’s chisel to produce some of the world’s most exquisite sculpture. Ellora’s 34 caves are over 10 centuries old and represent elaborate sculptures of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faiths. The caves at Ajanta date back to the 5th century and contain paintings and sculptures of major events in the life of the Buddha.

Aurangabad is a convinent base for organising visits to the famous rock-cut temples of Ajanta & Ellora. The town is named after Aurangzeb, the last of the six great Mughal Emperors, who built a mausoleum here for his wife.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Aurangabad Caves, State Archaeological Museum, Nehru Udyan,

History Museum of Marathwada University, Bibi ka Maqbara, Panchakki, Siddharth Udyan.

EXCURSIONS

Daulatabad Fort (13 kms), Khuldabad (26 kms), Grishneshwar Temple (30 kms), Paithan (56 kms), Shirdi (136 kms), Pithalkhora Caves (78 kms), Aundha Nagnath (203 kms), Ajanta (106 kms), Ellora (30 kms)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Altitude: 513 metres.
Temperature (deg C): Summer- Max 39, Min 21.5; Winter- Max 31.3, Min 10.
Rainfall: 557 mms.
Best Season: Throughout the year.
STD Code : 02432 (0240 ?).

AJANTA