Pune is only 598 m above sea-level, but the surrounding hills ensure a pleasant climate throughout the year, though April, May and October can be quite hot and dry.ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE Puri is well connected by rail, road and air.Air The Indian ...

Pune has a chequered history, coming into prominence as the birthplace and one of the main estates of the Maratha hero Chhatrapati Shivaji. Earlier known as Punaka Wadi, ‘land of a thousand villages’, it went through several name-changes: Punyapura’ (city ...

Expensive (from US$3SIRsl000 per room night) Aurangabad’s top hotels are reliable and close to each other in Chikalthana, halfway between the town and airport. They are the Welcomgroup Rama International (tel 83467/9, tlx 5745-212), the Ajanta Ambassador (tel 82211, tlx ...

If the caves of Ellora are famous for their sculpture and carving, those of Ajanta take honours for their beautiful frescoes and wall-paintings. Many travellers rave Ajanta, saying it’s the best thing they’ve seen in India. They add that an ...

Daulatabad-Grisheshwar-Ellora-Khuldabad-Bibi-ka-Maqbara-Panchakki This useful tour covers not just Ellora, but a number of interesting spots in and around Aurangabad. If you decide you need more time at Ellora, stay overnight at the Hotel Kailash (tel 43, 46), with simple rooms Rs100, ...

Aurangabad is a small, relaxed town, alongside the Kham River. The relevant :ourist points—rail station, budget hotels and tourist office—are all within 1 km 3/4 mile) of the central bus-stand in Dr Ambedkar Rd. For local transport, use auto-rickshaws, but ...

Bombay to Aurangabad 392 km (245 miles) Air One flight daily-IC492 from Bombay (Rs767) which continues to Jodhpur (Rs1480), Jaipur (Rs1503) and New Delhi (Rs1859). 1C491 follows the same route in reverse. Rail Long, awkward train journey (8/9 hours, change ...

The rugged state of Maharashtra, with over 500 km (310 miles) of coastline, is separated from the dry Deccan plateau by the Western Ghats. Forts dominate the coastal hilltops of this area, which was once the heart of the mighty ...

Goa’s beaches are world famous—long idyllic sweeps of silvery sand overlooked by undulating palms and the calm blue Arabian Sea. The hippies discovered them in the early 1960s, domestic touristsflocked to them in the 1980s (mainly to see the hippies), ...

Miramar-Dona Paula-Old Goa-Mangesh Temple-Margao-Colva-Marmagao First stop on this tour is  Miramar Beach, popular for its wide golden sands and lovely sunset views. Located just 3 km (2 miles) out of Panjim, it’s the ideal place to come for a swim, ...