# Western India Mumbai, Goa and Gujarat — the cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora and the Arabian Sea coast. Western India is a vast and varied region, encompassing the coastal states of Maharashtra and Goa, the western reaches of Gujarat, and the desert landscapes of Rajasthan. It stretches from the Arabian Sea in the west to the interior plateau, defined in part by the Western Ghats — a mountain range that runs parallel to the coast and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its exceptional biodiversity and geological significance. The region rewards visitors with extraordinary archaeological depth. Near Aurangabad, the Ajanta and Ellora caves cut into volcanic basalt cliff faces — Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments spanning several centuries, with elaborate sculptures and painted surfaces. In Gujarat, the ancient city of Lothal stands as one of the world's earliest planned urban settlements, a remnant of the Indus Valley Civilisation with its sophisticated drainage systems and dockyard. Mumbai, Maharashtra's capital, is the subcontinent's financial hub and home to a layered Victorian-era streetscape along the waterfront, alongside a thriving contemporary arts and food scene. Moving south, Goa transitioned from Portuguese colonial rule to Indian state in 1961, retaining a distinctive architectural and culinary character. Its string of beaches lines a coast watched over by centuries-old forts, while churches such as the Basilica of Bom Jesus — another UNESCO-listed site — reflect the region's colonial Catholic heritage. Gujarat's Rann of Kutch presents a starkly different landscape: a vast salt desert that floods during the monsoon and gleams white in the dry season. Nearby, the Gir Forest is the last stronghold of the Asiatic lion, a subspecies now found only in this corner of India. Across the region, the cuisine reflects local geography and history — from Gujarati thalis heavy with legumes and dairy to Goan seafood curries carrying Portuguese influence, and the austere grain-and-lentil staples of the desert communities. ### Key Landscapes - **Coastal plains and beaches** along the Arabian Sea, particularly in Goa and Maharashtra - **The Western Ghats** — mountains and forested slopes harbouring endemic flora and fauna, with access via hill stations such as Mahabaleshwar - **Rann of Kutch** — seasonal salt flats in Gujarat, with surrounding villages where traditional embroidery and crafts remain active traditions - **Thar Desert** in parts of Rajasthan, with dune landscapes and fortress cities rising from the sand ### What a Visitor Encounters Travellers move between environments that rarely resemble each other — a congested coastal megalopolis, then quiet inland roads flanked by dry scrub, then a coastline where church bells and temple drums coexist. The pace of travel varies with the infrastructure: major cities connect by air and rail, while smaller destinations in Gujarat and Rajasthan may require road travel and more deliberate planning. The best seasons to visit fall between October and March, when the heat eases and the monsoon season has passed. ## Tours that visit Western India No tours visit this place just yet. ## Before you book you should know ### Is this trip right for you? Our groups are capped at eight travellers, which is about a third of what the industry calls a small group. Eight people share one vehicle, one table at dinner and one guide's attention, and the day can change on the road without anybody being left behind. If you are looking for a coach, a fixed script and a microphone, this is not that. Most days involve real walking, often on ground that was laid two thousand years before walking shoes: marble worn smooth, cobbles, uneven steps and long site paths with little shade. Bring shoes you can spend a morning in. Some days move between regions and are largely a drive, with stops along the way. Summers are hot — well over 35°C inland — and winters are colder than most people expect, so layers, a hat and sunscreen earn their place in the bag whatever the month. How demanding a particular trip is, is written on the trip itself: the physical rating in the header, and the day-by-day itinerary above. ### Rooms, and travelling on your own Trip prices are per person, sharing a twin room. Each traveller picks their own room while booking, so a party can mix the three: - **Twin share** — two single beds, shared with someone you are travelling with or with a traveller of the same gender. - **Travelling as a couple** — one double room. - **Individual room** — a room of your own, for a single supplement on top of the trip price. Availability is limited, and the supplement for a given date is shown next to the option when you book. Solo travellers are welcome on every departure, and most of our groups have one or two aboard. ### Accommodation The hotels named in an itinerary are a guideline rather than a guarantee. Where one is full, or has dropped below the standard we booked it for, we substitute a property of a similar standard in the same area — we would rather change the hotel than the trip. Check-in is usually mid-afternoon. If you arrive early we will ask for the room, but no hotel can promise one before its own check-in time; luggage can normally be left at reception in the meantime. If you want the room from the night before, ask us and we will add the extra night to your booking. ### Passports, visas and insurance Entry requirements depend on your nationality and change without much notice, so the only reliable source is the official one: the government of the country you are travelling to, and your own foreign ministry's travel advice. Check both before you book a flight. Many countries ask for a passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, and for blank pages. It is worth looking at yours now rather than at the airport. We ask every traveller to carry travel insurance covering medical treatment and repatriation, and we would strongly encourage cover for cancellation and for your luggage as well. ### Your departure is guaranteed — the day can change Once a departure is on the calendar it runs. We do not cancel a trip for want of a minimum number of bookings, so a booked date is one you can plan flights and leave around. What can move is the shape of a day. Museums and archaeological sites change their hours, roads close, weather turns, a local holiday lands in the middle of the week. Where that happens your guide reorders the day, or swaps a stop for one of the same weight, and tells you why. Changes to a booked itinerary are covered by our Booking Terms & Conditions. --- Full page: https://www.smallvoyage.com/destination/western-india/