| THE MEGALITHOMANIA GRAND TOUR
TO ANCIENT INDIA January 18th - February 1st 2027 Hosted by Hugh Newman, JJ Ainsworth and Anu Nagappa with special guests from India joining us on specific days This unique Megalithomania expedition invites you to explore the most remarkable ancient temples, megalithic sites, rock-cut caves and sacred architecture India has to offer
Proposed Itinerary Day 1: Monday, Jan 18th 2027 Arrival in Mumbai. Arriving into the vibrant sprawl of Mumbai, we enter a city layered with history—where colonial façades, sacred shrines, and modern energy coexist. Beneath the surface of this coastal metropolis lies a deeper story: ancient trade routes, lost temples, and forgotten maritime connections stretching back millennia. After settling into our hotel, we gather for a welcome dinner—our first convergence as a group of explorers. Introductions are made, intentions set, and the journey begins with a few carefully chosen surprises to awaken curiosity for the mysteries ahead. Overnight Mumbai.
Day 2: Tuesday, Jan 19th 2027 Elephanta Caves A short boat ride carries us across Mumbai Harbour to the enigmatic Elephanta Island. Hidden within its rocky hills are the Elephanta Caves—monumental rock-cut sanctuaries dedicated to Shiva, carved with astonishing precision. The colossal three-faced Maheshmurti hints at profound metaphysical knowledge—creation, preservation, and destruction embodied in stone. How were such vast chambers excavated with such symmetry? What tools and techniques were used—and what knowledge guided them? Later, a visit to the museum to ground us in the known history, even as the deeper questions remain unanswered. Overnight Mumbai.
Day 3: Wednesday, Jan 20th 2027 Travel to Aurangabad We journey inland toward Aurangabad, moving away from the coast and into a landscape rich with volcanic basalt formations—the very stone from which some of India’s greatest mysteries were carved. This transition marks a shift: from urban complexity to ancient sacred geography. The Deccan plateau ahead holds some of the most extraordinary rock-cut architecture on Earth. Overnight Aurangabad.
Day 4: Thursday, Jan21st 2027 Ellora Caves and the Amazing KailashTemple Ellora is not just a site—it is an enigma in stone. Dozens of temples, monasteries, and shrines are carved directly into a basalt escarpment. But the true marvel is the Kailash Temple. This immense structure was not built—it was excavated top-down from a single rock mass. An entire freestanding temple complex, complete with pillars, courtyards, and intricate carvings, removed from solid stone with astonishing accuracy. How was such a project conceived? What tools could achieve this? The scale and ambition challenge conventional historical narratives and invite deeper speculation. Overnight Aurangabad.
Day 5: Friday, Jan 22nd 2027 Ajanta Caves Nestled in a horseshoe-shaped gorge, the Ajanta Caves reveal a different dimension of ancient mastery—one of art, symbolism, and spiritual refinement. These Buddhist caves contain exquisite murals and sculptures that have survived for over a millennium. The precision of the excavation, the acoustics of the chambers, and the luminous pigments used in the paintings all suggest a sophisticated understanding of both science and spirituality. Ajanta feels less like a construction—and more like a revelation carved into the living rock.. Overnight Aurangabad.
Day 6: Saturday, Jan 23rd 2027 Flight to Delhi, National Museum & Qutub Minar (Iron Pillar)
Day 7: Sunday, Jan 24th 2027 Drive to Agra and visit the Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal is often seen as a monument to love—but beneath its beauty lies geometry, alignment, and precision that hint at deeper knowledge. Perfect symmetry, celestial alignments, and acoustic properties suggest that this structure may encode more than its official narrative reveals. Was it built entirely during the Mughal period—or does it incorporate earlier foundations? We explore both the visible masterpiece and the hidden questions it raises. Overnight Delhi
Day 8: Monday, Jan 25th 2027 Flight to Bodhgaya & Buddhist Temples Bodhgaya is one of the most sacred sites on Earth—the place where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment beneath the Bodhi Tree. But beyond its spiritual significance, the site sits within a landscape rich in ancient activity. Pilgrimage, meditation, and knowledge transmission have occurred here for thousands of years. The atmosphere itself feels charged—as though the land retains memory. Overnight Bodhgaya.
Day 9: Tuesday, Jan 26th 2027 Barabar Caves and Nagarjuni Caves We’ll embark on our day for exploring the remarkable Barabar Caves and Nagarjuni Caves caves with a packed lunch (please bring snacks). The Barabar Caves are among the most astonishing—and least understood—sites in India. Carved into solid granite with mirror-like polish, their interiors are so precise that they create powerful acoustic effects. The surfaces are perfectly smooth, almost machine-finished. Who created these spaces—and why? Were they meditation chambers, resonance devices, or something more advanced? Nearby, the Nagarjuni caves extend the mystery, suggesting a wider complex of purpose we are only beginning to comprehend. Overnight, Bodhgaya.
In the forests of Hazaribagh, we encounter stone circles and standing stones strikingly similar to those found in the UK and across Europe. These megaliths raise profound questions about ancient connections: were these cultures linked? Did they share knowledge, beliefs, or astronomical systems? We are planning to meet up with researcher Subhashis Das awho will add invaluable insight, as we explore both the physical sites and the theories that connect them to a global megalithic tradition. We then drive to local hotel. Overnight in Ranchi.
Day 11: Thursday, Jan 28th 2027 Fly to Bangalore A transition day as we move south into a new cultural and geological landscape. Bangalore offers time to rest, integrate experiences, and prepare for the final phase of the journey—where myth, empire, and megalithic remnants converge.
Day 12: Friday, Jan 29th 2027 Drive to Hampi & Lepakshi Temple At Lepakshi, we encounter one of India’s most intriguing anomalies—the hanging pillar. Defying gravity, this column does not fully touch the ground, raising questions about engineering techniques and structural knowledge. We then continue to Hampi, a vast sacred landscape scattered with colossal boulders and ruins that seem almost otherworldly. and check into rooms in the early afternoon at the Fabulous Hampi Resort Hotel.
Hampi is a landscape of giants—temples, monoliths, and stone structures integrated seamlessly into a surreal natural setting. Some features suggest advanced understanding of acoustics and resonance, while others hint at lost construction techniques. Walking through Hampi feels like exploring the remnants of a civilisation that understood both the physical and energetic properties of stone. Overnight Hampi.
An optional visit to Hirebenakal reveals one of India’s largest dolmen fields—hundreds of megalithic chamber tombs spread across the landscape. These structures echo those found across Europe, reinforcing the possibility of a shared global megalithic culture. We then return to Bangalore, closing the circle of our journey. Afternoon drive back to Bangalore and stay in Hotel near airport
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