India Spiritual Tour – IST11
On this India Spiritual Tour, you will be charmed by the spiritual side of Delhi. See the city of followers of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu at Haridwar, visit Varanasi the oldest living city in the world and the most important spiritually, and take in the history of colorful and vibrant Kolkata.
Itinerary
Day 1 Delhi
You arrive at Delhi International airport where you will be warmly welcomed and chauffeured to your hotel .
Delhi is a place which leads the path towards a journey of religion and spiritualism and the areas around Delhi have seen hundreds of thousands of people travel the lands in search of spiritualism.
Accommodations: Hotel Taj Mahal Delhi Deluxe room
Day 2 Delhi
Start your day with a city tour of Old Delhi on a cycle rickshaw in Chandni Chowk, once the grandest of markets in India.
You will see the harmony of the famous religious shrines that coexist on one street, lending the street a genuine religious harmony. Start with a visit to “Jama Masjid” the Friday congregational mosque, known as the largest and most glorious mosque in India. built in the year 1656 AD. Next is a Hindu “Gauri Shankar Temple” , one of the most important temples of Shaivism. Just opposite the church is a Sikh Temple “Sheeshganj Gurdwara”, one of the nine historical Gurdwaras in Delhi.
Following a stop for lunch, we will drive past Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate and the Old Secretariat followed by visit to the Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel Taj Mahal Delhi Deluxe room
Day 3 Haridwar
Transfer by train to Haridwar, (the Gateway to God) one of the seven holiest cities in India, and one of the oldest living cities. It’s made up of a fascinating and colorful collection of sadhus (holy men), pundits (Hindu priests), pilgrims.
Every evening, the Ganges comes alive with the magic of the aarti (worship with fire), as lamps are lit, prayers are offered, and small candles are floated down the river. For Hindus, a visit to Haridwar is believed to provide liberation from the endless cycle of death and rebirth.
During the afternoon, we will continue on to “Chandi Devi” Temple, “Hari-Ki-Puri ghat. The Ganga Aarti at Haridwar is possibly the most interactive of the three Ganga aartis in India. Conclude the tour with a visit to local market.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel Haveli Hari Ganga Superior Room
Day 4 Haridwar
Morning visit Laxmi’s Ashram for meditation and discussion. Following lunch at the Ashram, drive to Rishikesh. crossing Laxman Jhula (Laxman bridge) on foot, rewarding us with spectacular views of the Rishikesh town and river. Continue on to one of the renowned “Parmarth Niketan Ashrams”, one of India’s top yoga centers, followed by a visit to Shivananda Ashram, Yoga Study Center (for Hatha Yoga), Yoga Niketan, Sri Ved Niketan, Sacha Vedic Sansthan. Conclude your tour of Rishikesh by visiting Ghat of Ganges to witness the Ganga aarti .
The most well-known Ganga Aarti in Rishikesh is held on the banks of the river at Parmarth Niketan Ashram. Instead of being performed by Pandits (local priests), the Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan at Rishikesh is organized and performed by ashram residents, particularly the children who are studying the Vedas there.
The ceremony commences with the singing of bhajans (devotional songs), prayers, and a hawan (a purifying and sacred ritual, with the offerings made to Agni, the fire god. The lamps are lit and the aarti occurs as the final part of the ceremony. The children sing along with the spiritual head of the ashram, in sweet, haunting voices.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Accommodations: Hotel Haveli Hari Ganga Superior Room
Day 5 Delhi
Today you will return to Delhi for overnight prior to transiting onward.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel Radisson (near the airport)
Day 6 Varanasi
Catch morning flight to Varanasi, another sacred Hindu city with a very old history. Known as the city of Lord Shiva, the god of creation and destruction, it’s believed that anyone who dies here will be liberated from the cycle of reincarnation. Even a wash in the Ganges River is said to cleanse away all sins. Varanasi’s rituals are revealed openly to along the many riverside ghats, which are used for everything from bathing to burning the bodies of the dead.
Your hotel is set amidst 40 acres of lush green gardens, 6 kms away from the city centre, a haven of peace and tranquillity in this crowded and ancient temple city. Yoga, blessings, massages, are among the other activities you’ll find performed along the river edge.
Late afternoon we will visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple and in the evening, head to Dashashwamedh Ghat for Ganga aarti (differing from the aarti’s at Haridwar and Rishikesh.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel Taj Gateway Ganges
Day 7 Varanasi
Proceed on a day excursion to Jaunpur ( 56 Kms), historically known as Sheeraz-e-Hind, dating from 1359. The Sharqi rulers of Jaunpur were known for their patronage of learning and architecture. Jaunpur was known as Shiraz of India during this period. Most notable examples of Sharqi style of architecture in Jaunpur are the Atala Masjid, the Lal Darwaja Masjid and the Jami Masjid. Another mosque, the Jhanjhiri Masjid was also built by Ibrahim Shah in 1430. The Lal Darwaja Masjid (1450) was built during the reign of the next ruler Mahmud Shah.
Return to Varanasi with the rest of the day at leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel Taj Gateway Ganges
Day 8 Kolkata
Your morning is at leisure for independent activities. In the afternoon you will be transferred to Varanasi airport for your flight to Kolkata. This city has grown into the cultural capital of India. It’s a vibrant yet intimate city, full of captivating soul. In addition, Kolkata is only city in India to have a tram car network, which adds to its old-world charm.
Your hotel is located in the city’s greenest precinct, within walking distance of the Victoria Memorial, Royal Calcutta Race Course, Horticulture Gardens, National Library etc.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel Taj Bengal Kolkata Deluxe Room
Day 9 Kolkata
A city tour of Kolkata will have you visiting important land marks of the city, starting with the visit to Parshwanath Jain Temple, a very famous temple that was built by an art connoisseur in 1867. Its beauty is enhanced by mirrors and coloured stones. Following lunch, we visit the “Victoria Memorial”, dedicated to the memory of “Queen Victoria, and currently serving as a museum. We will stop at Indo-Gothic designed St. Pauls Cathedral, the first Episcopal Church of the Orient.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel Taj Bengal Kolkata Deluxe Room
Day 10 Kolkata
Start your day with a tour of Dakshineswar Kali Temple, a Hindu temple located on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River. The temple is famous for its association with Ramakrishna, a mystic of 19th Century Bengal.
Continue on to Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, well known for its philanthropic, educational and cultural activities. Then we will visit Kumartuli, a traditional potters’ quarter in northern Kolkata. By virtue of their artistic productions these potters have moved from obscurity to prominence, supplying clay idols of Hindu gods and goddesses to barowari pujas.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel Taj Bengal Kolkata Deluxe Room
Day 11 Delhi
Today you will be met and chauffeured to Kolkata airport for your flight to Delhi International Airport and the end of your spiritual tour of India.
Meals included: Breakfast
