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Golden
Spiritual Trail |
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India is one of the most
intricate and rewarding dramas unfolding on earth. It is
impossible not to be astonished by India. Nowhere on Earth
does humanity present itself in such a dizzying, creative
burst of cultures and religions, races and tongues. Every
aspect of the country presents itself on a massive,
exaggerated scale, worthy in comparison only to the
superlative mountains that overshadow it. Perhaps the only
thing more difficult than to be indifferent to India would
be to describe or understand India completely. Set apart
from the rest of Asia by the supreme continental wall of the
Himalayas, the Indian subcontinent touches three large
bodies of water and is immediately recognizable on any world
map. |
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Featured
Pictures (India) |
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Brief
Itinerary |
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Day |
Activities |
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01 |
Arrive Delhi |
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02 |
Delhi
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03 |
Delhi –
Rishikesh |
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04 |
Rishikesh –
Haridwar |
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05 |
Haridwar –
Mathura |
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06 |
Mathura – Agra –
Faizabad |
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07 |
Arrive Faizabad
- Allahabad |
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08 |
Allahabad-
Varanasi (125
kms/3 hrs) |
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09 |
Varanasi |
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10 |
Varanasi – Delhi |
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Day
01: |
Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi and meet our
representative in the arrival lounge
and transfer to hotel. Rest of the
time to get rid jet leg. Overnight
at hotel.
(Meal: None) |
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Day 02:
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Delhi
Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed on a
city tour of this city of
astonishing history. We visit Old
Delhi and The important places in
Old Delhi include the majestic Red
Fort, a rickshaw ride through busy
and historical Chandni Chowk is some
experience; visit the Jama Masjid
(the mosque). We continue with the
tour and visit Raj Ghat (The place
where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated)
and Shanti Vana. We make our way
towards New Delhi and drive past
Rashtrapati Bhawan (Presidents
Palace and one-time imperial
residence of the British viceroys)
visit The India Gate: a memorial
raised in honor of the Indian
soldiers, Qutab Minar, built by
Qutub-ud-din Aibek of the Slave
Dynasty and Humayuns Tomb, The
Laxminarayan Temple, built by the
Birlas (Leading industrial house in
India) Overnight at hotel (Meals:
Breakfast) |
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Day 03:
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Delhi – Rishikesh
Morning drive for Rishikesh. On
arrival check-in at your hotel.
Situated 24 km upstream from
Haridwar, at the confluence of the
chandrabhaga and Ganga, Rishikesh
has long been a spiritual centre. It
is said that the sage Raibhya Rishi
did severe penance here and as a
reward, God appeared to him in the
form of Hrishikesh, hence the name.
Rishikesh has numerous ashrams, some
of which are internationally
recognized as centers of
philosophical studies, yoga and
meditation. Afternoon visit
Rishikesh visiting Lakshman Jhoola:
A suspension bridge across the Ganga
along the old route to the holy
shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath.
Shivanand Jhoola: Also known as Ram
Jhoola, this is a recently completed
suspension bridge which spans the
river near Swarg Ashram. Evening
AARTI at ghat. The city acquires a
unique charm in the evening when the
ghats become breath takingly
beautiful with thousands of Diyas
and Marigold floating in the waters
of Ganges.. Overnight at your hotel.
(Meals: Breakfast) |
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Day 04:
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Rishikesh – Haridwar
After breakfast drive to Haridwar,
most sacred spiritual place in
India. It is believed that when the
Gods left their footprints on the
land of Haridwar, metaphorically
they also left an indelible mark on
the spiritual etho- of every Hindu-
more so, the devout, who (would
later follow their holy paths all
across this blessed land. It has
earned it's sobriquet of honor as
'The Gateway to the Gods'. On
arrival in Haridwar, check-in at
your hotel. Visit Bharat Mata Temple
- 4 kms from Haridwar and is a
multistory six-floor structure. The
ground floor has the exquisite
sculpture of Bharat Mata. The temple
also contains sculptures of Buddha,
Mahavir, Guru Nanak, Kabir, Tulsi
Das, Meera, and Natraj. This is a
real beautiful temple to see. Mansa
Devi Temple -The temple on the top
of Siwalik Hills is dedicated to the
Goddess Mansa Devi, who was the
daughter of Lord Shiva. One can
enjoy the splendid view of the city
from such a great height. The
ropeway carriage operates between
Upper Road, and Mansa Devi Temple.
It is believed that whoever worships
Goddess Mansa Devi, their wishes get
fulfilled. (Meals: Breakfast)
Evening witness the Ganga Aarti at
Har-ki –Pauri. Har-ki-Pauri is the
main ghat known as Brahmakund,
popular legend has it that Lord
Vishnu left his footprint at
Har-ki-Pauri. The whole environs
echoes with the sounds of conch
shells and bells and priests perform
ritual worship of the river.
Thousands of earthen lamps are
floated in the water, which twinkle
like gold in the darkness makes it
an enthralling sight. Overnight at
hotel. (Meals: Breakfast) |
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Day 05:
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Haridwar – Mathura
Morning drive for Mathura enroute
visiting countryside and on arrival
check-in to hotel. Mathura it is one
of the seven great cities and is
considered one of the holiest cities
in India. Lakhs of pilgrims come
here every year to visit the
Dwarikadhish temple and Vishramgaht.
Evening witness AARTI. Overnight at
your hotel. (Meals: Breakfast) |
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Day
06:
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Mathura – Agra – Faizabad
Morning city tour of Mathura
visiting Dwarikadhish temple and
Vishramgaht also visit Vrindavan
(District Mathura) - situated at a
distance of 9.6 km. from Mathura.
There are about 4, 000 temples,
ghats and sarovars in Vrindava.
Govind Dev temple is a treat, built
by Raja Man Sing of Jaipur in 1500
AD. In front of this is the grand
temple of Rangnath built of white
stone in the Dravidian style. Other
famous temples are Behariji temple,
Radhavallabh temple, Radharaman
temple, Gopinath temple, Shahji
temple, Ashta Sakhi temple etc.
Continue drive to Agra (another one
hour) Arrive and visit Tajmahal – A
Monument of Love - The Taj Mahal
stands serene and perfect in its
garden of cypresses and reflecting
pools on the banks of the River
Yamuna. This monument was fashioned
by 20,000 skilled workers to make
the emperor's dream a reality. It
took 22 years to complete — a symbol
of eternal love where Shahjehan too
lies buried, re-united at last with
his beloved Mumtaz. Late evening
transfer to Tundla station in time
to board the overnight train for
Faizabad. Overnight in train.
(Meals: Breakfast) |
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Day 07:
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Arrive Faizabad - Allahabad
Arrive Faizabad at 0505 hrs.
Assistance on arrival and straight
proceed for Allahabad enroute
visiting AYODHAYA & NAIMISHARANYA -
six miles from Faizabad station
Ayodhya is the birth place of Lord
Rama. The most sacred place of Hindu
pilgrimage at the banks of river
Sarayu. Janmasthan, the place where
Lord Rama was born is an important
spot. There was a beautiful temple.
Now a disputed site as Mughal King
Babar destroyed this temple in 1520
A.D. and built a mosque on the site.
Hanuman Garh (or Gadi) is another
important place of worship.
Naimisharanya -It was at this place
that for establishing Dharma on the
earth, the Gods requested Maharshi
Dadhichi to give his bones for
preparing a weapon to kill the Demon
Vrittrasur. Naimisharnaya was a
centre of spiritual development. It
was the place of penance of 88, 000
sages or Rishis. There are 30, 000
pilgrim centers here. It is said
that a person performing penance
here is sure to get 'Siddhi' (Divine
Power). There are many places of
pilgrimage (Tirth) in Naimisharanya.
Lakhs of pilgrims from every corner
of the country come here. Continue
to Allahabad, and check-in at hotel.
Allahabad is among the largest
cities in Uttar Pradesh. Hindu
mythology has it that for the
Prakrishta Yaina, Lord Brahma, the
creator God of the Trinity, chose a
land on earth, on which the three
rivers would flow in to a quiet
confluence. Brahma also referred to
it as `Tirth Raj' or the `king of
all pilgrimage centers'. Allahabad
stands at the confluence of two of
India's holiest rivers, the Ganga
and the Yamuna. Sangam, as the
confluence is called, is the venue
of many sacred fairs and rituals,
and attracts thousands of pilgrims
throughout the year. This number
swells to millions during the
world-famous Kumbh Mela. A third
mythical Saraswati river, believed
to flow underground towards the
Sangam, gives the confluence its
other name 'Triveni'. Emperor Akbar
founded this city in 1575 and called
it by name of `Illahabas', which has
now become modern Allahabad.
Overnight at hotel. (Meals:
Breakfast) |
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Day 08:
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Allahabad- Varanasi (125 kms/3 hrs)
Morning visit The Triveni Sangam
(the confluence of the three
rivers), where the Ganges, the
Yamuna and the legendary Saraswati
meet, is sacred to Hindus. Allahabad
is therefore of great religious
importance. It was originally known
as Prayag - ‘place of sacrifice’.
Other interesting places in
Allahabad are the University and
Anand Bhawan - ancestral home of
India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru. Later drive to
Varanasi (Kashi) Overnight at your
hotel. (Meals: Breakfast) |
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Day 09:
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Varanasi
Early morning boat ride at river
Ganges, view activities in the city
revolves around the holy river. Life
on the banks of the Ganga begins
before dawn when thousands of
pilgrims -men, women and children,
come down to the river to wait for
the rising sun. Gradually the sun
rises, and the river mists slowly
lift to reveal the magnificent
buildings that have a solemnity
unmatched by any city in the world.
Soon after the sunrise, the city's
great amphitheatre of ghats burst
into activity. In the charged
holistic atmosphere of the morning
venerable Brahmins (known as Pandas)
recite passages from sacred texts,
priests dispense holy ashes to
pilgrims to mark their foreheads in
veneration of the gods. Boatmen,
flower seller, shrill- voiced
sellers selling sweetmeats and knick
knacks, sacred bulls and cows roam
around. You can witness all these
activities during boat ride. Return
to hotel for breakfast. Later
continue the city tour of various
temples and also an excursion to
Sarnath. Situated 10 km from
Varanasi, Sarnath is a place where
Budhha delivered its sermon. Being a
pilgrimage destination, the tourists
spots in Sarnath is more revered.
The Stupas, Mulgandha Kuti Vihara
and the Archeological museum of
Sarnath forms good tourist spots to
explore Overnight at your hotel.
(Meals: Breakfast) |
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Day
10:
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Varanasi – Delhi, air -
Departure transfer to the airport in
time to board the flight for Delhi
and assistance on arrival and
straight drop at the international;
airport to board the flight for
home-town. (Meals: Breakfast) |
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Note: Airfare, taxes and schedules are
subject to change without prior notice. |
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Cost
Include |
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All necessary
airport transfers |
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Twin sharing
accommodation on breakfast basis in hotels |
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All
sightseeing with English speaking local
guide |
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All
activities & excursions as per itinerary |
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Monument
Entrance fee. |
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All
Applicable surface transfer by private non
AC vehicle |
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Cost
Exclude |
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Any
international airfare and airport taxes |
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India entry
visa fees |
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Insurance and
Tips |
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Bottled
drinks |
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Emergency/Rescue in any form |
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Expenses of
personal nature such as bar bills, laundry,
telephone calls etc |
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Any cost
arise due to flight cancellation, landslide,
road blockage, political disturbance etc |
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Any other
arrangements not mentioned in the above cost
include section |
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