Delhi - Rishikesh - Chandigarh - Dharamsala - Amritsar - Pushkar - Goa - Mumbai. (OPTIONAL stay at Jaipur and Agra (Taj Mahal).
BEST SEASON - October to March |
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India, the land of spirituality and philosophy, considers religion as an integral part of its entire tradition. The worship of various religions and its rituals play a significant role in every aspect of human life in the country.
India is the birthplace of two great religions of the world, namely, Hinduism and Buddhism. It is also the birthplace of one of the oldest religions of the world, Zoroastrianism, and home to an ancient religion, Jainism. Sikhism is another very recognizable religion which began here bringing together the best aspects of Hinduism and Islam. Followers of religions originated in other countries such as Islam, Christianity, Bahaism and Judaism also form a part of the population of secular nation, India. Here we explore a few significant destinations. |
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| Day 01 and 2 - Arrive Delhi. Stay at the Imperial. Sightseeing old and New Delhi including Jama Masjid – the largest open air mosque in India, Gurudwara Sheeshganj and Bangla Sahib, Lotus temple, Birla Mandir. (refer sightseeing, Delhi) |
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Day 3 and 4 – Train or drive to Rishikesh via Haridwar (approx 4 hours). Stay at Glass House on the Ganges or Ananda in the Himalayas. Visit temples and ashrams.
Haridwar which literally means "gateway to the abode of Gods " is situated on the right side of the bank of the Holy Ganga, and is the point where the river spreads over the northern plains. Associated with Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, Haridwar is one of the seven sacred cities of India and is also one of the four venues for the Kumbh Mela, held in its magnitude every 12 years. Visit the Ghats and the Temples.
Rishikesh sits along the holy river Ganges, and is the Yoga Capital of the world. This pious town is renowned to be the birthplace of Ayurveda and is also famous for its ancient temples, ashrams and monuments. |
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Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Ashram is famous the world over for which the credit goes to the rock band Beatles. Several ashrams offer yoga courses.
Evening witness an ‘Aarti’ ceremony on the banks of the river Ganges(At sunset, priests set floating lamps on the water during the Aarti Ceremony which takes place from the Triveni Ghat. The Triveni Ghat is believed to be the confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna and the legendary Saraswati River. ) |
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Day 5 – Drive to Chandigarh (approx 5 hours). Stay at Hotel Mt View or similar. Sightseeing including the rose garden.
Day 6 and 7 – Drive to Dharamsala, (approx 5 hours). Stay at Chonor House or similar.. Sightseeing. Excursion to McLeod Ganj. |
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The high snow clad Dhauladhar ranges of the Himalayas form a magnificent backdrop to the-hill resort of Dharamsala. Dharamsala is the seat of the Tibet’s government in exile and the temporary residence of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama who rested here after fleeing from Tibet after the Chinese invasion. It is surrounded by dense pine and deodar forests, numerous streams, cool healthy air, attractive surroundings and the nearby snowline. |
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McLeod Ganj is best known as the headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile and is the home of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Visit the monastery in McLeod Ganj. Also visit the school of Tibetan studies and its library, one of the best in the world for studying Tibet and its culture. Visit the Tsug-Lag-Khang (Central Cathedral), known locally as the Main Temple. Also visit the ancient temple of Bhagsunath, which has many sacred fresh water springs close by. Explore St John’s Church in Wilderness, built in 1852, dressed in grey stone with some fine Belgian stained glass windows
Day 8 and 9 – Drive to Amritsar (approx 5 hours). Stay at Ranjit’s Svaasa. Sightseeing including Golden Temple, Jalianwala Bagh, also Wagah border. |
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Founded in 1577 by Ram Das, the fourth guru of the Sikhs, Amritsar is both the centre of Sikh religion and the major city of the Punjab state.
Literally, Amritsar means ‘Pool of Nectar’ referring to the sacred tank around which the Sikh’s Golden Temple is built. Golden Temple is the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion and is also known as the Hari Mandir, the residence of God. Golden Temple is a two-storied marble structure with a blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture and has a golden dome, which is said to be gilded with 100kg of pure gold and is supposed to represent an inverted lotus flower. The Temple is a truly amazing sight, three floors of gold and marble set in the middle of a lake, itself surrounded on all sides by ornate buildings and a wide marble pathway. |
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Night visit the Golden Temple to witness closing ceremony (See the glow of lamps and their myriad reflections in the pool, hear the melodic chanting of hymns. The nightly ceremony is when the holy book is returned to the Sikh Parliament building).
Visit Jalianwala Bagh,a national monument , the historic site where hundreds of Indian men, women and children were massacred by the British General Michael Dyer. The bullet holes are still preserved.
Excursion to the Wagah Border (approx 1 hour) , the Indo –Pakistan border, to witness the evening flag ceremony, which marks the closing of the gate between the two countries until it reopens the following morning. |
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Day 10 – Flight to Jaipur via Delhi and then drive to Pushkar (approx 3 hours). Stay at a Rajputana home stay or hotel (basic).
Sightseeing Pushkar is a city of 400 temples and 52 bathing ghats. Pushkar prides itself on being the site of the only temple of the Hindu God of Creation, Brahma.
Visit the Brahma Temple on the banks of the sacred Pushkar Lake (in season visit the Pushkar camel fair). |
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Excursion to the lakeside city of Ajmer, held in great reverence by devotees of all communities who call it 'Ajmer Sharif' (Holy Ajmer). It has the mausoleum of the Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, whose blessings are eagerly sought by pilgrims to his dargah. Known as the ‘Dargah Sharif’, the last resting place of the saint who died in 1235, the dargah lies at the foot of a barren hill. The saint’s marble domed mausoleum is India’s most important shrine for Muslims and receives an endless flow of visitors of all religions as the sick, the troubled and the childless come here seeking a boon, a blessing or just peace of mind. Legend has it that the Mughal emperor, Akbar came here to the saint in the 16th century in quest of a boon for an heir and the saint obliged.
Within the dargah lies a mosque, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan. Like all of Shah Jehan’s buildings, the mosque too, is an architectural marvel, a magnificent building in white marble with a long and narrow courtyard for the faithful to pray in, richly embellished with ornate calligraphic inscriptions, delicate carvings and detailed trelliswork. |
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Day 11, 12 and 13– flight to Goa via Mumbai. Stay at the Leela or similar. Sightseeing, beaches.
This former Portuguese Colony is a picturesque land full of scenic charm & many attractions such as historic forts, elaborately ornate churches and temples, evergreen hills and mountains, winding rivers and creeks, fields and particularly, the palm-fringed pearly white beaches, which leave any visitor spellbound. |
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Explore Old Goa, once said to be ‘Rome of the East’ . It has about half a dozen old churches and cathedrals , The highlight is the visit to the Convent, Se Cathedral, the biggest in Asia, and church of St FRANCIS of ASSISI and the BASILICA OF BOM JESUS
Also visit a Hindu village, local fruit, vegetable & fish market , a spice plantation with a botanical tour to show a variety of herbs & spices. Enjoy a traditional Lunch at a Spice Farm. |
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Day 14 – Flight to Mumbai and onward destination
OR stay on in Goa and relax on the beach, spend one or more days in Mumbai or other destinations in India.
OPTIONAL - Visit Jaipur and Agra (Taj Mahal) |
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