• Experience the energy of Varanasi, one of the holiest cities in India
• Visit Dharamsala, home to the Dalai Lama and Tibetan exiles
• Witness the gilded treasure of the Golden Temple in Amritsar
• Explore some of the ashrams in Rishikesh and experience few days of simple living in holistic environment
• Indulge in the exceptional collection of religions in Delhi, where you can find the largest mosque in India and a Baha’i Temple that’s looks like a lotus  and more

Day 01 – Arrive Delhi

Your journey begins before you land in India. Your thoughts are focused on the soon to have imagined the culture and the architecture, the food and the landscape and, as the plane lands in the capital city of Delhi, you are ready to experience it all.

Welcome to Delhi, a city that brings together its historic architecture and modern culture. You are met at the airport and escorted to your hotel by a private transfer.

Explore and discover the city’s ancient walls you can find in ChandniChowk, the old market that continues to brim with life, filled with the enticing smoky aromatics of grilled kebab , street food and Spices . Stop at Jama Masjid was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656 at a cost of 1 million rupees. The mosque was completed in 1656 AD with three great gates, four towers and two 40 m high minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble. The courtyard can accommodate more than 25,000 persons

From the old market to the Raj Ghat, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial, you venture through the new streets that eventually bring you to the QutubMinar. You find the mystique of the seasoned structures alluring; the minaret climbs over 217 feet into the air, constructed almost a millennia ago.

Drive pass India Gate and Parliament , before you settle back into your hotel for the evening.

Overnight at hotel

Day 02 –  Delhi  – Varanasi by flight

Arrive Varanasi, the quintessential Indian holy city where millions of Hindu travels for pilgrimage, to worship, to mourn or to die. It is the holiest of the seven sacred cities. Some Hindus believe that death at Varanasi brings salvation. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Varanasi is also known as the favourite city of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva as it has been mentioned in the Rigveda that this city in older times was known as Kashi or „Shiv kiNagri“.

Evening witness the Aarti ceremony on the Ghats of Ganges. River Ganga is considered as the most sacred and holy river of India. It is life, purity, and a goddess to the people of India. The river is Ganga Ma, „Mother Ganges.“ It is the story of how she poured herself down from heaven upon the ashes of King Sarga’s sons. Her waters would raise them up again to dwell in peace in heaven. Anyone who touches these purifying waters even today said to be cleansed of all sins.
Every morning thousands of Hindus, whether pilgrims or residents, make their way into the holy water of the Ganges. All of them face the rising sun with folded hands chanting prayers.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 03 – Varanasi

Early morning transfer to the river Ghats for the boat ride on the sacred river Ganges to see the cremation Ghats and witness the living traditions of one of the world’s oldest and most important religions. For you to appreciate this remarkable city, we’ll transfer you to the banks of the River Ganges before the sun rises. Board a boat with your guide and proceed to the middle of the river, where at sunrise the sight unfolds before you.

Later visit the Bharat Mata Temple, dedicated to Mother India, which, instead of  gods and goddesses, houses a relief map of India carved out of marble.  Durga (Goddess of Power) Temple. Emperor Aurangazeb’s Mosque built in the 17th century on the site of a Hindu Temple. The rear of the mosque reveals specimens of the ancient temple art of India. The Sacred Bull, the Well of Knowledge, Vishwanath Temple (Golden Temple) erected by Rani AhilyabaiHolkar of Indore in 1776.  The shikharas of the temple are gold plated. The sanctum is for Hindus but ceremonies can be seen from the entrance. Visit Banaras Hindu University, a great seat of learning.  It started as a centre of education in Sanskrit, Indian art, culture and music.

Afternoon, you will proceed for an excursion to Sarnath, a major Buddhist center in the world. After achieving enlightenment at Bodhgaya, Buddha, the ‚Awakened One‘, delivered his first sermon here. It was the sixth century then, when he also set in motion the wheel of law, the Dharmachakra. This dwelling place of the rishis, it was also known as ‚Rishipatana‘ (the place of the Rishis or sages). Buddha gave his first sermon in the Deer Park where he initiated his first five disciples into Buddhist monkshood. Buddhism found its roots in Sarnath, the birthplace of this way of life

Overnight at hotel

Day 04 – Varanasi  –  Delhi by flight

Fly back to Delhi for overnight stay.

Indulge in the exceptional collection of religions in Delhi,  after you have visited  the largest mosque in India , today you take a tour of a  Baha’i Temple that’s looks like a lotus .The Lotus Temple is a Baha’I House of Worship. Twenty-seven marble petals are arranged in three tiers of nine to create the look of a lotus blossom. The central hall stands 120 feet tall and can hold over 2,500 people. The dome shape easily carries voice and footsteps but you only hear quiet whispers beneath the devoted chants. You can imagine the graceful reverberations of a choir singing in the main hall.

This day you may like to visit Akshardham , a divine abode of God  a spiritual-cultural campus. The complex displays millennia of traditional Hindu and Indian culture, spirituality, and architecture.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 05 – Delhi  -Dharamshala by flight

Take a morning flight to Dharamsala. This city is known as the home of the Dalai Lama. The scents of oak and conifer trees fill the city. You can see the rolling snowcapped mountains in the distance. The temple of Tsuglagkhang is also known as Dalai Lama’s temple. Many Buddhist pilgrims and interested people come to the temple to pay their respects to the religion and the Dalai Lama.

A 9-foot tall gilded statue of the Buddha is situated within the temple complex. There is compassion and tranquility in the complex that feels worlds apart from the fast paced streets Dharamsala. The images of Buddha are refined and historic. Monks stroll through the city and the temple in red robes.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 06 – Dharamshala

Today is at your leisure to experience the city as you prefer. The Gelug school of thought is the newest in Buddhist philosophy. The Namgyal Monastery was constructed in the 16th century and continues to teach the philosophies of the Gelug Sect. The charming building is set against the backdrop of snowy mountains. The essence of the monastery and the city lies in its surroundings and the perseverance of the culture.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 07 – Dharamshala

You can spend today indulging in the spiritual majesty of the city or you can venture outside the city limits to see the exceptional strength and devotion of the Kangra Fort which also houses a Museum that exhibits the history of the fort.

A yoga or meditation session can be arranged for you on this day under the guidance of a Guru ji.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 08 –  Dharamshala  – Amritsar by car  (207 kms / 4hrs Approx.)

Morning drive to  Amritsar ,this city was founded in the 16th century and is Sikhism’s holiest shrine. The Golden Temple is elegant and humbling. The city is divided into the new and the old. 12 gates surround the old city and encompass traditional bazaars and narrow laneways. Sometimes it feels like you have stepped back in time. In the evening you will follow the tiled walkway and enter through the archways of the Golden Temple. The arch is 203 feet tall and 20 feet wide.

Today you watch the Night Ceremony as the holy text is carried from the main shrine to the sanctum. Several people help support the palanquin that holds the book until the text is removed and surfs along the hands of the devoted followers.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 09 – Amritsar

The images of the previous night’s ceremony continue to replay in your head. The gilded temple was magnificent and the spectacle was one of a kind. Today you will venture through the old city to view the splendid history of Akal Takht, known as the Immortal Throne, located within the Golden Temple complex.

In the early afternoon you will venture to the Wagah Border to experience another truly unique moment special to Amritsar. The changing of the guard between Pakistan and India at this particular crossing has become an exhibition of energy and pride. People come from all around the country and the world to witness the high-spirited and amusing display that has become the daily border closing.

Overnight at hotel

Day 10 – Amritsar  – Rishikesh by train

Today transfer to the train station to catch train to Haridwar. Soon you find yourself in the famous city of Rishikesh located on the banks of the River Ganges. The city is located 1,200 feet above sea level and has become a popular stopover for people ready to trek to the Himalayas.

 

In the evening you will stand on the riverbanks and listen to the enchanting hymns of the nightly Aarticeremony. The water is rapid and sprays into the air. The mist is cold in the evening light. Much of the banks are paved with large rocks and the city looks like it is built between the trees. Visitors practice yoga on the softer shores in the distance and take large, slow breaths. The evening chants blend into the sound of rushing water and you find the combination soothing.

Overnight in Ashram .

Day 11 – Rishikesh

Today you follow the regime of the Ashram , the day starts early morning with meditation , chanting and Yoga followed by day long activities. You get some time to explore local streets and temples  on your walk around the Ashram premises.

Overnight in Ashram

Day 12 – Rishikesh –Haridwar  – Delhi  by train

You wake up to another morning at the foothills of the Himalayas. Enjoy a rejuvenating stretch with a yoga session along the banks of the rushing river. Millions of Hindus each year come to the Ganges to absolve themselves of their sins.

Take a train to Delhi from Haridwar.

You are back to Delhi for an overnight stay or you can extend your wellness stay in one of the retreats in Rishikesh .