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Spiritual India: A Comprehensive Tour of the Diverse Cultures of North India . . .

September 17-October 5, 2009

includes Full Moon Viewing of the Taj Mahal and coincides with Dusshera, a popular festival celebrating a triumph of good over evil.

April 5-23, 2010

includes Ardh Kumba Mela - ancient Hindu celebration!

?Early Booking Special! Book any 2010 India tour by July 15, 2009 and lock in 2009 Price.

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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Delhi Transfer to hotel.

Day 2 Delhi: Orientation, Bazaars, Optional Yoga
Your escort, Sanjay Verman, will come by the hotel at breakfast (about 9 a.m.) to meet everyone and give a brief orientation.

We will have a relaxed pace today to adjust and assimilate with Indian culture in the big city. Avisit to the unique Dilli Haat is an upgraded version of the traditional weekly market.

A special Hataha Yoga class at Shivananda Yoga Center.

Day 3 Delhi
Full day sghtseeing of Old & New Delhi including: Red Fort, Jama Masjid (the great mosque), riksha ride thru the Chandi Chowk bazaar in Old Delhi; Gandhi Darshan/Raj Ghat which marks the spot where Gandhi was asasinated; the Gandhi Memorial Museum and Qutab Minar. Dinner at traditional restuarant.

Day 4 Dharamsala
One hour flight to Pathankot and drive to Dharamsala 3 hrs). Short walking tour of town, visit main prayer wheel, nunnery.

Day 5 Dharamsala
Early morning, 6 am, walk to Namgyal Monastery (Dalai Lama's monastery) to witness monks chanting/meditation. Join the locals for a meditation walk circumambulating the monastery complex. It is a breath-taking and inspiring experience --not to be missed!

Afternoon visit the Offices of the Tibet Govt in Exile, Museum of buddhist artifacts, medicine and astrology and some free time to stroll town independently & shop if interested. Attend early evening puja at Kalachakra Temple.

Day 6 Dharamsala-Norbulinka-Taragarh
Optional morning yoga. Excursion to Norbulinka Institute which is a major center for Buddhist teaching set up to ensure the survival of Tibetan Buddhism cultural heritage.

Visit Baijnath, aShiva temple dedicated to Shiva Vaidyanatha. It is supposed to be the temple where Ravana worshipped Shiva to gain immortality. The Baijnath is one of the twelve 'Jyotirlingas' and is thronged with pilgrims at the festival of Shivratri. Overnight at the Taragarh Palace

Day 7 Taragarh
Optional morning yoga and meditation. Drive to Sherabilling Monastery, one the the world's largest buddhist teaching centers. They received a Grammy for their Sacred Buddhist Chanting. Attend their prayer and chanting session. Overnight at the Taragarh Palace..

Day 8 Drive Taragarh-Amritsar  (160km/ approx 6 hrs)
Witness religious traditions of the Sikhs at the Golden Temple. This will include both a guided tour by one of the Sikh priests as well as time for individuals to stroll independently and reflect/meditate. Return to see Golden Temple all lit up after dark.

Day 9 Ridhikesh - Haridwar-Rishikesh (Homa Ceremony)
Morning train to Haridwar and drive to Rishikesh. Participate in the Homa Ceremony and chanting at the Parmarth Ashram; Bhajan, Kirtan and Ganga Arati .

Homa is a sacred fire ceremony in which various forms of the Divine are invoked according to the guidelines in the Vedic scriptures. Certain special offerings are made into the fire while Sanskrit mantras are chanted. The energetic vibrations that are invoked during a traditional Vedic fire ceremony represent the most powerful presence of the Divine on earth. The element of fire is associated with the upward motion of the divine kundalini energy and is considered to be the most powerfully purifying element.

A special meal called Bhandara follows the ceremony.

Day 10 Rishikesh
Morning walking tour across Lakshman Jhula Bridge along the river visiting several ashrams including Ved Niketan, Omkarananda and Vanprasth and culminating at Triveni Ghat.

Rest of day is reserved for personal yoga and meditation at the Sivananda Ashram.
Day 11 Rishikesh - Haridwar
Visit the Neel Parvat Temple, dedicated to Goddess Chandi Devi (Durga), which is on top of a hill overlooking the Ganges. We get up to the temple by a ropeway. All the local Indian women will be there performing devotionals to the goddess.

Evening attend the prayer ceremony to witness aarti (ceremony of lights) at the Ganges.  We'll enjoy the pre-ceremony festivities on the promenade.

Spring 2010 Tour Only: Today is the main bathing date for Ardh Kumba Mela.  Observe ritual bathing, chants, drumming, Hindu priests performing fire ceremony.

Accommodation at the Haveli Hari Ganga, a beautiful heritage haveli, is situated on the banks of the Holy Ganga, a mere 500 meters walk through the bazaar from the sacred "Har ki Pauri" at Haridwar. It stands at the gateway to the Devbhumi, the abode of the Gods and the "Char Dham Yatra".

Day 12 Haridawr-Delhi-Varanasi ( Fall Tour Only: Dussehra Festival)
Morning Shatabdi Express to Delhi and fly to Varanasi.
Visit Sarnath , the spiritual centre of Buddhism (where Buddha gave his first sermon). The ancient ruins are fascinating including the Dhamekh Stupa which is believed to mark the spot where Buddha preached his famous sermon; the archaeological museum is excellent.

Fall Tour Only: The 2 week long Dussehra festival peaks today with the burning of effigies of Ravana and his two brothers Kumbhkaran and Meghnath. The essence of this festival is victory of truth over evil.  Evening is reserved for the festivities.

Day 13 Varanasi  
A visit to Varanasi reveals the spiritual heart of India, and the best way to experience this is to tour the Ganges in a country boat at sunrise. Pilgrims, yogis and mystics flock to the ghats (steps) which lie along the banks of the Ganges, to take a cleansing dip in India's holiest river, practice yoga, meditate, or to complete mundane earthly chores such as washing clothes and vessels. The visit to the old city is a fascinating insight into the rituals of Hinduism. Every temple is well attended and every street corner has roadside shrines and vendors selling garlands, incense sticks and other items used in worship.

After our boat ride, we walk through the narrow alleys where we share space with cows, scooters, cycle rickshaws, shops and people to the banks of the Ganges visiting the temples and being able to watch the rituals of Hindu worship.  Evening attend aarti (light ceremony) on the banks of the Ganges.

Day 14 Fly to Khajuraho.
Visit Classical Temples from Chandella Style of the 9th- 11th century, illustrated with remarkable sculptures of the classical erotic literature, the KAMA SUTRA. 

Day 15 Agra
Morning visit temples. Drive to Jhansi 172 Km / 4 hrs. Connect Shatabdi Express to Agra 1755/2010. Hotel Clarks Shiraz.

Day 16 Vrindavan - Mathura
Sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Excursion to Mathura, birthplace of Krishna, and Vrindavan, where Krishna spent his childhood.

Day 17 Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur 
Enroute to Jaipur, visit Fathepur Sikri, the deserted city. Talk by Mr. D.V. Singh, a well known philosopher.

Day 18 Jaipur
Morning experience pujas (worship) at Sri Govinda Deva Temple with local devotees: songs, flowers, sweetmeats, powders and spices offered to mark each part of the ritual of the deity. Afternoon city tour including: Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), Jal Mahal (Water Palace), the City Palace. (Note: Akbar's magnificiently illustrated Ramayana and Razmnama are sometimes on display at the Jaipur Library--if so, we can view these).

Day 19 Jaipur-Pushkar
Morning drive to Pushkar (3 hrs). After lunch, walk to Brahma Temple, the only temple in Asia dedicated to Brahma, the God of creation. Independent time to browse the bazaars or take a walk around the lake. Enjoy reflective time in this peaceful holy village and absorb local life activities. Watch drumming from the ghats as the sun sets.

Day 20 Delhi
Optional e arly morning yoga. After breakfast, return drive to Delhi. Transfer to hotel by international airport for wash/change dinner. Late night transfer to international airport for your flight home.

2009 Price based on min 6 people:
$4015 per person; single room supplement $1065
Plus airfares: (airfare prices listed here are estimates and subject to change; exact prices will be confirmed 3 months prior to departure). Delhi - Pathankot $90-160, Delhi - Varanasi $100-$202, Varanasi - Khajuraho $150.

Includes:

• All accommodations (dble occupancy)
• Daily breakfast & dinner- including mineral water, soft drinks, gratuities
• All land transportation by private bus and first class train
• Accompanying escort
• Entrance Fees to monuments
• Yoga/Meditation Practice where indicated at yoga centers and hotels
• Mineral Water provided on bus
• Porterage at hotels, domestic airports, train stations
• India Gov Service Tax 4.89%
  

• International flight
• Travel Insurance
• Tips to driver, guide
• Personal expenses
• Contributions to ashrams and yoga centers

International Air: We offer discounted airfares through our consolidator. The price will be approximately $1350-1650 from major international airports. We suggest Cathay Pacific, Singapore Air and Thai Air for west coast travelers and Lufthansa for east coast or west coast travelers, although we can book you on any carrier of your choice. We get the best prices from the Asian carriers. We suggest web saavy people to try the web for best discount prices.

Preparations: Once your reservation deposit has been received you will be sent our preparations brochure which should answer many of your general questions about traveling to India and within India. Please read this brochure carefully.

Airfare Prices Subject to Change

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