Day 1: Arrival Delhi

Arrive Delhi, one of the oldest cities in the world that has an excellent atmosphere of an old city in Old Delhi, and modern in New Delhi. The perfect combination of old and new worlds makes it an extremely fascinating city to explore.

Check in and rest at your accommodation.

Day 2: Delhi

Head to New Delhi in the morning. This day will be consumed by alluring monuments and quality sightseeing. Continue on the route to visit the Qutub Minar, a gigantic tower of 72m, built by the first Muslim ruler of India, Qutub-ud-din Aibak. Next in this tour, continue to the tomb of Humayun, the mausoleum of the second Mughal Emperor Humayun. The tomb, perfectly located in a Persian garden, has an ingenious combination of red sandstone and white marble on the exterior aspect of the building.

Drive by the government buildings, the presidential Bhawan (residence of the President of India), the Parliament and India Gate, an (Arc de Triomphe) built in commemoration of more than 80,000 Indian soldiers who were killed during World War I. Further, witness an architectural beauty and a unique service of free food in the Gurudwara, the temple of the Sikh religion.

Pass by the Red Fort, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and enjoy a rickshaw ride (bike cart, pulled by a man) in Chandni Chowk, one of the oldest and largest bazaars in India. Then, proceed to the Jama Mosque. This great mosque of Old Delhi is the largest in India, with a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees. It ended up being the final architectural extravagance of Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort. Proceed to your hotel and relax.

Day 3: Delhi – Dharamshala

This morning, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Dharamshala. Upon arrival you will be greeted by the local guide and transferred to the hotel. Dharamshala is better known as the seat of the exiled Tibetan monk, Dalai Lama.

Fresh pine air, the magnificent view of the Dhauladhar Mountains, a delicious selection of cuisines, stories, colors and spirit of immersion make Dharamshala an attractive destination. Marvel at the warmth and picturesque splendor, tranquil area of towns and villages in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.

Enjoy an afternoon for independent activities.

Day 4: Dharamshala

Begin with a morning visit to Norbulingka, an institute for the preservation of traditional Tibetan arts and crafts. It currently houses more than 300 teachers, students and workers. Arts and crafts include Thangka paints, tailoring, metal sculpture and wood handicrafts.

Within the complex, you will also visit the Losel Dolls Museum (miniature figures), which is the world’s largest collection of Losel dolls. These beautiful collection objects are handmade by monks from the monastery of Drepung Loseling. Proceed for a ten-minutewalk from McLeod Ganj takes to St. John’s Church in the desert, surrounded by cedars from the Himalayas. The church is a stone construction of neo-gothic style, with its original Belgian stained glass intact despite a strong earthquake in 1905 that destroyed the rest of the city. The imprint of the colonial influence stays intact through many such buildings in Dharamshala.

Passing through the bazaars of McLeod Ganj, stop by the temple of the Dalai Lama or Tsuglakhang, the main Buddhist temple, located opposite the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The beautiful Temple square of happiness features stunning murals, including impressions of the 14 Dalai Lamas and 1,173 Buddha images, which decorate the 43-metre-high temple room. Enjoy magnificent views of the landscaped surroundings of the temple’s richly ornamented roof.

In the afternoon, if you may choose to, pay a visitto the temple Bhagsu Nag, an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Bhagsu nag, the serpent God, and the god Shiva. Additionally, visit the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts. TIPA was founded in 1959 by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to preserve the traditional forms of Tibetan art of music, dance and theatre.

Later in the day, visit the Kangra Art Museum, where miniature paintings, sculptures, tribal ornaments and photographs of the local monuments are exhibited.

Optional: Early morning transfer to a yoga and meditation center for a yoga/meditation class with an English-speaking yoga teacher (teachers are available only between April-October 2018)

Day 5: Dharamshala – Amritsar

This morning, depart for Amritsar by road. Amritsar is the capital of the Sikh religion since the 16th century. The highlight of the city is the stunning Golden Temple. A shining monument in marble, bronze, gold leaves is a living celebration of Sikhism’s devotion (a faith that actively preaches unity and equality among all religions), the Golden Temple is both fascinating and spiritually stimulating, combining pure physical beauty with a truly sacred environment.

Transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon visit the Durgiana Temple (temple of the Hindu goddess Durga) and JallianwalaBagh.

On 13 April 1919, British Brigadier-General Dyer fired a group of people attending a peaceful freedom of movement meeting here, which cost the lives of about 400 people and injured over a 1200 innocent men, women and children. To this day, it remains the most poignant monument of independent India.

In the evening visit the Golden Temple (to see the prayer ceremonies), also known as Harmandir or Darbar Sahib.

The temple is a majestic white and gold building, the foundation of which was put by the Muslim saint, Mian Mir, an admirer and friend of Guru Arjun Dev Ji. The temple is built in a square of 67 feet of marble and is a stratified structure.

The structure of the upper part of the temple is covered with pure gold leaves, hence the popular name, the Golden Temple. Inside the temple lies the sacred Book of the Sikhs, the Granth Sahib. Next to the Golden Temple, Akal Takht, the supreme seat of the Sikh religious authority houses the ancient weapons used by the Sikhs warriors.

Return to your accommodation, retire for the day.

Day 6: Amritsar – Haridwar – Rishikesh

Transfer to the train station in the morning for your train to Haridwar (the train does not operate on Thursdays). Upon arrival, visit the Har-Ki-Pauri, the most important Ghat (bathing steps), the temples and Ashram of Haridwar. Haridwar, located on the right bank of the sacred Ganges, is considered among the seven sacred cities of India.

The legend says that this was one of the four sites in India, where a drop of Amrit, carried by Garuda, the Celeste fell. Therefore, it is one of the four places where the Kumbh Mela, the largest congregation of humanity in any part of the world, is celebrated once every 12 years.

After Haridwar, continue to Rishikesh, the “Yoga Capital of the World”. The famous spiritual city of Rishikesh is located on the banks of the river Ganges, surrounded by Shivalik of the Himalayas on three sides. Retire for the day.

Day 7: Rishikesh

Experience the serenity of Rishikesh in the morning with a yoga/meditation class followed by relaxation of body and mind. Post Breakfast, head to visit the temples, ashrams and ghats (the bathing steps) in Rishikesh. This afternoon will be occupied with a visit to the Ganges for the ceremony ‘Aarti’ (the prayer) by theriver. Transfer to the hotel and enjoy time at leisure.

Day 8: Rishikesh

Rise early in the morning for a yoga/meditation class followed by a routine for the relaxation of body and mind.

Enjoy the rest of the day free for independent activities. Soak in the crisp air and abundance of energy in the tranquil city.

Day 9: Rishikesh – Dehradun – Delhi – Jaipur

Depart in the morning by road for Dehradun. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Jaipur, via Delhi. Or opt for a direct flight to Jaipur in case of availability. Upon arrival you will be greeted and transferred to the hotel by our local guide.

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is also known as “The Pink City” as the old city had been painted terracotta pink in 1876 to welcome Prince Albert. Relax at your accommodation.

Day 10: Jaipur

Begin your city tour with a local guide, an expert to take you through the many attractions starting with the Amber Fort, one of the best-engineered forts in the world.

Carry on to the beautifully restored JalMahal, a former royal pavilion of pleasure. In the afternoon, visit the City Palace, the museum and stop by the Hawa Mahal (The Wind Palace) one of the most photographed buildings in the world. 
Also visit the JantarMantar or the astronomical observatory. This is the largest and best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. Explore the market areas of Jaipur to discover the artistic richness of the region. If interested in a brief religious peek into the Hindu culture, join the Aarti ceremony at the beautiful Birla Temple. Retire for the day & relax.

Optional: Early in the morning, you may choose to experience a one-hour yoga and meditation session at the hotel with a small introduction to yoga philosophy, yoga prayers, simple but more effective yoga or asanas (postures), brief introduction to the science of meditation, basic meditation practice and conclude with yoga prayers.

Day 11: Jaipur – Talabgaon

Leave for Talabgaon in the morning. 
Check intothe hotel and relax.

The best time to begin the village sight seeing is 4:30 in the noon. Leave for a village walk to see the activities and life of the people in Talabgaon. Interact with the 
locals, visit their homes, enjoy chai (Indian tea) and get a henna tattoos
done on your palm by some of the talented village girls.

Enjoy dinner by the pool in the company of extraordinary musicians from nearby villages. Retire for the day. 
Overnight in Talabgaon.

Day 12: Talabgaon – Agra

Rise early in the morning for a yoga and meditation session by a professional on board. Later, prepare for your departure to Agra, the old city as mentioned in the great epic ‘Mahabharata’ was the center of attention during the reign of the Mughals. It is famous for being home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal. It is a monument of such incredible elegance that it is considered synonymous with beauty itself.

Arrive in Agra and transfer to your accommodation.

Continue Agra sightseeing with a visit to the fort of Agra, an imposing fortress on the banks of the river Yamuna, built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, in 1565 DC.

Retire for the day & relax.

Day 13: Agra – Vrindavan

At sunrise, visit the Taj Mahal. Popularly believed to be the most fascinating and beautiful monument of India. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan completed the Taj Mahal in 1653 AD in the memory of his favourite queen, Mumtaz Mahal. This perfectly symmetrical monument took 22 years of forced labor and 20,000 workers, bricklayers and jewelers for construction and is in the midst of gardens.

The morning detour to the Taj Mahal is of utmost significance, for the tour to Agra is incomplete unless the beauty of Taj Mahal is consumed in the initial hours of the day, with the first rays of sun falling on it and enhancing the magnificence that confines it.

Return to the hotel for breakfast and exit by road towards Vrindavan. It is believed to be the birthplace of the Hindu god, Krishna.

Vrindavan is a city in the district of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is the site of an ancient forest, which is the region where, according to the Mahabharata (a great epic of the Sanskrit literature that datesback to the 3000 before Christ), god Krishna spent his days of childhood.

The city houses hundreds of temples dedicated to the worship of Radha(lord Krishna’s consort) and Krishna. The main places to visit are Shri Krisna Janmabhoomi, Vishram Ghat, Sati Burj, Kans Qila, Jama Masjid, Dwarkadheesh Temple and the Archeological museum. Devotees come here in large numbers during the birthday festival of Lord Krishna in July/ August.

Visit the temples and museum. Choose the visits as per your interest.

Transfer to the hotel & relax. Optional in Agra: Yoga and meditation.

Day 14: Vrindavan – Delhi

Morning departure by road to Delhi. Stay in transit to connect to the return flight back home.

NOTE

* During monsoon (July-August), cruising on the river Ganges can be cancelled due to the high water level in the river.

* Yoga sessions can be conducted as per the demand of the traveller.