India Religious Tours
Holy Ganges Tour
Duration: 12 Nights / 13 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Mathura - Agra - Allahabad - Varanasi - Delhi
Day 1: Abroad / Delhi
Arrive late evening at New Delhi International airport. On arrival the guest
will be met by our representative and transferred to hotel. Upon arrival at
hotel the guests will be provided with the traditional Indian welcome consisting
of aarti-tikka and garlands.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 2: Delhi
Morning sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi.
This morning you will be taken to visit Old Delhi - Former centre of Moghul
Power, Old Delhi offers ancient monuments, narrow streets and bustling bazaars.Visit
the vast Red Fort, built in 1648, the Jama Masjid, the greatest mosque in
India and completed in 1658 by Shah Jahan who also built the Taj Mahal, and
the Raj Ghat, the simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.Drive past the stately
government buildings of the British Era designed by Lutyens, including the
India Gate & the Presidential Palace. Continue onto the beautiful Humayun;s
tomb of the Mughal era & predecessor of the world famous Taj Mahal.
Afternoon tour of the temples.
Visit to the Laxmi Narayan Temple, popularly known as the Birla Mandir, is
a large Hindu temple built in 1938. People of all faiths can enter and worship,
but one must walk barefoot into the courtyard and further on.
A visit to the Bahai Temple situated atop the Kalkaji Hill. This distinctive
lotus shaped marvel, surrounded by a landscaped garden, has been dubbed the
Taj Mahal of the 21st Century.
Also, visit the beautiful Bangla Sahib Gurudwara temple, the most important
site of worship for both sikhs and Hindus in Delhi. Overnight at hotel.
Day 3: Delhi - Mathura
Breakfast at the hotel Drive to Mathura (147 kms).
On arrival in Mathura - check into the hotel.
Visit the temple. Mathura is an ancient cultural and religious centre. It
is also known as 'Brij Bhoomi' as Krishna, the popular incarnation of Vishnu
is believed to have been born in Mathura. Whereas, the surrounding area is
closely linked with his childhood. Nearby to Mathura is Vrindavan where Krishna
indulged in adolescent pranks like flirting with his gopis 'milkmaids' in
the forests and stealing their clothes while they bathed in the river. The
famous 'Hare Krishnas' also have their headquaters situated here.
Lunch at the hotel.
Later in the evening return to the Temple for evening aarti.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: Mathura - Agra - Allahabad
Early morning visit the temple for aarti.
Return to hotel for breakfast thereafter drive to Agra (57 kms / 1 ½
hours).
On arrival in Agra directly proceed for sightseeing - visit the Taj Mahal
is the mausoleum of Empress Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved spouse of Shah Jahan,
who died in 1630. The Taj complex comprises a forecourt, a lofty entrance,
a charming formal Mughal garden with canals and a central tank with a series
of fountains, the tomb proper, and an attached mosque on the west and its
symmetrical counterpart on the east. The Taj is remarkable for its perfect
proportion and rich pietra dura, with minute details executed with great skill.
The building, often styled "a dream in marble" is said to have taken
at least 22 years (1631-1653) to build.
Lunch at the hotel
Visit which lies on the bend of the river Yamuna, almost in the heart of the
town. It was built by Akbar as his citadel over Red Fort the years 1563-73
in the finest architectural style. It has imposing gates and walls of red
sandstone and a moat.
Transfer to the Railway Station for overnight train to Allahabad.
Leave: Agra by Express Train at 1900 hrs (Packed dinner on board).
Overnight on train.
Day 5 : Allahabad - Varanasi
Arrive: Allahabad by at 0500 hrs
Upon arrival met and transferred to hotel.
Allahabad is known as a holy city as it is the meeting point of India's two
most sacred rivers, the Ganges and the Yamuna. This meeting point of the rivers,
the Sangam, is believed to have great soul changing powers and is an important
pilgrimage site.
Lunch at the hotel afternoon, drive to Varanasi (135 kms/ 4 hrs).
On arrival in Varanasi - check into the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: Varanasi
Early morning drive to Daswamedh Ghat and take a 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. Visit some of the
many Hindu temples that line the river Ganges. Stroll along the narrow lanes
and bazaars full of shops selling, among other things, the world famous Benaras
Silks.
Tour of Benaras - as it is also called, is one of the oldest cities of the
world and a microcosm of Indian life. Since it was also an ancient center
of learning, the Benaras Hindu Univesity is worth a visit as are the silver
and gold brocade shops, for which Benaras is world famous.
Visit Sarnath - 5 miles out of Varanasi - one of the holiest Buddhist sites
in the world, where Buddha preached his first Sermon in 590 B.C. Here you
will witness the ruins of a once flourishing Buddhist monastery and then visit
a fine Museum which houses an excellent collection of Buddhist art and sculptures
found at the site.
Leave for a special evening cruise on the Ganges on candle lit country boats
to the accompaniment of musicians. See the Hindu devotees performing the "Puja"
with lighted lamps. The view is very mesmerizing and the ambience is spectacular.
Later return to the hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 7: Varanasi - Delhi
Leave for Delhi.
Holy Ganges Tour - Reservation Form
