Journey to India 18 Days Ex-New Delhi |
Delhi, Varanasi, Bodhgaya. Agra, Jaipur, Pushakr, Deserts, River Ganges
Highlights
- Visit the Holy City of Varanasi
- Taj Mahal, the most Beautiful Building in the World
- Bodhgaya, Where the Buddha Achieved Enlightenment
- Overnight in a Maharaja's Palace in the Rajasthani Desert
- 2-Day Camel Safari in Rajasthan
Read about a previous last Pilgrimage to India HERE
| Trip Factfile | |||
| Length | 18 Days Ex-New Delhi | Maximum: |
16 travellers |
| Start Point: | New Delhi, October 29, 2011 | Minimum: |
5 travellers |
| End Point | New Delhi, November 15, 2011 | Trip Dossier: |
Download (PDF) |
| Maximum # | 16 Travellers | Booking Form: |
Download (PDF) |
| Price | US$2600 | Single Supplement |
US$730 |
Itinerary Detail
Day 1 Arrival – New Delhi
Day one is arrival day and you are free to arrive at any time on day one. Delhi is an entertaining city and if you plan to arrive early you’ll find many ancient splendours to entertain you on your arrival. Our hotel is located just east of the city centre in the suburb of Karol Bagh. With bustling markets nearby, or a short metro train ride into town, it is an ideal location from which to begin this journey.
Day 2 New Delhi
India's capital is a colourful, busy, chaotic city packed with museums, art galleries, historical sites, shops and bazaars. On our first full day we’ll head out to the streets of Old Delhi where we’ll take a guided visit through the Red Fort and see how the Emperors once ruled their Empire. From the Red Fort we’ll abandon our transport and travel like the locals, by bicycle rickshaw, the short distance to the largest mosque in India, the Jama Masjid. We’ll take a wander in the crowded bazaars and spice markets to really get a feel of daily city life among the noise, life and smells of the narrow alleyways. It will be a crowded affair and you may get lost, but that is part of the fun when travelling in India. We’ll finish our excursion on Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi’s busiest thoroughfare before returning to New Delhi. The afternoon will be free to explore some of the city at your leisure, lunch at one of Delhi luxury hotels, or try and simple Indian dish at one of the many colourful restaurants.
Day 3 New Delhi, Evening train to Varanasi |
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Day 4 – 6 Varanasi
Arriving early in the morning we’ll transfer to our comfortable 3-star hotel in Varanasi. We’ll have three days to enjoy this very special, spiritual city, known as one of the world’s oldest living cities. The Ganga or Ganges River, which normally follows a south-eastern course, changes its path here briefly and flows north for a while, through the city. This is considered very auspicious. Shiva is said to have poured the river Ganga down from the Himalayas. Buddha gave his first sermon just outside the city in the town of Sarnath, and 3 tirthankars (holy men) of the Jain religion were born here. It is the holiest of the 7 sacred cities of Hinduism. To die here is to receive an instant passport to heaven. There are more than 2,000 temples and shrines.
| Watch Video of our Journey in Varanasi |
After a rest we’ll take a walk along the ghats, the famous bathing steps that front the river Ganges. The rest of the afternoon will be free to explore and enjoy this wonderful city. On Day 5 we’ll take an early morning boat cruise to see the city at the best time of the day. After breakfast there is the option to visit the holy city of Sarnath, 12kms out of Varanasi where the Buddha gave his first sermon. One evening we’ll take to the Holy River for sunset for a flower ceremony with musicians. There’s the Maharaja’s palace across the holy Ganges to visit if you are in for adventure or find a step to sit on and watch the river, and the colour that surrounds it, flow by. |
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Day 7 Bodh Gaya
On day 8, we leave Varanasi after breakfast and travel by air-conditioned bus or taxi across the plains of Uttar Pradesh (240kms, 5-6 hours) to the state of Bihar and the holy site of Bodhgaya. The drive will take us through farmland and fields along bumpy roads and back streets to the oasis that is Bodhgaya.
Day 8 – 10 Bodh Gaya
We have 3 days (4 nights) to enjoy the magic and history of Bodhgaya. Bodhgaya is one of the most important and sacred Buddhist pilgrimage centres in the world. It was here under a banyan tree, the Bodhi Tree, that Buddha attained Enlightenment. Buddhism as a religion was really born in Bihar and evolved here through his preaching and the example of his lifestyle of great simplicity, renunciation and empathy for everything living.
Bodhgaya is a small, lively village and especially in November it will be swarming with people from all over the world. The main focus is the Mahabodhi Temple (www.mahabodhi.com), which we will visit with a guide on our first day there. The temple sits amongst pleasant grounds beside the bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. You will want to visit yourself more than once as activities vary at different times of the day and year. Entrance to the temple is free but there is a daily camera fee (20rs) or video camera fee (500rs).
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Throughout Bodhgaya there are a number of temples built by Buddhist organisations from around the world. You’ll have plenty of time to visit them at your leisure. There are also numerous institutions offering meditation and yoga and other related activities. The Root Institute is a Socially Engaged Buddhist Meditation Centre which provides an ideal location for the study and practice of Buddhist meditation and philosophy (www.rootinstitute.com). Another organisation doing good work for local village people is Muskan Viklang Trust or “Let the disabled smile” (www.muskanviklangtrust.org). MVT tries to help the great amount of handicapped people in Bihar, the poorest and most underdeveloped State of India. You may be able to join them for some village visits depending on their schedule at that time.
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| Watch Video of our Journey in Bodhgaya |
In Bodhgaya one of the other popular day trips is to Rajgir and Nalanda, an important part of the Buddhist history of the region. It is a long day to Vulture’s Peak in Rajgir but a thoroughly enjoyable one that can be arranged for anyone interested in making the journey.
In Bodhgaya we will be staying at the Sujata Hotel located walking distance from the main attractions and close enough to the Mahabodhi temple where much of your time will be spent.
Mid-morning on Day 10 we’ll travel east to Patna (90kms, 2 hours), the capital of Bihar. The drive takes between 4-6 hours depending on the traffic which, from experience can be something special. Bihar is one of India’s poorest states and as such, roadside stops with adequate bathroom facilities are few & far between so limit the intake of liquids before this particular trip. In Patna we’ll board our air-conditioned overnight sleeper train to Agra. The train journey takes around 12 hours.
Day 11 Agra, Taj Mahal
On the morning of day 11 we’ll arrive at the train station of Tundla, about 45 minutes drive from Agra itself. The train is scheduled to arrive early morning but is infamously late so we’ll plan our day based on what time we actually arrive. We’ll transfer to our hotel where we may have rooms available or may need to wait for other guests to check out.
After breakfast we’ll head out to explore some of the beautiful historical Mughal monuments in Agra. Agra is home to one of the world's most instantly recognisable monuments, the majestic Taj Mahal. Built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his wife, this 'teardrop on the face of eternity', as Rabindranath Tagore described it, lives up to all expectations. We’ll visit this magnificent monument. We’ll also take some time out to visit a local carpet weaving factory, something India generally, and this region in particular is famous for. We’ll see how they are made and have the opportunity to buy one, or more as you please. For anyone who is interested there may be the chance to organise a visit to a marble inlay factory also, something Agra is also famous for. |
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(Please note that only one entry to the Taj is included as part of your tour cost. If you choose to go again please allow 750INR/US$20 for the entry ticket)
In the afternoon we’ll have the chance to visit Agra’s Red Fort, the Mughal capital during their reign in the late 17th Century before moving their capital to Delhi.
As part of the local government’s fight against pollution that is damaging monuments like the Taj Mahal, most vehicles are banned within close proximity to the Taj Mahal. Therefore during our explorations of Agra we’ll be travelling around using either electric tuk-tuks or cycle rickshaws and in the process reducing our carbon footprint. J
Day 12 Transfer to Jaipur
On day 12, we leave Agra to travel west to the pink city of Jaipur and our first stop in Rajasthan. Depending on time we may stop off at the ancient abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri a short 40 minutes drive down the road from Agra. We’ll travel by air-conditioned bus or taxi into Rajasthan to Jaipur. Mid afternoon we’ll arrive in Jaipur where we will stay for 2 nights in this bustling Rajasthani city.
Day 13 Jaipur
Jaipur is famous as one of the most majestic of cities in Rajasthan. It is a popular destination with many sights and sounds. In the morning we’ll take a trip out to the imposing Amber Fort before returning to the city. The afternoon will be free to explore the many bazaars and museums that Jaipur is famous for. For a taste of real Indian culture you may take in a Bollywood Hit at the famous Raj Mandir Cinema.
Day 14 Roopangarh Fort
Leaving Jaipur we will travel west to a small village in the Rajasthani outback. The village of Kishangarh is a rural Indian village and home to Ropangarh Fort, a royal residence in backcountry Rajasthan. Built in 1649 the building has been superbly renovated as a guest house and while not Royal Luxury anymore, it still hints to a bygone era and will have you feeling like a Maharaja as you sip your drinks overlooking the countryside from the terrace at sunset.
We’ll take a guided walk around the village soon after arrival to get a taste for rural India.
Day 15 – 16 Pushkar & Camel Safari
From Roopangarh it is about a 2½ hour drive to the blue city of Pushkar situated beside a lake in the sand hills of the Thar Desert, the world’s third largest desert. Upon arrival we’ll store our big bags and head out into the hills for a night among the sand dunes under the stars. You’ll have the opportunity to ride a camel during our safari (not surprisingly) but if it all gets a bit too uncomfortable there will be an opportunity to ride on a camel cart instead.
On the morning of Day 16 we’ll return to Pushkar where the rest of the day will be free to explore and enjoy the pleasant lakeside town. We’ll forgo the sand dunes for the comfort of a hotel tonight!
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Day 17 Train to Delhi Day 18 Depart Delhi |
