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Pilgrimage to India 18 Days Ex-New Delhi |
Delhi, Varanasi, Bodhgaya. Agra, Dharamsala, River Ganges
Highlights
- Visit the Holy City of Varanasi
- Taj Mahal, the most Beautiful Building in the World
- Bodhgaya, Where the Buddha Achieved Enlightenment
- Dharamsala, the Foothills of the Himalaya
Read about a previous last Pilgrimage to India HERE
| Trip Factfile | |||
| Length | 18 Days Ex-New Delhi | ||
| Start Point: | New Delhi, Nov 1st, 2012 | Price |
A$3290 |
| End Point | New Delhi, Nov 18th, 2012 | Single Supplement |
A$790 |
| Maximum # | 18 Travellers | Trip Dossier: |
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| Minimum # | 6 Travellers US$2990 | Booking Form: |
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Welcome to the Himalayan Exposure way of travel. We are determined to show you a fantastic experience in a truly magical part of the world. We have endeavoured to provide a quality, passionate and fun trip for those with a desire to explore wonderful cultures and destinations. During this Pilgrimage to India we’ll visit the Holy Centres of Varanasi and Bodh Gaya, explore the Mughal splendours of Agra and Delhi and visit the Home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the foothills of the Himalaya in Dharamsala. After all this excitement we will return to the capital, New Delhi where we will complete our journey.
We have designed an itinerary to suit many types of travellers. There are plenty of activities to keep those with itchy feet busy, but we have scheduled plenty of free time throughout the trip. All the included activities are optional so if it is all getting a bit much, just take it easy and relax. There’s only one compulsion on this trip…to enjoy yourself!
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. It will be quite a bit of walking so you’ll need some comfortable walking shoes and a sense of adventure for this morning out.
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. Shopping in nearby markets, one of Delhi’s many museums or maybe you’ll just need some time to rest in the afternoon. Either way the choice is yours. It will be an early morning start on Day 3.
Day 3 Train to Agra, Visit Taj Mahal 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. Once settled we’ll visit this magnificent monument and have some time to admire its splendour and wander amongst the well kept gardens. |
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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. 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. (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)
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.
Day 4 Agra, Evening train to Varanasi
Day 4 will present a much more relaxed schedule as we have the day free until our overnight train to Varanasi. It will have been a busy schedule to date so it may be a day to relax or for the more Intrepid
We’ll need to store our luggage for the afternoon while we continue our sightseeing. This evening we will be travelling by overnight air-conditioned train to Varanasi. We will check out of our room some time in the morning. Late in the afternoon we’ll be travelling by bus about 1 hour out of town to Tundla train station where we will board our air-conditioned overnight sleeper train to Varanasi.. The train journey takes around 12 hours.
Day 5 – 7 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. One of the reasons for Varanasii’s significance is that 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. According to many faiths 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 8 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 veritable oasis that is Bodhgaya.
Day 9 – 12 Bodh Gaya
We have 4 days (5 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.
Day 13 Drive to Patna, Fly to Delhi, Overnight Train to Dharamsala |
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Day 14 Arrive Pathankot, Drive to Dharamsala
An early morning arrival at the base of the Himalayas is a glorious sight. We arrive in the city of Pathankot from where we’ll drive to Dharamsala (McLeod Ganj) (3 hrs). It is a pleasant drive to Dharamsala where we’ll be able to breathe in the mountain air and relax from our long overnight journey from Agra.
Day 15 - 16 Dharamsala
In Dharamsala/McLeod Ganj we have three days to explore the hospitality of the Tibetan people in exile. It is a beautiful and spiritual place and home to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The Pemathang Guesthouse (www.pemathang.net) in Dharamsala is a little more basic than earlier hotels but it is in a great location close to His Holiness’s Namgyal Monastery and residence which is worth more than one visit. There is a lively pilgrimage circuit (kora) around this monastery. Hopefully, on a daily basis we’ll have morning prayers & meditation in His Holiness’ temple which was one of the highlights of our past visit. We’ll also have the chance to visit the Norbulingka Institute (www.norbulingka.org), a centre for preserving Tibetan Culture through promoting the education of traditional Tibetan handicrafts. The Tibet Museum is a small but well presented and worthwhile museum depicting the recent history of Tibet and its annexure by China.
We’ll also have a chance to visit the Tibetan Reception Centre which takes in newly arrived refugees from Tibet. We’ll have plenty of free time to explore some of the back streets of McLeod Ganj. At the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (www.ltwa.net) they hold daily dharma lessons conducted by respected Tibetan Lamas. For the more adventurous you could take a walk in the Himalayas to enjoy the last of the mountains before returning to Delhi. If you are happy to travel a little more there is the option to visit the home monastery of Tenzin Palmo, Dongyo Gatsal Ling Nunnery (www.tenzinpalmo.com) about 2 hours drive from Macleod Ganj. Those interested could split the cost of a car to make the journey. Tenzin Palmo will be absent but it will be a pleasant ride through the Himalayan Foothills to visit a special place. Dharamsala is home to the Tushita Meditation Centre which may have activities during out time in Dharamsala (www.tushita.info). Dharamsala is also home to the Tibetan Children’s Village in Upper Dharamsala (www.tcv.org.in) From its humble beginning forty-six years ago, Tibetan Children's Village has today become a thriving, integrated educational community for destitute Tibetan children in exile, as well as for hundreds of those escaping from Tibet in recent years.
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Day 17 Transfer to New Delhi Day 18 Depart Delhi |
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