The Golden Temple, Holy Ganges, Tiger, Colonial India and Taj Mahal

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1:

  ARRIVAL IN DELHI (A blend of Metropolitan and Traditional India)

  

  Arrive Delhi by international flight. Meeting and assistance upon arrival with Garland and transfer to hotel. Overnight stay in the hotel.

• day 2:

  DELHI - AMRITSAR By train

  

  In the early morning transfer to the railway station and take the train to Amritsar. Breakfast onboard train. Upon arrival in Amritsar check-in at the hotel and take a short rest. Amritsar can rightly be described as the heart of Punjab. The place near the Pakistani border is a commercial center, university town and houses with the Golden Temple one of the highest sanctuaries of the Sikhs. There are thousands of Sikh pilgrims in the golden temple at any time of the day, which you can recognize by their colored turbans and their unshorn beard hair. The temple complex has a wonderfully open-minded, hospitable and spiritual atmosphere and gives the attentive and interested observer overwhelming insights into the everyday life of the pilgrims and the temple. In the late afternoon visit the Golden Temple and attend a ceremony. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 3:

  IN AMRITSAR (Visit the impressive Golden Temple)

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Golden Temple . What you will marvel at - the Karma Kitchen- A large kitchen with volunteers who prepare 100,000 meals daily. Voluntary for the community - according to this principle, one of the largest kitchens in the world - on average, between 80,000 and 100,000 locals, tourists and pilgrims eat in the Golden Temple. Free and almost around the clock. In the Golden Temple of Amritsar, karma, happiness and love are reward enough. A walk through the sacred halls of the Sikhs Contact Display, Facebook, Workplace The entire temple complex is embraced by the meditative-hypnotic mantras performed in the sanctuary, while in the crystal-clear water of the nectar pond surrounding the temple occasionally swim past carp and large goldfish. Every visitor indulges in the magic of this place, no mobile phone rings, not even the constant annoying honking of the city traffic penetrates to this refuge of silence. Later visit Jallianwala Bagh- now a national monument.   This afternoon excursion to Wagah border . Every evening, a military parade of border guards is held on both sides of the border, which includes the flag parade and the sound of the Clairon (signal trumpet). The parade is characterized by an exaggerated and exaggerated ritualization, even by military standards.  Overnight stay in the hotel.

• day 4:

  AMRITSAR-HARIDWAR-RISHIKESH By train (this train does not operate on Thursday)

  

  After early breakfast, transfer to Amritsar railway station to board train for Haridwar. Upon arrival in Haridwar drive to Rishikesh (30 minutes) and check-in at the hotel.   Haridwar , is located at the foot of the Himalayas and belongs to one of the seven holiest places in India and known as "Gate to the Gods".    Rishikesh has a reputation as the "yoga capital" of the world. Hindus believe that meditation in Rishikesh, like bathing in the sacred Ganges River, leads closer to salvation (Moksha). Overnight stay in the hotel.

• day 5:

  IN RISHIKESH (Yoga Capital)

  

  Early morning 01 hour yoga session at the hotel.   Enjoy your breakfast. Today in Rishikesh you will visit some temples , ashram , laxman jhoola , legendary tank (where god Rama took a bath), all on foot .   This evening you will participate in the spiritual light ceremony Ganga Aarti at dusk. God Shiva towers over the Ganga Aarti in Rishikesh.   The Ganga Aarti in Rishikesh is the most famous of the three rituals. It takes place on the banks of the Ganges at Parmarth Niketan Ashram. It is both the most intimate and the most relaxed of the three artis (Haridwar and Varanasi ) and without any theatrical frills. A lot of people prefer this kind of thing because they just find it more spiritual. Here, the work is not carried out by Pandits (Indian religious scholars), but by the inhabitants of the ashram, especially the children and young people who study the Vedas here. The ceremony begins with the singing of the bhajans (religious songs), prayers, and a hawan (a ritual around the fire in which gifts are offered to the fire god Agni). The lamps are lit and handed over to the river at the end of the ritual. The children of the ashram sing the religious songs together with their spiritual teacher. A statue of God Shiva is perched above the whole. Everyone is welcome to attend the ceremony. Overnight stay in the hotel.

• day 6:

  RISHIKESH- AGRA (Today is long drive)

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Agra upon arrival, check-in at the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay in the hotel.

• day 7:

  AGRA (The highlight of the round trip Taj Mahal with two World Heritage Sites)

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. One of Agra's most outstanding sights is the huge red sandstone fort. With a circumference of 2.5 km and 20 m high double walls, the fort is located on the sacred Yamuna river, so called as sister Ganges. On three sides the fort is surrounded by a moat. The high battlements of the fortress cast their protective shadows over the miles of villas of nobles and princes built along the riverbanks. The magnificent towers, bastions and ramparts and majestic gates symbolize the trust and power of the third great mogul.   With a miracle of the world, the Taj Mahal ends today. It is the most beautiful monument ever built out of love . Shahjahan had it built as a tomb for his favorite wife, who died in 1631 shortly after the birth of her 14 children. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece made of white marble by 20,000 craftsmen from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy. It took 22 years to complete this "love poem" in marble. (Taj Mahal is closed on Friday).   Return to the hotel for a short break. This evening visit the home of an Indian family and learn how to prepare delicious curry dishes! They will help with the cooking and prepare a dish themselves. Afterwards, we will all enjoy the food together. So it is fun to get to know the Indian cuisine!   After dinner, you can chat with the family and learn about their daily life in India. Finally, we have tea or coffee together. Overnight stay in the hotel.

• day 8:

  AGRA - FATEHPUR SIKRI - RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK

  

  After breakfast drive to Ranthambore National Park en route visiting Fatehpur Sikri.   Fatehpur Sikri - Again and again Akbar, the mighty Mogul ! He literally set the residence town of Fatehpur Sikri (UNESCO cultural monument) in the sand. 15 years after completion, it was strategically in the wrong place - and the Mughals moved. Continue to Ranthambore, after arrival check-in at the hotel.   Ranthambore National Park, located near Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, famous for its tigers and is a favorite among photographers. It also offers an intense diversity of flora and fauna. Apart from the many sambar, chital, nilgai, gazelle, boar, mongoose, Indian hare, and a large number of the many birds. Overnight stay in the hotel.

• day 9:

  RANTHAMBORE (opportunity to see a tiger)

  

  Early morning jungle visit by sharing vehicle to view the nature & wildlife. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Late afternoon jungle visit by sharing vehicle to view the nature & wildlife. Overnight stay in the hotel.

• day 10:

  RANTHAMBORE - JAIPUR

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Late morning drive to Jaipur, after arrival check-in at the hotel.   In the evening we visit an old Krishna temple in the courtyard of the Maharajah and experience the evening Aarti ceremony with local audience. Overnight stay in the hotel.

• day 11:

  JAIPUR (The colorful day in the pink city)

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Morning excursion to Amber Fort by jeep with a photo stop at the Palace of the Winds (Hawa Mahal), the landmark of Jaipur . At Amber fall possible (quota regulation) Ride on painted elephants up to the mighty gates of the palace complex from the 17th century. Amber is located on a hill and has an interesting history. On the way back to city take a brief photo stop at Jal Mahal.   Continue the sightseeing tours of the old town, namely the world-famous open-air observatory and the Maharaja Palace with museum, the rare textiles, paintings and with many magnificent courtyards. Later we take a walk through the colorful bazaars of the old town. Overnight stay in the hotel.

• day 12:

  JAIPUR - DELHI

  Breakfast at the hotel. Late morning drive to Delhi international airport (approximately 5 hour drive) to board flight for your onward destination.   End of our services. All hotels Check-in 14:00 / Check-out time 11:00.