Activities
9 DAYS 8 NIGHTS VARANASI – PRAYAGRAJ – AGRA – HARIDWAR – RISHIKESH – DELHI
VARANASI
Varanasi, the holy city of India, is also known by the name of Kashi and Benaras. Kashi, the city of Moksha for Hindus since centuries, is known for its fine-quality silks, ‘paan’ and Benares Hindu University and Avimukta of the ancient days; Varanasi is the most popular pilgrimage point for the Hindus. One of the seven holiest cities, Varanasi city is also one the Shakti Peethas and one of the twelve JyotirLinga sites in India. In Hinduism it is believed that those who die and are cremated here get an instant gateway to liberation from the cycle of births and re-births.
DAY 01
BREAKFAST
ARRIVAL IN VARANASI
On arrival with meeting and assistance at the airport, our representative will meet to welcome and escort you to the Hotel. While the room keys and check-in is organized, our representative will also hand over the “Welcome Folder” documents and brief you the tour program.
Note: Itinerary may defer depending on arrival time.
Later drive to Prayagraj, a city in Uttar Pradesh state, north India. Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and "invisible" Saraswati rivers, is considered holy by Hindus. It’s near the 16th-century Allahabad Fort, built by Mughal Emperor Akbar. In the fort are the ancient sandstone Ashoka Pillar, the underground Patalpuri Temple and a sacred banyan tree. The Allahabad Museum has Rajasthani miniature paintings.
Check in to your hotel and proceed for prayer at Sangam.
In Hindu tradition Triveni Sangam is the "confluence" of three rivers. The point of confluence is a sacred place for Hindus, with a bath here said to flush away all of one's sins and free one from the cycle of rebirth.
Overnight stay at hotel Prayagraj.
DAY 02
BREAKFAST
PRAYAGRAJ / HALF DAY – VARANASI (BY ROAD)
After breakfast, check-out from the hotel.
Visit Patalpuri Temple, Ashoka Pillar, Akshaya Vat.
Afternoon time back drive to Varanasi. Overnight stay at hotel Varanasi.
DAY 03
BREAKFAST
VARANASI FULL DAY
Morning 6 am proceed to Ganga River for Ritual Prayers which is a quintessential Varanasi experience, the early-morning light is particularly inspiring, and all the Colour and clamour of pilgrims bathing and performing puja unfolds before you. An hour-long trip south from Dashashwamedh Ghat to Harishchandra Ghat and back is popular, but be prepared to see a burning corpse at Harishchandra.
After breakfast visit the famous temples of Varanasi.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple - the Kashi Vishwanath temple is the center of faith for millions of Hindus. The Jyotirlinga of Shiva, Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha, is enshrined in the temple, considered as one of the holiest temples of India. In Hindu religion it is believed that a simple glimpse of the Jyotirlinga is a soul-cleansing experience that transforms life and puts it on the path of knowledge and Bhakti (devotion). A single darshan of Vishweshwara Jyotirlinga is considered to merit more than the darshan of other jyotirlingas, scattered in various parts of India. The KashiVishwanath Temple has been a living picture of the timeless cultural traditions and highest spiritual values.
Kaal Bhairav Temple - Kal Bhairav Temple is one of the ancient temples of Lord Shiva that can be found in Varanasi. This temple has a strong link with the history and culture of the city. KalBhairav Temple is the fiercest form of Lord Shiva. The deity is portrayed as a man wearing garlands made with human skull. It is said that the death itself is afraid of this form of Lord Shiva. It is said that Kalbhairav decides who has to stay in Varanasi and who should not. People of Varanasi get permission from the deity before leaving the town for any reason. Anyone visiting Varanasi should visit the temple first and get permission to enter into Varanasi, according to folklore.
Annapurna Temple - Annapurna Devi is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. In this temple, she is worshipped as the benevolent provider of food and nourishment. It was Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao who, in 1729 AD, constructed this picturesque temple that depicts the Nagara style of architecture. It is a common practice by devotees to donate grains and food at this temple and pray for life-long prosperity.
Vishalakshmi Gauri Temple - Vishalakshmi Temple is counted among the most sacred temples in Varanasi; this is a Shakti Pith or a significant shrine dedicated to the Divine Mother. The goddess is worshipped as the one with large eyes in this temple and so, she is known as Vishalakshi (the word vishal means large and akshi means eyes). According to the legends, the earrings of goddess Sati is believed to have fallen on the very spot where the temple stands today. The temple is situated near the sacred cremation ground of Manikarnika and is definitely worth a visit.
Mritunjay Mahadev Temple - This temple is dedicated to the Lord Shiva and situated on the way from Daranagar to Kalbhairav temple. There is an ancient well which has much religious importance and it is believed that its water is curable to several diseases. The temple opens early in the morning at 4.00 am and closed late night at 12.00 pm. Arti timings are at 5.30 am, 6.30 pm and 11.30 pm.
Mangla Gouri Temple - The Mangla Gauri temple in Padma Purana,Vayu Purana and Agni Purana and Shri Devi Bhagwat Puraan and Markandey Puraan in other scriptures and tantric works. This temple is among the eighteen maha shaktipeeth. The present temple dates back to 15th century. The shrine is dedicated to Sati or the mother Goddess in the predominantly Vaishnavite pilgrimage center of Gaya. Mangalagauri is worshiped as the Goddess of benevolence. This temple constitutes an Upa-Shakti Peeth — where it is believed that a part of the body of Sati fell according to mythology. Here Sati is worshipped in the form of a breast, a symbol of nourishment. It is believed that whoever comes to Maa durga with his wishes and prayers, returns successfully with all of prayers and wishes come true.
Later visit the Dandapani Temple.
In the evening take a boat tour on the River Ganges, when you can light a lotus flower candle and set it adrift on the water before watching the nightly Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat directly from the boat.
Overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 04
BREAKFAST
VARANASI – TUNDLA (by Magadh Express 20801)
After breakfast check out from the hotel.
Half day tour visit:
Sarnath - Sarnath is a place located 10 kilometres north-east of Varanasi near the confluence of the Ganges and the Varuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India. The deer park in Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna.
In the evening proceed to Railway Station to catch train for TUNDLA / AGRA.
Overnight Journey in the train.
DAY 05
BREAKFAST
TUNDLA – AGRA (28 KM/01 HRS) / HALF DAY
Upon arrive at 06.30 AM, drive to Agra and check in to your hotel.
Agra is a city in northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state. Its home to the iconic TajMahal, a mausoleum built for the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan’s wife, Mumtaz Mahal (who died in childbirth in 1631). The imposing main building features a massive dome and intricately carved white marble inlaid with precious stones. This is set behind a reflecting pool inside a courtyard defined by 4 minarets.
Afternoon visit:
Taj Mahal - surely the greatest monument to love and one of the wonders of the modern world, Completed in 1652, skilled craftsmen from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and some 20,000 laborers worked for 17 years to build this edifice, constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal.
Agra Fort - which stands like a crescent on the banks of the Jamuna River enclosed by forbidding 20-meter high walls, with a 12-meter moat between them. Three successive Mughal emperors – Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jehan – helped create this massive structure which contains Hindu and Muslim architecture,
Evening free for shopping tour and return back drive to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel Agra.
DAY 06
BREAKFAST
AGRA – HARIDWAR (400 KM/07 HRS)
After breakfast check out from the hotel and continue drive to Haridwar.
Upon arrive check in to your hotel.
Haridwar has with it a history that traces back to the mythology of Hinduism. It is considered to be the holiest of places in India. Situated on the bank of river Ganga, Haridwar enjoys a place of pride as one of the most popular pilgrimage destination in India. It is just the perfect place for nature lovers as the serene beauty of nature combine with the spiritual ambience to create a heavenly atmosphere.
Evening time Enjoy at Har-Ki-Pauri - These sacred ghat are named after the Charan or Footprints of Hari (Vishnu) impressed on a stone. The reflection of golden hues of floral diyas, in the river Ganga, is the most enchanting sight in the twilight, during the Ganga Arti Ceremony. It is the most important ghat on the river Ganga, where a holy dip is a must for every devotee. Later drive to Daksha Mahadev Temple and return back to hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 07
BREAKFAST
HARIDWAR – RISHIKESH – HARIDWAR (SAME DAY)
Early morning after breakfast drive to Rishikesh.
Rishikesh - The ‘place of sages’ is a celebrated spiritual town on the bank of Ganga and is surrounded by Shivalik range of the Himalayas on three sides. It is said that when Raibhya Rishi did hard penances, God appeared by the name of” Rishikesh” and this area hence firth came to be known as Rishikesh.
Visit Lakshman Jhula, Ram Jhula, Shiva temple.
Return back to Haridwar and visit the temples of the city including Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi located on two different hills opposite each other.
Drive back to hotel and rest. Overnight Stay at hotel.
DAY 08
BREAKFAST
HARIDWAR– DELHI (221 KM/04 HRS 45 MIN)
After breakfast check out from the hotel and continue drive to Delhi. Upon arrive check in to your hotel.
Visit India Gate in evening and shopping at Karol Bagh.
Back to hotel and overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 09
BREAKFAST
DELHI / FULL DAY & DEPART
After breakfast, drive to:
Qutub Minar - The Qutb Minar, also spelled as Qutub Minar, is a minaret and "victory tower" that forms part of the Qutb complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Mehrauli area of Delhi, India.
Rashtrapati Bhawan - The Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence of the President of India located at the Western end of Rajpath in New Delhi, India.
Raj Ghat - a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.
Jama Masjid - The Masjid e Jahan Numa, commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, is one of the largest mosques in India. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1650 and 1656 at a cost of one million rupees, and was inaugurated by Imam Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari from Bukhara, present-day Uzbekistan.
Shopping at Sarojini Nagar - Known for its cheap prices and an infinite variety of clothes and accessories, Sarojini Nagar market is one of the best markets for shopping in Delhi.
And evening drive to airport for departure to onward destination.
