The Golden Temple, the sacred Ganges, the tiger, colonial India, and the Taj Mahal.

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  ARRIVAL IN DELHI (a mix of metropolitan and traditional India)

  

  Arrival in Delhi by international flight. Meeting and assistance upon arrival with a garland, then transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 2

  DELHI - AMRITSAR by train

  

  In the morning, transfer to the station and take the train to Amritsar. Breakfast on board the train. Upon your arrival in Amritsar, check in at the hotel and rest. Amritsar can rightly be described as the heart of Punjab. The place, located near the Pakistani border, is a commercial and university center, and is home to the Golden Temple, one of the highest shrines of the Sikhs. There are thousands of Sikh pilgrims in the Golden Temple at any hour of the day, whom you can recognize by their colorful turbans and uncut hair and beards. The temple complex offers a wonderfully open-minded, hospitable, and spiritual atmosphere, and gives the attentive and interested observer a striking insight into the daily 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 of the impressive Golden Temple)

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Golden Temple. What will amaze you: the Karma kitchen, a large kitchen where volunteers prepare 100,000 meals per day. Volunteering for the community: according to this principle, it is one of the largest kitchens in the world. On average, between 80,000 and 100,000 residents, tourists, and pilgrims eat at the Golden Temple, for free and almost day and night. In the Golden Temple of Amritsar, karma, happiness, and love are sufficient rewards. A walk through the sacred halls of the Sikhs. The entire temple complex is enveloped by the meditative and hypnotic mantras performed in the sanctuary, while in the crystal-clear water of the nectar pond surrounding the temple, carp and large goldfish occasionally swim. Every visitor lets themselves be carried away by the magic of this place: no mobile phone rings, not even the annoying and constant noise of city traffic penetrates this refuge of silence. Later, visit Jallianwala Bagh, now a national monument. Excursion this afternoon to the Wagah border. Every evening, a military parade of border guards is held on both sides of the border, with a flag parade and the sound of the bugle (signal trumpet). The parade is characterized by exaggerated ritualization, even by military standards. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 4

  AMRITSAR-HARIDWAR-RISHIKESH by train (this train does not run on Thursdays).

  

  After breakfast, transfer to Amritsar station to board the train to Haridwar. Upon arrival in Haridwar, transfer to Rishikesh (30 minutes) and check in at the hotel. Haridwar is located at the foot of the Himalayas and is one of the seven most sacred places in India, known as the "Gateway to the Gods." Rishikesh has the reputation of being the "yoga capital of the world." Hindus believe that meditating in Rishikesh, just like bathing in the sacred Ganges River, brings one closer to salvation (Moksha). Overnight at the hotel.

• day 5

  In Rishikesh (Yoga Capital)

  

  One-hour early morning yoga session at the hotel. Enjoy your breakfast. Today in Rishikesh, you will visit some temples, ashrams, Laxman Jhoola, the legendary pool (where the god Rama took a bath), all on foot. This evening, you will participate in the ceremony of spiritual light, the Ganga Aarti, at dusk. The god Shiva presides over the Ganga Aarti in Rishikesh. The Ganga Aarti of 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 (Haridwar and Varanasi), without theatrical frills. Many people prefer this kind of ceremony because they simply find it more spiritual. Here, the ritual is not performed by pandits (Indian religious scholars), but by the residents of the ashram, especially the children and young people who study the Vedas. The ceremony begins with the singing of bhajans (religious songs), prayers, and a hawan (ritual around the fire in which offerings are made to the fire god, Agni). Lamps are lit and given to the river at the end of the ritual. The children of the ashram sing the religious songs with their spiritual master. A statue of the god Shiva is perched above everything. Everyone is invited to attend the ceremony. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 6

  RISHIKESH - AGRA (Today will be long)

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Arrival in Agra, check-in at the hotel. The rest of the day is free. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 7

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

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. One of the most remarkable sites in Agra is the immense red sandstone fort. With a circumference of 2.5 km and 20 m high, with double walls, the fort is located on the sacred Yamuna river, said to be the sister of the Ganges. On three sides, the fort is surrounded by moats. The high ramparts of the fortress cast their protective shadows over the kilometers of villas of nobles and princes built along the banks. The magnificent towers, bastions, ramparts, and majestic gates symbolize the confidence and power of the third great Mughal. With a miracle of the world, the visit to the Taj Mahal ends today. It is the most beautiful monument ever built out of love. Shah Jahan had a tomb built for his favorite wife, who died in 1631 shortly after the birth of their 14th child. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece in white marble, created by 20,000 artisans from Persia, Turkey, France, and Italy. It took 22 years to complete this "poem of love" in marble. (The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.) 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! You will take part in the cooking and prepare a dish yourself. Then, we will all enjoy the food together. It is a real pleasure to discover Indian cuisine! After dinner, you can chat with the family and learn more about their daily life in India. Finally, we will have tea or coffee together. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 8

  AGRA - FATEHPUR SIKRI - RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK

  

  After breakfast, head to Ranthambore National Park en route to visit Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri - Once again Akbar, the powerful Mughal! He literally sanded up the residence of Fatehpur Sikri (a UNESCO cultural monument). Fifteen years after its completion, it was strategically in the wrong place, and the Mughals moved. Continue to Ranthambore, after checking in at the hotel. Ranthambore National Park, located near Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan, is famous for its tigers and highly appreciated by photographers. It also offers a great diversity of flora and fauna. In addition to the many sambars, chitals, nilgais, gazelles, wild boars, mongooses, Indian hares, there are also a large number of birds. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 9

  Ranthambore (opportunity to see a tiger)

  

  Jungle visit early in the morning sharing a vehicle to observe nature and wildlife. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Jungle visit in the late afternoon in a shared vehicle to observe nature and wildlife. Night at the hotel.

• day 10

  RANTHAMBORE - JAIPUR

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Late in the morning, drive to Jaipur, after check-in at the hotel. In the evening, we visit an old Krishna temple in the Maharajah's courtyard and attend the evening Aarti ceremony with the local public. Overnight at 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 Winds (Hawa Mahal), a landmark of Jaipur. In Amber, depending on quota regulations, it is possible to ride painted elephants up to the imposing gates of the 17th-century palace complex. Amber is located on a hill and has an interesting history. On the way back to the city, take a brief photo stop at Jal Mahal. Continue with guided tours of the old city, including the world-famous open-air observatory and the Maharaja's palace with its museum, rare textiles, paintings, and many magnificent courtyards. Later, we take a walk through the colorful bazaars of the old city. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 12

  JAIPUR - DELHI

  Breakfast at the hotel. At the end of the morning, meet at Delhi International Airport (about 5 hours by road) to board a flight to your final destination. End of our services. All hotels: check-in at 14:00 / check-out at 11:00.