Delhi; the capital city of India is a city of distinct contrasts. One of the oldest together with the most progressive, she combines a unique blend and ambience of the ancient and the modern. There is Old Delhi dating back to the 1600s. New Delhi is the cosmopolitan area. Both are known as a ‘food lovers paradise’. For International Foodies a must! With its rich history and culture it is a splendidly colorful sensory experience, complete with authentic boutique bars, local music and cool cafes.

After breakfast we journey to experience and participate in The AGNIHOTRA Ritual ---“A sacred healing FIRE from the ancient science of Ayurveda”. A process of purifying the atmosphere through a specially prepared FIRE. The beneficial effects reduce stress, improve overall health and give one increased energy.

Upon completion of the ceremony we will visit the magnificent AKSHARDHAM TEMPLE. This temple complex displays millennia of Indian tradition and modern Hindu culture, spirituality, with astounding architecture. This stunning spread of a hundred acres is entirely constructed from pink stone from Rajasthan and marble from Italy, intricately carved with flora and fauna, dancers, musicians and deities, numbering 20,000 with 234 intricately carved columns. All with significance and sacred vibration.

After lunch we will visit the famous SIKH TEMPLE known as SHRI BANGALA SAHIB. It is associated with the eighth SIKH GURU, GURU HAR KRISHAN. The complex includes a sweeping Holy Pond and the Langar Hall, (community kitchen) where 60,000 to 100,000 people regardless of race or religion come to be served a meal together every single day.

We end our tour with a visit to the Kashmir House to see the authentic, artistic and historic process of hand knotted carpets still performed today.

Overnight in Delhi(BLD)

THIS MORNING WE DRIVE TO JAIPUR

JAIPUR was built as a planned city based on the principles of VASTU SHASTRA & SHILPA SHASTRA, literally meaning ‘the science of arts and crafts'. It is an ancient umbrella term for numerous Hindu texts that describe arts, crafts and design rules, principles and standards. Huge ramparts were built, pierced by seven fortified gates. In 1876 the city was painted in pink to welcome Edward the VII, since then it has been called The Pink City.  Jaipur is fueled by robust tourism. The major industries are gem stone cutting, the manufacturing of jewelry and intricate block printing on textiles.

On arrival we check in and enjoy lunch. We then visit The Birla Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. (2 nights) overnight in Jaipur. (BLD)

This morning we visit the Galtaji Temple, a series of Temples built into a narrow crevice in the ring of hills that surround Jaipur. A natural spring emerges high on the hill and flows downwards, filling a series of sacred water tanks in which devotees bathe. It is believed that a saint named Galav lived here. He practiced meditation and penance. Later in the afternoon we will be visiting the center to watch how the cutting and polishing of gemstones is done. There we will also be visiting the block printing factory, later we proceed to our hotel. Overnight in Jaipur. (BLD)

This morning after breakfast and ‘Check-Out’ we proceed to Agra. En route we visit CHAND BAORI & HARSHAD MATA TEMPLE. Set in a small village known as Abhanari about 100 km from Jaipur, this step well was built over a thousand years ago. It is a deep four sided well, the basic architectural aspect of the well consists of a long corridor of 3500 narrow steps descending to about 100 feet into the ground making it one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India. The Temple stands near the well surrounded by ruins. It is a living Temple where people come to worship and is also known as the Temple of Jo. We continue our drive to Agra. (2 nights) Overnight Agra.

AGRA, the golden age of this city began with the Mughals in the early 16^th century. Under the Mughals Agra became a center for expansive study in the arts, commerce, and religion. It saw the construction of the most prized monument, The Taj Mahal, constructed between 1632 and 1648 by Shah Jahan in remembrance of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The matchless beauty of the mausoleum was created by architects summoned from India as well as far off lands such as Turkey, Persia (Iran) and Arabia (Saudi Arabia).

We will overnight at our hotel in Agra. (BLD)

This morning after breakfast we see The Taj Mahal. Standing on the right bank of the river Jumna it is rightly regarded as one of the 7 Wonders of the World. It is synonymous not only with India but known the World over for its matchless beauty. The white marble façade of the Taj stands out against the ever uninterrupted and natural background of the skyline, this background is never constant. The ever changing light adds to the beauty of The Taj. Twenty thousand people were involved in the construction of The Taj. Today, the main industry in Agra is based on marble carving and inlay work, exported all over the world. After admiring this beautiful jewel we proceed to see the marble inlay work mostly done by families whose ancestors were from the time of Shah Jahan.

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Overnight in Agra. (BLD)

This morning around 0730 hours we drive to Delhi to board our flight to Bodh Gaya.

(2 nights) overnight Bodh Gaya

BODH GAYA, is a religious site and place of pilgrimage associated with the MAHABODHI TEMPLE, situated in the state of BIHAR. It is famous for being the place where Gautama Buddha (also known as Siddhartha) attained ‘enlightenment’ under the BODHI TREE, ‘The tree of awakening’.

On arrival we check into our hotel. Rest and relax in the evening after a long day. (BLD)

This morning after breakfast we visit the Mahabodhi Temple, the oldest Buddhist Temple in India situated on the banks of the river Niranjana. It is one of the four holy sites in the life of Lord Buddha. This one is the sacred place where Prince Siddhartha Guatama sat under the Bodhi Tree for 49 days; thus attaining enlightenment and becoming ‘The Buddha’. The original temple was built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3^rd century BC . The present structure is estimated to have been built in the 6^th CE during The Gupta rule. The temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.

Our next visit will be to the sacred statue of Lord Buddha. The construction started in 1982 and was consecrated by His Holiness, The X1V Dalai Lama in the year 1989. It was built of red granite and sandstone showcasing The Buddha sitting on a blooming Lotus in meditation pose.

After lunch we enter The Thai Monastery. Built in 1956 by the government of Thailand, this transcendent spot flows with peace and serenity. It is known for its exceptional architecture and stunning beauty. The Naga style traditional sloping roof is covered with golden tiles and is the most beautiful monastery in Bodh Gaya. The entrance is flanked by two Yakshas or guardians colored with glass. A living testimony to the fact that this is a truly internationally celebrated Buddhist expression. Enjoy the rest of the evening to relax or explore,

Overnight in Bodh Gaya at our hotel. (BLD)

This morning we breakfast, check out and board our train at 1000 hours. We reach Varanasi at 1300 hours. (2 nights)

VARANASI is the oldest living city in the World, regarded as the Spiritual capital of India. The city draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the sacred waters of The Ganges Rivers and perform sacred rituals including funeral rites. Along the city’s winding streets there are some 2000 Temples, dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. Varanasi has also been the cultural center of North India for several thousand years. Varanasi is famous for scrumptious silk fabrics, hand pressed essential oils and sacred sculptures. The city is known worldwide for its many Ghats (embankments made in step stone slabs along the river bank where pilgrims perform ritual ablutions). A treasure of a city!

After lunch we wind our way through narrow streets to reach the unique house and meet the family associated with the making of essential oils using an ancient process. For generations this family has engaged in this precious practice of pressing the pure oils from flowers and plants. We will be treated to be shown their process.

We then walk towards the river Ganga (as it is called by the Indians, the British called it the Ganges) where we take a small boat cruise and later witness the Ganga Aarti ceremony, a ritual that takes place every evening at dusk on the banks of the Ganges. The ceremony involves lighting diyas (lamps) by a group of priests who offer prayers, hymns, and mantras while waving the oil lamps as a symbol of gratitude and reverence. After the ceremony we walk back to our hotel. Overnight in Varanasi. (BLD)

This early morning at around 0500 hours we arrive at the river for an elegant boat cruise, where we will view the ancient city from the water. We witness the ‘waking up’ of the city with the rising sun, observing pilgrims from all over the country performing various rituals alongside the ghats of the River Ganga. During the boat ride we will experience and take part in a sacred ceremony initiated by Finbarr. After this early morning meaningful experience we will enjoy breakfast at our hotel.  Rest and regroup.  We drive to Sarnath.

Sarnath, is about 10 km from the city of Varanasi. Its an important pilgrimage site for the Buddhist as this is the place where The Buddha gave his first sermon after he attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya in the 6^th century BC. The site apart from many ruins contains a huge stupa (temple) and a lion capital, which dates back to the 3^rd century BC. It was constructed by Emperor Ashoka. The stupa known as Dhamek Stupa is 143 ft. in height. Next, we visit a beautiful Buddhist Temple nearby.

Back to Varanasi to visit the Mother India Temple. The uniqueness of this temple is that instead of idols of gods and goddesses this temple has a huge map of undivided India carved in marble. It is dedicated to Bharat Mata (Mother India) and claims to be the only one in the world. A reminder of the India before 1947 with no borders creating Pakistan and Bangladesh.

We lunch and visit the main craft of Varanasi, the world famous Banarasi silk weaving. Enjoy the rest of the day for independent activities. Overnight in Varanasi. (BLD)

This morning, we breakfast, check-out and transfer to the airport for our flight to Delhi.We take a connecting flight to Aurangabad. (2 nights)overnight in AURANGABAD.

Aurangabad is an historic city in the state of MAHARASHTRA. This city is famous for The AJANTA and ELLORA CAVES. Both of which have been designated as UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE sights since 1983

(BLD)

Visit Ajanta Caves. The distance between Aurangabad and Ajanta Caves is 100 (2 hours and 30 mins)

The Ajanta Caves are rock- cut Buddhist cave monuments dating from the 2^nd century BCE to about 480 CE. Universally regarded as masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, the caves include paintings and rock cut sculptures described as among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art, particularly evocative paintings that express emotions through gesture, pose and form.

After sightseeing we lunch and return to the hotel. Overnight in Aurangabad. (BLD)

After an early breakfast we drive for about an hour to visit the Ellora caves. They are a multi religious rock- cut cave complex with inscriptions dating from the period 6^th century CE onwards. There are over 100 caves at the site; all excavated from the basalt cliffs in the Charanandri Hills. 34 of which are open to the public.

These consist of 12 Buddhist (caves 1 to 12) 17 Hindu (caves 13 to 29) and 5 Jain (30 to 34). Cave 16, the World’s largest monolith- Kailash Temple is considered one of the most remarkable cave temples in the World because of its size, architecture and sculptural treatment. It has been called the climax of the rock-cut phase of Indian architecture.

After the tour we return to the hotel, lunch and check-out. We transfer to the airport to fly to Delhi. Overnight in Delhi. (BLD)

This morning we fly to Bagdogra and drive for about 3 hours to Darjeeling. On arrival we check-in and enjoy the rest of the day. (3 nights) overnight in Darjeeling

Darjeeling is a city in the northernmost region of the state of West Bengal, located in the Eastern Himalayas it has an average elevation of 6,400 ft. In the early 19^th century during the East India company rule, Darjeeling was the summer capital of the British because of its cool climate and beauty. Experimentation with growing tea on the slopes of the hills was highly successful. Thousands of laborers were recruited from Nepal to clear the forests, build European style cottages and work in the tea plantations. Today the main economy of Darjeeling is their world famous tea and tourism. (BLD)

Today in the very early morning we drive for about 40 minutes to Tiger Hill. This hill is known for its splendid sights for sunrises where one can witness a panoramic view of the snow- clad peaks of Mount Everest and Mount Kanchenjunga as well as the range of the Himalayas. After this enthralling view of the mountains we return to our hotel for breakfast. Later we head to The Temple of Good Hope. This historic building was constructed between 1885 and 1985 by the Japanese Buddhist monk, Nichidatsu Fujii. It is one of the most famous and popular places to this day. The main purpose of establishing this building was to ‘promote peace, unity and goodwill’ amongst people who belong to different communities and religions. In addition, this site exudes exquisitely peaceful and tranquil vibes as one is embraced by snow-covered mountains.

We proceed to the Mahakal Temple; The Master of Time, is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This  temple was built in 1728 by a Buddhist Nepali, Lama Dorje gRinzing. It’s perched atop a splendid hill and is an amalgamation of Hindu and Buddhist religions, creating a unique energetic site where both religions coexist harmoniously.

We lunch in a local restaurant and are free to explore the local market for tea, fabrics and spices. Overnight in Darjeeling. (BLD)

This morning breakfast we visit the Dali Monastery. This massive monastic community, perched atop a hill with stupendous views, houses some 200 monks. In stepping through the gate one feels the quiet, peace and tranquility. Embrace this peace of your last day as you enjoy time to yourself. Perhaps integrate, acknowledge the experiences and memories we’ve created on this wonderful spiritual tour and bonding togetherness of our sacred group. Tomorrow we fly to Delhi and bid farewell to one another. Overnight in Darjeeling. (BLD)

Today we check-out and drive for 3 hours to Bagdogra where we board our flight to Delhi. On arrival we check into our hotel. Those who need to board the flight for home will be transferred to the airport. Overnight in Delhi or connect with your late night flight home. (BLD)