Spiritual Tour to india

Early morning arrival in Delhi. On arrival, you will be greeted and escorted by India Holiday Mall's staff to your hotel.

After breakfast visit Red Fort (Photo stop) – the 17th-century imposing fortress, the Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque), India's largest mosque where more than 20,000 people can kneel in prayer and Raj Ghat -Mahatma Gandhi's Memorial.

In the afternoon visit New Delhi. You will drive past President's Palace and India Gate (42m high), built to commemorate the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war. Later visit Humayun's Tomb, and the Qutub Minar, the highest sands stone minaret in the world ( 73 meters).

Early morning transfer to railway station to board the train to Amritsar.

It is home to the Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion. This important Sikh shrine attracts more visitors than the Taj Mahal in Agra and is the number one destination for non-resident Indians (NRI) in the whole of India. Amritsar is considered important and holy by Hindus as well.

On arrival, transfer to hotel and check-in.

Later visit Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple). Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple, is named after Hari (God) i.e. the temple of God. The Harmandir Sahib is the holiest shrine in Sikhism and is a major pilgrimage destination for Sikhs from all over the world.

Construction of the Golden Temple began in 1574 on land donated by the Mughal emperor Akbar and was completed in 1601, but restoration and embellishment continued over the years.

The most famous and sacred part of the Golden Temple complex is the Hari Mandir (Divine Temple) or Darbar Sahib (Court of the Lord), which is the beautiful golden structure at the center of a large body of water. The water that surrounds the Hari Mandir is a sacred pool known as the Amrit Sarovar, "Pool of Nectar." Another major highlight of the Golden Temple complex is the Guru-ka-Langar, a dining hall where around 35,000 people a day are fed for free by temple volunteers.

Overnight at the hotel

After breakfast, drive to Dharamsala. Set against the backdrop of the dramatic Dhauladhar Mountains, Dharamsala is perched on the high slopes in the upper reaches of Kangra Valley. The town is divided into two distinct and widely separated sections, Upper and Lower Dharamsala, which differ almost a thousand meters in height. Dharamsala overlooks the plains and is surrounded by dense pine trees and Deodar forests. A nearby snowline with numerous streams and a cool healthy atmosphere makes the surroundings very attractive. The colorful temple and Gompas, which reflect the culture of Tibet, adds attraction for the visitor.

"Dharamsala" literally means an "inn attached to a temple", and it was so until the district headquarters in Kangra became too crowded and the British moved 2 of their regiments in the late 1840s to what is now Dharamsala. On arrival in Dharamsala, check-in at the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel

After breakfast at the hotel visit Dr. Dolma's Tibetan medicine Clinic and the medicine-making factory. This clinic was set up in 1960.

The roots of Tibetan Medicine run deep in Tibetan culture and are the result of thousands of years of development and integration of the major medical systems of the ancient world. Tibetans have created a unique holistic system drawing on and blending the medical traditions of Tibet with those of India, China, Persia, and Greece (much as western medicine has its roots in the Arabic, Greek, and Persian traditions).

The Tibetan Medical system is at once a science, art, and philosophy, acknowledging the needs of the individual as a whole, encompassing body, mind, and spirit. The science of this Traditional Tibetan System is grounded in a wealth of knowledge and understanding of anatomy, physiology, embryology, and pathology.

Later visit Norbulingka institute. This Institute is a registered trust functioning under the Chairmanship of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan People, under the auspices of the Tibetan government in exile. It is dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan culture in both its literary and artistic forms. Also, visit the Namgyal monastery and The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.

Overnight at the hotel

After an early breakfast, drive to Chandigarh through the mountain landscapes. Chandigarh, the Capital of Haryana as well as Punjab, is a planned city designed by the French architect Le Corbusier.

The city is highly developed and modern, divided into various sectors and has well-laid roads lined with rows of trees and beautifully planned buildings. It has derived its name from a temple on the slope of the Sivalik hill, Chandi Mandir (deity Chandi, goddess of power), and a fort or "garh" beyond the temple, called Chandigarh.

On arrival in Chandigarh, check-in at the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel

After breakfast, visit Rock Garden. The rock garden is an epitome of creativity and innovation. It is a unique garden that consists of various art objects. The best part about the rock garden is that each of its artwork has been made by using industrial and urban waste. The credit for laying its foundation goes to Nek Chand, who was the then Road Inspector in the Engineering Department of Chandigarh Capital Project.

A rock garden has been established in the form of an open-air exhibition hall. The garden houses sculptures made by using a variety of different discarded waste materials like frames, mudguards, forks, handlebars, metal wires, play marbles, porcelain, auto parts, broken bangles, etc.

Later drive to Rishikesh.

On arrival in Rishikesh, transfer to the hotel.

Rishikesh is a holy city for Hindus and a famous center of pilgrimage. It is also known as the gateway to the Himalayas and is located around 25 kilometers away from Haridwar. Hrishikesh is the starting point for traveling to the sites that form the Char Dham pilgrimage Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. The sacred river Ganga flows through Rishikesh. In fact, it is here that the river leaves the Shivalik Mountains, and flows out into the plains of northern India. Several temples, ancient as well as new, can be found along the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh. Rishikesh, sometimes nicknamed "the world capital of Yoga", has numerous yoga centers. It is believed that meditation in Rishikesh brings one closer to attainment of moksha (Salvation), as does a dip in the holy river that flows through it.

Overnight at the Ashram

Early morning, enjoy the Yoga session. Yoga is a disciplined science encompassing all aspects of life in different ways and levels to balance the mind, body, and spirit. This helps us to restore perfect health and leads us from consciousness to super consciousness, resulting ultimately in eternal bliss or Sat-Chit – Ananda, which is the aim of Yoga. This art originated, was perfected and practiced in India thousands of years ago. The references to yoga are available in 'Upanishads' and 'Puranas' composed by Indian Aryans in the later Vedic and post- Vedic period.

Later, after breakfast, visit the various Ashrams. Also, visit Triveni Ghat & Laxman Jhoola along with other temples along the Ghats.

Later drive to Haridwar and enjoy the Aarti ceremony at sunset on the Ghats of Ganges.

"Aarti" is a very auspicious Hindu ritual in which we offer our prayers to God or to whom we respect & consider equal to God; thanking them for their presence in our life. In India, this ritual is performed on various auspicious days, events & festivals.

The Ganga Aarti in Haridwar is a daily ritual. This one & half hour ritual starts with a holy fire ceremony called "Yagna" i.e. offering a mixture of dRishikeshifferent herbs with clarified butter (Ghee) to the fire while chanting the prayers (Mantra) in order to purify the surrounding environment and to invite the holy vibrations.

The Guru or the Master with his devotees, sing the prayers along with the lighting of the small lamps welcoming & thanking the river Ganga for being the source of life & prosperity for this region. The experience, the view, and the positive vibrations are so inspirational that it is difficult to put into words.

Overnight at the Ashram.

(Dehradun Shatabdi Express – Haridwar Dep. 1813 hrs / Delhi Arr. 2245 hrs)

Early morning, enjoy the Yoga session.

After breakfast, visit the various temples along the Ghats of Ganges. (Rooms will be available till 1200 noon)

In the late afternoon, transfer to the railway station to board the train to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi, transfer to the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel

Today you will connect the flight back home.