Heart of a Yogi
Immersion Tour
Delhi - Rishikesh-Vrindavan-Taj Mahal -Varanasi-Delhi
Highlights
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Visit 4 amazing towns/cities
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Tasty vegetarian and vegan cuisine
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Celebrate world famous Holi Colorfest
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Practice yoga overlooking the Ganges River
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Hike to a waterfall in the Himalayan foothills
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Experience Taj Mahal and other amazing monuments/palaces
12 Days & 11 Nights
PRICE PER PERSON INCLUDING ALL TWIN SHARE ACCOMMODATION, MEALS, PRIVATE TRANSFERS, UNIQUE EXPERIENCES.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01 : Arrive Delhi
Arrive New Delhi International Airport. You will be met at the airport on arrival and transferred to your hotel in Delhi (30 mins). Stay at your hotel in Delhi for 01 night.
Day 02: Delhi – Rishikesh Drive(250kms / 5-6 Hrs)
Early Morning at (05:30 AM- to beat the traffic) proceed to Rishikesh, which is a small town, lies in the foothills of Himalayas, scenically located where the Holy Ganges River comes down from the Himalayas. Rishikesh catapulted to Western fame when the Beatles dropped by for a visit to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Ashram. Also Rishikesh is known as Worlds Yoga capital. Rishikesh is associated with Lord Rama and Laxman.
Upon arrival in Rishikesh check into your hotel, Late in afternoon enjoy a nice walk by the Ganga. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 03: Rishikesh
Morning practice Yoga and later on visit Neelgadu waterfall. Himalayan foothill trek to waterfall (trek is approximately 3 hours roundtrip). Someone need to walk through the jungle on narrow trails to reach this waterfall, water flowing from the natural rocky cliffs tempts us to take a cool dip in this stream. Butterflies of different species are seen fluttering around the wild flowers.
In evening visit Parmarth Niketan Ashram which is famous for Ganga prayer ceremony which takes place daily in morning and evening. This Ashram also run a school based on traditional and cultural Indian pattern. This Ashram is open for all, with no discrimination on the basis of race, gender, nationality, religion, caste or creed.
Overnight stay at hotel in Rishikesh.
Day 04: Rishikesh
Morning Yoga practice and after breakfast proceed to Vashistha cave - the ancient Cave Ashram of Vashistha where his descendants and followers reside at the river ashram and have darshan of Vashistha’s Shiva deity.
Vashistha cave is an ancient cave where great sage Vashistha meditated for a long time. As per Hindu mythology, sage Vashistha was son of Lord Brahma and one of the seven great sages. There is a small cave here, where people can meditate and can feel the vibrant energy of this place. Here you can have beautiful experience of Sacred bath in Ganges with Mantra chanting.
Day 05 : Rishikesh
Morning practice Yoga and after breakfast have some free time for own activities, Massage, shopping etc. Later in afternoon either you can visit the Beatles ashram or enjoy shopping in local bazaar. Basically this is a day you can have your own activities.
Day 06: Rishikesh – Delhi Flight - Drive –Vrindavan (150 Kms / 3-4 Hrs)
Morning Yoga, after breakfast at hotel catch flight from Rishikesh to Delhi and then drive to Vrindavan. Vrindavan is a town in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is the site where according to Hinduism, Lord Krishna spent his childhood days.
There are thousands of temples in this town, ISCKON (Hare Krishna) temple is also there, army of monkeys all around the town, Gau Shala (cow shelter) and Sandi Pani Muni School (provide free education to poor children from this area), Food for life (An organization that provides food, water, and more to people in need in India).
Day 07: Vrindavan
Enjoy breakfast, and by 08:30 AM departure to visit the Sandipani Muni Charity School, this school provide education for 1500 needy children from kindergarten to the end of inter school. The school children are girls only, with boys allowed in kindergarten, they selected girls because the local culture at home boys are favoured and girls get less food, less medical care, schooling possibility and lesser opportunity in general”. Later on visit the cow shelter, which is located just next to the school, this cow shelter maintains abandoned cows, bulls, retired oxen, and orphaned calves.
If time permits we can have Taj Mahal excursion today & can have sunset Taj Visit.
Day 08: Vrindavan– Delhi Drive –150 Kms - Flight (Delhi to Varanasi)
Morning after breakfast we can proceed to Delhi. Upon arrival enjoy early lunch in Delhi and later on proceed to airport to catch flight to Varanasi.
Varanasi picturesquely situated on the banks of river Ganga. The city is the oldest living city of the world. Other than being a very holy city for Hindus, it also holds a very significant association with Buddha’s life and Buddhism. Overnight stay at palace hotel in Varanasi.
Day 10: Varanasi
Morning enjoy Yoga at hotel and later in afternoon you can have an excursion to Sarnath, the site of the deer park where Gautama Buddha is said to have given his first sermon about the basic principles of Buddhism. It has been a premier centre for Buddhism & has a rich collection of ancient Buddhist relics & antiques comprising numerous Buddha & Bodhisattva images on display at the Archaeological Museum. In evening enjoy the famous Aarti (prayer) ceremony at the bank of river Ganges. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 11 : Varanasi – Delhi Flight (1 Hr 20 minutes)
Afternoon proceed to Varanasi airport to catch flight to Delhi, Upon arrival at Delhi airport proceed to your pre booked hotel for overnight stay.
Day 12 Delhi – Sightseeing & Departure
Today We can visit Mahatma Gandhi Smriti, it is the sacred place where Mahatma Gandhi's epic Life ended on 30 January 1948. Mahatma Gandhi had lived in this house for 144 days. In 1971 it was converted into a national memorial museum. The preserves include the room where Mahatma Gandhi lived and the prayer ground where he held a mass congregation every evening. It was here where assassin’s bullets felled Gandhiji. The building and the landscape have been preserved as they were in those days.
On display in the Museum are photographs, sculptures, paintings, frescos, inscriptions on rocks and relics pertaining to the years Mahatma Gandhi spent here. The meagre personal effects of Gandhiji too are carefully preserved.
Some of the Govt building are situated in the same area which can be visited (drive through) like Presidential Palace, Parliament House & India Gate (War Memorial).
Option No 2.
Akshardham Temple: (3- 4 hours Excursion)
Akshardham or Swaminarayan temple is a Hindu mandir and a spiritual cultural campus in Delhi, This temple was built very recently in 2005 and is one of the largest comprehensive Hindu temple in the world.
Akshardham Temple was built in 2005, and is breathtakingly lavish. Artisans used ancient techniques to carve the pale red sandstone into elaborate reliefs, including 20,000 deities, saints and mythical creatures. The centrepiece is a 3m-high gold statue of Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan.
The complex includes a boat ride through 10,000 years of Indian history, animatronics telling stories from the life of Swaminarayan, and musical fountains.
In evening you will be transferred to international airport to catch flight to your further destination.
Tour Includes
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Airport transfers
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Twin share accommodation ($395 extra for private accommodation) Note: Single supplement payment is required if it's not possible to arrange a roommate.
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Transportation w/in India (AC trains, taxis, buses)
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2 Vegetarian meals daily (breakfast and dinner for the entire tour) (with Vegan options)
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Experienced and friendly English speaking tour guide for the entire tour
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Himalayan Foothill trek
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Yoga/meditation classes as per the itinerary
Tour Excludes
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Your international airfare
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Visa for India
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Tips for Indian guides, drivers
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Entry fees for tourist attractions / monuments. (total about $60USD)
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Laundry services
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Snacks and bottled water
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Transportation costs which are outside of the tour activities
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Any activities or items not mentioned in the itinerary
India Information & Commonly asked Questions
