The journey is planned so that we will be in Nasik for the
main bathing (Shahi Snan) date on the Maha Parva Bhadrapad
Krushna Amavasya (no moon night).
To watch the Kumbh Mela processions is to witness the march
of the ages. As the holy saints pass by on elephants, horses,
palanquins, chariots, cars, and camels continually transmitting
waves of powerful shakti (energy) to all the people who
witness this awe-inspiring and most auspicious event. The
sounds baffle all description; the shout and cries of ash-smeared
sadhus mingle with the neighing of horses, trumpeting of
elephants, grunting of camels, bellowing of bulls. Gongs
and drums beat, trumpets blare, conch shells blow and bells
ring. One is overwhelmed by the palpable spiritual vibrations
that pervade the entire atmosphere.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Mumbai (Bombay)
Transfer to hotel. Overnight stay.
Day 2 Mumbai - Nasik (184 Km)
Drive to Nasik a sacred city on the banks of the River Godavari,
is now a throbbing industrial town. Its beautiful architecture,
temples and caves are a mute testimony to its rich, eventful
history. An ancient city, yet, one that has ridden astride
the wheels of history and bears its footprints. The Egyptian
historian Ptolemy (A.D. 150) had found this place a flourishing
center for trade and commerce. The place abounds in temples,
some of them more than two hundred years old. The Sundranarayan
Temple with its richly carved and domed porticoes, its highly
ornamented central dome and spire D all made of beautifully
dressed stone is a treat for the eyes. The Kampaleshwar
temple of lord Shiva wearing a skull. Temple of Balaji built
on the confluence of the Godavari and the Saraswati that
flows underground has copper images of Balaji, Ramadevi
and Laxmi decked with valuable jewellery and Balaji wears
a gold mask. The other temples of note are the Kalaram Mandir,
the Goraram Mandir and the Rameshwar or Bell temple. In
some temples, the lingas date back to the age of Rama. It
is no wonder then that Nasik is called the Benares of southern
India and the Godavari, the Ganges of the South.
Day 3-6 Nasik ( Kumbha Mela )
Drive to Trimbakeshwar. It is famous for the Trimbakeshwar
Temple and source of the Godavari River. Trimbakeshwar enshrines
one of the 12 jyotirlingas dedicated to Shiva and this one
is considered to be the main jyotirlinga. Legend has it
that Guatam Rishi performed a rigorous ritual of prayer
and penance or tapasya to Shiva on Brahmagiri Hill which
rises above the present-day temple. Pleased with this devotion,
Shiva is said to have blessed him and brought down to earth
from heaven the sacred rivers of Ganga, Gautami and Godavari.
At the Kushavarta Teerth, devotees usually dip themselves
into the waters and purify themselves of all sins before
entering the temple. To this day, Hindus offer shraad prayers
(prayers for the souls of the departed) here. It is also
believed that bathing in the waters of the Godavari will
bring moksha or salvation. Mondays are considered particularly
holy and the priests carry the idol of Trimbakeshwar in
a palanquin on their shoulders around the temple. The annual
festival of Shivratri is also celebrated with great pomp
and gaiety and attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over.
For overnight return to Nasik.
Day 6 Nasik - Shirdi (122 Km)
Drive to Shirdi visit Mahasamadhi temple of Sri Sai Baba.
Abode of one of Maharashtra's most revered saint -- Sai
Baba of Shirdi. Popularly known as the 'Child of God', Sai
Baba preached tolerance towards all religions and the message
of universal brotherhood. Every activity at Shirdi revolves
around the vast temple complex dedicated to Sai Baba. Devotees
start queuing up in the early hours of dawn to catch a glimpse
and seek the blessings of the life-size statue of Sai Baba.
Thursday is marked by special pujas and darshan of the Sai
Baba statue. Visit Dwarkamani Mosque where the Baba meditated
and slept on alternate nights. Near the mosque, in a corridor
is the dhuni or eternal flame that burns day and night.
Other places of importance are the Gurusthan, the Kandoba
Temple, Shani Mandir, Narsimha Mandir, Changdev Maharaj
Samadhi and the Sakori. Overnight Hotel
Day 7 Shirdi - Ellora - Aurangabad (160 Km)
Drive to Aurangabad enroute visit Ellora caves, these caves
represent 300 years of great experiments carried out by
different faiths with their very different iconography and
structural compulsions.The finest specimens of cave temple
architecture. They house elaborate facades and exquisitely
adorned interiors. These structures represent the three
faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The cave monuments
of Ellora were chiefly patronised by the Chalukya - Rashtrakuta
rulers (7th - 10th century AD). The temple building was
considered to help the attainment of worldly power as well
as religious merit and spiritual salvation. Overnight at
Hotel.
Day 8 Aurangabad - Ajanta - Aurangabad
(120 Km)
Day excursion to Ajanta caves, 2nd century BC to 6th century
AD. They were hidden in the midst of a lonely glen with
a streamlet flowing down below. They were scooped out into
the heart of the rock so that the pious Buddhist monk could
dwell and pray. These are the caves that the followers of
Lord Buddha, embellished with architectural details with
a skilful command of the hammer over the chisel, with sculpture
of highest craftsmanship and above all, with the paintings
of infinite charm. The entire course of the evolution of
Buddhist architecture can be traced in Ajanta. During this
time, images of Buddha interpreting his different life stories
and several types of human and animal figures were carved
out of rock in-situ. All sections of people of the contemporary
society from kings to slaves, women, men and children are
seen in the Ajanta murals interwoven with flowers, plants,
fruits, birds and beasts. There are also the figures of
'Yakshas', 'Kinneras' (half human and half bird) 'Gandharvas'
(divine musicians), 'Apsaras' (heavenly dancers), which
were of concern to the people of that time. En-route visit
Aurangabad caves also. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 9 Aurangabad - Delhi
Morning visit to Bibi Ka Makqbara, a mausoleum modeled
on the Taj Mahal and considered the first Mughal monument
in the Deccan built between 1657 and 1661 by Aurangzeb for
his wife Dilras Banu Begum. Visit Daulatabad Fort, one of
the oldest fort existing in India, built by a king of the
Yadav dynasty called Bhilam Raja in 1187. Afternoon connect
flight to Delhi (IC888 dep. 1730 arr. 2055). Transfer to
hotel Overnight.
Day 10 Delhi
Morning tour of Delhi visiting Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana
- the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru,
Jama Masjid and drive past Red Fort and Chandni Chowk.
Afternoon visit Qutub Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek
in 1199, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate (War Memorial Arch ),
Lakshminarayan Temple - a modern Hindu Temple. Also drive
past President's House, Parliament House, Government Secretariat
Buildings and Connaught Place shopping centre. Overnight
Delhi.
Day 10 Delhi - Varanasi
Transfer to airport for Varanasi flight. Arrive Varanasi
& transfer to Hotel. Overnight Varanasi.
Day 11 Varanasi
Early morning boat excursion on the river Ganges, a ferry
pilgrimage from ghat to ghat. People bathe early in the
morning to offer the prayers to the rising sun. The two
cremation ghats are Manikarnika & Harishchandra where
funeral pyre burns day and night. Every pious Hindu believes
that to die in Kashi and to be cremated on banks of the
Ganges is to attain release from the cycle of birth and
death. Rest of the day free. Overnight Varanasi.
Day 12 Varanasi - Khajuraho
Morning transfer to airport for Khajuraho flight. Arrive
and transfer to Hotel. Overnight in Khajuraho.
Day 13 Khajuraho - Agra
Morning visit the world famous Khajuraho temples. These
Temples were built by the Chandelas between 950 AD &
1050 AD.The important ones are Chaunset Yogini Kali Temple,
the Mahadev Temple, Chitragupta or Bharatji Temple with
a lovely image of 11 headed Vishnu, Vishvanath & Nandi
Temples, Lakshmana Temple, Visha Temple of Shiva, which
is the largest & most typical of temples.
Visit the Eastern group of Temples. Parasvanath Temple is
the only exisiting Jain Temple at Khajuraho and has excellent
sculptures on the outer walls of the Sanctum. The Javeri
Temple is dedicated to Vishnu. The other temples in this
group are those dedicated to Brahma, Yamuna and Adinath.
Later transfer to airport for Agra flight. Arrive &
transfer to Hotel. Overnight Agra.
Day 14 Agra
Morning visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by the
Moghul Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal
to enshrine her mortal remains. Later visit the Agra Fort
containing the Pearl Mosque, the Halls of Public and Private
Audience. Also visit the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daullah built
by Empress Noorjehan in memory of her father. Afternoon
free. Overnight Agra.
Day 15 Agra - Jaipur
Drive to Jaipur visiting Fatehpur Sikri enroute. Fatehpur
Sikri is 40 kms from Agra and built by Emperor Akbar in
1569 and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water.
See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb
of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other Palaces. Overnight
Jaipur.
Day 16 Jaipur
Morning visit Amber Fort. Amber Fort was the ancient capital
of the State. Visit the Sheesh Mahal or the Hall of Victory
glittering with mirrors. Ascend the Fort on Elephant back.
Afternoon tour of Jaipur. Jaipur - the capital of Rajasthan
was given a colour coat of pink a century ago in honour
of a visiting Prince. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the notable
astronomer, this city is 260 years old. Visit Maharaja's
City Palace, the Observatory & Ram Niwas Gardens. Drive
past Hawa Mahal & through the pink rose residential
& business areas. Overnight Jaipur.
Day 17 Jaipur - Ajmer-Pushkar-Jaipur
Full day excursion of Ajmer and Pushkar. The visits
consists of the Tomb of the Sufi Saint, Khwaja Moinuddin
Chisti, the Dargah Sharif. The city was founded by the Chauhan
ruler, Aiaipal, during the 11th century & is dominated
by the Taragarh Fort built by Prithviraj Chauhan. In Pushkar,
visit the holy Lake and also the famous Brahma Temple. Pushkar
is one of the holiest places for Hindus. Overnight Jaipur.
Day 18 Jaipur - Delhi
Drive to Delhi. Evening special dinner at an Indian
restaurant with live music and traditional dance. Late night/early
morning transfer to the airport for flight for return/onward
journey.
Package Includes:
- Accommodation on double occupancy basis.
- Daily breakfasts and dinners- Not including beverages
- All land transportation by private bus
- Accompanying escort throughout
- Entrance Fees to monuments
- All prevailing state taxes
Package Does Not Include
- International airfare
- Tips
- Personal expenses
- Trip Cancellation/Travel Insurance
Minimum 10 participants required.
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