Day 1        Welcome to Delhi

Fly overnight to India, arriving in the late evening. Your tour leader will accompany you to your hotel in the heart of Delhi, followed by the Traditional Indian Welcome at the hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Hotel: The Oberoi Maidens or Similar

Day 2       Explore Old & New Delhi

Meet your group over the late breakfast, then enjoy a walking tour of Old Delhi, featuring Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. Next, a cycle rickshaw carries us through the crowded Chandni Chowk Bazaar to Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque. In the afternoon, drive through New Delhi to visit the India Gate and the old residences of British Viceroys.

Visit the powerful, majestic Hindu Temples of Delhi: Chattarpur Temple, Yogmaya Temple & Lakshmi Narayan Temple.

Hotel: The Oberoi Maidens or Similar (Meals: Breakfast & Welcome Dinner at Chor Bizarre)

 

Old Delhi: The 350 years old walled city was built by Emperor Shah Jehan in 1648 as his capital. Opposite the fort are the black and white onion dome and minarets of the Jama Masjid, the most elegant mosque in India. Raj Ghat is worth a visit where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948.

New Delhi: The new capital designed by Sir Edward Lutyens. An interesting drive in the one passing through the impressive Rajpath from the World War I memorial arch, the India Gate towards the Presidential Palace. Visit Humayun's Tomb built in 1565 AD, Safdarjung's Tomb, the Qutab Minar, 72 meters high and the most curious antique, the uncorroded Iron Pillar, which dates back to the 4th century AD.

Day 3           Delhi/Haridwar/Rishikesh

After breakfast, leave for Rishikesh by surface, en route visiting Haridwar. At Haridwar explore Evening Ganga - Aarti at Holy River Ganges at Har Ki Pauri. Afterwards, continue to Rishikesh. Transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel.
Hotel: Nataraj, Shreeji, or similar (Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)

  

    

Day 4           Explore Rishikesh

After breakfast, full day sightseeing of Rishikesh. Dinner & overnight at hotel.
Hotel: Natraj, Shreeji, or Similar (Meals ­ Breakfast & Dinner)

Rishikesh is situated on the right bank of Holy River Ganges and surrounded on three sides by Himalayan ranges are known from medieval time as a celestial abode. It is a great pilgrimage center of India, attracting a large number of pilgrims. It has since been the abode of saints and sages from where they sojourn before undertaking the arduous pilgrimage that lay ahead on the distant Himalayan Peaks. This is the gateway to the kingdom of gods and pilgrimage to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.

    

Day 5            Rishikesh/ Rudraprayag

After breakfast, leave for Rudraprayag by surface. Reach Rudraprayag in the evening and transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Monal Resort Or GMVN Guest House (Meals ­ Breakfast & Dinner)

Narada, an ancient Indian sage, reputed to be the inventor of the veena, a stringed musical instrument, meditated here for several years at the temple of Rudranath, in order to attain perfection in the science of music. Pleased with his devotion, Shiva blessed Narad, granting him the cherished wish that the sage became the repository of sacred music. Here, in the temple, Shiva is worshipped in the form of Rudranath. With a population of 5,000, Rudraprayag is at the junction of the three hill districts of Pauri, Tehri and Chamoli. Rudraprayag is situated on the confluence of the rivers Mandakini and Alaknanda.

 

Day 6       Rudraprayag/ Uttarkashi

After breakfast, leave for Uttarkashi for (170 Km) by surface. Reach Uttarkashi in the evening. Transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Oasis Or GMVN Guest House (Meals; Breakfast & Dinner)

Uttarkashi is is the gateway to the pilgrim route to Gangotri. The beautiful small town is situated on the right bank of the Bhagirathi, surrounded by the rivers Varuna and Assi, at an altitude of about 1,550 m. As the name suggests, Uttarkashi is considered the northern Kashi or Varanasi, a historical pilgrimage city in the Indian plains. The temples and ghats in Uttarkashi have names almost identical to those in Varanasi, such as the Shiva temple--Vishwanath Mandir, where stands a magnificent Trishul (trident), one meter in circumference and made of copper. It supports a trident four meters long. Each prong is about two meters in length.   

At one time, there were 365 temples in this town. It is known for its temples dedicated to Rishi Parasurama, Dattatreya, Goddess Annapurna Devi, Goddess Kali, and Bhairon. Among the other temples in this town filled with splendor are the temples of Parashuram, Kali and that of the Ekadash Rudra, built by the former Maharaja of Jaipur. The town is also known for its various ashrams, which are the homes of sanyasis and mendicants who occupy the banks of the holy river for penance and prayers.

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Uttarkashi is also known as Barahat, literally meaning "a big market place". It is a town with modern facilities. The Nehru Institute of Mountaineering is located here. This national institute imparts mountaineering training to young people to inculcate the spirit of adventure among the youth of the country. The region has some high-altitude lakes and the Gangotri and Yamunotri glaciers lead on to several major peaks-the hunting grounds for serious mountaineering buffs.

      

Day 7        Uttarkashi/ Gangotri

After breakfast, leave for Gangotri (97 Km) by surface. Reach Gangotri and transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel.
Overnight: Manish Lodge or GMVN Guest House (Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)

Gangotri, beyond the gorge where the Jadh Ganga meets the Bhagirathi, heralding the approach of the Gangotri temple, the narrow Bhagirathi Ravine, dramatic and beautifully wooded, opens out into a valley flanked by jagged snowy peaks. At the end of this portion of the valley stands a simple edifice to the Goddess Ganga built in the eighteenth century, to commemorate where King Bhagirath sat and prayed for 5,500 years and where came the Pandavas to atone for the death of their kinsmen. Standing on pillars on the right bank of the river at a height of 3,200 meters (10,500 ft), the slopes surrounding the temple indicate the level of the bed of the past giant glacier, while the tiny village is full of giant deodars and conifers. Here the river flows north, giving the village its name Gangotri--Ganga turned north. The temple of Ganga in Gangotri is visited by millions of devotees each year.

At 3048m, Gangotri lies in the northwest Himalayas of Garhwal. It is one of the four dhams (pilgrimage centres for Hindus, the other three being Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath) of Garhwal region of the Himalayas. The Bhairnoghati bridge, built across one of the deepest gorges in the world, connects Gangotri to the rest of the world across the Bhagirathi River. There is an 18th century temple made of granite rock at Gangotri. The temple is dedicated to the Goddess Ganga who is believed to have descended from heaven as a result of King Bhagirath's centuries-long penance, since the latter wanted the ashes of his dead relatives to be washed away by the holy waters of the Goddess Ganga.

When Ganga descended from heaven, the current was so strong that Lord Shiva (the Destroyer in the Hindi Holy Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer) had to hold her flow in check by coiling his matted locks around her. From then on, Shiva is also known as Jatashankar (Jata means hair in Hindi). There is a lingam (the symbolic phallus of Shiva) submerged in the river that can be seen in winter, a natural rock shivling where according to mythology Lord Shiva sat when he received the Goddess Ganga in his matted locks.

Day 8           Gangotri/ Chirbasa/ Bhojbasa

After breakfast, trek towards Bhojbasa via Chirbasa. (You can ride a pony or be carried in a pallanquin if you do not want to trek.) A total of 13 kms to be covered within approx. 05 Hrs. The trek route passes through deep dense forest Bhojbasa of Himalayan coniferous and pine trees to arrive at Bhojbasa. The main structure at Bhojbasa is an ashram, which is served as a stop over point en route Gaumukh. Transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Hotel: G.M.V.N. Guest House Or Similar (Meals - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

  

Day 9            Bhojbasa/ Gaumukh/ Gangotri

Gaumukh is the point from where the holy Ganges originates. A short and easy trek of an hour brings us to Gaumukh - The Source of Ganges. Afterwards, continue to Gangotri. Reach Gangotri & Transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Hotel: Manish Lodge or G.M.V.N. Guest House Or Similar (Meals - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

GAUMUKH--forbiddingly beautiful. Gaumukh ("mouth of the cow"), 3892m, is the small cave in the higher Himalayas where the Ganga emerges from the massive Gaumukh Glacier. The awesome Shivling peak looms 6,543 M (21,470 ft) above the source of the Ganga at the Gangotri glacier, which evokes a mystical atmosphere descending from beyond the Chaukhamba cluster of snow peaks, while the three peaks of the Bhagirathi mountains tower over the Gaumukh springs almost as if these mountains were the embodiments of Shiva. At the end of the valley is the snout of the Gangotri glacier called Gaumukh ­ a hundred-meter (328 ft) high wall of Grey snow from the top of which moraines come regularly crashing down. From the ice walls of the blue ice caves, the waters of the Bhagirathi gushes out with force and cut a fantastic gorge among the granites of the Himalayas. The colossal glacier varies in colour from shades of blue to green lying in a basin 5,000 meters (16,404 ft) high.

The high altitude plain, Tapovan, is where King Bhagirath supposedly did penance. Legend has it that his prayers compelled Mother Ganga to descend from heaven and fall onto the earth here. Tapovan is the foothill of the mighty Shivling Peak (6543m), one of the most beautiful peaks in the world. Sixteen kilometres downhill, it is seen as a river in Gangotri. The force of the water here is awesome.

Day 10           Gangotri/ Rudraprayag

After breakfast, leave for Rudraprayag. Reach Rudraprayag. Transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel.
Hotel: Monal Resort Or Similar (Meals ­ Breakfast & Dinner)

      

Day 11           Rudraprayag/ Gaurikund/ Kedarnath

After breakfast, leave for Gauri kund (10 Km) by surface. Reach Gauri kund and trek towards Kedarnath--14 Km/06 Hrs. (You can ride a pony or be carried in a pallanquin if you do not want to trek.) Reach Kedarnath in the evening. Dinner & overnight at hotel.
Overnight: Bikaner House, or GMVN Guest House (Meals ­ Breakfast & Dinner)

 

          

Gauri kund is a plain area with a natural lake. There is an ancient temple, dedicated to the Goddess Gauri or Parvati, which houses metallic idols of Gauri and Shiva. According to legend, Parvati meditated here for a long time, to win Shiva as her consort. Ultimately, she succeeded, and the cosmic couple was wed at Triyuginarayan.

Near the temple there are two tanks of water, one has cold water, while the other is a hot water tank.The hot water comes out of a sulphur rock and and some of it falls into the River Mandakini, flowing nearby.

The legend is that the consort of Lord Shiva, Parvati, takes bath here. Only women are allowed to take bath at Gauri Kund to seek the blessings of the goddess. Gauri kund is one kilometre below the sacred Mani Mahesh Lake, where Mount Kailash can be seen, but it usually remains covered with clouds.

Day 12            Explore Kedarnath

After breakfast, visit Kedarnath Temple and personal meetings with many Holy Saints and Sadhus. Dinner & overnight at hotel.
Overnight: Bikaner House or GMVN Guest House (Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)

Situated on the banks of the Mandakini River, at an altitude of of 3,581m, Kedarnath is a 14 km trek from Gauri kund. Kedarnath is one of the four main Hindu pilgrim centres in Uttarakhand (Himalayan Uttara Pradesh). Though mainly famous as a religious centre, this place, surrounded by mountain ranges, also attracts tourists because of its beautiful landscape.

  

The most famous monument of Kedarnath is the Kedarnath Temple. It is dedicated to Shiva (Destroyer in the Hindu Holy Trinity of Creator- Preserver- Destroyer) who is worshipped mainly in the form of a linga (symbolic phallus of Shiva). The Kedarnath Shrine, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, is a scenic spot situated against the backdrop of majestic Kedarnath range. Kedar is another name of Shiva, the destroyer. Shiva is considered the embodiment of all passions--love, hatred, fear, death & mysticism which are expressed through his various forms. The temple is built of large, heavy and evenly cut grey slabs of stones and is considered more than 1000 years old. A large statue of the Nandi Bull is situated outside the temple door.

    

The  temple was  renovated and  refurbished  by  the  religious  reformer and saint, Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. Located  behind  the  Kedarnath  Temple is the  Samadhi or the final resting place where the saint gave up his life. 

The jyotirlinga ("phallus of light") in this temple is one of the twelve jyotirlingas throughout India, which makes Kedarnath one of the most sacred Hindu cities. The difference between a jyotirlinga and an ordinary linga is that while the former derives power from within itself, the latter is invested with mantra-shakti (the power of a verse or phrase that has magical properties) by priests.

  

According to legend, the Pandavas, after having won over the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra war, felt guilty of having killed their own brothers & sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. He eluded them repeatedly & while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. There he dove into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four places and are worshiped there as his manifestations. The arms appeared at Tunganath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madmaheshwar & his locks at Kalpeshwar. Kedarnath including these four shrines is treated as Panch Kedar.  

Day 13        Kedarnath/ Gaurikund/ Rudraprayag

After breakfast, trek back to Gaurikund (14 Km/04 Hrs) and then continue to Rudraprayag (78 Km) by surface. Reach Rudraprayag in the late evening. Transfer to hotel Dinner & overnight at hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Monal Resort Or GMVN Guest House (Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)

     

Day 14       Rudraprayag/ Joshimath

After breakfast, leave for Joshimath by surface. Reach Joshimath and transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel. Overnight: Hotel Dronagiri Or GMVN Guest House (Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)

Joshimath, Altitude: 1,875m, is described in the ancient scriptures as Kartikeyapura, because the Katyuri kings named it after their God, Kartikeya. Jyotirmath, or Joshimath, located at a height of about 6,000 ft, is one of the four great "maths", or monasteries, established by the great Adi guru Shri Shankaracharya around 500 BC (some say 8th century AD). Joshimath was the heart of religious and cultural activity in those days and continues to be the same even today.

It is believed that Adi Shankara attained enlightenment at Jyotir Math under an ancient tree that still stands to this day. There is a small Shiva temple under this tree, commemorating this event. Also a small cave below the temple was thought to be used by Shankara to meditate.

      

There are two monasteries in Jyotir Math representing the Shankaracharya of North India, due to a controversy about who the actual Shankaracharya is at this time. His Holiness Swami Vasudevananda Saraswati has held the post of Shankaracharya since 1990 and lives in the ancient monastery, a beautiful, peaceful ashram that has been on this land since it was founded by Adi Shankara in ancient times.

Visiting the ashram of Swami Vasudevanda is like sitting in the forest with the rishis of ancient India. The vibrations emanating from this holy spot fill the mind with peace and sanctity. The illustrious saint, Swami Brahmananda Saraswati Maharaj (guru of the famous Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who was Beatles' guru) lived in this monastary and held the post of Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math from 1941 to 1953--a post that had been vacant for over 150 years.

     

       

A second ashram of the Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math was recently built by His Holiness Swami Swaroopananda Saraswati, who was a direct disciple of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati and is currently the Shankarachary of the West in Dwaraka, Gujarat.

Under Swaroopananda's ashram is the cave of Trotakacharya, who was Adi Shankaracharya's favorite disciple. Trotaka, representative of purity, guilelessness, and innocence, was the founder of the Jyotir Math monastery.

Each of Adi Shankara's disciples was the founder of one of the four monasteries set up by Adi Shankara in each of the four directions. These four monasteries have had a Shankaracharya at their head ever since that time. These four religious leaders are in charge of the spiritual well-being of all the people of that area.

     

Just below Joshimath two rivers, the Alaknanda and the Dhauliganga, meet at the confluence of Karnaprayag. The river Dhauliganga, coming from the Niti Valley, is approachable from Joshimath by vehicle up to Malari town and beyond. The entire route is lined with thick deodar forests. From Malari, one track goes towards Niti village via Kailashpur, Farkia, Bampa and Ghamsali. The entire valley throbs with activity in summer. Niti is the last village of the valley and from here the track goes towards the Niti Pass (5,299 m) and Marchokla.

Joshimath is a fairly large town. It has to be, since most of Badrinath arrives here to spend the winter months when the shrine of Badrinath remains snowbound for six months. It is the winter shrine of Badrinath which is worshipped here during the winter months. Today, it is a comparatively modern town with small hotels, modern shops, and even a cinema.

When the Badrinath Temple is closed in winter, devotees throng to worship at the Narsimha Temple at Joshimath. The temple is about 1200 years old. Dedicated to Vishnu, the presiding deity of the temple is Narsimha, the half-man, half-lion and fourth incarnation of Vishnu. The characteristic feature of the deity is that its left wrist is very thin and is getting thinner by the day. Situated some 30 yards from the Narsimha Temple, the Vasudeva Temple is one of the most famous Vishnu temples in India. It was considered very sacred by the Tamil vaishnavite saints known as alvars (see History of Kerala). The presiding deity of the temple is Vasudeva who is identified with Vishnu. The idol is carved out of a piece of black stone measuring 6 feet in height.

Day 15         Joshimath/ Badrinath

After breakfast, leave for Badrinath, 42 km away. Evening aarti at the holy shrine. Transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel.
Hotel: Narayan Palace or similar (Meals ­ Breakfast & Dinner)

Above Joshimath, the army takes over the road, and there is an interesting one-way system. The traffic from Joshimath travels for a few hours to reach a place called Pandukeshwar, where the road is broader. Here the vehicles wait, while the traffic from Badrinath comes down and passes them. After that, the vehicles are allowed to move higher up the mountain. The ride further from here can be described as thrilling. The roads are well- maintained although very narrow. The area is extremely vulnerable to landslides and it is not uncommon to be stopped for a few hours or at worst a few days because of landslides due to heavy rain. As the narrow road winds steeply up the mountain, one encounters sharp hairpin bends which can be exciting or scary, depending on one's sense of adventure!

    

  

Besides being an ancient religious centre, Badrinath, at the banks of Alaknanda, altitude 3,133m, also attracts tourists because of its natural beauty. It is one of the four most sacred Hindu cities founded by Shankaracharya in the four quarters of India. The place derives its name from the word 'badri', meaning berries that once grew here abundantly. It is situated on the confluence of the Alaknanda and the Rishi Ganga. Ancient Hindu texts state that a visit to Badrinath is an absolute must to complete a pilgrimage. The importance of the place is evident from the space scribes of the Mahabharata and the Puranas (ancient Hindu texts) had dedicated to it. The shrine of Badrinath in this city attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over India.

The Badrinath Temple is dedicated to Vishnu (Preserver in the Hindu Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer). The presiding deity of the temple is Badrinath (a form of Vishnu), also called Shri Badri Vishal or Badrinarayan. Within the temple complex is an another shrine dedicated to Laksmi, the Goddess of Fortune. This shrine is situated to the left of the main temple building. Outside the exit door of the Badrinath Temple is the seating place of Shankaracharya, who meditated here. Adi Shankarcharya established the idol of Vishnu in the temple, which is made of black granite. The temple remains closed during winter.   

The temple stands at the base of the mighty greater Himalayan wall that includes the Nar, Narayana and Neelkanth peaks. The sacred Alaknanda River and the Rishi Ganga stream merge into one another beside the temple. There is a hot water spring (Tapt kund) near the temple, and a depression in the Alaknanda River known as Narad Kund. Supposedly the Buddhists had thrown the image into the river there, and it was recovered by Adi Guru Shankaracharya--the great Hindu reformer who revived Hinduism when it was on the decline during the reign of King Ashoka, a great patron of Buddhism who was promoting the religion in the land.

Legend has it that Lord Vishnu came to the area to meditate after the sage Narada rebuked the Lord for being immersed in worldly pleasures. Lord Vishnu sent His consort Goddess Lakshmi (the Goddess of Wealth) to Naaglok (the celestial Snake God's land beneath the sea) and chose this valley, then called Badri Van, or the berry garden, to meditate.

Day 16-20       OPTIONAL TOUR EXTENSION: 5 more nights in Badrinath

      

Day 16 or 21     Badrinath/ Auli

After breakfast, leave for Auli by bus or car. Reach Auli and transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel. Hotel: Cliff Top Club Or Similar (Meals ­ Breakfast & Dinner) 

 

 

Day 17 or 22       Auli

After breakfast, Full day free at Auli. Take cable car down to Jyoshimath, if desired. Or hike in Himalayas. Dinner & overnight at hotel.
Hotel: Cliff Top Club Or Similar (Meals ­ Breakfast & Dinner)

Auli is nestled in the lap of the snow-capped peaks of Garwal Himalayas in the Chamoli district of western Uttar-Pradesh, near the world famous religious shrine of Badrinath. At an altitude of 2,500-3,050 metres above sea level, with a vertical drop of 529 meters, Auli's well-dressed slopes are flanked by coniferous and oak forests and offer a panoramic view of Mt. Nanda Devi, Mana Parbat, Dunagiri, Beethartoli, Nilkanth, Hathi Parbat and Ghori Parbat. The rugged and snowy tettain of Auli is so challenging that it used to be a training ground for India's Para-Military Forces in the 70's.

Realizing the potential of Auli as a ski-resort, the Government of U.P. had it surveyed by French and Austrian experts who favourably compared the slopes of Auli to the best in the world. Auli is today a promising ski-spot and an ideal winter resort. Apart from Skiing Festivals being held here since 1986, National Championships under the aegis of Winter Games Federation of India have been held at Auli with technical and other backup assistance provided by various Government and adventure related agencies.

Day 18 or 23        Auli/Rishikesh

After breakfast, leave back for Rishikesh by surface. Reach Rishikesh and transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel.
Hotel: Natraj or Shreeji, or similar (Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)

  

Day 19 or 24    Rishikesh/Delhi

After breakfast, leave back for Delhi. Reach Delhi and transfer to Village BISTRO for Farewell Dinner and afterwards continue to IGI Airport and tour terminates.
Meals - Breakfast & Farewell Dinner at Village BISTRO