North India Spiritual Journey

Welcome to India. You will be picked up from the airport and dropped off at your hotel. 

Tour some of the capital city’s most impressive and significant monuments. Stop by the Qutub Minar, built in the early 1200s, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a towering symbol of Islamic and Indian design. Spend time strolling through the tranquil Lodhi Gardens, stopping by the time-worn tombs of some of Delhi’s former rulers. Visit some of New Delhi’s most visited religious sites, including the Bahai House of Worship, a lotus-shaped temple that is open to everyone. Later, head to the ISKCON temple dedicated to the Hindu God Krishna. Get an insight into the books and teachings central to Hinduism at the Vedic Cultural Center.

Leave New Delhi for Dharamsala by flight. You will be picked up from your hotel and dropped off at the airport. Upon reaching Dharamsala, you will be transferred to your hotel by car. 

Explore this beautiful town located on the foothills of the Himalayas and surrounded by dense, lush green forests. Delve into Tibetan culture at the Norbulingka Institute, browsing through literary works and admiring the intricate art. Go museum hopping in Mcleodganj and attend engaging performances at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts. Spend time at the Namgyal Monastery, the home of the Dalai Lama and get an insight into Tibetan Buddhism. Stop by the Tibetan Children’s Village School, an NGO working towards supporting Tibetan refugee children. Monetary donations are welcome and go towards providing the children with education and a safe environment to grow in. Find out more about the ancient Tibetan system of medicine at the Men-Tsee-Khang (Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute). Experience a one-hour meditation session at Tushita Meditation Centre, which aims to provide a space for people to study and practice Buddhism from the Tibetan Mahayana tradition.

Leave from Dharamsala to Amritsar in a private, chauffeur driven car. The duration of the car ride is around six hours. 

Experience divinity at the Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara, popularly known as the Golden Temple, in Amritsar, the holiest shrine of the Sikhs. Witness the Palki Sahib, a nightly ceremony where the most sacred book of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib, is carried in procession from the main shrine to its nightly resting place, the Akal Takht. Watch male pilgrims form a human conveyer belt, carry the heavy palanquin, pass it from devotee to devotee, and enjoy the privilege of being part of this meaningful ceremony. You could also spend time in the langar (free kitchen) of the gurudwara in the morning. Watch volunteers cook up food in huge containers and watch how thousands of devotees from all walks of life are fed a wholesome, nutritious meal throughout the day. Next, head to the Jallianwala Bagh, a memorial commemorating the victims of a deadly massacre that took place in 1919 when the British opened fire and killed hundreds of peaceful protesters. Savour the flavours of the city on a food walk to some of its most iconic sweet shops. End the day with a visit to the Wagah border, the border between India and Pakistan, and witness a highly charged ceremonial changing of guards and the closing of the gates in the evening.

Transfer from your hotel to the train station. Transfer from the train station to your hotel by car. 

Explore Haridwar, a pilgrimage town on the foothills of the mighty Himalayas where the Ganges exits the Himalayas. Take the ropeway to the top of the Neel Parvat mountain to reach the famous Chandi Devi Temple. Take in serene views of the lush greenery and the river flowing in the distance before moving onto the Mansa Devi Temple that sits on the neighbouring mountains, the Bilwa Parvat. Stroll the famous Har Ki Pauri ghat and stop by the large footprint, believed to belong to the Hindu God Vishnu, one of the Trinity deities. Soak up the sights and sounds of a divine evening Aarti performed by local priests and watch devotees float lamps in the river, its flickering lights adding to the mystical ambience.

Cover the one hour journey from Haridwar to Rishikesh in a private, chauffeur driven car.

Experience a different kind of energy and peace as you witness a sunset Ganga Aarti at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram. Feel the spiritual energy as priests perform the aarti to the Holy Ganges, and the air fills with bhajans (devotional songs). Explore Vashishta Gufa, a twin cave temple believed to be the meditation spot of the Hindu sage Vashishta. Walk across the famous Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula, iron suspension bridges that hang over the Ganges. Navigate through the narrow alleys and bylanes of the town and browse through the many shops selling souvenirs and assorted goods. Spend time at Ramana’s Garden, a home and orphanage for at-risk children from India and Nepal.

Head out from Rishikesh to Dehradun Airport in a private, chauffeur-driven car. The duration of the car ride is 1.5 hours. Take a flight to Varanasi via Delhi. You will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your hotel. 

Dive straight into the hustle and bustle of Varanasi with a tour of the local market. Go on a cruise around the Ganges and watch the city from the waters. Be part of a mesmerising Ganga Aarti, a prayer ceremony in honour of Goddess Ganga and watch devotees pay their respects and present their offerings to the holy river. 

Start the next day with a beautiful sunrise boat ride along the Ganges. Hop off the boat and find your way through the maze of bustling ghats and temples along the river's shores. After a hearty breakfast, head to the Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum to admire architectural relics and artworks. Visit a nearby village, get insight into rural life, and spend time at the 18th-century Ramnagar Fort. Explore the ruins of Sarnath, where Lord Buddha gave his first talk after enlightenment. Do note that the Sarnath Museum is closed on Fridays. If you’re keen to learn a new language, grasp the basics of Hindi during a fun and entertaining 1.5-hour-long Hindi session with Binit Kumar Mishra, an expert Hindi language teacher.

Transfer from your hotel to Varanasi airport. Take a flight from Varanasi to New Delhi. Transfer from the airport to your hotel.

Transfer from your hotel to the airport. Check in for your international departure.