Itinerary

Day 1:

Delhi

Arrival in Delhi and transfer to Hotel.

Day 2:

Delhi

Morning reserved for your own program of yoga, meditation.
Afternoon visit Red Fort, Lal Mandir, Gauri-Sankar Temple, Lakshmi-Narayana Temple (aka Birla Temple), Qutab Minar, Jama Masjid. Evening: witness sufi rituals including Quawali music at the tomb of Hazarat Nizzamuddin (Thursday only). Transfer to railway station for overnight train.

Day 3:

Dharamsala

Arrive Patankot at 6:20 and drive to Dharamsala. Overnight at the Clouds End Villa, a charming residence tucked between Lower and Upper Dharamsala. It has a total of six suites. It is a sprawling nine acre property with its own step field, gardens and forests. Cloud End was recommended in the Tatlers Travel guide 1993 as one ot the fifty best hotels in the world.
Clouds End Villa is the residence of the Raja of Lambagraon-Kangra. It was built during the British period and have seven rooms to rent. In this glorious old fashioned bungalow with an annexe which has views of the Kangra Valley below. There is a charming walk through the adjoining forests to Macleodganj, w here you can visit the headquarters of H.H. the Dalai Lama. The master chef's family has been with the Raja for generations. You can just relax, go trekking, boating, visit forts and temples (there are over three hundred temples in the Kangra District).

Day 4:

Dharamsala

Early morning, 6 am, walk to Namgyal Monastery (Dalai Lama's monastery) to witness monks chanting/meditation. 7-8 am meditation, walk circumambulate the monastery complex. The walk, which takes twenty-thirty minutes, is a breath-taking and inspiring experience--not to be missed!
The Namgyal Monastery which houses the Buddhist School of Dialectics, is known as the "Tsuglagkhang" or cathedral. It is right opposite the Dalai Lama's residence. It resembles the center of a similar one in Lhasa. Inside are large gilded bronze statues of the Buddha and it is a good place to chat with the monks. Next to the Tsuglagkhang is the Kalachakra Temple with modern murals of mandalas - protectors of the Dharma, as well as Buddhist masters,
with the central image being of the Shakhyamuni. Sand Mandalas are constructed throughout the year. This temple is particularly important as it practices Kalachakra Tantra, which is instrumental in bringing about world peace and harmony. If the Dalai Lama is in Dharamsala he leads the prayers on special occasions.
Return to hotel for breakfast. After breakfast walking tour of Dharamsala's monasteries, nuns house, main prayer wheel.
Evening talk & meditation at Tushita Meditation Center, 5-7 pm (based on availability, date and time to be confirmed).

Day 5:

Dharamsala

After breakfast, excursion to Norbulinka Institute which is a major center for Buddhist teaching and practical work. Named after the summer residence of the Seventh Dalai Lama, it was set up to ensure the survival of Tibetan Buddhism cultural heritage. Over one hundred students learn a variety of crafts in wood, metal, silk and thangka painting. The temple has a 4.5 meter high gilded statue of The Buddha and over one thousand painted images.
Attend early evening puja at Kalachakra Temple.

Day 6:

Dharamsala

Morning yoga and meditation.
Afternoon visit SOS children's village. SOS Children's Village is situated 8 km outside the town, at the foot of the Dhauladhar Mountains, which are part of the Himalayas. It consists of fourty four large family houses, a baby home, a community house, and the necessary administration and service area. More than two thousand children and youngsters live at this SOS Children's Village. Since each mother has many children to take care of, all the meals are prepared at a central kitchen and then distributed to the families.
The SOS Kindergarten and the SOS Hermann Gmeiner School (primary and secondary school) are not only attended by children from the village but also by Tibetan children living in the neighbourhood. The large SOS Vocational Training Centre offers courses in arts and crafts. SOS mothers and co-workers of Tibetan Children's Villages are trained at a special training centre. At Dharamsala, there is also an SOS Medical Centre, which is open to the local community.
The SOS Children's Village has two SOS Youth Facilities, one for girls and one for boys. Young people usually move from the SOS Children's Village to an SOS Youth Facility when they start a vocational training course or go on to higher education. With the support of qualified youth workers, the young people develop realistic perspectives for their future, learn to shoulder responsibility and increasingly make their own decisions. They are encouraged to develop team spirit and build up contacts with relatives and friends, as well as with the relevant authorities and potential employers.
Dinner and drive to Pathankot for overnight train.

Day 7:

Dharamsala - Amritsar

Morning yoga and meditation. Afterbreakfast drive to Amritsar. Overnight at Ritz Plaza. lunch enroute.
Amritsar is one of the most ancient and fascinating cities of India. It is an important seat of Sikh history and culture. Being the gateway for travellers coming to India on the overland route from central Asia it soon became the centre of various commercial activities and has various historical and religious sites. The most famous of them all is the Golden Temple which was founded by the fourth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Ramdas and completed by his successor Guru Arjan Dev. Sunset visit Goldden Temple.

Day 8:

Mandalay

Early morning transfer railway station to connect Jan Shatabadi to Haridwar. Spend this afternoon in Haridwar, can visit the Neel Parvat Temple, dedicated to Goddess Chandi Devi (Durga), which is on top of a hill overlooking the Ganges about 6 km from Haridwar. We get up to the temple by a ropeway. All the local Indian women will be there performing devotionals to the goddess.
Evening attend the prayer ceremony to witness aarti (ceremony of lights) at the Ganges, starts at 6:15p, we'll enjoy the pre- ceremony festivities on the promenade. Afterwards drive onward to Rishikesh (approx 20 min). Overnight Glass House, located 23 kms. above Rishikesh on the route to Badrinath.
The Glasshouse on the Ganges, like the other Neemrana 'non-hotel' Hotels, honours both an extraordinary historical site as well as a magical natural spot. Set in a lychees and mango orchard of The Maharaja of Tehri Garhwal, with a garden of tropical plants, full of rare birds and butterflies, it has a sand beach of its own. This secluded property has six cottages overlooking the Ganges and the mountains beyond.
The water of Ganges here matches the qualities of the best mineral waters in the world, which you can bathe in! The Glasshouse offers leisure, reading, log fires and even a barbecue near the banks of the river. You can sunbathe, jungle walk, river raft and can fish with a permit. Water skiing in Dak Pathar near Dehradun and winter sports in Auli are recommended. Or you can visit the neighbouring temples and ashrams for evening arti.

Day 9:

Rishikesh

Morning reserved for yoga, meditation. Afternoon walking tour across Lakshman Jhula Bridge along the river visiting several ashrams including Ved Niketan, OmKarananda and Vanprasth and culminating at Triveni Ghat (a car will take us to the start of the walk and pick us up at Triveni).
Evening chanting at Shivanada Ashram 4:30-6pm; Bhajan, Kirtan and Ganga Arati 5:30-6pm. There is also a daily yoga class at Kripalu yoga ashram at 4pm which may be attended (instead of the above) if interested (cost not included in price).

Day 10:

Rishikesh

Morning reserved for yoga, meditation. After lunch, visit an ancient cave where one of the saints attained enlightenment. It has a small ashram next to it and a small temple outside the cave. The Ganges flows right outside the cave.
Depart for Delhi by Shatabdi Express. Transfer to guesthouse.

Day 11:

Agra

Early morning Shatabdi Express to Agra, Dep 615 am, arr 830 am. Visit Taj Mahal & Agra Fort.

Day 12:

Optional sunrise visit to Taj Mahal. After breakfast, drive to Delhi. Transfer to hotel; shared rooms for wash/change. Farewell Dinner at the Sahara Restaurant. A village style garden restaurant serving choicest Indian Mughlai food. Late night transfer to intl airport for flight home.

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