Spiritual Tour of India

DELHI – AMRITSAR – DHARAMSALA – RISHIKESH – HARIDWAR – DELHI

September 28 - October 11, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overview

 

India is a fascinating and spiritual country, with many philosophical traditions. On this tour, you will explore some of India's most important traditions: Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, Jainism, Yoga, and Sikhism. We will explore their common roots and discover ways to imbue our modern yoga practice with ancient mysticism and new depths of understanding. (No previous yoga experience necessary.)

 

Delve into the incredible outer world of some of the most historic and vibrant cities on Earth while discovering new inner realms through the daily practice of Tantric Hatha Yoga. By removing ourselves from our native culture, we open to new ways of looking at the world and the Self. Our journey will give us the perspective to bring the invaluable lessons of Yoga back home to create the life we most aspire to live.

 

 

Days                                                    Dates                                       Highlights

Day 1                 Saturday          Sept 28, 2019                     Arrival in New Delhi

Day 2                 Sunday            Sept 29, 2019                     City Tour of Old Delhi

Day 3                 Monday           Sept 30, 2019                     Visit Golden Temple in Amritsar

Day 4                 Tuesday          Oct 01,   2019                      Amritsar to Mcleodganj, Dharamsala

Day 5                 Wednesday     Oct 02,   2019                     Dalai Lama Teaching

Day 6                 Thursday         Oct 03,   2019                     Norbulingka Monastery

Day 7                  Friday             Oct 04,   2019                      Hiking to Bhagasu Temple & Waterfall

Day 8                 Saturday         Oct 05,   2019                      Overnight Train to Rishikesh

Day 9                 Sunday            Oct 06,   2019                      Beatles Ashram & Aarti

Day 10               Monday           Oct 07,   2019                     Sivananda Ashram & ISKCON Aarti

Day 11               Tuesday          Oct 08,    2019                     Temple Visit & Aarti in Haridwar

Day 12               Wednesday     Oct 09,   2019                     Optional Ayurveda Lecture/Massage

Day 13               Thursday         Oct 10,   2019                     Rishikesh to Delhi, Lodhi Gardens

Day14                Friday              Oct 11,   2019                      Depart for home

 

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Detailed Itinerary

 

Day 1, Saturday, September 28: Arrival New Delhi. 

 

Arrival in India.  Our representative will receive you at the airport. Assistance and transfer to your hotel. 

 

Day 2, Sunday, September 29: Delhi Tour

 

After breakfast, enjoy a full day Delhi city tour. Take a tricycle ride in Old Delhi passing through Chandni Chowk (Moonlight Square), the busiest market area in Delhi dating back to 1638 and now home to silversmiths, repair shops, clothiers, spicy street food vendors, and traditional sweetmeat shops. Walk through the colorful spice market.  

In the afternoon, Visit Hindu Lakshmi-Narayan Temple to get a brief introduction to Hinduism. This temple is dedicated to the Goddess Lakshmi (the Bestower of Wealth, Fortune and Prosperity) & her husband Lord Vishnu (The Preserver of the Universe). 

In the evening, visit the India Gate. Drive past the President’s house and Parliament. 

 

Day 3, Monday, September 30: Delhi - Amritsar 

 

Early morning transfer to railway station to catch a train to Amritsar. Arrival & transfer to the hotel. In the evening visit the most sacred place of pilgrimage for the Sikhs, "The Golden Temple" with its scenic beauty of a gold coating and gold-laden dome. In its complex is the world's largest community kitchen serving free food twice a day to 25,000-30,000 people per day every single day of the year!

 

Day 4, Tuesday, October 1: Amritsar- Dharamshala 

 

After Breakfast, depart for Dharamshala by road. This little town is where the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Kingdom in exile have resided since 1959. Have lunch on arrival and walk through the main Tibetan square. 

Check in at the Tsechokling Tibetan Monastery. 

Evening Yoga.

 

Day 5, Wednesday, October 2: Mcleodgang, Dharamsala

 

Early breakfast, and then proceed for Dalai Lama teaching at the main Tibetan Buddha Temple. Later visit the Dalai Lama Buddhist Temple with its magnificent figures of Lord Buddha & Padmasambhava.  After lunch, walk through the beautiful forest surrounding the Dalai Lama Temple with its thousands of prayer wheels and flags. 

Free time in the Tibetan market. 

Evening Yoga.

 

Day 6, Thursday, October 3: Mcleodgang, Dharamsala 

 

Morning Tibetan Yoga session with a local Tibetan Yoga Teacher. 

After breakfast visit to the beautiful and serene Norbulingka Monastery and Institute of Tibetan Art & Culture. 

From the moment you step inside the gates of Norbulingka, it is as if you are transported to a different world. Gurgling streams run through immaculately maintained Japanese styled gardens, while birds of all different species can be seen flittering among the treetops. The architecture, built in traditional Tibetan style gives a feeling of returning to old Tibet.

Evening Yoga.

 

Day 7, Friday, October 4: Mcleodgang, Dharmasala

 

Morning Yoga. 

After breakfast, light hike through the Himalayan Cedar forest to visit the ancient "Bhagasu Nag Temple" dedicated to Lord Shiva. Walk to the nearby famous Bhagusu Waterfalls. 

Evening Yoga.

 

 

Day 8, Saturday, October 5: McLeodganj-Pathankot-Rishikesh

 

Morning Yoga.

Free time until 15:00 hours.

Departure at 15:30 by car to Pathankot for boarding the overnight train in an air-conditioned cabin to Rishikesh. 

 

 

Day 9, Sunday, October 6: Rishikesh 

 

Morning arrival at Haridwar train station. Transfer to hotel in Rishikesh for early morning check-in. 

After breakfast leave for local sightseeing in Rishikesh. After lunch, visit the famous Beatles Ashram in the middle of the forest where the English rock band members spent their 2-month stay in 1968 and composed songs becoming part of the White Album and Abbey Road. 

In the evening, witness the fascinating Hindu fire and lamp ceremony "Aarti" with Vedic hymns sung on the banks of river Ganges at Parmarth Niketan Ashram. 

 

 

Day 10, Monday, October 7: Rishikesh

 

Morning Yoga. 

After breakfast, visit Sivananda Ashram. In the afternoon visit ISKCON Temple, known as " Hare Krishna Hare Rama " Temple. 

Evening meditation at Kriya Yoga Ashram.

Evening Yoga. 

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Day 11, Tuesday, October 8: Rishikesh- Haridwar- Rishikesh 

 

Morning Yoga. 

After breakfast, leave for Haridwar. On the way, visit the shrine of Neem Karoli Baba - a Hindu mystic, and devotee of the Hindu deity, Hanuman. He is known outside of India for being the guru of a number of Americans who traveled to India in the 1960s and 1970s, the most well-known being spiritual teachers Ram Dass and Bhagavan Das, and musicians Krishna Das and Jai Uttal. Other of his famous followers include Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg & Julia Roberts. We will have a short meditation in the temple's Meditation Cave. 

Proceed to Haridwar, known as "The Gateway to God." Haridwar is one of the oldest living cities and one of the seven holiest places in India. Every evening, the river comes alive with the magic of the "Aarti" (worship with fire), as lamps are lit, prayers are offered, and small candles are floated down the river with thousands of devotees singing the devotional songs. 

 

 

Day 12, Wednesday, October 9. Rishikesh 

 

Morning Yoga. 

Rest of the day free for optional activities:  Ayurveda Lecture, Ayurvedic Massage, and Ayurvedic cooking class. 

Evening Yoga.

 

Day 13, Thursday, October 10. Rishikesh- Delhi

 

Early morning train with a packed breakfast to Delhi. Arrive at Mid-day. Those who are staying overnight or have an early morning flight check-in at the hotel.

In the evening, visit the beautiful Lodhi garden for a final yoga session. 

Those who have flights the same day proceed to the airport. Others back to the hotel. 

 

Day 14, Friday, October 11

 

Departure as per the flight details. 

 

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IMPORTANT:

A NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT OF 50% OF TRIP PRICE IS DUE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT. The remaining balance will be due by August 15, 2019. Payments may be made by check written to Jessica Lohrey. Credit card transactions are available through Paypal. A 3% processing fee will be added to credit card transactions. Please email Jessica@treeofindia.com with any questions. Please be advised that due to the importance of early hotel bookings during the Dalai Lama's visit to Dharamsala, we are unable to refund payments.

 

Price includes:

• Airport transfers. All road transfers will be in a vehicle equipped with air conditioning.

• Train transfers:  Delhi-Amritsar, Haridwar-Rishikesh, Rishikesh-Delhi with AC wagon

• Hotel in double sharing rooms in boutique hotels, superior bed and breakfast and heritage properties, which all include breakfast. In Mcleodganj, you will stay in a Buddhist Monastery guest house.

• Indian Tour Leader (Jagdish Thakur) for the whole tour

• Meditation and yoga sessions with Jessica Lohrey

• City walk & rickshaw ride in Old Delhi

• Dalia Lama teaching on Oct. 2nd. 

• 1 Tibetan Yoga Class in Dharamsala

• Entry to the Norbulingka Monastery in Dharamsala

• Hiking to Bhagasu waterfall

• Entry to the Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh

• Visit to Sivananda Ashram & ISKCON temple

• Meditation session at Kriya Yoga Ashram

 

Price excludes:

• International flights and airport taxes

• Unspecified food and/or beverages

• Personal Extras and Tips

• Trip Insurance (Required). Contact Jessica for insurance recommendations.

• Any other item not mentioned as included

 

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