The Path to Enlightenment

Delhi

After breakfast, join a friend of Sodha Travel for a rickshaw ride in Chandni Chowk. Witness the architectural marvels, the multicolored facades, beautifully decorated shops, spice markets, and the fragrances emanating from the potpourri of eateries that line the historical alleys.

Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1592-1666) built the walled city of Delhi on the banks of holy River Yamuna.  It had a magnificent palace known as Red Fort, impressive mansions, enchanting bazaars, elegant shrines, royal gardens and fountains at every corner to romance ones' senses.  The Emperor’s beloved daughter Jahanara designed a major street called Chandni Chowk in front of Red Fort, with a canal running down the center and pools at major intersections reflecting the moonlight.  During the British regime, the street underwent major changes and since then this area has witnessed some of the most important events in Indian history. Today these splendid ruins and tales of valor are a testimony of the evolution of the times. Chandni Chowk truly reflects the national unity, secularism and diversity of India. 

While on the tour, stop at Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the mosque between 1644 and 1656. There are three grand gates, four towers, three domes, and two minarets constructed of red sandstone and white marble. The courtyard can accommodate 25,000 worshipers.

Continue to the Sri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, the oldest Jain temple in Delhi. It also houses a bird sanctuary and avian veterinary hospital. Jainism is a non-theistic religion founded in India in the 6th century BC by the Jina Vardhamana Mahavira as a reaction against the teachings of orthodox Brahmanism.The Jain religion teaches salvation by perfection through successive lives and non injury to living creatures.

Continue to Mehrauli and the Qutub Minar complex. Originally an ancient Islamic monument, the Qutub Minar is the tallest tower in India. Built of red sandstone and marble, the minar is not without controversy. Some believe it was built as a tower of victory to signify Muslim rule in the country, while skeptics claim it was erected to call the devoted to prayer. The complex also houses the first mosque to be built in India and an iron pillar that mysteriously has a high resistance to corrosion, even after being exposed to the natural elements for centuries. Evening at leisure and overnight.

Delhi/Agra

Today you have a day at leisure or you may board the express train to Agra. Upon arrival, visit the majestic Taj Mahal. Built in the 17th century by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj took over 22 years and 22,000 men to build. The monument is truly a wonder of the world.  Enjoy lunch with a local family and then return to Delhi by car, en-route visiting Vrindavan. 

Vrindavan, in the district of Mathura, is a replica of supreme Goloka Vrindavan in the spiritual sky. In all of India, the eighty-four-square-mile tract of land is considered to be the most sacred place of Krishna pilgrimage. Srila Prabhupada explained, “It is not that such devotees meet Krishna face to face in that tract of land, but a devotee’s eagerly searching after Krishna is as good as his seeing Him personally. How this is so cannot be explained, but it is factually realized by those who are pure devotees of the Lord.

Because Krishna, His name, form, pastimes, and remembrance are all on the absolute plane, to search for Him at Vrindavan in pure God consciousness gives more pleasure to the devotee than seeing Him face to face.” The Brahma-Samhita confirms that those devotees whose eyes are anointed with the pulp of love always see the eternal form of Shyamasundar within their hearts. Explore the town and temples, and then continue to Delhi. Overnight.

Haridwar/Rishikesh

Optional morning ceremony to celebrate the Ganges. Later, drive to Rishikesh (45 minutes), considered the heart of yoga consciousness in Northern India. Hike to the Vashishta Caves. Made famous by the ancient sage Vashishta, it has been the home to yogis for centuries, most recently the renowned Swami Purushottamananda. About a five-minute walk is another cave known as the Jesus Cave. Set in the side of a sheer cliff on the banks of the Ganga, the cave has a spectacular view of the river and the surrounding peaks of the Himalayas. The cave derived its name from the belief that Jesus spent time there during his sojourn in India during the “Lost Years.”

Return to Haridwar and overnight.

Amritsar

In the morning, visit the Golden Temple. Shining in the morning light, the gilded splendor of its paneling, dome, and minarets illustrates spiritual transcendence. The temple is a fairy palace to the devotees of the Sikh faith.

Adjacent to the temple is Langar Hall, considered the largest community kitchen in the world. In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of langar expresses the ethics of sharing, inclusiveness, and oneness. The food is freshly prepared and comprises of parshaada (roti), cooked vegetables, daal, kheer, and karaha prashad. The service is performed by the volunteers called Sewadars. This practice of selfless service goes beyond the bound of religion and serves to nourish the soul, creating a sense of unity and oneness. The experience of the Gurudwara Walk will empower you to be one of the sewadars at the Gurudwara. In the role of a sewadar, experience the ultimate joy of giving.

In the evening, experience the ceremony at Wagah Border, the border line running along the Grand Trunk Road between Amritsar in Punjab, India, and Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan. People from all across the country visit to witness the Beating Retreat Ceremony that is held daily before sunset. The ceremony includes the closing of the international gates and lowering the flags of both the countries.

The flag ceremony is conducted by the Indian Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers since 1959. Officially, the purpose of the ceremony is to formally close the border for the night and lower the national flag. However, it is an entertainment ceremony and a patriotic display for the thousands of people who attend daily.

Return to your hotel and overnight.

Ladakh

After breakfast, explore the lovely Saboo Valley and its rural landscape on foot (3 hours with shorter options), learning about the Ladakhi way of life. Your walk into the Saboo Village takes you through cultivated lands passing through the traditional houses and then walking through the valley climbing up along the old castle where you are rewarded with a 360-degree view of the the Indus Valley. Lunch at a local house with a family.

After lunch you will proceed on a gentle orientation tour of Leh. Visit the popular landmarks, which include the magnificent Leh Palace. Some of the sections display some fine traces of Ladakhi architecture. From the palace continue by foot to the LAMO [Ladakh Arts & Media Organization] Center on a short walking tour passing some amazing old houses. The centis housed in one of the most important heritage houses, Munshi (Togoche) House situated at the foot of the Leh Palace.

Following a tour of the house there will be a short presentation or talk by a Ladakhi scholar on the architectural heritage of the Old City. Enjoy an overview of the old city from the terrace of the Munshi House as you sip the special Ladakhi tea with light snacks. The heritage exploration continues from the Munshi House through the old city ending in the bazaar.

Later in the afternoon, enjoy a drive to Shanti Stupa for a sunset view across the Indus Valley. Overnight.

Ladakh

After early tea/coffee you will be driven to Stok Village at Dhamma House (Meditation Class) to meet with the teacher, who will guide you to a one-hour meditation class. After breakfast you will be driven to Alchi through the Ladakh countryside. Upon arrival, you will visit the one of the oldest monasteries Alchi Gompa , known more as a monastic complex (chos-'khor) of temples in Alchi Village. The complex comprises four separate settlements in the Alchi Village in the lower Ladakh region with monuments dating to different periods. Of these four hamlets, Alchi Monastery is said to be the oldest and most famous.

Afternoon at leisure and overnight.