Experience Religious Pilgrimage Tour Packages
“The journey not the arrival matters.” – T.S. EliotExperience Religious Pilgrimage Tour Packages
13 days Religious Travel India is a combination of a cultural India tour and a religious India tour. It is a good combination of the traditional Indian holiday tour, Golden Triangle with the temples of Varanasi and Orissa. This classical Indian tour takes you through the Mughal Delhi, Jaipur in Rajasthan, Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal and Fort in the Mughal Agra, the temples and burning ghats of Banaras and the most religious temples of Puri and of course the world famous Konark Sun Temple.
Religious travel is picking up in a big way. Everybody wants to embark on a spiritual journey and this is no longer limited to old people. Young people want to grab experiences and in pursuit of all such things they want to visit different places of religious significance across the country. This 13 day Religious Travel tour, gives you a unique opportunity to explore the cultural and traditional side of our country. It is an ideal melange of the traditional Indian holiday where you get to see the magnificent temples of both Varanasi and Orissa. This amazing tour takes you through the narrow lanes of Delhi, beautiful monuments of Jaipur in Rajasthan, ruins of Fatehpur Sikri, magnificent and alluring Taj Mahal, burning Manikarnika Ghat of Banaras and religious temples of Puri and not to miss the world famous Sun Temple in Konark.
DURATION: 13 DAYS AND 12 NIGHTS
CITIES COVERED: (8) New Delhi(1) → Jaipur(2) → Agra(1) → Varanasi(1) → Bhubhneshwar(1) → Konark(0) → Puri(2) → Calcutta(1)
YOUR EXPERIENCES AT A GLANCE
The East India Religious tour begins with arrival in Delhi, where we will transfer you to the hotel of your choice. Once you reach, commence your tour of Delhi with a visit to various tourist hot places in Old Delhi such as Jama Masjid, The Red Fort, Chandini Chowk etc. Visit the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri i.e Raj Ghat and Vijay Ghat. Jama Masjid is the largest mosque in the country with the capacity of housing more than 2500 people. The old Delhi provides you a feel of Mughal times. The remains of the grandeur can be seen even now. Basically, for 200 years, it was the main residence of Mughal rulers. Chandini Chowk is an ideal place for food lovers and shopping enthusiasts. The colorful vibe and feel of Chandini Chowk will just amaze you. Then proceed to visit Qutab Minar, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was constructed by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in 1199. Finish with a visit to Humayun's Tomb and Lodhi Gardens.
In the evening you must drive past the India Gate, which is just beautifully lit. Last of all you must visit the Lakshmi Narayan Temple. It is an outstanding piece of modern architecture. Drive past Parliament House, President's House, and Government Secretariat Buildings and Connaught Place shopping area. Overnight stay is in Delhi. Delhi is full of nice party places and eating joints. Try any of the multi-cuisine restaurants in Delhi and enjoy a scrumptious meal.
In the morning you can leave for Jaipur. Both the cities are well- connected via National Highway 48. It takes roughly 5 hrs to cover this distance of 268 kms. Once you reach Jaipur, you can visit Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar, which are some of the most famous monuments in the city. Jaipur is referred to as ‘Pink City’. It offers a mix of old world feel and modern lifestyle. There are nice palaces turned hotels here, which offer amazing Rajasthani hospitality. The vitality and attractions of Jaipur will infuse fun and enthusiasm in your trip. Check out superb mirror work of Sheesh Mahal, Jai Mandir, Sukh Niwas etc. You must also visit tourist hot spots like City Palace, Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Amber Fort etc. Do some shopping at the popular bazaars in Jaipur such as Johri Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar etc. Overnight stay is in Jaipur.
In the morning after having your breakfast you can go visit Amer Fort. It is a lovely palace complex made of pale yellow-pink sandstone and marble. It demonstrates gleaming architecture. Check out some wonderful mirror work at Jai Mandir, Sheesh Mahal, Sukh Niwas etc. In the afternoon you should proceed for city tour of Jaipur. The entire city carries a pink hue. Basically, it was painted in pink color in honor of British Prince who was visiting it. In case you love to indulge in some shopping, visit the colorful bazaars of Jaipur where you can buy items such as gem stones, jewelry, colored fabric, marble artifacts, tie and dye material etc. Some of the well known bazaars in Jaipur are Johri Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar etc. Overnight stay is in Jaipur.
After Jaipur the next destination where you need to head is to Agra, City of Taj Mahal, "World’s most sought after monument”. Enroute you can visit Fatehpur Sikri. This is a city, which is made completely in red sandstone. It was built by Mughal King Akbar in 1569 to commemorate his victory over Gujarat. The city was abandoned due to scarcity of water. Now, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and people come here, especially to see Buland Darwaza, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Jama Masjid, Panch Mahal etc. After this proceed towards Agra. The evening is at leisure. Overnight stay is in hotel of your choice in Agra.
In the morning, proceed to see Taj Mahal, which is one of the most famous monuments in the entire world. It is built by Mughal King Shahjahan in memory of his beloved wife Queen Mumtaz Mahal. The mortal remains of the queen are enclosed inside a mausoleum here. Later on, you can visit other places of interest in Agra such as Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, Agra Fort, Akbar’s Tomb, Jama Masjid etc. Agra has some very nice shopping places such as TDI Mall, Kinari Bazar, Raja Ki Mandi, Sadar Bazar etc. Later in the evening, leave for the Tundla railway station in time to catch the train for Varanasi. The night is spent on the train.
In the morning, when you reach the ancient city of Varanasi you will be transferred to hotel of your choice. The day is at leisure. You must visit the famous Hindu Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Varanasi is regarded as one of the oldest cities in the world with a history of over 5000 years. In the evening you can visit the Ghats to see the beautiful evening Aarti Ceremony by the Ganges. Overnight stay is in Varanasi.
In the morning, go for the boat ride on River Ganges. Visit the most renowned ghats, of Varanasi, Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats. These are frequented by thousands of devotees. These ghats are known not just for taking a dip, but also for the cremation purposes. It is believed that if you are cremated at the burning ghats of Varanasi you will attain salvation. The funeral pyres burn here all the time. The remaining part of the day is at leisure. Leave for the railway station on time in order to catch train for Bhubaneswar. Night is on board.
As you reach Bhubaneshwar, you will be transferred to the hotel of your choice. Bhubaneshwar is capital of state of Odisha. The city boasts of a history of more than 3,000 years. Bhubaneswar receives its name from Tribhubaneswar, which means Lord Shiva. Bhubaneswar is also referred to as the Temple City of India. There are more than a thousand temples here. Some of the popular temples in Bhubaneshwar are Lingaraj Temple, Muktesvara Temple, Parasuramesvara Temple, Rajarani Temple, and Ananta Vasudeva Temple.
Then there are Khandagiri & Udayagiri caves which were built in 1st century by the Chedi rulers. The caves contain Jain temple. These have inscriptions providing an account of life during that period. You should also go and see Edicts of Emperor Ashoka. These are carved in rock just 8 kms away. The majority of the temples located here are made between 7th to 11th century. They are dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are only two Vishnu Temples are i.e. Ananta Vasudeva Temple and Bindusagar Tank. A tour of these three cities i.e Bhubaneshwar, Konark and Puri is are referred to as Golden Triangle Tour of the East India.
Bhubaneswar is also popular due to Oriya cinema industry. This is popularly known as Ollywood. Other place of interest, which you can visit during the day is Nandankanan Zoological Park. This beautiful botanical garden has an exquisite collection of exotic regional fauna. Also, if you want to visit the tribal areas, Bhubaneshwar is regarded as a base. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight stay is in Bhubaneshwar.
In the morning, you can leave Bhubaneshwar by road to Konark. It is located at a distance of 54 kms and roughly takes 1 hr 30 mins to reach it. Konark is known for its Sun Temple. It was built in the 13th century. It is a Black Pagoda made in black granite. The name Konark comes from Sanskrit words 'Kona' which means the angle and 'Arka' which means the Sun. This temple is dedicated to the Sun God. It is designed as a big chariot of the Sun God with twelve pairs of wheels. Some of these wheels are 3 meters wide. They are pulled by the seven horses. This temple is now in ruins, but it is a World Heritage Site. Every year Konark Dance Festival happens here. It is devoted to classical Indian dance forms, this includes the very famous dance Odissi. After seeing Konark, you must proceed towards Puri. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight stay is in Puri.
You have a full day to see different places of interest in this religious town of Puri. Puri is basically one of the holiest places for the Hindus. It is referred to by different names such as Jagannath Puri, Neelachala, Shankhakshetra, Srikshetra, Purusottama Puri, Neeladri, etc. Every pious Hindu wants to make a pilgrimage tour to the four temples towns i.e. Badrinath, Rameshwaram, Dwarika and Puri at least once in his life. One of the four Mathas are located in Puri. It was established by Adi Shankaracharya. The others mathas are at Sringeri, Jyotirmath, and Dwarika. Jagannath Temple not open to non-Hindus. Overnight stay is in Puri.
In the morning you must head for the beach. Puri is the only place where you will see Radha, Sati, Durga, Lakshmi Parvati and Shakti abode with Lord Krishna. Thousands of pilgrims come to Puri each year to be a part of the famous Ratha Yatra (Festival of Chariots). Leave for the railway station on time to catch train for Kolkata. Overnight on board.
In the morning once you reach Kolkata, you will be transferred to hotel of your choice. Kolkata is a hugely important commercial and cultural hub of the country. Kolkata is popularly referred to as 'City of Joy'. It is Cultural Capital of our country. The Bengalis of Kolkatta are known to be cultured and soft spoken.
Visit the most important Jain Temple, which is dedicated to Parasvanath, who is the 23rd Jain Tirthankara. The temple complex comprises of four temples. The deity of Lord Sitalnathji is put on sanctum Sanctorum. The diamond-studded forehead of the deity is a key attraction. Then you can proceed to visit Victoria Memorial. It is one of the most beautiful monuments built completely in white marble. It was made between 1906 and 1921. The memorial was built by Lord Curzon, in memory of his Queen Empress. It has lovely paintings, manuscripts, and other items of historic value. The Museum and Art Gallery is closed for public viewing on Mondays and National Holidays.
Other places to check out during your visit are the Howrah Bridge, Secretariat Building Dalhousie Square, Fort Williams, and Old Court House Street. Dalhousie Square is named in memory of Lord Dalhousie who was the Governor General of India from 1847 to 1856. Later it was renamed as BBD Bagh after the three famous patriots of Bengal. Then you must visit Town Hall, St. John's Church, Gothic style Writer's Building etc . Overnight stay is in Kolkata.
Leave for the airport on time and board a flight for Delhi. In Delhi you will have no hotel stay as you will board a flight to your home destination. This is the end of your East India Religious Trip.
INCLUSIONS
- Everyday complimentary breakfast with hotel stay.
- Guide with good communication skills in English during sightseeing will be provided.
- Pick and drop from the airport & sightseeing according to the itinerary by Air – Conditioned Indigo/ Swift Dzire for 02 Guests and Toyota Innova/ Maruti Ertiga for 04-06 Guests/ All these vehicles have ALL INDIA TOURIST PERMIT.
EXCLUSIONS
- The entrance fees, taxes, airfare, Rates of the Hotel and Transportation rates etc are as in now and any price hikes in the future will be charged extra.
- The rates mentioned above are applicable from 1st Oct’2018 to 31st Mar’2019 except the peak season ie from 22nd Dec to 4th Jan’2019.
- Our trained chauffeurs will offer you a comfortable and a safe journey and are well aware of all the routes / itinerary but he will not be responsible for explaining any sightseeing spots/monuments etc. and for this you can take the assistance of the guides on additional cost.
- The information above is simply a proposal and we are not doing any booking as in now. Booking is subject to availability and once confirmed by the client with all the details about the guests, number of people traveling & assurance to book.
- For more information and booking details click on:
- The Jurisdiction Clause: Any disagreements arising out of this conformity or any other successive agreement will be an issue forwarded to the Delhi Courts only.
