ThreeWeeks Pilgrimage in Uttaranchal –Himalayas
“The Land of God”
Dates: May 30th to June 19th2009
Special days: Ganga Dashara (Day of Ganga) – June 2nd,Full Moon –June7th
ITINERARY:
Delhi – Haridwar – Rishikesh – Uttarkashi – Gangotri – Gomukh – Tapovan –Uttarkashi – Jyotirmath – Badrinath –Rishikesh – Haridwar - Delhi
DAY 1 – May 30th: Arrival at DelhiAirport
Transfer to hotel, dinner and over night at the hotel.
(Hotel Delhi 1 night)SURYA SHELTER/ HOTEL PERFECT
DAY 2 – May 31st: Delhi – Rishikesh (240km, 6 to 7hrs drive)
After TM programme and breakfast,drive to Rishikesh, lunch on the way. Arrival at Rishikesh, check-in hotel or ashram, rest,TM programme,dinner, evening walk along the Ganges, overnight at hotel or ashram.NARAYANA SPA &RESORT
DAY 3 – June 1st: Rishikesh (altitude 356m)
Morning dip in the Ganges, TM programme, breakfast. Visit Rishikesh, Laxman Jula, Arti at Manikarnika Ghatat sun set viewed from boat ride on the Ganges. After lunch, visit of Vashishta Cave (where Vasishta is supposed to have meditated), Puja and group meditation in deep silence of the cave. Back to Rishikesh, TM programme, dinner and boat ride on the Ganges at sun set for Arti Puja.
(Hotel or ashram Rishikesh 2 nights)NARAYANA SPA &RESORT
DAY 4 – June 2nd: Rishikesh –Uttarkashi (149km, 6 to 7 hrs drive, altitude 1885m)
Morning dip in the Ganges. After TM programme and breakfast, drive to Uttarkashi. Lunch on the way, stop on the way to visit house where Maharishi stayed, Puja and goup meditation in cave where Maharishi meditated.
Arrival at Uttarkashi –hotel check-in, TM programme, dinner and rest.
(Hotel Uttarkashi 1 night)
DAY 5 – June 3rd: Uttarkashi – Gangotri (100 km, 4 hrs drive, altitude 3140 m)
After TM programme and breakfast, visit of ViswanathTemple in Uttarkashi. Then drive to Gangotri with stop midway at Gangnani, take bath at hot spring.All the way one drives along bank of river Bhagirathi(Ganga).Arrival at Gangotri guest houseor ashram. TM programme, dinner, 7pm nice Arti for Mother Ganga, rest.
DAY 6 –June 4th: Gangotri
One day of restand altitude acclimatization – Morning dip in the Bhagirathi next to GangotriTemple; visit of the temple, enjoying the serenity of Gangotri where many pilgrims assemble, the spectacular water fall of BhagirathiRiver.
(Guest house or ashram Gangotri 2 nights)
DAY 7 – June 5th: Gangotri – Bhojbasa (14 km, 5 to 6hrs on trek, altitude 3800m)
Start trek to Bhojbasa after TM programme and breakfast. You enter the national park, walk on side of BhagirathiRiver in a breathtaking scenery, a magnificent view onShiv Ling Mountain.
There is the possibility to rest and take hot drinks and water at various places in comfortable small tent shops. All along the way, there will be possibilities to continue the trek on mule back.
On arrival, TM programme, enjoy the incredible scenery and sight of ShivLingMountain, dinner and rest under tent or government guest house, according to availability.
DAY 8 – June 6th: Bhojbasa – Gomukh,the mouth of the world (4 km, altitude 4000 m)
After TM programme and breakfast, trek to Gomukh. Puja, dip and group meditation.
This the snout of the Gangotri Glacier and the present source of Bhagirathi River, which joins with Alaknanda River, to form Ganga at the craggy-carved town of Devprayag. It is particularly auspicious to take a dip at the source of the Holy Ganges.
Then trek to Tapovan–"the Abode of the Gods" (altitude 4500 m). The trail is passing over the Glacier above Gomukh, then 400m steep. Tapovan is a very special place where Yogis and Sadhus recluse meditate in surrounding caves. Tapovan has heavenly lakes and is at the foot of the majestic ShivLingPeak. TM programme, rest, dinner and housing under the tent.
DAY 9 – June7th: Tapovanat full moon
Appreciating the celestial atmosphere and incredible silence of Tapovan. Tapovan is like a natural temple.
DAY 10 – June 8th: Tapovan – Gangotri
4hrs trek down to Gangotri after TM programme and breakfast, with a short stop at Gomukh.
On arrival at Gangotri, TM programme, dinner and rest.
(Guest house or ashram Gangotri 1 night). Hotel Mandakini / Birla guesthouse
DAY 11 – June 9th: Gangotri –Uttarkashi (100 km, 4 hrs drive)
After TM programmeand breakfast, drive to Uttarkashi, lunch. Visit of the city, group meditation at ShivaTemple, TM programme, dinner and rest. (PK Treatment)
(Hotel Uttarkashi 1 night)
DAY 12 – June 10th: Uttarkashi –Jyotirmath(3 to 4 hrs drive)
After TM programme and breakfast, drive to Jyotirmath –official ashram of the Shankaracharya of North India, ashram where Maharishi served Guru Dev for many years.Visit of Shankara's cave (Puja – group meditation), dinner and rest.
(Guest house Jyotirmath 1 night). Hotel Mount view.
DAY 13 –June 11th: Jyotirmath – Badrinath(44 km, 2 to 3 hrs drive)
After TM programme and breakfast, drive to Badrinath. On arrival check in hotel or ashram, lunch, visit Temple of Lord Vishnu (Badri Narayan), TM programme, dinner, evening celebration, rest.
DAY 14 – June 12th: Badrinath – Manna –Vasudara
After TM programmeand breakfast, short drive to Manna(3 km), last village of BadrinathValley, visitGanesh and Veda Vyasa Cave (Puja and group meditation). Lunch, walk to BhimaBridge, where SaraswatiRiver comes from Tibet and goes underground.
Then 5 km or 2 hrs trek to Vasudara Fall (the water fall of the Gods), group meditation, picnic.Return to Badrinath,TM programme, dinner and rest.
DAY15–June 13th: Badrinath
After TM programmeand breakfast, visit of the holy mountain of Narayana and Cave of Narayana. Lunch, free afternoon, TM programme, dinner and rest.
(Hotel or ashram Badrinath 3 nights). Hotel Yoga sadan / similar hotel.
DAY 16–June 14th: Badrinath – Rudraprayag(5 to 6hrs drive)
After TM programmeand breakfast, drive to Rudraprayag (confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers), lunch on the way. TM programme, dinner and rest.
(Guest houseRudraprayag 1 night)
DAY 17 – June 15th: Rudraprayag – Rishikesh (170 km, 6 to 7hrs drive)
After TM programmeand breakfast, drive back to Rishikesh, stop at Devprayag (confluence of the Alaknanda river from Badrinath and Bhagirathi river from Gomukh).Overnight at Rishikesh.
DAY 18– June16th:: Rishikesh
After TM programmeand breakfast, Puja and group meditation at VashishtaCave, lunch,
afternoon free. After TM programmeand dinner, evening Puja to Mother Ganga at Triveni Ghatwhich is a popular bathing ghat, where three streams of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati are believed to be flowing together underground. This is a sacred place where Pinda Shradha is performed, i.e. food is offered to the departed souls.
(Hotel or ashram Rishikesh 2 nights). NARAYANA SPA &RESORT
DAY 19–June 17th: Rishikesh– Haridwar
After TM programmeand breakfast, drive to Haridwar, hotel check-in, Dip in Ganges, lunch and visit of temple and city. Evening, after TM programmeand dinner, Arti ceremony at Ganges. (Hotel Haridwar 1 night)HotelsKhannaPalace / Disney Inn
DAY 20 – June 18th: Haridwar -Delhi
After TM programmeand breakfast, drive to Delhi, hotel check-in.
(Hotel Delhi 1 night) .SURYA SHELTER/ HOTEL PERFECT
DAY 21–June 19th: Delhi
After TM programmeand breakfast, tour of New Delhi and Old Delhi.Visit of Red Fort, built by the great Mughal Shah Jahan in the 17th century,and LotusTemple, Kutubminar.
Dinner at the hotel.After dinner transfer to international airport to board flight back home.
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