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From 23 January to 8 February 2022

Summary Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Arrival

Walk

Upon your arrival, you will already be assisted by our local representatives who will be waiting with a sign with your name at the airport. We accompany the arrival of each Chörten Traveler, keeping in touch by phone with our representatives at the airport from before their arrival. Including making sure that they have already contacted the hotel, notifying them of your arrival, so that your room is available as soon as possible, according to the hotel's possibilities for the day. Once you meet our representative at the airport, we will contact you by phone or Whatsapp to find out if we can be of assistance in any way. The Brazilian travel specialist will already be at the hotel awaiting your arrival. Transfer to the hotel with our own vehicle, with assistance, located in a central region, with interesting possibilities for cultural tours. For those arriving on a flight in the morning, possibility of a short walk around the hotel in the afternoon.

For those arriving on a flight in the morning, possibility of a short walk around the hotel in the afternoon.

Briefing

Old Delhi.

Raj Ghat

Humayun's Mausoleum

Now, with the arrival of the whole group, we will meet for breakfast and then sit down to quickly review the important travel tips in India. Traffic, food, hygiene, cultural, logistical and safety issues are some of the subjects we will have talked about before the trip and the specialist, now in loco, will remind and clarify any doubts so that you can enjoy the trip as much as possible. These are precious minutes that will help a lot every next day in this country with a vast history, millenary cultures, a knowledge and vision of the world that we still do not understand well from our backgrounds and views of the West.

We will begin our tours with what is actually one of several Delhis, which have existed at different times and empires in a succession of neighboring cities. The last and eighth Delhi is where we stayed, built by the British, called New Delhi. The seventh was built by Shah Jahan, one of the great Mughai emperors, the same one who built the Taj Mahal, then known as Shajahanabad. Today we call it Old Delhi or Old Delhi. We will visit the great mosque of the Emperor, the Jama Masjid. In it, for those who want, there is the possibility of a walk up the minaret! From where we have a view of the city and the Red Fort from above. Talk to your guide. He doesn't need to go up. Just be very careful on the platform above, please.

Then we will walk through the alleys of its old bazaar. There is a very old shop, which passes from father to son for a long time, with essences (sandalwood, etc) and incense called Gulab Singh Johri Mal, which in itself is a tour. You can buy an oil in a box together with one of the typical bottles of this Muslim region of Delhi. Following the walk through the alleys of the bazaars, most guides like to do a bicycle rickshaw. We highly recommend that you take the tour on foot, to have more contact and to be able to see the bazaar better. Possibility of visiting a small temple of Jainism, very old, with beautiful paintings. There is more than one Jain temple in the region, this one is in a small village called Naughara Gali, in the Kinari Bazaar. We follow until we arrive in front of the Red Fort, where the important Lahore Gate is. It was there that important talks about the history of India took place, such as the independence of this country, today the largest democracy in the world, where ancient values ​​and customs coexist at the same time with extremely modern knowledge and technologies.

We will save our visit to one of the Red Forts for the one in Agra, with more history, prettier and better preserved.

On the way back to our hotel area, we will pay tribute to the memorial where Gandhi was cremated, Raj Ghat. We will see what was his last word, a sign of great accomplishment on his spiritual path. Those who like photographs, look for images made by Cartier-Bresson, one of the great photographers that ever existed, who was in Delhi that day.

Second of the six main Mugal emperors, Humayun (1508-1556), his mausoleum was built in Delhi, the first with architecture associated with a garden and the use of red sandstone stone on this scale in India. Thus, the predecessor and of a beauty close to the Taj Mahal, some people consider this monument even more beautiful.

Lotus Temple

Gandhi Smriti

National museum

Rajpath

Further south of the city, we will visit the beautiful Lotus Temple. Built in the format of its name, it belongs to the religion called Bahá'í, founded in the XNUMXth century. XIX, in ancient Persia, when visiting it everyone is invited to be silent for a moment. An interesting experience in the middle of this big bustling city. After visiting the sometimes open temple, further along the exit path (before turning right to the street gate), there are stairs that lead to an exhibition about the history and work of this religion. Interesting to take a look and have contact with brief statements about your thoughts.

Another special visit for our day is the last house where Gandhi lived, known as the Birla House. We will learn a little about this important part of the history of this nation, as well as about the life and the final moment of this great leader, an example of the practice of Ahimsa (non-violence) until today throughout the world. Today, in the form of an interactive museum, with a collection of photographs and objects by Gandhi, called Gandhi Smriti. We probably won't recommend looking at the whole museum with all the weather in the world to allow time to get to know the museum, the history of Gandhi up close, like other important places in Delhi. A walk around the museum, taking a longer look at one or another part of Gandhi's life, usually works very well.

A very interesting visit in Delhi is the National Museum. It is possible for us to spend many hours or days enjoying each hall and exhibition about the history, arts and people of India. A good way to take advantage of this opportunity is to visit a main hall and the Buddha relics. The backpack needs to be in a locker room before entering the museum building and then, just before going up the entrance stairs, be sure to take a look at one of if not the first human rights charter, carved in stone, according to the laws of the great Indian emperor of the century. III BC, Ashoka. Right after its entrance, one of the first rooms is the one on Mohenjodaro and Harappa, cradle of this civilization, which existed between 3500 and 1500 BC. C., with objectives of that time being the main ones: the seal with what must have come to be Shiva, and sculpture of the head of the priest and the dancing girl. Then we walked, without stopping much in order to use a shorter time of our day at the museum, through the other halls, until we arrived at the relics of the Buddha. It is common to find practitioners of this Nepali/Indian master (Sakya) method sitting in meditation around his relics. This can certainly be a beneficial mental mark that we can offer ourselves for a few minutes, in this training towards a more peaceful mind and of greater benefit to all sentient beings (simply: beings with consciousness). If you want to take a quick look at the Indian tribes' halls and the instruments on the top floor, with a certain focus and being careful with the weather, it's time!

Next to our hotel is the terrace built by the English in the XNUMXth century. XX, called Rajpath (Raj: king, path: path). In it is the India Gate, a landmark of the city, built in honor of the combatants in the great war.

We will check the cultural agenda of the city for this end of the day, as a possibility of a special activity, where great artists of the country perform.

Flight

Aarti Ceremony

Depending on flight arrival time and transit, you may have time to attend the Aarti ceremony in the early evening. If the flight is delayed or you prefer to rest because you started the day very early today and watch tomorrow, there is also and could be a good possibility. Having time and preferring, after transfer to our hotel and check-in, it's time to get to know the old part of the city through a millenary ceremony. The fire puja or Aarti Puja, conducted by brahmins (caste of Hindu priests) and hundreds of pilgrims from all over India on the banks of the sacred Ganges, is full of music, symbols, mantras, smells, a lot of devotion and, for those who study the scriptures profound and sophisticated knowledge of the workings of the human mind. Time to go back to our hotel, with all these impressions, practically the same that both Hindu saints and yogis, like Buddha Shakyamuni himself, had in this same place in their walks, training periods and teachings. A good break for a special start to the day, very early tomorrow.

General

Today we will visit one of the oldest cities in the world that is still alive today. After breakfast, we will continue to Delhi airport for our flight to Varanasi. Transfer to our hotel and check-in. Time to freshen up in our rooms and then get to know the old part of the city through a millenary ceremony. The fire puja or Aarti Puja, conducted by brahmins (caste of Hindu priests) and hundreds of pilgrims from all over India on the banks of the sacred Ganges, is full of music, symbols, mantras, smells, a lot of devotion and, for those who study the scriptures profound and sophisticated knowledge of the workings of the human mind. Time to go back to our hotel, with all these impressions, practically the same that both Hindu saints and yogis, like Buddha Shakyamuni himself, had in this same place in their walks, training periods and teachings. A good break for a special start to the day, very early tomorrow.

Ganges Sunrise

Sarnath

Free afternoon

General

We'll wake up early to get to the Ganges before sunrise. We will board our rowboat up the Ganges and witness the sunrise of the sun god, Surya, from our boat. We will observe pilgrims performing their pujas (rituals) at the beginning of their days in this most sacred place in Hindu tradition. Calmly, led by the goddess Ganga, we will return the journey traveled until a ghat (staircase by the river) a little further on, where we will disembark and have the opportunity to walk through the many alleys, among thousands of small and larger temples, from the old part of the city. There is a famous temple in this region, called the Golden Temple or Kashi Vishvanath. His story is important for us to understand the different moments of India. But not so much your visit. To visit we need to leave our belongings outside. Our guides know where to leave our belongings. It's honestly not one of the most interesting parts of the tours for many Travelers. Each Traveler can see how they prefer to do it at this time!

Back in our vehicle, we will have a good breakfast at our hotel and then continue on to Sarnath . We will pass by the place where Buddha, after his enlightenment in Bodhgaya, met with his 5 fellow practitioners and then we will visit the important Deer Park. Quite quiet place, where Buddha turned the Dharma Wheel for the first time, ie where he first taught, approx. 2500 years ago. We will be able to do our meditation practice individually, sit for a few minutes, walk, read, photograph, as each traveller prefers. We will visit the Mahabodhi temple where there are relics of Buddha (behind the main statue) and a “grandchild” tree from which Buddha sat and enlightened. A simple and always very special visit can always be to visit a school where children from nearby villages, in addition to the common content, learn meditation, yoga and how our mind works from an early age. We will see firsthand the practical result of these tools. It's called Alice Project School. Many locals know it as the Italian School. Our drivers and guides will help you find it if you want to visit it.

There are two temples in Sarnath that might be interesting to visit: the Japanese temple and the Tibetan one. Both can be visited by walking to the Mahabodhi temple.

End of day at leisure (with guide) to enjoy more Sarnath, return to the ghats region of Varanasi, enjoy seeing a spice market or the famous silks of Varanasi.

Back in our vehicle, we will have a good breakfast at our hotel and then continue on to Sarnath . We will pass by the place where Buddha, after his enlightenment in Bodhgaya, met with his 5 fellow practitioners and then we will visit the important Deer Park. Quite quiet place, where Buddha turned the Dharma Wheel for the first time, ie where he first taught, approx. 2500 years ago. We will be able to do our meditation practice individually or together, sit for a few minutes, walk, read, photograph, as each traveller prefers. We will visit the Mahabodhi temple where there are relics of Buddha (behind the main statue) and a “grandchild” tree from which Buddha sat and enlightened. A simple and always very special visit will be to visit a school where children from nearby villages, in addition to the common content, learn meditation, yoga and how our minds work from an early age. We will see firsthand the practical result of these tools.

Durga temple

Benares University

Walk through the Ghats

End of free day

We have one more day to enjoy the ancient and so special Varanasi. Today we will visit an important Hindu temple, then the small museum and the temple of the former university of Benares. It will be a good opportunity to get to know an India with very little contact with foreigners, as is the environment on this university campus. After our first visits, we will see India, its history, customs and traditions as we take a walk through the ghats on the banks of the Ganges. End of the day at leisure to explore a little more of the well-known Varanasi.

Art or Padmaa

Our last day to discover more about the city of Varanasi and its temples, also the famous university of Benares and its temple dedicated to the yogi god Shiva. We will walk along the Ganges River observing the life of the pilgrims who arrive, the sadhus who meditate there, the women who wash their clothes there and others their prayers to the dead.

Car trip

Mahabodhi Temple

Today we will travel to the place where Buddha became enlightened, the most sacred place of Buddhism, Bodhgaya. It will be approx. 6am with our own vehicle. We will check into our hotel, lunch and then visit the city's main temple complex, Mahabodhi. It was there that Buddha sat for a few days until he purified all his obscurations and realized the nature of our mind. We can do the same, sitting next to or even under the Bodhi tree, a ficus religisosa (fig tree), in the exact spot where Buddha became enlightened. This place is also called the Vajra Seat, the seat of the diamond or the indestructible lightning bolt as well as our natural condition, our essence. We will be among pilgrims, lay and monastic, from all over the world. Mantras, incense sticks, practices of training the mind from different traditions for our different mental dispositions. After enlightening, the Awakened (in Sanskrit: Buddha) contemplated his experience for a few weeks at different points around the Bodhi tree. These places are marked so that we can contemplate the same reflections in our days in Bodhgaya.

We have a car trip after breakfast to Bodhgaya in Bihar state. Check-in at our hotel and then visit the exact spot where Buddha attained enlightenment after sitting in meditation under the Bodhi fig tree for 7 days. Shakyamuni Buddha stayed in this place for another 7 weeks after his enlightenment, contemplating the experience of the enlightenment of our desires, attachments and aversions, the experience of the natural state of our mind. We will then have the opportunity to take advantage of this special place of enlightenment of the Buddha, among pilgrims from all over the world, contemplating and putting into practice his teachings through group meditation, individually, reading, walking, photographing, as best for each traveller. .

Travel by car: approx. 6h

After breakfast we will pick up approx. 6h by road to Bodhgaya, where Buddha became enlightened. A small town concentrated around the Maha Temple, where the Bodhi tree is located. The place pulsates with an intense energy of prayer, when we get close, we want to put our knees to the ground and be part of this immense sacred vortex. We will let each one of you feel free in your own way and with your space, the energy of this place so sacred to all Buddhists in the world.

Walk

Temples

Mahabodhi Temple

Today, if we want, even if it is available for what we need, we don't need to use our vehicle. We will walk from our hotel, through plantations, to an institute of a very important teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, who offers introductory courses in Buddhism in several languages, in different countries. There is also a medical clinic, allopathic and homeopathic, for Indian peasants, schools of Universal Education, very special. From the Root Institute we will walk to a large Buddha statue built by Japanese, then to a Japanese temple, a Bhutanese one, each with very beautiful and very different styles, and a Thai one, with very beautiful paintings. A very beautiful monastery that is worth a visit is the Karmapa monastery, a great teacher of Tibetan Buddhism. There are good lunch options and cafes in the city and, always, more than so many options for visiting its countless temples and monasteries. We can always reserve the always very welcome and requested free temple, either for shopping or to sit a little closer to the Bodhi tree, reading, walking meditation, photos, as each traveller prefers.

Today, if we want, we won't even see our vehicle! We will walk from our hotel passing plantations and temples in different Buddhist regions of the world, which are traditionally built on the holy sites of the Buddha. We will finish our walk to the temple and tree where Buddha became enlightened. End of day off.

Mahakala Cave

Surjata Village

Today we will proceed to a more remote region on the outskirts of Bodhgaya, up to a mountain where there is a cave in which Buddha meditated and practiced austerity before enlightening himself. It will also be an opportunity to observe the pace of life in the most remote villages in urban centers. Like all caves of great masters, it is a very special place to practice. After visiting the Mahakala Cave, we will visit the peaceful place where, when Siddhartha practiced eating just one grain of rice a day, the Surjata girl offered rice milk to the Buddha. At this time, as he fed and observed his mind working better with the stronger body, Siddharta realized that it would not be through the extremes of self-indulgence or self-regulation that he would be enlightened, but through the middle path. Return to Bodhgaya with free time to enjoy the Mahabodhi temple complex, other temples, cafes, walking, reading, as each traveller prefers.

Today we will visit the beautiful surroundings of Bodhgaya such as Mahakala cave, rice fields and Surjata village. Surjata was the peasant woman who offered food to the Buddha when he had been living extreme asceticism for seven years and accepted it, realizing the middle path that he should follow from then on. On this walk there are several small temples, clay houses and little corners consecrated by the faith of the simple people who live there. We'll take it easy in time to sit down, draw and reflect.

Today is free, no agenda, no need to use our vehicle, which we can use to, for example, enjoy a little more Root Institute, with its library, video library, bookstore, sometimes guided meditations according to the method of this important lineage. We will be able to talk with a lama, monk or nun about what we have seen in India so far, as well as what we will experience in the next few days. It is a day to also process our experiences with the countless traditions with which we have had contact, millennia of study and knowledge of the mind strongly present in these cultures, peoples and travel, rest a little for tomorrow to hit the road again, to a place that is also very special and most important of Buddhism.

We have today free that we can use to visit, for example, the important Root Institute of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe, like the Monastery of Karmapa, where teachings and retreats are organized frequently. We will get in touch with these international institutes and monasteries and if there are lamas (teachers) in Bodhgaya these days, we will be able to talk to them about what we have seen, talked about, experienced and visited.

This day will be freer for those who want to connect with parts of Bodhgaya that they identified the most, will be able to meditate in the temple they liked the most and be able to do their last shopping in the city. For those who want, we will also visit the monastery of Karmapa and the monastery Shechen which is located near the center.

Bamboo Forest

Shanti Stupa

Vultures Peak

We will travel for approx. 3h to Rajgir. We will visit one of the places where Buddha and his Sanghamonastic lived for many monsoons, the Bosque dos Bambus. As Buda and his students were always walking (through the places we are visiting), because of the dangers of a trip like this in the rainy seasons, in these months of each year they stayed in places offered by the kings of different regions. After check-in at our hotel, we'll proceed to the Stupa of Peace, or Shanti Stupa, in a beautiful location on top of a mountain, built by a Japanese Buddhist project for world peace, in many places around the world. From the stupa we will walk to the very special Peak of Vultures, where Buda had a hut. This is the location of the important text and teaching called the Heart Sutra, which we will have with us, as well as comments from great masters. Very quiet, also on a mountain side. We can make use of this special opportunity to train our mind, whether by offering incense, as (invitation) doing a practice, such as reading the Heart Sutra itself and its comments.

After a trip to Rajgir, we will visit one of the places where Buddha and his monastic sanga (community) lived for many monsoons, the Bamboo Forest. As Buda and his students were always walking (through the places we are visiting), because of the dangers of a trip like this in the rainy seasons, in these months of each year they stayed in places offered by the local kings. After checking in to our hotel, we will proceed to the Stupa of Peace, or Shanti Stupa, in a beautiful mountaintop location, built by a Japanese Buddhist project for world peace in many places around the world. From the stupa we will walk to the very special Pico dos Avulres. Place of the important Sutra of the Heart, very quiet, also above a mountain on the side. We offer our incense, we will be able to contemplate the teachings that Buddha offered in this exact place about Prajnaparamita, putting into practice a little more of the instructions of this great master.

Travel by car: approx. 3h

Nalanda University

Flight

In the morning, next to Rajgir, we will visit the archeological site of the very important University of Nalanda. Nalanda for centuries was one of the most important centers of Buddhist studies that attracted students from many parts of the world, especially between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries.. There lived about 10.000 students, 2.000 teachers and there was a library larger than the one in Alexandria, for example. Among Nalanda's many great academic masters, known as the Indian panditas, some of them were: Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Buddhapalita, Bhavaviveka, Chandrakirti, and Shantideva. For centuries, many of these yogis were invited by Tibetan kings to cross the Himalayas and take their studies of Buddhism to Tibet. Thus, the Nalanda tradition is still alive today, studied and practiced in traditional shedras (universities) and Tibetan monasteries in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet, also in important universities in Europe and North America, where there is an important very rich exchange with current neuroscientists, physicists and educators. We will visit Nalanda monasteries, as well as temples, important stupas and its small museum. Certainly a very special and inviting place for us to practice observation, reflection and familiarization of our mind, that is, a meditation individually or together, as each traveller prefers, as well as reading excerpts from important texts of this science written in the same place as we will be, in this millenary university.

Visit completed, we will continue the trip for approx. 3:XNUMX and after crossing the Ganges River, we will arrive in Patna, capital of the former Ashoka empire, today from this state called Bihar.

We will continue our journey for approx. 5h to Vaishali. On the way, we will pass through Patna, capital of the former Ashoka empire, now in this state, Bihar, and where the Ganges River also passes. Arriving in Vaishali, very close to Patna, we will have our check-in, a good meal and then a walk through the small village near our hotel. Vaishali, who, like Rajgir, is one of the 8 holiest sites in Buddhism, was perhaps the first example of a republic-type government organization, which Buddha visited countless times. It was at Vaishali that Buddha ordered the first Sangha of female nuns, demonstrated miracles, offered his last sermon (sutra), announced his Mahaparanirvana, and this was also where the Second Council took place.. Today we will visit another Shanti stupa, as in Rajgir, and a much older stupa, from the Licchavi Empire, which holds relics of the Buddha. There is a very nice and inviting lawn for our reading, practice and always good conversations.

On the way to Vaishali, we will visit the site with the ruins of the very important University of Nalanda. Nalanda was for centuries an important center for Buddhist studies that attracted students from many parts of the world, especially between the 10.000th and 2.000th centuries. There lived about 8 students, XNUMX teachers and there was a library larger than the one in Alexandria, for example. Among the various great teachers of Nalanda, known as the Indian panditas, some of them were: Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Buddhapalita, Bhavaviveka, Chandrakirti and Shantideva. Nalanda's tradition is still alive today, studied and practiced in Tibetan shedras (universities) and monasteries around the world. Also in important universities in Europe and North America, where there is an important modern exchange with neuroscientists, physicists and educators. We will continue our trip to Vaishali which, like Rajgir, is part of the XNUMX holiest sites in Buddhism. Buddha visited Vaishali numerous times, where he ordered the first sanga of female nuns, demonstrated miracles, offered his last sermon (sutra) and announced his Mahaparanirvana. Walking from our hotel, we will visit the stupa that guards his relics. It was also in this small and important place that Ananda, Buddha's cousin and closest disciple, attained enlightenment on the banks of the Ganges.

Travel by car: approx. 5h

Flight

Ram Jhula

Aarti Ceremony

We will start the day early for the flight back to Delhi and then to Dehradun, the closest airport to Rishikesh. If the first flight leaves on time, we have a fast connection in Delhi. If you're late and don't have time to make a quick connection in Delhi, we have an alternative flight already issued (courtesy of Chörten) in the late afternoon so that we can go to Dehradun with peace of mind.

Transfer of approx. 40 min between airport and Rishikesh then walk through the Ram Jhula region. Jhulas are the suspension bridges, in this case over the Ganges, which on the other side, on its bank, we will participate in the Aarti puja conducted by students of the Parmarth Niketan ashram during sunset.

Early in the morning we take our train for approx. 5:40 am to Haridwar, nearest station to Rishikesh. Riding the train in India is an experience that cannot be missed and an excellent opportunity to chat with Indian families, observe the villages and fields on the way. Our local representatives will assist us with our arrival and then we will continue for approx. XNUMXmin to our hotel. After check-in and lunch we can take a walk through the Ram Jhula region. Jhulas are the suspension bridges, in this case over the Ganges, which on the other side, on its bank, we will participate in the Aarti puja conducted by students of the Parmarth Niketan ashram during sunset.

Flight:

Vasistha Guha

Lakshman Jhula

After our breakfast, just beyond Rishikesh, we will visit the cave of a Vedic sage, one of the great seven Rishis of India, named Vashistha. It is always a very special experience to be able to pay tribute to the great yogis, to sit in the same place where he lived and meditated during the winters. We can also walk along the beach next door, on the bank of the Ganges. These are very suitable and pleasant places for meditation practices and reading texts.

We return to the region of jhulas (suspension bridges) for our lunch and walk through the alleys of the region, visiting its small temples, cafes and bookstores.

An extra activity option for that day is a special rafting tour along the (in this very clean) waters of the Ganges after visiting Vashistha Guha.

Kunjapuri temple

Free time

Today we will climb the Himalayas with our vehicle for approx. 40min to a temple on top of a mountain, at 1676m altitude. The Kunjapuri temple is dedicated to the goddess Durga and is one of the 13 places of power (Shakti Peethas) in this region. If the weather is clear, we will have a beautiful view with the snowy mountains in the background. Remember that the snow line here in the Himalayas is at an altitude of 5500m.

Back in Rishikesh, we will visit another important center of Vedanta study, the ashram of Swami Dayananda. Whoever gets excited, it is possible to walk back to Ram Jhula along the bank of the Ganges, as well as participating at the end of the day in one of the pujas in the ashram temple, overlooking the Ganges.

Suggestion: walk from Lakshman Jhula to Ram Jhula along a small road on the other side of the Ganges. Where then we can, for example, have lunch and then take a tuctuc to get to know one more important Vedanta study center, the ashram of Swami Dayananda. If you get excited, you can walk once more from the ashram back to Ram Jhula along a path just above the bank of the Ganges, or stay a little longer in the ashram to participate in one of the pujas at the temple at the end of the day.

Free time

Flight

Early in the morning we took our train from Haridwar back to Delhi. We will check in at our hotel and now, already familiar with the region, we can enjoy an afternoon at leisure to return to some of the places we visited and we would like to spend more time, getting to know a new place, as each traveller prefers. It is common in Delhi to have excellent classical music and dance performances. Let's check the cultural agenda of the days we are in the city and then we can organize ourselves to go together in one of these cultural centers.

Early in the morning we continue for approx. 40min to the airport in the neighboring city, Dehradun, in time for our safe flight to Delhi and then connection to Kathmandu. End of the day at leisure around the large stupa (Tibetan: chörten) of Boudhnath, in the Tibetan quarter where we stayed. Watching Tibetans doing their koras (circumulations), reciting their mantras, offering lamps and, of course, getting some exercise and catching up with friends is a good choice and experience for the end of the day. There are good restaurants to try Nepalese, Tibetan food or to kill the nostalgia for a good pizza!

Red Fort

After our breakfast, we will travel today along a new road to Agra (between 4 and 5 am).

If there's time, we'll check in at our hotel or else we'll take the time to get to know the Red Fort. This Red Fort, more beautiful and with more history than the one in Delhi, began to be built by Babur, the first Mughal emperor, in the century. XVI. We will visit its gardens, public and private audience halls, mosque and quarters, including where Shah Jahan was imprisoned for his son and what Akbar built for his son, with symbols from all the main religious and philosophical traditions of the time.

We'll check in, have lunch and then visit Red Fort. This Red Fort, more beautiful and with more history than the one in Delhi, began to be built by Babur, the first Mughal emperor, in the century. XVI. We will visit its gardens, public and private audience halls, mosque and quarters, including where Shah Jahan was imprisoned for his son and what Akbar built for his son, with symbols from all the main religious and philosophical traditions of the time.

We will have the opportunity to visit a workshop with artisans descended from them who worked at the Taj, so that we will learn about this art. We suggest that we sleep early for our next morning visit.

Traveling through a very remote region for approx. 5:XNUMX, we will continue to Agra, city known for one of the most famous and visited monuments: the Taj Mahal. Upon our arrival in the city, we will visit an earlier and smaller version of the Taj, known as the Baby Taj.

Taj Mahal

Today we will wake up very early for our visit to the Taj Mahal (see suggestions above at the end of the day before). Built by Shah Jahan for his wife, Muntaz Mahal, in the 20th century. XVII, thousands of workers and architects from different regions of the world, for XNUMX years, used the famous white marble of India and precious stones. Early in the morning, in addition to the possibility of beautiful light, it is also quieter than during the day. Our local guide will tell you many stories about this monument. Return to the hotel for a good breakfast.

Perhaps there is a little time to visit a marble inlaid (pietra dura) stoneworking workshop, such as at the Taj, on the way to the airport. Please confirm that there will be time with your guide.

Transfer with assistance to the airport for our flight to what is perhaps the oldest living city in the world to this day. The flight should descend in Khajuraho for a few minutes, to drop off and pick up some passengers, it is the only and best flight between Agra and Varanasi, and soon it will continue on its journey! Be careful not to descend and stay in Khajuraho if the flight makes this stop. Check with the flight attendants, please.

We will wake up very early to watch the sunrise at the Taj Mahal, built by the fourth great Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, to his great love Mumtaz Mahal. We will return to the hotel for our breakfast, check out, and then continue to visit Red Fort, 5th century. XVI, built mainly by his grandfather and greatest of all Mughai emperors, Akbar. Lunch and then we continue our journey for approx. XNUMXh back to Delhi.

Flight