Highlights of the Tour : Visit Red Fort
(Delhi), Qutab Minar (Delhi), Varanasi Ghats (Varanasi), Kasi Vishwanath
Temple (Varanasi), Mahabodhi Temple (Bodhgaya) on this tour.
Overview
On the Lords Footsteps provides you a good chance to visit Delhis
famous forts and monuments like Red Fort, Qutab Minar, Humayuns Tomb
etc. Next this tour will take you to the worlds one of the oldest
town, Varanasi which boasts of a number of Hindu temples namely Kashi
Vishwanath Temple, Durga Temple, Bharat Mata Temple and colourful ghats. In
the evening we will take you to the buddisht town of Sarnath. From Varanasi
this tour takes you to Bodhgaya which is home to Mahabodhi Temple and other
ancient structures related with Lord Buddha. Patna is the next destination
of this tour, en-route you will visit Rajgir and Nalanda. After sightseeing
trip of Patna we will board an overnight to Delhi to board a flight back
home.
Inclusions
Accommodation, Meal, Transport in Car, Train Travel, Local Guides for
Sightseeing tours.
Exclusions
Shopping and meals apart from breakfast.
Transportation : Transport in an
air-conditioned private car, Train Travel in First Class Air Conditioned
Sleeper Coach.
Accommodation : Accommodation on Twin Sharing
Basis.
Detailed Itinerary
Namaste - We welcome you with folded hands
Day 1 : Arrival / New Delhi
Late night arrival, meeting and assistance upon arrival as our
representatives welcome you and escort you to your van. Welcome to India, or
as we say 'atithi devo bhava' (the guest is an incarnation of God). Thank
you for giving us the opportunity to serve you!
Day 2 : Delhi / Varanasi
(Shivganga Express - 182 / 7*)
After breakfast, we proceed on a guided tour of New Delhi, visiting popular
places such as Bahai Temple, Humayun's Tomb and the Qutab Minar. Continue
with a drive through Embassy area, the Government buildings and Connaught
Place, the heart and main shopping district of the capital. We cross the
city and into the walled gates of the Old Delhi, the capital of Muslim India
between the 17th and 19th centuries. It draws one through congested roads
and lanes, interesting mosques, monuments and forts relating to its
chequered history. Our tour includes visits to the Jamma Mosque and drive
through the fabled area of Chandni Chowk where the throngs of shoppers and
vendors meet in the oldest area of Delhi, on to the Red Fort to view the
inlaid and carved Royal Chambers, on to Raj Ghat and nearby ghats where the
founder of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi and thereafter Indira Gandhi and Rajiv
Gandhi were cremated.
The highlight of this tour would be a ride on cycle rickshaws, 3-wheeled
cycles with a sofa seat at the back. This is a remarkable way to explore and
picture the hustle and bustle as well as the colour of the narrow winding
streets bursting with people and pavement shops selling wares of all
description - including a laughing set of dentures. Later in the evening
drive to the Delhi Railway station to board an overnight train to Varanasi.
Day 3 : Arrival / Varanasi
Meeting and assistance upon arrival and transfer to your Hotel Clarks.
Varanasi is quite possibly the world's oldest living city. Religious
artifacts link it to the sixth century BC Said to be founded by Shiva,
Varanasi's Vedic affiliation goes back to the beginning of time. It is also
a city of many names. Revered by Hindus, Buddhists and Jain alike, Varanasi
is considered the holiest city in all of India.
After breakfast we proceed for the sightseeing tour. First stop would be
the Bharat Mata Temple. Inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, it features a huge
marble map of India on the ground floor. Next up, the Durga Temple. Known
for its bright red color and the playful, if sometimes aggressive, monkeys
that run amok there, the Durga Temple is one of the most imposing
architectural monuments in Varanasi.
The university, which occupies a large piece of land at the southern end of
town, is also home to the New Vishwanatha Temple. The New Temple is modern
in design and open to Hindus and non-Hindus alike. Surrounded by palm trees,
it is a splendid white marble structure that shines in the afternoon sun
against a pale blue sky. Inside, the temple is spacious and airy. The
interior walls are covered with Vedic art above inscriptions from the
Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads. In the center of the first floor is the Shiva
linga.
This evening we take a short trip to the Buddhist city of Sarnath .It is
here that the Buddha preached his first sermons after attaining
enlightenment. The highlight of this tour would be a participation in the
evening prayer service (aarti) of the main Buddhist temple here - the
synchronized chanting of hymns to the accompaniment of traditional temple
music is a sole stirring experience.
Day 4 : Varanasi / Bodhgaya
At dawn we visit the sacred Ganges for a boat ride. Every morning at dawn
hundreds of worshippers can be seen bathing in the sacred waters. The Ghats
form an impressive part of the religious landscape of the city. Proceeding
downstream at a leisurely pace, you would be pointed out the significant
temples and buildings as well as the changing architectural style. Life and
death go hand in hand in Varanasi. While young people seek prosperity and
protection from harmful influences, the older generation comes to Varanasi
to cleanse their souls in the forgiving waters in preparation for their
ultimate dissolution.
Believing that anyone who dies in the river of life in Varanasi gains
freedom from the cycle of birth and death, the City of Light has become a
haven for the sick and aged waiting out their final days. The smoke that
billows from the crematoriums on the edge of the river gives testimony to
their final release from life's earthly confines. We would docked our boat
at Manikarnika (Cremation) Ghat. On any given day, anywhere from a few dozen
to a few hundred corpses are cremated here, The ghat is assiduous with
activity as the cremated bodies threw up smoke and fire. Later we drive to
Bodhgaya. Upon arrival check into your Hotel Taj Darbur
Overnight : Taj Darbur (Standard Room) (B)
Day 5 : Bodhgaya
Full day touring of Bodhgaya. One of the holiest of holy pilgrim places for
the Buddhists of the world is Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya The Mahabodhi
Temple built on the east of the sacred tree stands majestically 17 feet high
on a base 5 feet square, and consists of a soaring pyramidal tower
surmounted by a stupa. The Vajrasan or Diamond Throne lying between the
Bodhi Tree and the temple marks the actual spot where Buddha sat in
meditation and attained supreme knowledge. A gilded Buddha smiles upon the
visitors from a niche in the wall of the temple, and his footsteps carved in
stone hold flower offerings from the devout. Unbelievable peace pervades the
atmosphere giving credence to legend. Besides the Mahabodhi temple, we would
visit several Buddhist temples built by the followers of Buddhism from all
over the world.
Overnight : Taj Darbur (Standard Room) (B)
Day 6 : Bodhgaya /Rajgir / Nalanda / Patna / Patna / Delhi
(Magadh Exp : 185/1145 hrs)
Morning we drive to Patna en-route we visit Rajgir & Nalanda. Rajgir is
a verdant valley surrounded by rocky hills. Here on Griddhakuta or Vultures
Peak the Buddha set in motion his second Wheel of Law and for three months
every year during the rainy season preached many inspiring sermons to his
disciples. The Buddha Sangha of Japan have constructed a massive modern
stupa, the Shanti (peace) stupa at the top of the hill in commemoration. The
view from the top is breathtaking. One can climb up to the top along a
bridle path. However, the aerial chairlift is far more exciting.
Twelve kilometres from Rajgir is Nalanda which was in Buddha's time a
lovely resort of Saints and ascetics. Lord Buddha visited Nalanda several
times and delivered some important sermons. It emerged as a university in
the 5th century A.D. and remained the greatest seat of learning for 7 years.
Great thinkers like Nagarjuna, the Mahayana Buddhist Philosopher. Dharmapala
the Brahman scholar, Aryadeva, and Padmasambhava taught here.
After sightseeing we drive to Patna Train Station in time to board
overnight train for Delhi.
Day 7 : Arrival / Delhi Delhi /
Departure
Meeting and assistance on arrival in Delhi and transfer to the hotel, The
Connaught where a day use room is booked for you. Rest of the day is at
leisure for your independent activities Delhi today is truly the melting pot
of India, and the main gateway to one of the most fascinating cities in the
world. Your Hotel in Delhi is a Downtown Hotel - The Connaught Place is the
heart and pulse of New Delhi. This Hotel will give you an opportunity to
view the busy streets and bazaars of the capital of India. In other words,
you will 'feel' India. Late night transfer to the International airport in
time to board flight back home.
End of Service
Thank You for Giving Us an Opportunity to Serve You!
Indicative Low Season Cost Based on 2 People Traveling Together : USD 767
Per Person
Feedback
I had an excellent vacation experience of india with Trinetra Tours, which
I think would have been very different if I had done without Trinetra.
--- Siobhan Magee (Australia), visited
in March 2005
On the Lords Footstep trip provides an excellent opportunity to see
all the major highlights of Northern India in one week period. The local
guides were very freindly and knowledgeable.
--- Kathleen Kennedy (Britain), visited
in October 2006
Trinetra Tours is great, I got to discover the real India in ultimate
comfort. Guides of trinetra are well known about fast, I really had a great
time and I am going to visit India with Trinetra Tours on my next trip to
India.
--- Rebecca Macdonald (Singapore),
visited in April 2007