Yoga & Ayurveda forms an indispensable part of Indian culture. The ancient knowledge of Yoga and Ayurveda is immemorial. The art tends to transform the inner energy and helps to soothe your mind, body and soul. This Yoga tour would help you cover two major yoga cities - Haridwar and Rishikesh. Your circuit tour would start from Delhi and would slowly move towards Haridwar and Rishikesh and finally back to Delhi. It is going to be a 10 day tour. We would provide you with an assistant who would guide you and as well as inform you through out your tour. He would be there to make your Special Yoga Tour a life time experience.
Special Features : Sound and Light Show in Red Fort.
Cultural Discoveries : Delhi is the capital city of India and in house some great heritage monuments of the bygone era.
Rishikesh : This is another pilgrimage site situated in Uttarakhand.
Haridwar : One of the well known pilgrimage destination of Uttarakhand.
Situated on the banks of river Ganga, Haridwar is must on Indian itinerary.
Special Features:
Evening walk at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar.
A Yoga session in Rishikesh.
Exploration of Rajaji National Park.
Day 01 : Arrive Delhi
Airport
You would land on Delhi Airport, Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI). This airport is considered the major gateway to India. The airport plays a vital link between India and rest of the globe. Our assistant would be present at the arrival lounge. He would be a smart handsome guy holding your name card. If you find him, please don't hesitate or take time to meet him as he would be eagerly waiting for you. From there on, he would take care of all your travel needs. He would take you to the nearest hotel which could be a five star deluxe hotel. On way, you would be able to see Delhi, the capital city of India and probably would get quite surprised as it a mix of culture, strata and thoughts. Being the central city, people from different state have migrated and due to its generous nature got easily adopted. You would see huge cars like Toyota and Mercedes and on the same road you would find people on cycles along with bullock carts, horse driven carriages and occasionally elephants sharing the same path or road. There are certain people who have their breakfast coffee in Barista, while there are some who break their fast on small make shift road side restaurants. This is Delhi for you.
Since this would be your first day, we won't exert much pressure on you and would like you to relax. You would be given a chance to have a warm cup of coffee. Try to watch news or other cable TV programmes which could make you feel that you are now in India.Your food would be served when asked for.
Day 02 : Delhi
Red Fort
Today is obviously meant for exploration. You can explore many faces of Delhi. Being in Delhi we would like you to explore the Akshardham Temple, which is a recently built amazing and beautiful monument and was constructed under BAPS foundation. We would undertake Boat Ride and would also watch the glory of the culturally rich Indian heritage through movie theatre. Post lunch, we would be exploring Qutub Minar and then visit Old Fort as well. We would later leave to admire India Gate and Red Fort where a sound and light show is held.
We would come back to hotel where we would call a "Henna" or "Mehandi" applying person. This man or lady would apply Henna, a form temporary tattoing. According to your wish, he would put Mehandi either on your palm or on your hands. But beware as you have to dine also. So before actually putting Mehandi on your palm make sure that you have had your dinner. Let the mehandi dry for 3 hours or so before washing it thoroughly with water. And then see your palms turn copper red with amazingly beautiful designs.
Day 03 : Delhi - Haridwar
After breakfast, we would head towards Haridwar, also known as " Hari ka Dwar " or Gateway to God. You would board the train from Delhi railway station and it would approximately take 4 hours to reach Haridwar city. The Delhi railway station would be quite different from others. The platform is going to be quite chaotic and you would hear announcer informing you about the incoming and the outgoing train simultaneously in Hindi and English. From Haridwar railway station, our representative would take you to your booked hotel. You would get a traditional Indian welcome which would replenish your lost energy. Post lunch, we would visit Har Ki Pauri, the Ghator the river bank, where the typical Hindu religious prayer is performed in the evening. The intensity of prayer is such that you would forget that you are on earth. The entire aura turns more pristine and deeply religious. This is the time when hoards of pilgrims surrounds the holy river Ganga to take a glimpse of such a huge event which takes place every evening without fail. Later on completion of the evening rituals we move back to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 04 :Haridwar
Our representative would have made your arrangement and booked a short Yoga course for you which would commence in the morning and would last for around 2 hours. Your breakfast would be prepared as per the Yoga and meditation guidelines. Your breakfast would be prescribed by the concerned instructor.
For your information, Yoga is ancient Indian body of knowledge and dates back to more than 5000 years ago. Yoga was derived from a Sanskrit word 'Yuj' which means to integrate. It is the union of person's own consciousness along with the universal consciousness. After your Yoga session is over, we would leave the hotel for exploration of this historic and sacred city.
The first on the list would be one of the oldest temples, Daksha Temple, also known as the Shiva temple. We would also visit Shivlingam, famous for solidified mercury Shivlingam. In the evening, you would again have a Yoga session. In this session, the instructor would tell you more about Yoga and would also tell you about some exercises which would be followed by an evening walk near Har ki Pauri. Dinner and overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 05 : Haridwar
This would be your third day and we would like you to continue your yoga session in the morning. After having your yogic breakfast, we would like you to venture out. Your travel assistant would take you to Chandi Devi temple which is located at the hilltop and provides a panoramic view of the entire Haridwar town. You can choose the 3 km trekking trail or a cable car for reaching the temple. Later in the afternoon, we would relax and gain more information on Ayurveda and Yoga through related books. Since you have opted for Yoga and meditation tour, we are sure you are health conscious person and want your holidays in India in a perfect way.
We would have some yoga sessions which would be again followed by an exciting walk in Ganges to Har Ki pauri. Your dinner would be served in the hotel. Over night stay.
Day 06 : Haridwar - Rajaji National Park
In the morning, after your Yoga session, we would have our healthy breakfast. Today we would explore the magnificent Rajaji National Park. As a paradise for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, the park is blessed by nature with elephants, tigers, leopards, deer and ghorals. Don't forget to take your binoculars and cameras to capture their natural habitat immediately. A safari would be a great way to explore to the national park. On the same day, you would have appointment with Gujjars, a local tribe. There way of speaking and culture is quite different but are considered the most amicable amongst the tribes. Later in the evening, you would resort to mild yogic exercises which help you to relax your body muscles and tone them as well. Your healthy yogic food would be served on time. Just choose the right time to get into bed as we are sure you would have a sound sleep after the hard day's exploration.
Day 07 :Haridwar
Morning session of yoga and after breakfast special session with yoga experts and teachers, for your doubts and questions regarding your yoga and mediation practice. Afternoons hold the excitement of your future predictions. Tell your place and time of birth along with your date of birth to our astrologer and let him tell you about your past, present and future. An exciting experience indeed! Evening is at your leisure, pick up the souvenirs from the main bazaars of Haridwar famous for some of the rare religious Hindu artifacts. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 08 : Haridwar - Rishikesh
After your morning yoga session we leave for Rishikesh, enjoy the one hour ride through green vegetation of Uttarankhand state. Rishikesh is world famous for its yoga-meditation Aashrams and Beautiful temples. This town is famous world over for its spiritual significance after "Beatles" stayed here for a month in the seventies for meditation. At evening, we stay in a rafting beach camp, right on the banks of the holy river Ganga. Dinner with bonfire at camp.
Day 09 : Rishikesh
Early morning yoga and mediation session continues. After breakfast we leave for a date with river sports. Indulge in rafting activities, also can take on the rapids up to grade III on a stretch of 18 kms. Afternoon is free at your disposal to have a sun-bath at river camp. Dinner with bonfire at camp.
Day 10 : Rishikesh -Delhi
Today after having our breakfast we transfer to railway station to board the train for Delhi, on arrival, will be depart for Delhi airport to catch our onward destination.