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Garhwal & Kumaon 9 nights /
10 days |
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Tours main page |
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 DELHI / HARIDWAR / BYASI (1.5
HOURS DRIVE)
Early wakeup and breakfast at
Hotel. Transfer to the New Delhi
Railway Station. Board the train
to Haridwar. Train No. 2017
Shatabdi Express. Departure 0700
Hrs. Arrival 1240 Hrs. Lunch at
Haridwar at a Hotel. |
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Haridwar, 214 km
northeast of Delhi, is at the
base of the Shivalik hills,
where the Ganga, coming down
from the mighty Himalayas, meets
the plains. Amongst the many
pilgrimage spots that are
situated along the length of the
holy Ganga, Haridwar, perhaps,
is the holiest in the land. |
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Literally translated, Haridwar
means the 'Gateway to the abode
of gods'. Its long history,
which goes back to pre-historic
times, has lent it many names.
In Hindu mythology, it is known
as Kapilsthan. Legend has it,
that the Suryavanshi Prince
Bhagirnath, performed penance
here, to salvage the souls of
his ancestors, who had perished,
due to the curse of the sage
Kapila. The penance was
answered, and the river Ganga
trickled forth from Lord Shiva's
locks, and its bountiful waters
revived the sixty thousand sons
of King Sagara. Amongst its
other names, are Gangadwar, and
Tapovan. Known also as 'Mayapuri'
in the Puranas, it is mentioned
in the memoirs of the celebrated
Chinese traveller, Hieun Tsang.
According to the myth attached
to Haridwar, drops of nectar
churned out from the primordial
ocean, fell at the four sites of
the Kumbh fair, which included
Haridwar. The Kumbh, and the
Ardh Kumbh fairs are grand
events, when millions of devoted
Hindus take a holy dip in the
Ganga. |
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Canal Centenary Bridge
Located near Har-ki-Pauri, this
bridge commands a beautiful view
of the canal, and all the ghats. |
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Manasadevi Temple
Situated on the Vilwa Parvat, it
can be reached on foot, by road,
or through the ropeway. |
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Har-ki-Pauri
This is one of the most famous
bathing ghats at Haridwar. The
best time to visit this spot, is
at sunset, when you can see the
'Aarti' of Ganga being
performed. A daily ritual, it is
a breathtaking sight, as
thousands of earthern lamps
light up the night. Drive to
Byasi, 1 Hours drive. Check-In
at the Glass House on the Ganges
a Heritage Property located on
the banks of the Ganges. Dinner
and Overnight.
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 EXCURSION
TO RISHIKESH AND VISIT YOGA
ASHRAMS.
(1 HOURS DRIVE ONE WAY) |
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Surrounded by hills on
three sides, Rishikesh
is located on the right
bank of the Ganga, at
its confluence with the
Chandrabhaga stream. One
of the holiest places on
the upward pilgrimages
to the Himalayas,
Rishikesh is, where
Raibhya Rishi did
penance to please God,
who appeared as
Hrishikesh, hence the
name, Rishikesh.
Millions of Hindus come
here every year, to
absolve themselves of
their sins by bathing in
the holy Ganges. |
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Rishikesh abounds in
stories of renunciation,
meditation, penance and
salvation. It has
developed into one of
the better known centers,
for schools of yoga and
meditation. Rishikesh is
also significant as the
trekking base, to the
Himalayan shrines of
Yamunotri, Gangotri,
Kedarnath and Badrinath. |
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What to See |
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Laxman Jhoola
5 kms north of Rishikesh, is the
spot where Sri Laxman, is said
to have performed Tapa
(Penance). The Laxman temple was
built in his memory. Till 1889,
there was just a hanging jute
ropeway without pillars. The
same structure was, later,
rebuilt with iron ropes. |
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Yoga Ashrams.
Sri Ved Niketan Ashram
Westerners practice Hatha yoga
and Pranayama meditation classes
here. Lectures on various
aspects of Hindu philosophy are
given here in English each day
0630-0800 and 1800-1930.
The
Mahesh Yogi Ashram
Offers courses in transdental
meditataion. The Maharashi got
famous through is deep
association with the Beatles.
Shivanand Ashram
Lectures, discussions and yoga
classes are conducted daily
ranging from three days to two
months (all free)
Yoga
Niketan Ashram
Classes on meditataion and the
pranayama form of Hatha yoga are
conducted here daily, one can
join classes at any time (its
free but a small donation is
welcome).
Vanmali
Gita Yogashram
Two hour classes in yoga and
meditataion are held here daily
at 1600 and 1830hrs.
Bharat Mandir
The oldest temple in Rishikesh -
the black statue of Vishnu,
here, is supposed to have been
consecrated by Sri Sankaracharya
(A Hindu Saint), in the 9th
century. The event is
commemorated, during Vasant
Panchami (Spring Festival), to
mark the onset of spring. Drive
back to Byasi. Dinner at the
Glass House and Overnight.
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 RAFTING
ON THE GANGES AND NIGHT IN
CAMPS. |
 RAFTING
The challenge of the daunting,
turbulent rivers is no less,
than that of the rugged
mountains. The icy heights of
the Himalayas, are the source of
some of India's mighty rivers.
Fed by innumerable streams, they
race along tortuous boulder -
strewn beds, cutting deep
gorges, and breaking into
silvery white rapids.An intricate network of
thundering mountain rivers,
flowing through an amazing
landscape of thrilling
gorges, forests, and remote
villages, the Garhwal and
Kumaon hills, in the state
of Uttar Pradesh, provide
ideal settings for some
dramatic water adventure.
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After breakfast at the Glass
House, begin rafting upto
Shivpuri, chasing rapids of
Grade 1 & 2. Arrive at HRR Ganga
River Base Camp.
Installation and Lunch in the
Camps.
Afternoon at leisure. There is a
multitude of activities
available in the camps.
Canoeing, Kayaking, rappelling,
rock climbing, bouldering,
birdwatching.
The camps offer Large tents with
cots, table and chairs, safari
showers and toilettes.
Optional trip to Rishikesh in
the evening to witness the Aarti
at the Triveni Ghat.
Return to Camps. Dinner and
Overnight at
HIMALAYAN
RIVER RUNNERS CAMPS.
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 RISHIKESH
/ DEOPRAYAG / RUDRAPRAYAG
(4.5 HOURS DRIVE)
Breakfast at the Camps. Morning
drive to Deoprayag, the
confluence of the rivers
Bhagirathi and Alaknanda. Though
the source of the Ganges river
is the Gangotri Glacier, but it
attains its real name GANGA,
after meeting as Bhagirathi with
the Alaknanda River at Deoprayag.
Continue driving to Rudraprayag.
Checkin at Monal Resort and
Lunch. Afternoon visit of the
temples at Rudraprayag. Dinner
and Overnight. |
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 RUDRAPRAYAG
/ BAIJNATH / ALMORA
(6 HOURS DRIVE) |
 Breakfast at the Camps. Morning
drive to Almora, enroute
visiting the Baijnath Group of
Temples. Carry box lunch from
the hotel.
Check-In at THE KALMATIA SANGAM
HIMALAYA RESORT.
The Kalmatia Sangam was
discovered in 1867 by a British
Captain E.S. Jackson.
A house in Colonial
Style was erected in
this 16 Acre Estate.
Geeta Reeb and her
German Husband Dieter
Reeb welcome ou to the
Kalmatia Sangam Himalaya
Resort.
Check-In. Dinner and
Overnight. |
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 IN
ALMORA
Breakfast. Morning evening
classes on Yoga and Meditation
by your expert Tour Escort cum
Guide on Yoga. Besides this the
stay will also include visits to
the Jogeshwar Temple Comples
built between 9th and 12th
Century A.D., where religion and
culture are as alive as hundreds
of years ago. |
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 ALMORA
/ KATHGODAM / DELHI
Breakfast. After a morning
Yoga Session and lunch, drive in
time to the Kathgodam Railway
Station, located 90 Kms from
Almora. It is a 3 hours drive.
Packed dinner boxes and mineral
water will be provided from the
hotel. Board your overnight
train to Delhi. Train No.
5014 Ranikhet Express
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(Departure 20:45 Hrs. Arrival
next morning at 04:45 AM).
Overnight on board the train in
Second Class Airconditioned
Sleepers. |
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DELHI
Arrive Delhi at 04:45 Hrs in the
morning. |
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9 nights / 10 days
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No fixed
group departures but tailor-made
private tours only! Why travel in a
group when you can visit India on
your own terms when you want to
travel!
Follow the sample itinerary on this
page, design your own or ask us to
prepare one for you!
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Costs |
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on
request |
| Difficulty
Level |
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n/a
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| Single
Supplement |
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on
request |
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