KNOW INDIA 101
15 days cultural and educational experience, India.
All times and other specifics are subject to change as necessary. Only groups of ten or more.
General Itinerary:
Day 1 to 2 - Fly to Delhi
Arrive Delhi on Day 2
Driver will meet you at Indira Gandhi International Airport and take you to Likir House, a Tibetan guesthouse owned by Dalai Lama’s sister-in-law.
Day 3 - Tour New Delhi
Breakfast between 7:30 and 9:00 a.m. Tour begins at 10:00 a.m. Visit Jama Masjid, Red Fort, and Raj Ghat, the place of Gandhi’s memorial. Dinner at Sai Sarovar. Overnight at Likir House.
Day 4 - 10:00 am fly to Varanasi
Check in at Meraden Grand Hotel.
3:30-4:30 orientation.
Evening Aarti on the Ganges, participate in Deepdan ritual with Hindu priest. Dinner at hotel.
Day 5 - Hindu Pilgrimage: the Sacred Geography of Varanasi
7:00–8:00 am yoga demonstration and participation
Breakfast
10:00-11:30 lecture on pilgrimage circle, Prof. Rana P.B. Singh
2:00-6:00 pm tour of Banaras Hindu University, visiting Bharat Kala Bhawan and Karmadeshwar Temple
6:30 Indian classical music performance at Mishra Music School
Day 6 - Indian Culture
7:00–8:00 am yoga demonstration and participation
10:00–11:30 am lecture on Indian culture, Dr. Vibha Tripathi
2:30-6:00 pm village tour and talk on village life by Dr. Arvind Singh
Evening free
Day 7 - Glimpses of Indian Culture through Art
7:00–8:00 am yoga
10:00-11:30 lecture on Indian culture through Indian art, Dr. M.N.P. Tiwari, Professor of Art History, B.H.U.
2:30–5:00 pm lecture/tour on important Hindu temples of Varanasi Evening demonstration of Indian classical devotional dance
Day 8 - Buddhism: the Law of Righteousness
7:00–8:00 am yoga
10:00-11:30 am lecture on Buddhism in India, Dr. Arvind Singh
3:00-6:00 tour of Sarnath where Buddha preached his first sermon
6:00 visit Buddhist temple for evening aarti ceremony
Day 9 - Indian Archaeology
7:00–8:00 am yoga
10:00-11:30 am lecture on Indian archaeology, Prof.Vibha Tripathi.
2:00-5:00 pm visit Raj Ghat, the site of ancient Varanasi at the confluence of the Varuna and Ganges Rivers
Day 10 - Ayurveda: the Traditional Indian Life Science
7:00–8:00 am yoga
11:00 am-12:30 pm lecture on yoga and ayurvedic traditions of medicine Dr. R.H. Singh, former Vice Chancellor of Rajasthan Ayurveda University, and Professor Emeritus Banaras Hindu University
2:30-6:00 tour selected Varanasi ashram and an ayurvedic medicine shop. Evening free
Day 11 - Indian Values & Ethics
7:00–8:00 am yoga
10:00-11:30 am lecture on Indian values and ethics, Dr. A.N. Tripathi, Professor Emeritus, Banaras Hindu University
12:00-5:00 Pancha Kroshi Yatra (pilgrimage tour)
Evening free
Day 12 - Hinduism: a Way of Life
6:00-9:00 am boat ride on Ganges to view sunrise rituals (we will do this earlier if possible because we have to do it when the water level is low)
10:00-11:30 am lecture on Hinduism, Dr. Arvind Singh
12:00 check out of hotel
Free afternoon
5:30 depart for train station to take overnight train to Agra
Day 13 - Mogul India
Reach Agra, check in at Man Singh Palace Hotel. Morning free
3:30-6:30 pm guided tour of Taj Mahal at sunset and lecture on Mogul India. Overnight Man Singh Palace Hotel
Day 14 - The Emperors
After breakfast visit Sikandra, tomb of Akbar and Dyal Bagh, a Hindu Temple which is a wonderful example of marble work and has been being built for the past 105 years. Overnight Man Singh Palace Hotel
Day 15 - Colonial India
After breakfast drive to Delhi.
Lecture on postcolonial Indian history and politics enroute
Drive past Parliament, India Gate, President House, visit Banglasahib (Sikh) Temple Overnight Likir House
Day 16 - Delhi Tour
After breakfast, check out of guesthouse
Qutab Minar, Lotus Temple, Optional shopping
Day 17 - Arrive back home
All lectures in Varanasi will be given by experts from Banaras Hindu University and Dr. Arvind Singh. Yoga in Varanasi will be demonstrated and taught by a trained yogi.
Participants: Must be able to climb stairs and carry their own luggage.
Cost/Registration Information:
Cost: $3850 per person. Includes guide fees, all transportation during the retreat dates, hotel, breakfasts and dinners, hotel and driver tips, and entrance fees. Cost does NOT include tip for guide, drinks, lunches, room service, non-group activities, personal expenses and international airfare. Suggested tip for guide 5%.
A non-refundable deposit of $500 will reserve your spot. If the retreat/tour is canceled due to lack of participants, you will be granted a full refund. A minimum of 10 people is required for the trip to occur. We do anticipate meeting our goal of 10 participants. We will contact you to let you know if we have met our minimum number of participants so that you can go ahead and purchase the flight from your home city. Minimum 10 participants. Maximum 16.
To Register: Please send in your deposit, payable to Spiritual India Journeys with the Registration and Release Forms.
* Please note that itinerary is subject to change.
* Additional travel options in India are possible with prior arrangement
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