The following itinerary is provisional due to the nature of India.  We will attempt to stick to it, as much as possible.

Anyone who has been to India will understand, so please be patient if everything doesn't happen on exactly the specified day.

 

INDIA IS CHALLENGING...........

 If you are looking for History, Mystery, Adventure, Colour, Spirituality, Culture, Incredible food, Shopping and Humanity in all its forms then India is for you and you are on the right trip. If  filthy streets , crowds , noise ,using the bush as a toilet ,riding on the back of a rickety horsecart, carrying your own luggage and busy markets dont bother you ..........you are on the right trip.

If you are looking for a pampering spa experience or the vast silence of the great outdoors ....rather try Bali or Canada.

PROPOSED ITINERARY :

 DAY ONE :   SATURDAY  "Orientation"

..... Arrive in New Delhi at 09h15 after our connecting  flight from Dubai...

we transfer to the Jyothi Mahal Hotel in the centre of New Delhis Paharganj area http://www.jyotimahal.net/... a shopping district ...natural perfumes ...jewellery..clothes and handicrafts

In the evening we visit the huge Laxmi Narayan Temple complex to watch the sunset ......

DAY TWO :  SUNDAY  "New Delhi"

.....after breakfast we travel to the Crafts museum ~ a tranquil village complex displaying tribal exhibits from every part of India .

The tomb of Moghul Emporer Humayan is our next stop ~ magnificent Persian architecture with a beautifully maintained garden.

In the evening we meditate at the famous lotus shaped Baha`i Temple and learn about all the many religions of India and the world 

DAY THREE :  MONDAY  "Extremes"

...we make our way to Chandi Chowk famous spice market ~ where we learn about Indian cuisine .

One of our stops will be the Jama Masjid ...one of the worlds largests mosques (accomodates 25000 people) ~ we will climb to the top of the minaret to get a view of all of Delhi.

We then go to the Digambara Jain Temple ...where naked monks preach non violence to all living creatures ...next door we also get to visit the Jain Hospital for injured birds .

Further along Chandi Chowk is Sis Ganj ~ a Sikh Gurudwara where we share a meal with pilgrims after listening to the Guru Granth Sahib being read aloud continuously

DAY FOUR :  TUESDAY  " Village Life"

Up early to catch the Shatabdi Express to Mathura

Transfer to the village of Vrndavan 160kms south of Delhi. (60 mins)   http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=mvt+india

Check in  and have lunch ....Unpack & Relax. We will be staying at MVT - a tranquil Ashram built by Americans (clean & quiet with lovely gardens)

Please note that there is a strict code in this holy town as with many others in India ~ the following things are not permitted : meat , alcohol , cigarettes and ladies are to derss modestly

Evening visit to the Krishna Balaram Temple Complex.

DAY FIVE  :  WEDNESDAY "the Holy River"

...we get bicycle rickshaws down to the Yamuna river and float by boat for several hours to the town of Mathura...

Passing ancient temples , cows , pilgrims bathing and multitudes of green parrots taking in the tranquility of this ancient place.

On arrival in Mathura we visit Janmabhumi the jail in which Krishna was born in 5000 years ago.

We make our way back to Loi Bazaar in Vrndavan to shop for cotton, silk, natural incense and perfumes. 

DAY SIX  :  THURSDAY " The Seventh World Wonder"  

.....wake up early to drive to Agra the home of the Taj .

We will spend the morning at the Red Fort build by Shah Jahan ....visit various Marble Craft Shops..

Have lunch at Zorba the Buddha -an Osho Restaurant....

The afternoon will be spent taking in the overwhelming beauty of the worlds greatest monument to a mans love for his wife...The Taj Mahal.

The Taj is described as "a Tear on the Cheek of Time"..........the closest manmade object to the perfection of God 

That evening we return by taxi to the small village of Vrndavan.

DAY SEVEN :  FRIDAY "Land of Sri Krishna" 

We explore the town of Vrndavan and visit various temples in the surrounding areas

Many temples are a bizarre mix of various architectural styles.Vrndavan has been likened to the Old Quarter of Jerusalem....lots of passageways

Spend the afternoon relaxing in the garden or doing last minute shopping before we move on to Rajasthan...Land of the Maharajas

At 21h05 we leave from Mathura Junction on the Mewar Express overnight train to Udaipur (610km) First Class Sleeper.

 

DAY EIGHT :   SATURDAY " At the Lakeside Palace"

We arrive in Udaipur at 07h00 and make our way to the Jagatniwas Palace Hotel on Lake Pichola www.jagatniwaspalace.com

This magnificent hotel has the best views in all of Udaipur.It is at the lakeside in the old part of town.

We have lunch at the Palace Hotel reclining on bolsters in bay windows taking in the magnificent view.

The rest of the day is spent exploring and browsing through antique shops and art shops.

In the afternoon we will go on a sunset cruise by boat to Jagmandir Island (temple built on the island in 1620)  

 
DAY NINE :  SUNDAY "Majesty & Magic"

Our morning is spent at the City Palace built by Udai Singh the "Sun King" and the Kings Jagdish Temple.

We will see the museum, the collection of Moghul minatures, and the beautiful palace gardens.

In the afternoon we will attend a traditional Rajasthani Cooking Class in a traditional Havelli Home

DAY TEN :  MONDAY  "Hidden Wonders"

 We leave early to drive 84km North to visit Kumbhalgarh - a remote fort with a giant wall built to keep the invading Moghuls out.

Today there are very few people living there  just Sloth bears ,antelope and the odd leopard.

One of Indias best kept secrets is the Ranakpur Jain Temple complex in a remote wooded valley.

The Temple is all white marble . It consists of 29 halls and 1444 intricately carved pillars (no two the same)

This temple was built in 1439 by Jain priests that practice extremes of non-violence covering their mouths with cloth in order not to accidently swallow insects.

They also sweep as they walk in order not to stand on ants. Any leather articles may not be warn into the temple.  

DAY THIRTEEN :  THURSDAY "Flying Home"

In the morning we fly back to Dubai and get our connecting flight to Johannesburg  

ABOUT ISHVARA

Since my early childhood I have had an ongoing love affair with India...
After studying Psychology and Comparitive Religion at Wits University,
I travelled extensively throughout India and also lived in California, Italy, Greece, Mauritius and the UK...
Besides the Subcontinent, my travels have taken me throughout the Middle East, South East Asia, the Mediterranean and North Africa.
I speak, read and write Hindi and Greek....
My passion for India led to my converting to Hinduism at an early age...
It inspired me to teach yoga and live in various ashrams around the world..
I love to share my knowledge and experience of various ancient cultures with people.
I spend my time teaching various ethnic cuisines - when I am not travelling to exotic destinations....

If you are interested in this incredible journey :

Contact :  Diana 082 300 8117 or sundancer@sundancer.co.za