{"id":1456,"date":"2012-01-31T09:35:28","date_gmt":"2012-01-31T09:35:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mysticalplaces.org\/?p=1456"},"modified":"2015-12-07T10:55:20","modified_gmt":"2015-12-07T10:55:20","slug":"incredible-india-pilgrimage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mysticalplaces.org\/?p=1456","title":{"rendered":"Incredible India Pilgrimage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spiritual Diversity in India
\nwith Azad Kaur and Ishvara
\nSeptember 16th – 29th\u00a02012
\nOptional extension to Orissa \u00a030th September – 3rd October 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0A pilgrimage through India is an explosion of the senses as one explores spirituality, culture, colour, incredible food and humanity in all it’s forms. Home to the Ancient Indus Valley Civilization, and four of the world’s major religions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism – there is a very rich diversity to experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

In September, after the Monsoon rains have restored the earth and everything cools down, we will visit some of India\u2019s special places.\u00a0 Our journey begins in the modern capital of New Delhi where we bombard our senses with the many sights and smells of this Mogul city. Rich in history, a shopping mecca, an architectural wonder….we spend time at a Sikh temple complex, a Mosque and a Jain temple. We then move on to the ancient village of Vrndavan, the home of Lord Krishna and Hindu holy town, where life has hardly changed in five thousand years. Here we stay in an ashram while visiting the surrounding sites and temples. Finally, we retire to the foothills of the Himalayas where we enjoy the natural beauty of the Ganges in Rishikesh and travel to the hill station of Mussourie, visiting a Ti<\/p>\n

Itinerary<\/strong><\/p>\n

Day 1\u00a0\u00a0 September 16\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 orientation\u00a0 <\/strong>Arrive\u00a0 in New Delhi early morning, and transfer to the Jyothi\u00a0Mahal hotel. Day to freshen up, relax and explore the local shopping district.\u00a0In the evening we visit the Bangla Sahib Sikh temple complex where we\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 share in the evening meal and devotions.<\/p>\n

Day 2\u00a0\u00a0 September 17\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 contrasts and extremes\u00a0 <\/strong>We make our way to Chandi Chowk in Old Delhi, visit the Jama Masjid, one of the world\u2019s largest mosques, and then go to the\u00a0Digambara Jain temple, and the Jain hospital for injured birds. After lunch we visit the Bahai Lotus temple. Evening to relax back at the Jyothi Mahal.<\/p>\n

Day 3\u00a0\u00a0 September 18\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 village life\u00a0 <\/strong>Up early to catch the Bhopal Shatabdi express train to Mathura.\u00a0 Arrive an hour later and transfer to the village of Vrndavan where we check in at the MVT Ashram. \u00a0Vrndavan is a\u00a0 very holy town, the home of Lord\u00a0 Krishna, and in the evening we visit the Krishna Balaram temple complex.<\/p>\n

Day 4\u00a0\u00a0 September 19\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a taste of Ancient India\u00a0 <\/strong>We walk down to the Yamuna river and float by\u00a0boat for several hours to the town of Mathura \u2013 birthplace of Lord Krishna.\u00a0We pass ancient temples, cows, pilgrims bathing, multitudes of green\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 parrots\u2026we then make our way back to the Loi Bazaar in Vrndavan to shop for cotton, silk, natural incense and perfumes<\/p>\n

Day 5\u00a0 September 20\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the seventh World Wonder\u00a0 <\/strong>We wake up early to drive to Agra, where we\u00a0arrive at sunrise to visit\u00a0 one of the world\u2019s greatest monuments, the Taj\u00a0Mahal. Lunch at Zorba the Buddha, an Osho restaurant, and we spend the\u00a0\u00a0afternoon at the Red Fort, built by Shah Jahan. We also visit various craft\u00a0\u00a0shops\u00a0 and then return to \u00a0MVT Ashram for the evening.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Day 6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 September 21\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 land of\u00a0 1000 temples\u00a0 <\/strong>We explore the villages near Vrndavan and visit\u00a0various temples in the surrounding areas. Our visit includes Radha Kund and\u00a0Shyma Kund, where the Divine lovers, Radha and Krishna used to bathe. We\u00a0also spend time meditating at Kusum Sarovara lake. Evening at Ashram.<\/p>\n

Day 7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 September 22\u00a0\u00a0 heading for the Himalayas\u00a0 <\/strong>Morning at leisure in Vrndavan. Checkout\u00a0\u00a0midday and make our way to New Delhi. In the evening we board the Mussourie Express and sleep on the overnight train which arrives at the\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Foothills of the Himalayas in the early morning.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Day 8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 September 23\u00a0\u00a0 the home of Yoga\u00a0 <\/strong>We arrive early in Haridwar and make our way 14km up the Ganges river to Rishikesh. Yogis from all over the world gather here to practice all forms of yoga. After checking in at the Divine Cottage Resort, we\u00a0go down to the Ganges to swim. We meet astrologers, gurus, healers and\u00a0\u00a0other soothsayers \u2013 an opportunity to go for an Ayurvedic massage or palm\u00a0reading. As evening approaches, we make our way down to the Ganges for\u00a0the Ganga Puja Ceremony.<\/p>\n

Day 9\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 September 24\u00a0\u00a0 view from the clouds\u00a0 <\/strong>Travelling early through the forests up into the\u00a0mountains, we head for the hill station of Mussourie, visiting a Tibetan\u00a0\u00a0monastery along the way. We book into an old Victorian hunting lodge,\u00a0\u00a0Padmini Niwas, and late in the afternoon cycle down to Happy Valley, a Tibetan refugee centre where we spend time with the locals.<\/p>\n

Day 10\u00a0\u00a0 September 25\u00a0\u00a0 hiking in the forests\u00a0 <\/strong>Spend the morning at leisure. Afternoon hike in nearby\u00a0forest, and at 16h00 there will be an Indian vegetarian cooking class at the\u00a0Padmini Niwas Lodge.<\/p>\n

Day 11\u00a0 September 26 \u00a0\u00a0 holy rapids\u00a0 <\/strong>Making our way back to Rishikesh, we travel by jeep up the\u00a0Ganges and descend by raft to the Ganga nature camp. Yoga on the banks of\u00a0\u00a0the river, swim, enjoy the camp fire, and sleep in tents on the banks of the\u00a0\u00a0river.<\/p>\n

Day 12\u00a0\u00a0 September 27\u00a0\u00a0 ashrams of Rishikesh\u00a0 <\/strong>Wake up on the banks of the Ganges and river raft\u00a0back to Rishikesh. Day exploring at leisure. Once again we stay at the Divine\u00a0Cottage Resort.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Day 13\u00a0\u00a0 September 28\u00a0\u00a0 heading home\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>We leave Rishikesh and fly back to New\u00a0 Delhi. Check into Jyothi Mahal hotel. Last minute shopping and a good night\u2019s rest.<\/p>\n

Day 14\u00a0\u00a0 September 29\u00a0\u00a0 flying out\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Leave in the morning\u00a0 at 11h00 for our flight home.<\/p>\n

Extension to the Temple of the 64 Yoginis<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Day 14 \u00a0 September 29 \u00a0 \u00a0 travel to Puri\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Leave in the morning for flight to Bhubaneswar, on \u00a0the north coast, and\u00a0 on arrival transfer to the Mayfair Hotel, Puri. \u00a0Settle in and relax at the\u00a0hotel which is on the beach.<\/p>\n

Day 15 \u00a0 September 30<\/strong> \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ceremony at the 64 Yoginis<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0Short drive to the Temple of the 64 \u00a0Yoginis \u00a0in Hirapur\u00a0and spend the day there. Today is the full moon. Return to Mayfair Hotel.<\/p>\n

Day 16 \u00a0October 1 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0exploring Orissa \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Day open to explore the Orissa area together, visit the
\nJain and Buddist caves near Bhuhabeswar,\u00a0 and the site of the great battle of\u00a0Ashoka, a beautiful place to meditate.<\/p>\n

Day 17 \u00a0 \u00a0Oct 2 \u00a0 \u00a0 back to Delhi \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Depart Bhubaneswar for flight to New Delhi and book into Jyothi
\nMahal hotel. Last minute shopping and rest.<\/p>\n

Day 18 \u00a0 \u00a0 Oct 3<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0departure \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Depart New Delhi for return home<\/p>\n

\u00a0Facilitators<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Ishvara\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>As a child I was infatuated with India and all things Indian …My\u00a0passion 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. My family travelled extensively and both my parents spoke many languages, so I grew up learning many languages including Hindi, French and Greek. After\u00a0 studying Fine Arts, Psychology and Comparative Religion at Wits University, I travelled extensively throughout India and also lived in California, Italy, Greece, Mauritius and Britain.<\/p>\n

Besides the Subcontinent, my travels have taken me throughout the Middle East, South East Asia, the Mediterranean and North Africa. I have also always been interested in various world cuisines. My main focus is on traditional ways of\u00a0cooking, particularly in North Africa, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Central Asia and South East Asia. 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\u2026<\/p>\n

Azad Kaur\u00a0 (Ruth)\u00a0 <\/strong>I spent my early years living in mostly rural settings in Uganda and South \u00a0Africa, always drawn to and fascinated by the stillness \u00a0of the nature. I first learned yoga and meditation at the age of 19, and have \u00a0practised ever since. I am a Kundalini yoga and meditation teacher, have\u00a0studied the writings of many yogic masters, and also spent many years\u00a0 studying with Leslie Temple-Thurston,\u00a0 a teacher of enlightenment. After studying education and linguistics, most of my career was spent working with non-profits in South Africa. I now lead retreats and pilgrimages to\u00a0\u00a0sacred places in the world, and assist others in transiting to more balanced states of\u00a0 consciousness.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Pricing for Indian Journey<\/strong><\/p>\n

All costs do not include International airfare<\/strong><\/p>\n