Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Welcome to India. After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Delhi Indira Gandhi Airport, subsequent to Customs & Immigration, you will be met by a Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort and transfer you to the hotel. He / she will provide assistance during Check-in and also discuss the program for the next few days.

Delhi, the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend of the past and the present. Delhi is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land and a window to the kaleidoscope that is India. It is a city that bridges two different worlds. Old Delhi, once the capital of Islamic India, is a labyrinth of narrow lanes lined with crumbling havelis and formidable mosques. In contrast, the imperial city of New Delhi created by the British Raj is composed of spacious, tree-lined avenues and imposing government buildings. Delhi has been the seat of power for several rulers and many empires for about a millennium. Many a times the city was built, destroyed and then rebuilt here. Interestingly, a number of Delhi's rulers played a dual role, first as destroyers and then as creators.

The city's importance lies not just in its past glory as the seat of empires and magnificent monuments, but also in the rich and diverse cultures. No wonder chroniclers of Delhi culture - from Chand Bardai and Amir Khusro to present day writers - have never been at a loss for topics. In Delhi, you will discover that the city is sprinkled with dazzling gems: captivating ancient monuments, fascinating museums and art galleries, architectural wonders, a vivacious performing-arts scene, fabulous eating places and bustling markets.

Delhi has been the political hub of India. Every political activity in the country traces its roots here. This was true even of the mythological era. The Pandavas of the Mahabharata had their capital at Indraprastha, which is believed to have been geographically located in today's Delhi.

Check-in at the hotel. Rest of the morning & afternoon is at leisure for independent exploration.

Evening, you will enjoy the Son et Lumiere Show at the famous Red Fort and then proceed for a Welcome Dinner at a popular Indian restaurant. Return to the hotel. Overnight.   D

Delhi with its Old and New parts - each with its specific charm and glory - makes a very interesting city for its sustenance to medieval and modern cultures at the same time and space. Today, you will explore the capital of India in a full-day tour - including buildings of early Turkish structure to Mughal buildings to Lutyen's Delhi.

Visit Old Delhi - the former center of Mughal power which offers ancient monuments, narrow streets and bustling markets. Visit the Red Fort built in 1648 by the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan famous for his great edifice of love the “TajMahal”. Also see Jama Masjid, constructed by Shah Jahan in 1658 and reputed to be largest mosque in Asia. Then enjoy a rickshaw ridethrough the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk to get a feel of the royal life of the Mughal emperors.A visit to Delhi without paying homage to the final resting place of Mahatma Gandhi is not possible. Raj Ghat was built to honour the memory of Mahatma Gandhi and this cenotaph draws millions of people all through the year.

Post lunch you will be taken to see New Delhi which came into existence much later, and is also known as Lutyen’s Delhi, named after the British architect who was largely responsible in designing India Gate –

the 42 metre tall monument, built in the memory of the World War 1 martyrs (i.e. British soldiers), Viceroy’s Palace which is now Presidential residence, Parliament House- the govt. headquarters and many other buildings in that area. You will be stopping at India Gate and driving by the Palace and Parliament.  Continue on to visit the recent jewel in the crown, the Lotus Temple, a symbol of Bahai faith and then drive on to see the UNESCO World Heritage site, the 72.5 meter Qutub Minar the tallest brick minaret in the World, which heralded the arrival and rise of Islam in India.

Return to the hotel. Evening free to relax or optional activities (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). Overnight.  B

Early morning, depart for Mussoorie, a popular hill-station, situated at an altitude of 2005 m. In 1820, Captain Young of the British army was influenced by the beauty of this place & made it his residence. After its discovery, this hill station gradually developed as a center of education, business, tourism & beauty.

Check-in on arrival.  

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax or for independent exploration (we would be happy to offer suggestions). Overnight.   B L D

Morning, depart for Barkot, the starting point for the Chardham Yatra, enroute visiting the famous Kempty Falls.

Check-in on arrival.  

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax. Overnight.   B L D

At dawn, depart for a full day excursion to Yamunotri 3235 meters via Hanuman Chatti 2134 meters and then to Janki Chatti 2676 meters.

The road ends at Janki Chatti and from here on, you will start on an uphill trek to Yamunotri (04 hours - 06 km one way. For people who prefer not to walk, this can be done on a pony or on a Doli)

Yamunotri is the original source of Yamuna River surrounded by lofty peaks forest and large valley. Yamuna is the second largest holiest river in India after Ganga. It is part of the four holy abodes of the Chardjham Yatra. Every year thousands of devotees throng from all over the world to Yamunotri, to wash off their sins.

The Yamunotri Shrine was originally constructed by Maharaj  Pratap Shah of  Tehri  Garhwal on the  left shore of Yamuna River. After it was destroyed due to natural causes, it was rebuilt by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur in the 19^th century. There many other holy shrines, ashrams and temple located in and around the Yamunotri Dham.

The Yamunotri temple is dedicated to goddess Yamuna, the main Deity of the temple is made up of Black marble. According to Hindu mythology, It is believed that Yamuna is the daughter of Surya the Sungod & the sister of Yama, the god of death. Apart from Yamunotri temple, there are several places to see such as Surya Kund, Divya Shila, Janki Chatti, Hanuman Chatti, Saptarishi Kund etc.

Pilgrims also get to enjoy a number of hot water springs in the vicinity of the temple and a unique aspect of ritual practice here include cooking raw rice in the hot springs which is then distributed as Prasad.

At Yamunotri you will take a holy dip in natural hot water spring & then perform Pooja & holy darshan of Goddess Yamuna. Later we trek back to Janki Chatti & then drive back to Barkot on the same route we used in the morning.

Reach the hotel & relax. Overnight.  B

Early morning, depart for Uttarkashi, situated on the banks of the river Bhagirathi.

On arrival, check-in at the hotel / lodge.

Balance of the day at leisure for independent exploration & to pray at the Lord Vishwanath & other important temples (Ekadash Rudra, Bhairav, Gyaneshwar & Goddess Kuteli Devi).

Return to the hotel / lodge. Overnight.   B L D

After early breakfast, proceed for a full day excursion to Gangotri.

Gangotri  located at an altitude of 3100 meters above sea level is the starting point of Ganga river where the goddess Ganga is workshipped by the pilgrims as one of the  4 important  Dhams for the pilgrimage . The main origin of the river is “Gaumukh” which is a glacier located 19 km away from Gangotri temple. Ganga river is the longest & most sacred river in world. In ancient time the river was called Bhagirathi and attained the name Ganga from Devprayag onwards where Bhagirathi meets with Alaknanda to form Ganga River.

According to Hindu mythology, it is said that the Ganga is a result of reward given by lord “Shiva” to the king “Bhagirath” for his penance. However due to her pride and the fact that the earth would be devastated if Ganga came down in her full force, Lord Shiva caught her in his locks. The sacred stone near the temple denotes the place where Ganga first came down to earth. This is why Ganga is also called by the name of Bhagirathi.

The present Temple was constructed by a Gorkha Commander Amar Singh Thapa in the early 18^th century. It is said that at the time of construction of the temple, Gomukh Glacier was here but receded to it's present location due to global warming. Gangotri is the home place of many ashrams, small shrines & other temples.

There are many shops which sell prasads and light weight cans to carry water from Gangotri after Darshan .Ganga water is pure and used in poojas or offering in temple. The region also boasts of many varieties of unique flora & fauna.

On arrival, take a holy dip in the sacred river Ganges, also called Bhagirathi at its origin. Perform Pooja and relax the lovely surroundings.

In time, drive back to the hotel / lodge in Uttarkashi

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax. Overnight.   B L D

At dawn, depart for Guptkashi. Enroute, pass through towns like Tehri Srinagar & Rudraprayag.

From Rudraprayag we continue on towards Mandakini valley & enjoy the scenic beauty at the confluence of Mandakini & Alaknanda river.

Reach Guptkashi by evening.

Check-in & relax for the balance of the day. Overnight.   B L D

At dawn, depart for Gaurikund.  On arrival, you will commence your trek to Kedarnath (05 hours - 14 km one way. For people who prefer not to walk, this can be done on a pony or on a Doli)

Kedarnath temple is one of the holiest pilgrimage center in northern India, located on the bank of Mandakini river at an altitude of 3584 meters above sea level. The historical name of this region is "Kedar Khand". Kedarnath temple is a part of Panch Kedar in Uttarakhand and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.

Kedarnath is flanked by breathtaking snow-capped peaks, making it the most remote site among all four Char Dham sites. Each year the scenic beauty of Kedarnath town attracts the followers of Lord Shiva attracts from all over the world.

Renowned Kedarnath Temple is dedicated to worship of incarnations of Lord Shiva. Kedarnath is named after King Kedar who ruled in the Satya Yuga. It is believed that Kedarnath Dham is the place where Lord Shiva absolved Pandavas from the sin of killing their own cousins Kauravas in the battle of Kurukshetra war. There is an interesting Story behind the Town and its temple. According to the Puranas, the Pandava brothers did a major penance in Kedarnath to please Lord Shiva.

Originally, the temple was built by Pandavas and the present temple was known to be built by Adi Shankaracharya. Just Behind the temple you can see the samadhi of Adi Shankaracharya.

No specific family of priest supervises rituals at Kedarnath, which focus around veneration of the stone lingam that rests in the inner sanctum of the temple. There are many other places to see in and near Kedarnath namely Chorabari tal, Vasukital, Gaurikund, Trijuginarayan, Ukhimath, Pancha Kedar etc.

Arrive by afternoon & check-in at the hotel / lodge.

Relax for a while and after lunch, leave for Pooja & Holy Darshan at Shri Kedarnath temple.

Spend time in the village or come back to the hotel / lodge to relax.

Evening, visit Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi, behind the temple & then be enjoy the Aarti of Shri Kedarnath at the temple.

Return to the hotel. Overnight.   B

At dawn, you will commence your trek to Gaurikund (05 hours - 14 km one way. For people who prefer not to walk, this can be done on a pony or on a Doli). From here, you will board your vehicle for the drive back to Guptkashi.

Arrive by afternoon & check-in at the hotel / lodge.

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax. Overnight.   B L D

At dawn, you will depart for Joshimath via Pipalkothi & Chopta. This is one of the most scenic stretches of the whole trip & we drive through meadows & thick forests, with glimpses of the mighty Himalayan peaks.

Check-in on arrival.

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax. Overnight.   B L D

Morning, depart for holy Shrine of Shri Badrinath.

Badrinath Temple is located at an altitude of about 3415 metres above the sea level in Silent valley of Garhwal Himalayas on the shores of Alaknanda river.

It is one of the holiest hindu pilgrimage destination in India, also one the most important dhams and the only temple which is part of both "Main Char Dham of India" and "Chota Char Dham Yatra". Badrinath is famous for its well- known Lord Vishnu temple (also known as Badri Vishal) named as Badrinath temple. Badrinath town is famous for Panch Badri temples including Yog Dhyan Badri, Bhavishtya Badri, Adi Badri and Vriddha Badri, along with Badrinath temple.

Although Badrinath temple was built by the Adi Shankaracharya who had initially discovered the Badrinarayan idol in the Alakananda River and installed it in hot water spring of Tapt Kund. Present temple was built by King of Garhwal in 16^th century and boasts of impressive traditional carvings, pillars designs & ornamental stones. You will find many images of gods namely Kuber , Sridevi and Bhoodevi as well as the sages Nar, Narayan , Bhakta Narada all are seated around the main Deity of Lord Shiva. There are many shrines in and around the temple such as Goddess Laxmi , Hanuman, Narsimha, Nar-Narayan , Ghanta Karna and an Ashta bhuja Ganesha. The diety of Badrinath temple is made of black stone shaligram.

According to legend it is believed that At the time of Satya yuga, Lord Shiva meditated here for thousands of years when Goddess Lakshmi provided shadow over her husband in the form of a Badri tree. So the place came to be known as Badrinath.

In addition to the Temple, there are many other sites to visit like Panch Prayag temple, Badhri Naryanan Temple, Vasudhara Falls, Hot Springs etc. There are also many festivals like Kedar-Badri Utsav, Janmashtami, Mata Mruti Ka Mela celebrated here.  

Check-in on arrival & relax for a while.

Afternoon, visit Mana village - the last Indian village before the Tibetan border.

Return on time to participate in the evening Aarti at Badrinath temple.

Come back to the hotel. Overnight.   B L D

At dawn, perform Pooja & holy darshan of Badrinath & then drive back to Joshimath.

Check-in on arrival. 

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax. Overnight.   B L D

Morning, proceed for a drive to Rishikesh, enroute stopping at Rudraprayag for lunch.

Check-in on arrival. 

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax or for independent exploration. Overnight.   B L

Morning, proceed for a drive to Rishikesh, enroute stopping at Rudraprayag for lunch.

Rishikesh is situated on the banks of the holy River Ganges (Ganga) & is a very important Hindu pilgrimage site. One can see Sadhus, Pilgrims, Ashrams & Temples all around. The ceaseless flow of the river, regarded as Goddess Ganga, adds to the beauty & the purity of the place, giving the entire place a spiritual ambience. Along the river, the area is filled with thick green forests in the all-mountainous region.

It is also famous for its Yoga Ashrams for the sessions that are taught here by many Yoga experts. So, besides the sadhus & pilgrims, a mass of tourists too visit this place every year to learn Yoga from the experts & to relax & rejuvenate. Rishikesh is also one of the most popular adventure sport destination of India. River rafting, trekking, rock climbing, hiking etc. are some of the activities one can easily opt from here.

Morning, proceed for a sightseeing tour of Rishikesh, visiting Laxman Jhula, Ram Jhula, Geeta Bhawan, Temples & Ashrams.

Afternoon, return to the hotel to check-out & depart for Haridwar.

Located at the foothills of the lower Himalayan Shivalik Mountains, on the banks of River Ganges, it is an important pilgrimage site for the Hindus. When the Ganges leaves the mountains & enters the plains, Haridwar is the first major town on the plains. Though the Ganges does not lose its rapids completely, nevertheless it becomes very quiet & calm here.

Haridwar has earned fame as being the place, which has been blessed by the Trinity of the Lords Shiva, Vishnu & Brahma. It is also one of the major Shaktipeeths. Through the ages, Haridwar has purified the mind, the body & the soul of people not only in spiritual or religious terms but as a major learning centre for arts, science & culture.

Check-in on arrival & relax for a while.

Later in the afternoon visit Mansa Devi temple & in the evening participate & enjoy the spectacular view of 'Aarti' at Har Ki Pauri. You may spend time on the Ghat if you wish.

Return to the hotel. Overnight.   B

Morning, check-out & depart for Delhi.  You will be transferred straight to the Airport for your onward journey or to the hotel if you are staying longer.

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