PILGRIMAGE TOUR INDIA

Every evening at the Ghat embankment of River Ganga in Varanasi, priests carry out an elaborate ritual called the “GANGA AARTI”  to honor the divine river.

The ceremony which takes place every day at sunset draws in tens of thousands of pilgrims, devotees, and visitors and is one of the top attractions in India’s oldest continuously inhabited holy city.

Ganga Aarti involves singing hymns and incantations, burning of incense, the clanging of brass and cymbals, ringing of bells and heartfelt prayers by the priests.

No spiritual or cultural journey to India is complete without a visit to Varanasi and witnessing the Ganga Aarti.

Nestled in a man-made pond in Amritsar, Punjab, THE HARMINDAR SAHIB GURDWARA (commonly referred to as the Golden Temple) due to its gold-leaf-covered outer sanctum, is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites of the Sikhs.

Every evening the HOLY SCRIPTURE GURU GRANTH SAHIB is carried in a procession to its resting place in the inner temple and lessons for the day are read out aloud by priests.

Free food called LANGAR is given out to all devotees and visitors. A visit to the Golden Temple is one of the most important spiritual journeys in India.

Dating back to the Chandela Dynasty era, the mightiest state in South India in the 9th-12th century AD, THE KHAJURAHO TEMPLE COMPLEX in Chhatarpur Madhya Pradesh comprising 85 temples is an ancient architectural marvel of stone art and sculpting.

With graphic imagery and sexual depictions, the erotic walls of these temples depict gods, goddesses, animals, musicians and other erotic encounters.

It is believed that the imagery was carved out for the entertainment of the gods. A visit to sensual Khajuraho is a step back in time to an erotic sensual era that is sure to tantalize you.

Winding its way from the gigantic glaciers of the Himalayas, THE HOLY GANGA RIVER blesses the plains, mountains and low-lying regions of the Indian subcontinent with life, rejuvenation and hope.

Without life, India as we know it, would perhaps not have been possible. Across its 1,500-mile length in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, are located monasteries, temples, shrines and pilgrimage centers.

Keep a luxurious Ganges cruise in these places on your to-do list in India.

An important pilgrimage site for Hindus, AMARNATH is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir at a height of 3,888 meters.

The pilgrimage site is a cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities of Hinduism. It is believed that the cave is the place where Shiva revealed secrets of immortality to the goddess Parvati.

Avail our bespoke helicopter ride to Shiva’s cave.

The vibrant NAVRATRI FESTIVAL IN GUJARAT is a gala of revelry, celebration, and carnival. Dedicated to the Goddess Durga, Navratri marks the triumph of good over evil and is one of Gujarat’s top tourist attractions.

Featuring folk dance like Garba and Dandiya Raas, traditional music, lights and the Navratri is a time to dress yourself up in colorful traditional Chaniya Cholis for women and Kediyus traditional shirts for men.

If you are in India in the month of Ashwin (which corresponds with September and October), you cannot miss out on Navratri.

Comprising four important pilgrimage sites in the state of Uttarakhand, THE CHAR DHAM (“four abodes”) pilgrimage is carried out to the divine abodes of four important deities.

These include YAMUNOTRI (at the source of the Yamuna River, dedicated to goddess Yamuna), GANGOTRI (origin point of holy Ganga, dedicated to goddess Ganga), KEDARNATH (dedicated to Lord Shiva) and BADRINATH (dedicated to Lord Vishnu).

A visit to these divine Himalayan destinations gives you a glimpse of the best of both the eternal and the temporal world.

Famous for not just its religious significance but also its architectural grandeur, the Konark Sun Temple in Odisha dates back to the reign of King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.

This Chariot-shaped Temple which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site stands out with its intricate stone carving, a world-famous Sun Dial and ornate symbolic art.

Snuggled away in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, the town of HARIDWAR is one of India’s holiest places.

It is famous for its Varanasi-like Ganga Aarti ceremony carried out every evening to honor the holy river where priests chant incantations and prayers from the ancient scripture.

In the HAWAN (FIRE RITUAL) at its temples, offering like Ghee (clarified butter), incense, herbs and grains are thrown into the fire. Other rituals are Pind Daan (meant to honor the souls of the departed) and Rudhrabhisek dedicated to Lord Shiva.

We curate for you personalized rituals with temple priests in Haridwar.

Varanasi has perhaps the same place in the Hindu world that Mecca has for Islam and Jerusalem for Christianity and Judaism. All spiritual journeys in India pass through or end up in this grand city in Utter Pradesh.

On the banks of the river are some 88 sacred Embankments called the GHATS which are central to the religious and everyday life of the city.

Our bespoke boat rides in Varanasi give you not just a memorable opportunity to watch a serenading sunset over this divine city but also to watch and observe the city go about its business on its embankments.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, KASHI VISHWANATH TEMPLE at Varanasi is believed to be one of the 12 Jyotirlingas (symbols of Lord Shiva) located across India.

Seeking the blessing of LORD SHIVA at the KASHI TEMPLE before embarking on an important journey or life decision is considered an important ritual by devotees.

The present structure of the temple dates back to the reign of Maratha ruler Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore in 1780.

We provide you with exclusive access to the inner sanctum of this important temple.

The UNESCO World Heritage Ajanta and Ellora cave temples located in AURANGABAD, MAHARASHTRA are one of India’s greatest archaeological treasure troves and also one of its major tourist attractions.

These caves that date back to the 2nd Century BC (Ajanta) and 6th-10th Century AD (Ellora) are also centers of immense spiritual importance.

With influences from not just the Hindu tradition, but also Jain and Buddhist traditions, these sites are believed to have been centers of exemplary religious pluralism and co-existence.

Our erudite archaeologists and historians will help you unravel the mysteries of these sites during our private tours to Ajanta and Ellora Caves.