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Festival Tours -
Kumbh Mela Tour
Duration : 23 Days
All Indian festival are governed by the Hindu lunar calendar, the Kumbh
mela is also governed by the lunar cycle, however the pilgrimage is
generally held during April / May, and usually last for 30 days, with
certain ‘ Shahi Shaans” (holy baths). The configuration of celestial
body (Simastha) , when the Sun is in Aries and Jupiter is in Leo, the
period in astronomical terms is know as “ Simha Roshi” . According to
the “ Puranas” ( epic) where the Devas (Gods) and Asuras ( demons) were
churning the ocean of milk to obtain nectar ( amrit) for immortality ,
their joint venture resulted in a Sirmish, as both parties wanted to
monopolise the fruits of their labour. As soon as Dhanvantri (the
heavenly physician) emerged from the ocean holding the pitcher of
“amrit” , one of the demons snatched the pitcher from Dhanvantri hand
and ran off. The Gods followed in hot pursuit. Later as Lord Vishnu,
intervened, taking the form of enchantress Mohini, the demons were
tricked into handing over the pitcher to Mihini. During this Skirmish
four drops of “ amrit” fell on four parts of India, making these 4
places as holy pilgrimage spots, they are Haridwar, Prayag (Allahabad),
Nashik and Ujjain (city of Lord Mahakaleswar on the banks of Kshipra
River).
The Skirmish between the Gods and the Demons lasted for 12 days, thus
each day is represented as one year, which makes the Kumbh Mela
occurring once in 12 years I cyle at each of these four holy cities of
India. However every third year a “ ardh” (half) Kumbh is held in turn
at each of these 4 cities, which are also of importance to the Hindus,
and pilgrim and Sadhus ( sages) from all over India and tourist from
around the world attend the mela (fair) to experience for themselves the
rituals and poojas with aarti.
Day :-
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Arrive Delhi. Met by
India Calling representative and transfer to hotel. Afternoon tour of
Old Delhi. Overnight at the hotel.
-
Breakfast. Morning tour
of New Delhi Delhi. Evening watch a performance of Dances of India,
classical dance from different parts of India. Overnight at the hotel.
-
Early morning transfer to
railway station for train to Gwalior. Breakfast on board the train..
Trnasfer to hotel. Later tour of Gwalior fort, Mani Mandir Palace,
Gujjar Mahal Palace, Jai Vilas palace – the private residence of the
scion of Gwalior, the Scindia family, the museum has a vast collection
of antiques, Belgian Cur Glass furniture’s, French tapestries etc.
Overnight at the hotel.
-
Breakfast. Drive to
Jhansi enroute visit Datia Palace with a wall frescoes, temples, Fort,
and Sonagiri temple. Jhansi is associated with India’s freedom movement
lead to rani of Jhansi, visit Fort, Museum and Rani Mahal. Overnight at
the hotel.
-
Breakfast. Day trip to
Shivpuri – a hunting lodge of the Maharajas of Gwalior. Overnight at the
hotel.
-
Breakfast. Drive to
Oorcha a medieval legacy in stone, the grandeur of these palaces and
temples built by the Bundela Rajput rules in 16th 17th century along the
banks of Betwa River, each monument contributing to the nostalgic beauty
of Orcha. The fort complex has these palaces – Jehangir Mahal, Raj Mahal,
Rai Praveen Mahal and Anand Mahal, these palaces have beautifully
painted interiors, an example of the Bundela school of paintings, of
special mention are the mural of Raj pahal palace.
The temples along the Betwa river include ram Raja Temple, Chatubhuj
Temple, Laxmi Narayan Temple and Dinam Hardaul’s Palace who committed
martyrdom to prove his innocence to his elder brother Jhujar who
suspected his brother illicit relationship with is wife. Today dinmar
Hardaul is worshiped as God in these villages. Overnight at the hotel.
-
Breakfast. Drive to
Chanderi known for the handloom brocade and cotton saris. Visit fort and
Mosque. Overnight at the hotel.
-
Breakfast. Drive to
Bhopal enroute visit the Hindu and Jain Cave temples at Vidisha and
Udaygiri. Afternoon visit India’s biggest mosque Taj – ul – Masjid and
museum. Overnight at the hotel.
-
Breakfast. Day trip to
the ancient Buddhist cityi of Sanchi with the finest eaamples of
Buddhist architecture in India. The Great Stupa built by Emperor Ashok
with four splendid Gateways carved with the Jataka tales and incidents
from the life of Gautam Buddha. The Ashok Pillar stands at the south
entrance of the Stupa. The lions of the Ashok Pillar is kept in Sanchi
Museum. Gupta temple dates back to 4th century AD a rare temple
architecture with a flat roofed structure built of stone slabs having a
porch and sanctum. Overnight at the hotel.
-
Breakfast. Day trip to
Bhojpur and the World Heritage Site of Bhimbetka Caves of Neolithic,
Paleolithic, Mesolithic ago, early historic and medieval ages. Overnight
at the hotel.
Bhojpur – founded by the Dhar
dynasty raja Bhoj Parmar in 1010 AD the city has witnessed the
atrocities of Hoshang Shah of Marlwa in 1405 who destroyed most of the
Hindu temples. What remains are the ruins of the cyclopean dam, Shiva
Temple and magnificent Bhojeswar Temple with richly carved doorways. The
sanctum has an awesome “ lingam” of 7.5 ft high with a circumference of
18 ft. . The colossal 20ft. statue of the Jain saint Mahavir. The temple
was most completed, even with a ranges of line, the architecture remains
one of the best examples of temple structure of 12th century.
Bhimbetka – a UNESCO declared World
Heritage site, these 500 old caves are a natural amphitheater with vivid
panoramic paintings deciphering with life of pre-historic primitive cave
dwellers. An archaeological treasure of invaluable chronicle in the
history of the ancient cave men with scenes of hunting, dancing, music,
household cores, animal and avian life. The colours used were usually
prepared combining manganese, hematite wood coal which were mixed with
animal fat and extracts of birch and leaves. With the chemical reaction
resulting from the oxide content present on the rock surface, the
painting have remained incredibly intact inspite of many centuries of
ravages.
-
Breakfast. Drive to
Ujjain, one of the four holy Kumbh pilgrimage centre on the banks of
river kshipra. ( The city witnessed the Kumbh in April . May 2004 – with
the next auspicious date in 2016) Visit the Mahakaleswar Temple and the
ancient observatory.
-
Breakfast. Drive to
Indore the city built by Rani Ahilyyabai of Holkar dynasty on the banks
of the river Saraswati and Khan visit the medieval Palaces and temples
built by the Holkar Kings. Overnight at the hotel.
-
Drive to Mandu enroute
visit Dhar Fort and Mosque. Mandu a ghost city with spectacluar ruins of
ancient palaces, mosques and the bombs of the two lover, the poet prince
Baz Bahadur and his beautiful Hindu consort ram Roopmat. The folk lore
of Malwa still sing of this euphoric romance as a tribute to the joys of
life shared between the two lovers. Overnight at the hotel.
-
Drive to Omkareshwar
situated at the confluence of the Rivers Narmada and Kaveri ( supreme
caste) style ( with one of the 12 jyotirlings in India) enshrined at the
temple of Shree Omkar Mandhata. Thereafter proceed to Maheswar on the
banks of river Narmada. Situated in sylvan picturesque surroundings,
Maheswar is mentioned in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharat as “
Malishamati”. This holy town has several temples built by rani Ahilyabai
of Indore with their bathing ghats to offer pooja and obeisance to gods.
The town is also associated with the exquisitely woven Maheswari sarees.
Overnight at the hotel.
-
Breakfast. Drive to
Aurangabad. Overnight at the hotel.
-
Breakfast. Excursion to
Ajanta Caves with paintings and frescos depicting the life and episodes
of Buddha. The caves date from 200 BC to 650 AD. Overnight at the hotel.
-
Excursion to Ellora Caves
with Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples between 600 to 800 AD of notable
mention is Hindu Kailash Temple. On return visit Daulatabad Fort built
in 14th Century by Mohammad Bid Tuglaq, Bibi ka Maqbara, a tomb built by
Aurangzeb in memory of his life Rabia –Ud –Durani.
Overnight at the hotel.
-
Breakfast. Drive to
Shirdi – visit sai Baba’s Ashram and temple. Overnight at hotel.
-
Breakfast. Drive to
Nashik – once again a holy pilgrimage city and site of the Kumbha Mela
which is held every 12 years. Overnight at the hotel.
-
Breakfast. Visit the
various Hindu temples. Overnight at the hotel.
-
Breakfast. Drive to
Mumbai. On arrival check-in at hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
-
Breakfast. Morning
excursion to Elephanta Cave Island by motor launch. Afternoon tour of
city visiting Prince of Wales Museum, Mani Bhawan, Hanging Garden, Kamla
Nehru Park, Mahalaxmi Temple, Crawford Market, Victoria Terminus.
Overnight at the hotel.
-
Breakfast. Transfer to
airport for onward flight.
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