India Tours: The Kumbh Fair Itinerary

"An Ocean of People at an Ocean of Water"

Delhi – Hardiwar – Mathura – Agra – Orchha – Khajuraho – Allahabad –Varanasi - Delhi

Kumbh Fair (literally means the Pot Fair) is a mass Hindu pilgrimage that occurs four times every twelve years and rotates among four locations in India. This time it is happening at Allahabad a town nestled by three rivers, Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati respectively.

The participation of millions of people makes it the largest pilgrimage gathering under the sun and the auspicious experience is lived by millions of people on a single day.

The major affair of Kumbh is the ritual bath on the banks of Ganges (the holy river). Other activities include religious discussions, devotional singing, mass feeding of holy men and women and the poor, and religious assemblies where doctrines are debated and standardized. Since the beginning of time, the fair has been a nucleus of Hindu life and beliefs. People from all walks of life attend the fair that strengthen their beliefs in the religion. Irrespective of all worldly barriers of caste, creed, region and sect, the Kumbh Fair has exerted a mesmerizing influence over the mind and the life pattern of every Hindu soul.

Here in the fair, the Sadhus (holy men) are seen clad in saffron sheets with plenty of ashes and powder dabbed on their skin per the requirements of ancient traditions. Some called Nanga Sadhus may often be seen without any clothes even in severe winter, generally considered to live an extreme lifestyle. This tends to attract a lot of western attention as it is seemingly in contrast to a generally conservative social modesty practiced in the country.

To watch the Kumbh Fair processions is to witness the march of the ages. As the holy saints pass by on their various and sundry conveyances, elephants, horses, palanquins, chariots, cars, and camels they are continually transmitting waves of powerful energy to all the people who witness this awe-inspiring and most auspicious event.

The observance of Kumbh Mela is based upon the following legend: Thousands of years ago, in the Vedic period, Gods and Demons made a temporary agreement to work together churning the nectar of immortality from the primordial ocean of milk, and to share the nectar equally. However, when the pot (Kumbh) containing the nectar appeared, the Demons ran away with it and were chased by the Gods. For twelve days and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years) the Gods and Demons fought in the sky for possession of this pot of nectar. It is said that during the battle, drops of nectar fell at four places: Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. Thus, the Kumbh Mela is observed at these four locations where the nectar fell.

Come and be a part of this religious event…

Day 1: Arrive Delhi

Namaste! Welcome to India! Arrive at Delhi’s International Airport late this evening.After you clear all immigration and customs formalities, you will be met by our representative and driven to your hotel.

Delhi stands as the capital of Modern India. Here you can see the mingling of the Old and New India, the ancient and the modern. Delhi is made up of seven ancient cities, spanning the period from the 11th to 20th centuries. Delhi has seen the rise and fall of many emperors, which have left behind a plethora of monuments that commemorate the grandeur and glory of bygone ages. Very few cities in the world can express such a profusion of architectural styles.
Hotel: The Claridges – Deluxe room

Day 2: Delhi

After a hearty breakfast this morning, proceed for a full day tour of Old and New Delhi. Old Delhi had been the capital of Mughal India between the 12th and 19th centuries. See the 17th century Jama Masjid mosque and walk through the narrow, winding lanes of the colorful and bustling Chandni Chowk. You have the option of taking a rickshaw ride through these bazaars. Visit the Mughal Empire’s Red Fort well as Raj Ghat the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.

Further proceed to New Delhi to drive past the Presidential Palace, the one-time imperial residence of the British viceroys; the India Gate, a memorial raised in Honor of the Indian soldiers martyred during the Afghan war and a drive along the Rajpath past the Parliament House and secretarial buildings. Visit Qutab Minar, the 12th century tower of victory built by a slave king and prototype of all minars (towers) in India.

Also visit the 16th century Humayun’s tomb, a precursor to the Taj Mahal.  Walk through Nizamudin basti (colony), a medieval settlement that has the tomb of a famous 13th century Muslim Sufi saint, Nizamuddin Auliya. Underprivileged young adults trained by an NGO will conduct this walk.
Hotel: The Claridges – Deluxe room (B)

Day 3: Delhi – Haridwar

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before you start for your drive to Haridwar.  On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel.

Later, you will visit Hari-ki-Pairi (or Har-ki-Pairi). To the north of the center, this is Haridwar's focal point, where devotees gather to bathe and worship on the Ganges. According to legend, this is where a drop of nectar fell from the churning of the oceans when the world was created, and a stone - wall has Vishnu's footprint. Each evening around 7 PM, thousands gather and worship the river Goddess by putting diyas (floating lamps) in the river.

Mansa Devi Mandir is at the top of a hill near the center of town. It can be reached by cable car or by a road that gently winds uphill (about 2 km), starting from Railway Rd. The temple is aesthetically not particularly noteworthy, but the views are grand.

Bharat Mata Mandir, 5 km north of the center of town is dedicated to Mother India. This is half temple, half nation building exercise, with seven floors stacked with deities, saints, and secular heroes of all Indian faiths.
Evening visit, witness the ceremony Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri. This is performed at the time of sunset. This divine light ceremony is filled with devotional song, prayer, ritual and a palpable sense of the divinity of Mother Ganga. The aarti, an ornate oil lamp, lined with dozens of flames burning in pure ghee is offered to God.
Hotel: Park Grand – Deluxe Room (B)

Day 4: Haridwar – Rishikesh - Haridwar

Breakfast at leisure and proceed to full day excursion of Rishikesh.
 
Visit the Swargashram. The founder, Swami Vishudhanand, was also known as Kali Kamli Wala (one with black blanket). It is one of the oldest ashrams in Rishikesh and is a very vast organization embracing many activities.

Parmath Niketan lies right on the holy banks of mother Ganga, nestled in the lap of lush, towering the Himalayas. Additionally the Ashram runs schools, hospitals, ecological programs and disaster relief projects and played a major role during the TSUNAMI in the South of India.

Later in the evening you will walk to witness the Arti ceremony at Parmath Ashram situated across the Ram Jhoola suspension bridge.
Hotel: Park Grand – Deluxe Room (B)

Day 5: Haridwar – Mathura

Take your breakfast box and transfer to the railway station for train to Mathura.

Departure: Haridwar         At: 0600 hrs             By: Kalingautkal Exp
Arrive: Mathura       At: 1430 hrs

Mathura, on the west bank of the Yamuna, is where the story of Krishna begins. A dark, cell –like room in the complex of the rather modern Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple on the periphery of the city, is revered as the birthplace of one of India’s most popular gods. Further away, along the riverfront, the city’s 25 ghats from a splendid network of temples, pavilions, trees and steps leading to the water. Teeming with colorful shops selling traditional items, such as its delicious pedas (milk sweets), this is the heart of the town. The evening aarti, when small oil lamps are floated on the river, is performed at Vishram Ghat, where legend says Krishna rested after he killed the tyrant Kamsa. Close by is the Sati Burj, a red sandstone pavilion built in the 1570s, and Kans qila, the site of the old fort where Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur constructed one of his five observatories.

Later in the afternoon, visit Krishnajanmbhumi and Vishram Ghat to take part in the evening Aarti.
Hotel: Radha Ashok – Superior room (B)

Day 6: Mathura – Agra

Agra, best known as the city of the world’s most famous monument of love, is situated along the banks of the River Yamuna and attracts thousands of visitors every day from all over the world, to visit the Taj Mahal. It is a seventh wonder of the world and was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

First visit Akbar’s Tomb, the baby Taj. The third Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great (1555–1605), himself commenced its construction in around 1600, according to Tartary tradition to commence the construction of one's tomb during one's lifetime. Akbar himself planned his own tomb and selected a suitable site for it, after his death, Akbar's son Jahangair completed the construction in 1605-1613. Akbar was one of the greatest emperors of his time.
In the afternoon visit Agra fort and Taj Mahal. 
Agra Fort is a high red stone monument overlooking the Taj Mahal.  It is one of the finest and best kept Mughal forts in India. Many Mughals emperors lived and governed the country from here. At the end of his life, Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son, Aurangzeb, in the fort. The fort was also the site of a battle during the Indian rebellion of 1857.

Catch the magic of Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays) at sunset. Horse carriage will take you to the gates. 

On the death of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built her this memorial. 20,000 men labored for over 17 years to build this wealth of white marble and precious stone. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Hotel: Radisson Hotel – Superior Room (B)

Day 7: Agra – Gwalior – Orchha

After early breakfast, you will be transferred to the railway station for the train to Gwalior.

Departure: Agra: 0817 hrs.                       By: Shatabdi Express
Arrive: Gwalior: 0935 hrs.

Upon arrival, you will be driven from Gwalior to Sonagiri Ji. Sonagiri means the golden peak. Sonagir is known as a holy site for the Digambar sect of the Jains. History says that King Nanganag Kumar had attained salvation and got liberated from the cycles of death and life in this place. He was followed by millions of his followers. Thus, Jain saints who seek salvation or practice the paths to Nirvana flock to this place.

Continue drive to Orcha.

Afternoon visit the temples at Orchha, a city frozen in time. It was founded in the 16th century by the Bundela chieftain, Rudra Pratap Singh who built this new capital on large wooded islands on the River Betwa. Today, remains of the fort and palaces speak eloquently of Orchha's time of glory, of its splendid legacy of art and culture. Though little more than a village today, stepping back in time, into Orchha's fortress and palaces is an enjoyable experience. Places of interest in Orchha include the multi-tiered Jehangir Mahal, within the fort, built in 1606; the Raj Mahal noted for its fine murals and the Rai Praveen Mahal, a palace set in the gardens of Anand Mahal. Orchha has tall-spired temples that are certainly worth visit.

Hotel: Orccha Resorts – Standard Room (B)

Day 8: Orchha – Khajuraho

Post breakfast proceed to Khajuraho, upon arrival check-in at hotel. 

Later, visit the temples of Khajuraho famous for erotic depictions.

The Chandela Temple Complex. The tour of Khajuraho this afternoon concentrates on the famous erotic temples, which represent some of the finest examples of temple architecture in Northern India.  The remote location of Khajuraho meant that the temples were unharmed by Muslim invaders and as a result, the intricately fine carvings are in very good condition and are said to represent life in Heaven.

The temples were built during the mighty Chandela dynasty; the majority was constructed in a sudden burst of creative and religious energy, between the mid-10th and 11th centuries.  After ruling for about 500 years the Chandela dynasty fell to the might of Islam and consequently the religious center of Khajuraho was abandoned.

The temples remain as a reminder of a society that believed in the full enjoyment of life, with all the senses being a path to nirvana.
Hotel: Radisson – Superior Room (B)

Day 9: Khajuraho – Allahabad

Post breakfast proceed to Allahabad by road.

While driving one can observe the change in the topography flour and fauns as both the cities are in two different states. Khajuraho is in Madhe Pradesh, the central state of India and Allahabad is one of the main cities of Utter Pradesh, the eastern state of India.

Allahabad is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It has a position of importance in Hindu scripture for it is situated at Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganges and Yamuna and the ancient Sarasvati River. Allahabad is a home to seven Prime Ministers of India.

Upon arrival check into hotel
Rest of the afternoon is free for independent activities.
Hotel: Kanha Shyam – Deluxe Room (B, L, D)

Day 10: Allahabad

Post breakfast proceed to the fair site at confluence of rivers. 

Every year thousands gather at Allahabad to take part in the festival on the banks of the Ganges, the Magh Mela. The same festival is organized in a larger scale every 12th year and attracts millions of people and is called the Kumbha Mela. Kumbh Mela (especially the Maha Kumbh Mela) is the most sacred of all the pilgrimages. Thousands of holy men and women (monks, saints and sadhus) attend, and the auspiciousness of the festival is in part attributable to this. The sadhus are seen clad in saffron sheets with plenty of ashes and powder dabbed on their skin per the requirements of ancient traditions.
Hotel: Kanha Shyam – Deluxe Room (B, L, D)

Day 11: Allahabad

Post breakfast proceed to fair ground and enjoy the vividness of Hindu religion and culture. One can observe and some called nanga sanyasis or 'Dhigambers' may often be seen without any clothes even in severe winter, generally considered to live an extreme lifestyle. This tends to attract a lot of western attention as it is seemingly in contrast to a generally conservative social modesty practiced in the country. Allahabad had witnessed the largest human gathering anywhere in the world with more than 70 million people during the Kumbh Mela festival in 2007.
Hotel: Kanha Shyam – Deluxe Room (B, L, D)

Day 12: Allahabad – Varanasi

In time proceed to Varanasi by crossing the bridge over Ganges where one can have aerial view of the fair site. Continue to drive to Varanasi for check-in at the hotel.

Varanas is the Soul Of India. Varanasi was called “Kashi” whose name translates “resplendent with divine light” in the 12th century B.C.!  Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world, a contemporary of Babylon, Nineveh and Thebes. Every devout Hindu wishes to visit Varanasi once in a lifetime to purify body and soul in the river Ganges. It is the place every Hindu wants to die in. To a Hindu, each drop of the Ganges is auspicious; the water holds the power to release a Hindu from the cycle of rebirth. The Ganges is believed to carry the mystical powers of the peaks of the Himalayas, the abode of the Gods’, to the holy city of Varanasi.

Evening proceed to participate the worship (Evening Ceremony) of Rive Ganges (The Spiritual River of India)
Hotel: Varanasi Radisson – Superior Room (B)

Day 13: Varanasi

In the early morning during sunrise to experience dawn on the Ganges when multitude of Hindu pilgrims perform the most important ritual of the day, the invoking of the rising sun. Our boat glides down alongside the riverbanks or the ‘ghats’, the steps that lead down to the river. These stone steps link the great Hindu city to the far greater river. Maharajas and other princely rulers built many of the ghats. Each ghat has its own history and legend about its healing capabilities. In the early morning light, we hear the temple bells ringing, the conch shells being blown announcing the arrival of a new day. On the banks of the river or the ‘ghats’ we see pilgrims performing rituals to their ancestors.

Return to hotel for breakfast.

Later, visit the Bharat Mata Temple. The Bharat Mata temple at Varanasi is the only temple dedicated to Mother India. It is located in the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth campus. The Bharat Mata temple was built by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupt and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936. The statute of Bharat Mata is built in marble and is a model of undivided India, depicting the mountains, plains and oceans. The most peculiar thing about the Bharat Mata Temple is that instead of the customary gods and goddesses, it houses a relief map of India, carved out of marble. Later also visit Durga Temple and other temples.

In the afternoon proceed to visit Sarnath (also Mrigadava, Migadāya, Rishipattana, Isipatana) is the deer park where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of five monks. Sarnath is located 13 kilometres north-east of Varanasi.
Hotel: Varanasi Radisson – Superior Room (B)

Day 14: Varanasi – Delhi – Fly out

Morning will at leisure to relax at the hotel.

Afternoon you will be transferred to Varanasi airport to connect flight to Delhi.

Upon transfer to hotel.

Later, in time, you will be transferred to airport to board flight to Delhi. Upon arrival connect to the international airport to board your homebound flight.

Tour Quote:
Tour Quote (based on 2 people): Valid from January 19 – February 28, 2013
$3060/person if paying by check 
$3165/person if paying by credit card
These quotes include current economy airfare of $165 for Varanasi to Delhi (subject to change until booked)

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