Mind, Body & Soul The Spiritual Retreat

Arrive, New Delhi Airport, where you will be met and assisted for your transfer to the hotel. India's capital & a major gateway to the country, Delhi is contemporary and a bustling metropolis which successfully combines in its fold the ancient & the modern. Its strategic location was one of the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their seat of power. New Delhi also reflects the legacy the British left behind. Overnight in Delhi. Overnight at ITC Maurya(Vehicle for transfers only)

After breakfast, proceed for a Full-Day City Tour of Old and New Delhi. This fascinating city has been in existence since the 6th century BC and has seen ups and downs from the rule of the Pandavas right up to the British Raj. Visit Jama Masjid, which is the largest mosque in India, commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan. The courtyard of the mosque can hold about 25,000 worshippers. Enjoy a rickshaw ride in ChandniChowk, the busiest market in Old Delhi…noisy, chaotic and uniquely Indian. Drive past Red Fort (closed on Mondays), President House, India Gate and several other government buildings in Edwin Lutyen’s modern Delhi before you head to Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi that marks the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948. Thereafter, visit Humayun’s Tomb, commissioned by Humayun’s wife HamidaBanu Begum in 1562. It was the first garden tomb built in the Indian sub-continent where the Persian architect used red sandstone on a large scale. Later visit the QutabMinar, which is the tallest brick minaret in the world; it was commissioned by QutbuddinAibak, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi. Rest of the day will be at leisure (No vehicle at disposal).Overnight in Delhi.

Today morning in time transfer to Delhi airport to board flight for Varanasi. Arrive Varanasi airport, where you will be met assisted & transfer to the hotel. Varanasi for a deep and authentic dive into Indian spirituality and be greeted by the chaos and a feeling of stepping back in time. Hindus believe if you die in Varanasi your soul will be released from the cycle of reincarnation and you will achieve spiritual liberation, or moksha. What better place than this then to start your spiritual journey with. Spend your day visiting the Ghats and watching all the activities that are conducted on the Ganges. Rest of the day will be at leisure (No vehicle at disposal). Overnight in Varanasi

Today morning proceed for boat ride at on the river Ganges to see the bathing Ghats and cremation sites. You can see pilgrims bathing and performing rituals on the Ghats, one of the most extraordinary experiences of a visit to India. Later proceed for half day sightseeing tour of Varanasi. Visit the Benaras Hindu University, the largest residential university in Asia, a center of Sanskrit, Indian art, culture, and music. Visit the KashiVishwanath temple, on the western bank of the Ganges. It is the center of faith for millions of Hindus. The Jyotirlinga of Shiva, Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha, is enshrined here. Visit the Durga Temple, dedicated to Goddess Durga. The Durga temple was built in the eighteenth century by a Bengali Maharani. It is stained red with ochre and has a multi-tiered shikhara. The Durga temple is also called Monkey temple because of the presence of large number of monkeys. After the city sightseeing proceed for excursion to Sarnathwhich is located eight km from Varanasi, and is famous as the place where the Buddha first preached his message after attaining nirvana. Visit the Dhamek Stupa… believed to have been built in 500 AD. The main excavation site in Sarnath is a vast expanse of low-lying structures, showing various facets of Buddhist history. This symbol has been adopted as the national emblem of modern India. Visit the Sarnath Archaeological Museum, where the original piece is displayed. The dilapidated remains of the Choukhandi Stupa can be seen in Sarnath. Standing on a terraced rectangular plinth, the Stupa is capped by an incongruous octagonal Mughal tower built by Emperor Akbar to commemorate his father's visit to the place. Overnight in Varanasi

Today morning in time transfer to Varanasi airport to board flight for Khajuraho, which is a short 55 min flight from Varanasi. Arrive Khajuraho airport, where you will be met assisted & transfer to the hotel. Later proceed for half day sightseeing of Khajuraho. The beautiful temples that dot the town of Khajuraho are highly sensual and erotic and much has already been discussed their symbolic importance. Visit the Western Group of Temples -the KandariyaMahadeo is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and the largest of Khajuraho's temples. The Lakshmana Temple is one of the oldest and finest of the western group of temples. The temple of Devi Jagdamba is considered by many to be one of the most erotic temples of Khajuraho. It houses Khajuraho's most talked-about images of mithuna, the sensuously carved figures. Later, visit the Eastern Group of Temples- The temple of Parsvanath is the largest of the Jain temples in Khajuraho India and the finest…without any sexual motifs. Overnight in Khajuraho

Today morning in time transfer to Khajuraho airport to board flight for Delhi via Varanasi. Arrive Delhi airport, where you will be met assisted & transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day will be at leisure (No vehicle at disposal). Overnight in Delhi

After breakfast drive to Haridwar (210kms / 05hrs), arrive & transfer to Lakshmi Niwas. Lakshmi Niwas- named after the host and spiritual seeker Lakshmi Singh is a very unique retreat in India which offers very luxurious tented accommodation and hand holds the seeker in their quest to understand Hinduism, its philosophy and Indian spirituality. Here, your days will begin with Yoga at the Baithak deep in the forest or in the grove overlooking the Ganges, merge into late morning excursions to the temple town, lead to evening aarti on the holy banks and end post dinner with a talk at the Dhuni (sacred centre) on various aspects of Yoga and life in a modern Hindu Ashram Here Yoga is not restricted just to asanas and meditation but also delves in tantra and karma which have deep connection with ancient Indian beliefs. Overnight in Haridwar

After breakfast proceed for half-day tour of Haridwar. Haridwar or 'The Gateway to the Gods' is one of the seven holiest places according to Hindu mythology, as the Gods are believed to have left their footprints in Haridwar. The town stands as the gateway to the other three important pilgrimages of Uttarakhand … Rishikesh, Badrinath and Kedarnath. Visit Har-Ki-Pauri, the sacred ghat was constructed by King Vikramaditya in the memory of his brother Bhartrihari. The golden reflection of floral diyas in the river Ganges is the most enchanting sight in the twilight during the Ganga aarti ceremony at the ghat. Drive past the other bathing ghats at the Ganga river, where pilgrims come to take a dip… it is believed that all your sins get washed away if you take dip in Ganga river at Haridwar. Thereafter, visit the Mansadevi Temple. This temple atop the BilwaParvat offers a panoramic view of Haridwar, the Ganges, and the countryside. Evening proceed for the Aarti at the Ganga. Overnight in Haridwar

After breakfast the day will be at leisure for own independent activities (no vehicle at disposal). Overnight in Haridwar

After breakfast drive to Ananda in the Himalayas (50kms / 01hrs 20mins), arrive & transfer to the hotel. Ananda in the Himalayas for a retreat that focusses on the body, breadth and food that nourishes it just the body but also the soul. Enrol for an Ananda Yoga program for 5 nights; this yoga package helps rediscover oneself -rough the ancient and traditional discipline of Yoga, which encompass all aspects of life in order to balance the mind, body and spirit. Ananda Yoga nurtures and enhancesthe physical, mental, emotional and spiritual qualities in a simple, effective and practical manner through the time proven approaches of Hatha yoga, Raja yoga and Kriya yoga.

After breakfast proceed for an excursion to Rishikesh. One of the holiest cities in India, Rishikesh is not just known for its religious connection, but also for its stunning landscape. Surrounded by the Shivalik Range on three sides, with holy river Ganga river flowing through it, Rishikesh is truly an ethereal experience. Visit the LakshmanJhula, a suspended bridge across the Ganga. Legend has it that Lakshman crossed a bridge made of jute ropes here. The view from the bridge is panoramic… mountains, the river, the temples and the ashrams. Later, visit Muni-ki-Reti…literally, the sands of the sages. The sandy banks of the Ganga have been used by the sages for meditation for years, thus giving the area its name. Muni-ki-Reti is known for the many ashrams that dot the area. The Beatles too visited the now closed Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram here in the sixties. Later return back to Ananda. Overnight in Ananda

You can spend the days at leisure for own independent activities. Experience the Ananda Yoga and Spa (No vehicle at disposal). Overnight in Ananda

Today morning drive to Delhi airport (270kms /06hrs), arrive & in time board flight for Goa. Arrive Goa airport & straight drive to Gokarna (180kms / 04hrs), arrive & check in to SwaSwara. Spend the next 5 days on the ultimate journey a person can go on; the journey into the self, to tune into the sound of the self. On your Swa Program, you will learn to relax, release, slowdown through a variety of offerings like Yoga, Ayurveda, Art, health organic cuisine and engagement with nature and community. Overnight in SwaSawara

You can spend the entire days at leisure for own independent activities. (No vehicle at disposal). Overnight in SwaSwara

Today morning drive to Goa airport, arrive & in time board flight for onward destination