Penguin Travel

Enjoy the most sacred Hindu festivals - Kumbh Mela!

Departure dates:
01 April 2010

Country region:   Northwestern India

Price without flight ticket:   592.00 EUR

           „It is wonderful, the power of a faith like that, that can make multitudes upon multitudes of the old and weak and the young and frail enter without hesitation or complaint upon such incredible journeys and endure the resultant miseries without repining. It is done in love, or it is done in fear; I do not know which it is. No matter what the impulse is, the act born of it is beyond imagination, marvelous to our kind of people, the cold whites.” This is what Mark Twain wrote when in 1895 he observed the Kumbh Mela festival – one of the most ancient and most sacred holidays in Hinduism, in which thousand of men and women take a ritual bath at the banks of the rivers in each town, where the festival takes place. We are offering to you the unique chance to visit Ardh Kumbh Mela festival in the town of Haridwar, located at the river Gang, and is celebrated there every six years.

Trip plan: 

Day 1, 1st April:
Departure for Delhi

Day 2, 2nd April:
Arrival to Delhi early in the morning, meeting at the airport with garlands according to an old Indian tradition and drive to Mandawa. Accommodation in a hotel. In the afternoon – city tour of Mandawa

Day 3, 3rd April:
Morning drive to Bikaner. On arrival check in at the hotel. In the afternoon – guided visit to Junagarh Fort & Camel breeding farm

Day 4, 4th April:
After breakfast, drive to Jodhpur the second largest city in Rajasthan. On arrival check in at the hotel and afterwards city tour with a visit to Meherangarh Fort.

Day 5, 5th April:
After breakfast drive to Udaipur en route visit 400 year old Temple complex – Ranakpur Temple. On arrival in Udaipur check in at hotel and free time.

Day 6, 6th April:
You will spend the day in Udaipur – in the morning there will be guided city tour and in the afternoon boat ride in Lake Pichola, in which the majestic Lake Palace Hotel is situated. Overnight in Udaipur.

Day 7, 7th April:
After breakfast, morning drive to Pushkar. On arrival check in at hotel. In the afternoon there will be a visit to Brahma Temple and walking city tour of Pushkar

Day 8, 8th April:
After breakfast, morning drive to Jaipur. Accommodation at a hotel and in the afternoon guided visit to City Palace and Jantar Mantar Observatory.

Day 9, 9th April:
You continue exploring Jaipur with an excursion to Amber Fort on the back of an elephant and afternoon visit to textiles, jewelry and local markets. Overnight in Jaipur.

Day 10, 10th April:
After breakfast drive to Agra and en route you will visit the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri. Overnight in Agra.

Day 11, 11th April:
After breakfast half day guided visit to Taj Mahal & Agra Fort. Rest of the day free for relax in Agra.

Day 12, 12th April:
Early morning drive to Rishikesh. Evening arrival in Rishikesh and check in at the hotel.

Day 13, 13th April:
Early morning: holy dip in the river Ganges. Back to hotel for breakfast. Later drive to Haridwar.
Rest of the day you will participate in the Ashram activities of the Kumbh Mela festival. Overnight in Rishikesh

Day 14, 14th April:
In the morning drive to the river Ganges to see the Hindu Saints taking Holy dip in the river Ganges. Afterwards you will visit the temples in Haridwar. Overnight in Rishikesh.

Day 15, 15th April:
After breakfast, drive back to Delhi. In the afternoon arrival to Delhi and check in at the hotel. Rest of the day is free.

Day 16, 16th April:
A whole day of guided city tour of New Delhi and Old Delhi. Overnight in Delhi

Day 17, 17th April:
Transfer to the airport for departure
  

Accomodation and food: 15 nights in 3-star hotels with breakfast

Luggage transport: Included  

Price of extra services: Single room supplement: 436 EUR; Entrance fees: about 60 EUR  

Included in the price: 15 nights in 3-star hotels with breakfast, transport according to program, arrival/departure assiastance at all places, local English speaking guides at all city tours, elephant ride in Jaipur. 

Excluded from the price: Flight tickets to/from Delhi, meals, not included in the program, personal expenses, tips, insurance, visa (please check the visa reuirements with the local Indian consular office in your country)  

Practical information: This is individual trip with tour leader from Penguin Travel, but you will be part of a larger group of tourists in India. There are many diseases common to India. You should take care with your water and food hygiene. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to India you should seek immediate medical attention. Mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya affect most of India.  

Tour highlights:   

Recommended travel period of the year: February - April / November - December  

Nessesary equipment:   

Insurances: Not included  

Group Size:   Min. 2 persons