Travelers can explore the holy sites of Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist religions with Extraordinary Journeys’ new 12-day tour Spiritual India: Journey North. Along the way, guests will see where Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment, the home of the Dalai Lama and the Golden Temple at Amritsar.
The nearly two-week trip starts off with a quick stop at Old Delhi before heading to Bodhgaya. Here, travelers will see the Seven Sacred Points, where Buddha is said to have reached enlightenment, as well as the Bodhi tree, where he is believed to have spent days on end meditating. Next, in Varanasi, guests will witness a Hindu prayer ceremony on the Ganges River and take a boat ride to catch the sun rise over the city’s famous ghats (riverfront steps). The tour then makes its way to Agra to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise before the crowds arrive.
At this point, Extraordinary Journeys offers an optional two-night extension to see Ranthambore National Park. Known for its tiger population, the area provides opportunities to also see leopards, wild boars, sloths, bears and hyenas.
The main tour resumes with one night back in Delhi before heading on to Dharmasala, the seat of the Dalai Lama. Travelers will visit the Dalai Lama’s residence the Mcleodganj, where they can see rare manuscripts, preserved ancient texts and over 100 students engage in a variety of crafts. A stroll through the area’s bazaars gives travelers the opportunity to shop for Tibetan handicrafts.
The itinerary finishes with two nights in Amritsar, the home of the holy Sikh shrine The Golden Temple. Guests will receive a tour of the famous site, as well as the chance to see the Hindu Durgiana Temple and Jallianwala Bagh.
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