INDIA and NEPAL

A journey into the mysterious, enigmatic, full of strange fascination, country. From the erotic temples of Khajuraho and the splendid Taj Mahal, to the spiritual presence of Hindu holy men and the world’s only official living goddess.

 

Highlights

• Delhi: Enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride through Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk market. Stop for a photo at the Red Fort. Visit the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Raj Ghat. Explore Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque. Tour the wide boulevards of New Delhi. Drive along the ceremonial Rajpath, past India Gate and Parliament House. Visit the Tomb of Emperor Humayun. Visit one of the colourful local temples.
• Jaipur: See the ‘Hawa Mahal’ (The Palace of Winds). Visit the City Palace, housing a fabulous art collection. Visit the Jantar Mantar, a royal observatory of architectural astronomical instruments.   
•  Agra: Witness the hustle and bustle of everyday life as you make your way through the city. Group picture taken at the Taj Mahal.
• Benares o Varanasi: A boat ride along the Ganges river is one of the absolute musts to witness the life along it.
• ·         Kathmandu: See the Hindu Pashupatinath Temple. Visit the temple of the Teleju, Statue of Yogendra Malla and the Tibetan Handicraft Centre in Patan.        

INDIA

We fly Barcelona to Mumbai, where we spent 8 hours visiting the city. 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

 We walk around and see:

·        Gateway of India

·        Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus: Another UNESCO heritage

·        Haji Ali Mosque

·        "Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market "

·        Taj Mahal Hotel

·        Dhobi Ghat: Also known as the world’s largest open-air Laundromat

 

 DELHI, a Rich Melting Pot of Old and New:
We fly there.

A tour of Old Delhi, an ancient  historical city with more than 60,000 identifiable monuments. We visit the Memorial of Mahatma Gandhi

and the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque.

We enjoy exploring the Old Delhi  through the narrow and bustling lanes of Chandi Chowk. 

In New Delhi we see the Birla Temple, the India Gate, the Parliament House and the Presidential Palace. We enjoy a visit to the Gandhi Smriti which was formerly known as Birla House and is a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi where he spent the last 144 days of his life.

We continue with a visit to Humayun's Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a landmark in the development of Mughal architecture. The significance of Humayun's Tomb lies in the fact that it was the first garden-tomb in India.

We finish with an insight into the local religion at a colourful temple.

Jaipur, the 'Pink City'

En route to Jaipur we take a brief stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Qutab Minar, the world's tallest brick minaret. 

We continue traveling to Jaipur, the famed Pink City of India. The entire city was painted its unique pink color in 1876 to celebrate the visiting Prince of Wales. Several legends exist to explain why the color pink was chosen, but no matter the reason, it has come to represent the welcoming hospitality of Jaipur. Later set off for the ancient Mughul capital of Fatehpur Sikri, a deserted city full of architectural wonder. In the  afternoon, we drive back to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur.

Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri

The Amber Fort

In the morning, we ascend to the Amber Fort, its royal halls decorated with intricate ivory, mirrors, glass and exquisite paintings and admire views of Jaipur's original city walls and the Maotha Lake below.

Later, we admire HAWA MAHAL  (The Palace of Winds) built in 1799. It is the most recognizable monument of Jaipur. Originally designed for the royal ladies to watch and enjoy the processions and other activities, on the street below. Now a museum.

 
And the city Palace, the Museum and royal observatory. Stroll through the delightful gardens dotting the city and visit the city's colorful bazaar, filled with vendors selling everything from sacks of spices to personal electronics and flowers.  

To Agra via Abhaneri

We travel to the medieval city of Agra, stopping in Abhaneri to visit the Chand Baori (stepwell). Created by King Chandra of the Nikumbha Dynasty, this stepwell is among the oldest in India dating from his reign during the 8th and 9th centuries. It is located adjacent to a temple dedicated to Harshat Mata, goddess of joy and happiness. In the past, locals would rely on stepwells to contain rainwater for their use. 

Chand Baori (stepwell)

Agra & the Taj Mahal

Agra’s fine heritage is revealed. Appreciate the flawless marble symmetry of this exquisite Taj Mahal, built by an emperor in memory of his beloved wife. This monumental construction, which took 22 years to complete (1631-53), is most famous for its imposing white-marble dome, and is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture in the world.

Move on to the impressive Agra Fort to explore the palatial Royal Pavilions and gardens.

Varanasi or Benares

We fly to Varanasi.

A boat ride along the Ganges River is one of the absolute musts when visiting Varanasi. Don’t mind any dead body floating by … this is nothing special in Varanasi, since lots of Hindus come here for their last days to die along the holy Ganges river.

Stroll along the Ghats. Every Ghat has its own meaning and use. Some Ghats are “reserved” for washing clothes and doing laundry. For example Assi Ghat is a prominent bathing Ghat,

while others are dedicated to worshiping, and some are for cremation like Manikarnika Ghat, downstream from the Dasaswameth (main) Ghat. We watch a cremation.

The old town is dotted with small alleys, so just leave the main road, turn left or right and you will come to see some unusual places. Don’t worry about getting lost, because sooner or later you’ll end up either in front of the river or on a main Street.

GETTING A NEW HAIRCUT AT A LOCAL HAIRDRESSER

When travelling through India, you’ll notice that the hairdressers you’ll pass along the streets are barbers for men only. Lady hairdressers are mostly hidden behind closed doors or curtains.

NEPAL

 

The Visa can be obtained on arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu for US$25.

  

Kathmandu Valley

There are many buses, minibuses, micro buses and three-wheelers available for different destinations in the valley. Similarly, the Sajha Yatayat has recently resumed bus services along two routes in the valley. It is currently operating along Kalanki, Kalimati, Tripureshwor, Nayabaneshwor, Sinamangal and Airport, and along Satdobato, Jawalakhel, Tripureshwor, Jamal, Teaching Hospital and Naya Bus Park.  The buses can be recognized by their green color and the name “Sajha Yatayat” on them. The bus stops only at designated bus stops, therefore, one has to identify the nearest Sajha bus stop to be able to board one.

Kathmandu Valley comprises the three ancient cities of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, which were once independent states ruled by the Malla kings from the 12^th to the 18^th centuries. The three cities house seven UNESCO World Heritage shrines which are together listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Culture). The valley is also home to hundreds of other exquisite monuments, sculptures, artistic temples and magnificent art,  reminders of the golden era in Nepal’s architecture.

Kathmandu, the largest city of Nepal, is the political as well as cultural capital of the country. Kathmandu is a city where ancient traditions rub shoulders with the latest technological advances. However, it is the grandeur of the past that enchants the visitor whose gaze may linger on an exquisitely carved wooden window frame, an 18th century bronze sculpture or the spiritually uplifting stupas. Like any big city, Kathmandu has seen rapid expansion in the last decade, but despite the hustle and bustle so typical of metropolitan cities, its people remain as refreshingly friendly as ever. Retaining its ancient traditions, Kathmandu is blessed by a Living Goddess and is enriched by endless ceremonial processions and events that take to the streets every now and then with throngs of devotees seeking blessings. These religious festivals are steeped in legend and are quite a spectacle with chariot processions and masked dancers often possessed by the spirits of deities. 

What to see: 

Explore the cities of the Kathmandu Valley steeped in culture, history and art. Visit the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, the palatial residences of the ancient royals, that are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Siva and Parvati, Hindu gods, peering out from carved balcony

Then visit the other World Heritage monuments – Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Bauddhanath and Changu Narayan. Step into the museums of the valley to learn about  Nepal’s kings, history, ethnic groups, art and culture. Go shopping. Try your hand at rummy or blackjack at one of the five-star casinos. Savor authentic food at one of the many restaurants. Pokhara, the famous tourist city, provides equally superb cultural tours and activities with its beautiful natural setting, several museums and innumerable restaurants and cafes.

·        KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE (UNESCO World Heritage Site): The Durbar Square includes the Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace, the historic seat of the royalty; the magnificent Taleju Temple towering more than 40 meters; Kumari Ghar, the residence of the Living Goddess, Kumari;

Kumari Ghar, the residence of the living Goddess 

Ashok Vinayak, also called Kathmandu Ganesh, a temple without a filial ; and Kal Bhairav, the God of Wrath. The capital takes its name from the giant pagoda of Kasthamandap, which is said to have been built out of a single tree.

·        AKASH BHAIRAV: a ferocious manifestation of Lord Shiva. The three-storey temple lies in the main market avenue called Indra Chowk.

·       ASAN: The three-storied pagoda style Annapurna Temple of Annapurna, the Goddess of Grains, presides over the ever-lively bazaar.

·        PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE (UNESCO World Heritage Site): Situated 5 km east of Kathmandu, the temple of Lord Shiva is considered one of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world.

·       BOUDDHANATH STUPA (UNESCO World Heritage Site): Bauddhanath is one of the most imposing landmarks in Kathmandu. It is the largest stupa in the Kathmandu Valley and is the center of Tibetan Buddhism.

·        BALAJU GARDEN: Three kilometers north-west of Kathmandu lies the Balaju Garden, a quiet park ideal for relaxation just below the Nargarjun hill.HAMEL

·        THAMEL: it caters entirely to tourists with its scores of hotels, rows of restaurants and bars, book shops, inviting souvenir shops, cyber cafes and travel agencies.

·        DHARAHARA: The soaring landmark of Kathmandu, the Dharahara tower.

·        GARDEN OF DREAMS: At the entrance of Thamel, the Garden of Dreams within the Kaiser Mahal complex has now been renovated and restored to its former glory.

·        BUDHANILKANTHA: The largest of Vishnu’s stone statues. 

·        KIRTIPUR: It is situated on a ridge 8 km southwest of Kathmandu.

·        PHARPING: Pharping is perched on a hilltop with a Buddhist monastery. Pharping’s main attraction is an elaborate 17th-century temple which houses a glided image of Goddess Bajra Jogini. Other fascinating sights here include a cave and a hand-imprint of the Buddhist saint Padmasambhav on the rock face over its entrance.

·        DAKSHINKALI: Four kilometers further south of Pharping on the valley rim is the temple of Dakshinkali dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali. The shrine is especially crowded on Tuesdays and Saturdays when animal sacrifices are offered to the deity.

·        SHESHA NARAYAN: Situated between Chobhar and Dakshinkali, the temple of Shesha Narayan represents one of the four Narayans of the Kathmandu Valley. The other three Narayans are Changu Narayan of Bhaktapur, Visankhu Narayan of Patan and Ichangu Narayan of Kathmandu.

Changu Narayan



SHADHUS  are sanyasi, or renunciates, who have left behind all material attachments and live in caves, forests and temples all over India and Nepal.