13 Days – India & Nepal with Mahashivratri Festival

13 Days – India & Nepal with Mahashivratri Festival

Destinations Covered: Delhi – Jaipur – Agra – Varanasi – Kathmandu

Overview

Mahashivratri is a very famous festival of India & Nepal it is Called “Lord Shiva Nights”, is a popular Hindu festival celebrated every year in honor of Lord Shiva. It is believed the stars moved to Northern Hemisphere are in the best positions to help to increase a person’s spiritual energy. It is also believed that the principle of Shiva is more active on this day of the year. Shivaratri – The night of Lord Shiva. People keep fast the day before and stay on vigil whole the night. Married women usually ask for luck for their husbands and children, single women pray for the ideal husband, identified with Shiva. This celebration is usually especially interesting at the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu (Nepal), where Shiva is worshiped as Pashupati, which means significant god of beasts ’. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and visitors visit this temple tonight, every year, forming large lines of pilgrims who wait for hours to leave their offering in the temple.

Highlights of Tour

Visit Famous tourist Monuments in Delhi

Visit one of the seven wonders of the world the Taj Mahal at Agra

Pink city sightseeing tour including Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, and City Palace

Elephant ride at Jaipur

Enjoy Hindu Holy Festival Mahashivratri

Visit Famous Temples in Nepal

DAY 1:  Arrival at Delhi

Landed in Delhi and After clear Immigration and pickup from Arrival Hall and our company representative welcome you and transfer to the hotel.

DAY 2: Delhi

Breakfast. In the morning we proceed to the modern part of Delhi called New Delhi. We visit Qutub Minar – constructed by the first Muslim ruler of India-Qutub-ud-din Aibak and walk through the diplomatic area, Rashtrapati Bhawan (Official residence of the President of India), the Parliament with its beautiful surroundings, and the India Gate (Arc of Triomphe).

After lunch, we enter the Old part of Delhi where the environment is completely changed with crowded streets and we enjoy a ride on a rickshaw (pulled by a man) in Spice Market, Chandi Chowk, it is the oldest and biggest bazaars in India. We got off from the rickshaw and climbed the stairs a bit to enter the Jama Mosque.

DAY 3: Delhi – Jaipur

Have Breakfast and drive to Jaipur by Car (265kms, 6 hours approx) the capital of Rajasthan state, also known as “The Pink City”.

DAY 4: Jaipur

Breakfast at Hotel and start sightseeing, we will visit The Amber Fort, situated on the scenic and rugged hill. After visit Amber fort we walk through the beautifully restored Jal Mahal.

Then we go for Lunch (Pay Directly), Post lunch visit the City Palace and the museum. Visit the Hawa Mahal or the Palace of the Winds Also visit the Jantar Mantar or the Astronomical Observatory.

DAY 5:  Jaipur – Agra

Breakfast at your hotel and start Journey towards to Agra (265kms / 6 hours approx) Visiting the Abhaneri and Fatehpur Sikri en-route After the visit we will continue by road to Agra.

DAY 6: Agra – Delhi

Breakfast, In the morning, visit the Taj Mahal, the most fascinating and beautiful monument in India. Then visit Agra Fort, an imposing fortress on the banks of the Yamuna River, built by Emperor Mogol Akbar, in 1565 AD. Later departure by road to Delhi (210kms,  4 hours approx.).

DAY 7: Delhi – Varanasi

Breakfast. In the morning transfer to Delhi airport for your flight to Varanasi. Land in Varanasi and, transfer to your hotel.  Late afternoon witness the prayer ceremonies in the ‘ghats’ (stone steps ) of the Ganges river.

DAY 8: Varanasi – Delhi

Walkup early Morning your guide will meet you lobby and proceed to Ghats for Enjoy a boat ride on the river Ganges, during your boat ride you will see the Hindu rituals on the Ghats. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Later visit the Sarnath, the place where Buddha delivered his first sermon and we will also visit museums. After finish the City tour you will  transfer to Airport to board a flight for Delhi

DAY 9: Delhi – Kathmandu 

Breakfast. In the morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Kathmandu, Nepal Upon arrival, you will be given a traditional welcome. Kathmandu (1400 meters), the capital of Nepal, is one of the oldest cities in the world. Transfer to the hotel.

DAY 10: Kathmandu

Breakfast. In the morning departure by road to Bhaktapur, medieval cities, where the Newars, the main inhabitants still follow the traditions and customs of old age. This house in Bhaktapur is the best example of Nepalese culture on wood and stone crafts, such as the fifty-five windows palace built in the year 1697 and the five-story Nyatapola Temple, the Kashi Biswanath Temple, the Dattatreya Temple, Later we moved to visit the Stupa Boudhanath.

In the afternoon excursion to Nagarkot (Approx. 30kms, 1 hour) that has become famous as one of the best places to see Mount Everest, as well as other snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas of eastern Nepal. See the descent of the sun and an impressive view of the Himalayan mountain ranges (subject to favorable weather). Return to Kathmandu.

DAY 11: Kathmandu

Breakfast. In the morning visit Patan, it is located on the southern banks of the Bagmati River, In the afternoon visit Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa, and the city. Durbar Square was the main square of ancient Kathmandu with the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, built Pratap Malla, one of the great art lovers who have ruled Kathmandu, as the residence of royal families in the past. While the royal palace enclosure covers a large area, numerous temples of different Hindu gods and goddesses surround the palace and are preserved, as they were built hundreds of years ago. We will pass by “Geek” Street, where hippies relaxed in times, to visit the House-Temple of the Kumari, the goddess-girl, a living goddess. Around 2000 years old, Swayambhunath stands on a hill at the south-west end of Kathmandu. The stupa is a dome 20 meters in diameter and 32 meters high and is made of brick and earth mounted by a conical needle crowned by a pinnacle of gilded copper.

DAY 12: Kathmandu

Buffet Breakfast then proceeds to visit Pashupatinath temple to witness Mahashivratri. Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most sacred Hindu temples of the god Shiva. Located on the bank of the Bagmati River, where Hindus incinerate their dead (The entrance to the interior of the temple is only for Hindus). See the bids that are made in the worship of God Shiva and know the Hindus and enter into intimate talks to understand the value and importance of God and this day. In addition to Puja (prayer) and Darshan (apparition), other attractions for visitors to the temple’s neighborhood at that time will be the colorful crowds including the beautiful Sadhu Babas (religious gypsies) from different parts of Nepal and India.

DAY 13: Kathmandu (Departure)

Breakfast. Room available until 1200 noon hours. At the convenient time transfer to the airport for your international flight (must be presented at the airport 3 hours before the flight departure time)

Inclusions

Accommodation on twin / double occupancy on bed & breakfast basis

Assistance at airports by our company representatives

All transfers, excursions &sightseeing tours to be by A/C Vehicle

Local English speaking guide in each city during sightseeing

Elephant ride at Amber Fort

Rickshaw ride in Old Delhi

Morning boat cruise at River Ganges in Varanasi

All presently applicable Governments taxes

Exclusion

Any Monument entrance fees

Nepal visa Fees

Camera fees (Still/video) at any monuments

Any tipping, gratuities, or Porterage anywhere

Any International airfare/Visa Fees

Any Domestic airfare

Any item not mentioned in inclusion

Any item of personal nature such as table drinks, Laundry, Telephone calls, medical expenses