Rajasthan, Vraja, Benares
2 nights Delhi
3 nights Jaipur
4 nights Vrindavan
3 nights Benares
On this trip we will explore four magical regions in North India, and I’ll take you to some of my very favorite temples, street markets, and sacred places in both town and country. We will combine the best of luxury and location, experiencing Heritage Haveli accommodations wherever possible–and always clean, safe and comfortable places when luxury is not available because we will be in the heart of rural devotional India.
I’ve been going on pilgrimage in North India for 25 years–and I’ve personally crafted this trip to share some of my most beloved places here. We’ll be a very small group. Sharing an intimately curated journey, with ample time for rootsy cultural explorations. Daily chanting and devotional practice. Temple darshans, pujas, and meetings with remarkable souls. We will walk together in the timeless footsteps of saints and sages…
Benares is older than history, older than tradition,
older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together.
• All vegetarian meals & bottled water
• All transportation in-country (Delhi>Benares coach flight, airport transfers, all ground travel, rickshaws etc.)
• All hotel accommodations (Luxury or Heritage hotels wherever possible)
• All temple entry fees and donations
• Local guides and ground support
• Daily group kirtan, satsang, meditation practice
• Evening kirtan programs, Dhrupad Classical Music Festival entry, boat rides, satsangs with special guests
All daily agenda items and timings are approximate and may shift to accommodate Reality and the emergent possibilities of the actual moment.
Early Bird discount:
Pay in full by Oct. 8, 2023 for a $650 discount.
All payments must be received in full by Dec. 25, 2023.
~ Arrive in Delhi
Stay: The Imperial Hotel
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Gather all together in the afternoon
Dinner at Spice Route, Imperial Hotel
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First evening circle: Welcome!
Group introductions
Review logistics, plans, Q&A
Brief chanting program w/Adam
Morning
Breakfast at the Imperial
Kirtan & Satsang
Explore
Old Delhi
Street Markets
Paharganj
Lunch
Hosted by Bunty
A local experience
Dinner
At classic local Delhi restaurant
Evening circle: Decompress, integrate, chant
Drive Delhi > Jaipur, the historic Pink City
Breakfast at the Imperial
Morning Kirtan, walk in the neighborhood
Final pickups: local shops and street markets
Lunch on the way to Jaipur
Stay: Jaipur Heritage Hotel
Afternoon: Settle into our digs, rest, explore the neighborhood
Evening:
Govinddevji darshan
Dinner
Evening circle
Jaipur
Morning:
Breakfast
Old Ganesh temple darshan
Lassiwala
Explore antique & jewelry shops
Lunch, rest
Evening:
Govind Devji darshan
Dinner
Evening circle
Jaipur
Morning:
Breakfast
Mangal aarti at Govinddevji
Explore the Jantar Mantar and Palace complex area
More street exploring, shopping
Arts & crafts
Vintage textiles
Satish’s jewelry workshop
Jal Mahal
Lunch, rest
Hawa Mahal visit and tour
Govind Devji temple darshan
Evening circle
Drive Jaipur > Vrindavan
Last morning in Jaipur:
Breakfast
Morning circle
Final shopping pickups
Final temple darshan
Stay Vrindavan: MVT (or similar)
Afternoon:
Land, get settled, lunch and rest
Later afternoon:
Cycle rickshaw to wander Loi Bazar
Darshan at Radha Raman mandir
Walk to sunset Aarti with Ganga Baba at Keshi Ghat, sunset boat cruise, kirtan on the Yamuna River
Vrindavan
Morning:
Breakfast
NKB Ashram visit
Loi Bazar shopping:
Custom clothing fitting and ordering
Mala discourse with Rajendra ji Mala Wala
Purushottam Das Book Shop
Afternoon:
Drive to Jatipura, visit Shyamdas’ place
Lunch prasad with Mohan
Parikrama, roaming satsang
Dinner prasad w/Mohan
Evening:
Drive back to Vrindavan
Evening circle, rest
Vrindavan
Morning:
Breakfast
Morning darshan and lunch prasad with Sadhu Maharaja at Munger Mandir Ashram
Afternoon:
Rest
Later afternoon:
Drive to visit Barsana and Radharani temple, Govardhan Hill, etc.
Evening: Dinner at MVT
Evening circle
Vrindavan
Morning:
Breakfast
Morning circle
Further adventures
Afternoon: Final Loi Bazar pickups
Further adventures
Evening:
Dinner at MVT
Evening circle
Drive to Delhi, fly to Benares
Morning:
Early drive to Delhi Airport
Afternoon:
Check in, get settled near Assi Ghat
Lunch, rest
Sunset boat ride on the Ganga
River chanting and sunset puja at Assi Ghat
Dhrupad Festival
Stay: Heritage Haveli in Assi Ghat area
Benares
Morning:
Breakfast
Morning circle along the Ganga
Wander through Old Town
Hanuman Mandir darshan
Afternoon:
Pack lunch and visit the waterfall and lake outside of town
Evening:
Dinner
Dhrupad Classical Music Festival
Benares
Happy Shivaratri!
Morning:
Dawn Shivaratri puja
Breakfast
Mandir darshan
Evening:
Final group dinner somewhere special
Dhrupad Festival
Shivaratri celebrations–could go late night…
Benares
Final morning:
Breakfast
Final group circle. Thank you!
Final Ganga darshan / farewell puja
Proper farewell to all.
Get everyone to their departure venues.
Rest!