Page 8 - India 20 Day Sample Itinerary

DAY 04 DELHI/VARANASI Meals included: Breakfast At approximately 8:25 AM be ready in the lobby of to the world, so Shiva caught the goddess in his hair the Leela Palace New Delhi in preparation for your and let her seep out slowly to wash the ashes of the transfer to the airport. worthy mortals, and their souls ascended to heaven. 10:45 AM Depart Delhi via Jet Airways This afternoon explore the inner city (old city of flight # 2423 direct service to Varanasi. Varanasi) on foot. Through a twisted maze of small Total flying time: 1 hour, 20 minutes. streets and narrow alleys, home to numerous shrines and pilgrim shops, you walk back a few centuries. 12:05 PM Arrive Varanasi. After collecting your Life here seems to have stood still for years. Domes, luggage you will be met outside the baggage claim minarets, pinnacles and towers, and derelict area by your local driver and escorted to a waiting eighteenth century palaces dominate the sacred left vehicle for your transfer to the Hotel Nadesar Palace. bank of the river. The homes, the shops and even the cattle have not changed over the centuries. You will At the Hotel Nadesar Palace reservations for a see marriage processions and funeral processions Historical Suite have been confirmed for the and cows grabbing big flower necklaces destined for following 2 nights. Nadesar Palace has hosted the gods. Your visit to this fascinating and spiritual royalty, statesmen and celebrities since 1835. The city is a brilliant and nostalgic experience. name Nadesar is derived from the Goddess Nadesari, whose shrine is located in the front of the This evening your guide will take you to the Ganges Palace. Set amidst verdant gardens, mango orchards, to see the aarti (loud recital of spiritual songs). marigold and jasmine fields, Nadesar Palace is a haven of peace and tranquility. Overnight: Hotel Nadesar Palace – Historical Suite Varanasi is the religious capital of the Hindu faith since recorded time and is a microcosm of Indian life. When Buddha came here around 500 B.C. he encountered an ancient settlement. Contemporary with Babylon, Nineveh, and Thebes, Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world, a hub of firmly rooted traditions. For all its variety of sacred spots, Varanasi is really one big shrine, the shrine of Shiva. This cult is one of the oldest forms of worship, and was practiced in the Indus Valley thousands of years ago. Legend recounts how the Ganges was created. The water goddess Ganga was ordered to redeem the souls of some humans of great merit. But the fall of such a quantity of water would cause great damage