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Faith Tour Of North IndiaLed by Revd Mark Woodrow 24th February – 10th March 2023
Mark Woodrow is a Parish Priest in rural Suffolk and a self-confessed Indophile. Having previously lived and worked in India, he fell in love with the food, the climate, and the vibrancy that India offers. He is now also an experienced group leader, helping both large and small groups meet and discover the vast diversity of people, traditions, faiths, cultures, and geography that the Indian Sub-Continent has to offer. Mark is also an elected Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
India is a country of color, spice, exploration, and diversity – this is reflected in terms of its languages and cultures, but most of all its faiths.
I first traveled to India more than two decades ago, nervous with excitement about traveling into the unknown and unfamiliar. But many years and many trips later it has become a country that I now consider my second home and a place where I have experienced profound moments of faith as I have met with people from a wide range of different beliefs, as well as worshipping alongside other Christians too.
And so I invite you to join me in 2023 as we travel to this land of diversity and explore and experience much of what North India has to share, visiting Old Delhi and the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, visiting a shrine to the Sufi Saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, as well as spending time at the iconic Lotus Temple home to the followers of the Baha’i Faith, with time to worship alongside Christians at the Cathedral of the Redemption. From here we travel on to Bodhgaya and Vaishali, the birthplace of Mahavira the founder of Jainism, and where the Buddha attained nirvana. We make our way by train to Varanasi and the River Ganges, sacred to Hindus and Buddhists, taking in the Aarti prayer rituals. Our faith adventure takes us up into the foothills of the Himalayas and to the home of the Buddhist’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala. Our tour draws to a close in Amritsar where we experience the Golden Temple, the spiritual home of the Sikhs.
Throughout our time together, we will take the time to witness much of the beauty and splendor that North India has to offer using, planes, trains, automobiles, and maybe even the ubiquitous rickshaws.
I look forward to journeying with you.
The Revd Mark Woodrow”
The Itinerary
Delhi - Patna - Vaishali - Bodhgaya - Varanasi - Sarnath - Delhi - Dharamshala - Amritsar - Delhi
Lotus Temple, Delhi
(If any members of the group arriving on different flights at different times, then there will be an additional transfer with an extra cost for each arrival)
After time to freshen up and relax we begin with an afternoon orientation tour of Old Delhi including an exhilarating cycle rickshaw ride to the Jama Masjid through the bustling Chandni Chowk and its back roads. This area was the center of the city of Shah Jehanabad in the Mughal times. Then we will visit the atmospheric shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya in one of the oldest and most magical parts of Delhi. We return to our hotel in time for a drink in the Bar before Dinner.
Overnight in The Taj Mahal Hotel, Delhi D
We return to our hotel for a late breakfast, before checking out. We enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Lotus Temple the magnificent white marble house of worship of the Baha’i faith.
Later, we return to the Airport to check-in and board our Air India flight AI415 to Patna, departing Delhi at 16:45 and arrive Patna at 18:25. On arrival make the short transfer to Hotel Maurya Patna which is to be our home for the next two nights, where we check-in and later enjoy dinner.
Overnight in Maurya Hotel, Patna BD
Bodhgaya, Patna
Overnight in Maurya Hotel, Patna BD
Visiting along the way the site of the ancient Buddhist university at Nalanda, founded in the 5th century AD. Nalanda was one of the ancient world’s great universities and an important Buddhist Centre of academic excellence. When Chinese scholar and Traveller Xuan Zang visited sometime between 685 and 762 AD, about 10,000 monks and students lived there, studying theology, astronomy, metaphysics, medicine and philosophy. It’s said that Nalanda’s three libraries were so extensive they burnt for six months when foreign invaders sacked the university in 1193. We also visit Nalanda Archaeological Museum. Our sightseeing today also includes a stop at Rajgir where we will take the cable car up to “Vultures Peak”, the hill where the Buddha preached, and where the first Buddhist council was held after his death. Later we continue driving to Bodhgaya the fascinating site of the Buddha’s enlightenment. We check into the Maya Heritage Hotel with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Overnight in Maya Heritage Hotel, Bodhgaya BD
We will visit the Mahabodhi Temple, built on the supposed spot of the Buddha’s nirvana, as well as some of the temples and monasteries built by various Buddhist countries. We will also see the Bodhi Tree and the Great Buddha Statue among other sites. In the afternoon we have the option of either having some free time, or visiting Mahakala (or Dungeshwari) Caves which are about 12 km northeast of Bodhgaya, and are where the Buddha did severe penance that led him to see the futility of extreme asceticism. Realizing that the key to enlightenment was a “middle path” between self-denial and self-indulgence, he walked down to Bodhgaya, where he achieved nirvana. (Please note that this excursion will require a short climb from the base of the impressive cliff.) No self-denial is necessary after we return back to our Hotel for Dinner.
Overnight in Maya Heritage Hotel, Bodhgaya BD
Ganga Aarti, Varanasi
Overnight in Taj Ganges Hotel, Varanasi BD
We return back to our hotel by late afternoon, before going out as the sun sets to the Ghats (stone steps leading down to the Ganges River). We will view the arati from a boat/ subject to confirmation.
Overnight in Taj Ganges Hotel, Varanasi BD
We return to the hotel for breakfast, before checking out and driving the short distance to the holy site of Sarnath, the deer park where the Buddha taught his first sermon, the first turning of the wheel of dharma.
Later we transfer to airport to board our Air Vistara flight UK672 to Delhi arriving in Delhi at 19:50 and making the very short transfer to the Ibis Aerocity Airport Hotel for our overnight stay. A late Dinner before turning in for the night.
Overnight in Ibis New Delhi Aerocity BD
Buddhist Monastery, Dharamshala
Overnight in Chonor House, Dharamshala
Overnight in Chonor House, Dharamshala BD
Overnight in Hyatt Regency Hotel, Amritsar BD
Amritsar, Punjab
Later in the afternoon we travel to the India Pakistan border crossing at Wagah to witness this truly unique and electrifying ‘Changing of the Guard Ceremony’ but nothing like you have ever witnessed outside Buckingham Palace in London!
We return in time for a drink at the Bar before Dinner.
Overnight in Hyatt Regency Hotel, Amritsar BD
Afternoon free for shopping or leisure.
This evening we enjoy our final group meal together, to share highlights, and who knows began to think about where in India we might all meet together again.
Overnight in Hyatt Regency Hotel, Amritsar BD
- To book this tour, please complete the booking form, sign and e-mail it to us. A non-refundable deposit of £500.00 per person is needed at the time of booking. Balance payments will be due 8 weeks before departure. You can make the deposit payment by debit card or electronic transfer to our bank. Our Bank details are on the booking form. Bookings are confirmed on a first-come first-served basis. When the tour is full we will take about 5 additional names on the waiting list to replace their booking with any cancellations etc.
- If you wish to join the tour and fly from any country other than United Kingdom please contact us for land only arrangements.
- It is essential to have adequate insurance in place before your departure. This should be appropriate for your age, health and destination you are visiting.
- Make sure it includes comprehensive medical and repatriation cover.
- Make sure it provides cover for your whole trip (whether one day or over a year).
- Make sure it covers you for all activities.
- Disclose pre-existing medical conditions.
- Take your policy number and the 24-hour emergency contact numbers with you.
- International airfare on British Airways flights in economy class inclusive of all taxes.
- Internal flights in economy class from Delhi to Patna, Varanasi to Delhi, and Amritsar to Delhi with 23 Kgs check-in baggage and Delhi to Dharamshala with 15 kgs baggage. Extra baggage for the Delhi-Dharamshala flight will be booked on departure at extra cost.
- Train tickets from Gaya to Varanasi in AC 1st class carriage
- 13 night’s accommodation as per itinerary, sharing a twin or double room with en-suite facilities (Check-in is 1400 hrs and checkout 12 noon. Early check-in and late checkouts are subject to availability).
- Services of a local English-speaking representative for all arrival and departure transfers to assist you at the airports and railway stations.
- Services of English-speaking guides and local specialists during sightseeing as specified in the itinerary.
- Entrance fees to all monuments during sightseeing as specified in the itinerary.
- Services of Revd. Mark Woodrow as a trip leader.
- Complimentary mineral water while traveling and sightseeing.
- 100% protection of your payment by our ATOL & ABTA licenses.
- Lunches, except home-cooked lunch in Shimla.
- India visa fee. You can now apply for a visa on arrival in India- please click here for more information.Any expenses of personal nature like laundry, telephone calls, beverages etc.Tips and gratuitiesCamera fees at monuments and other places of interest.Travel Insurance: It is essential to have adequate travel insurance in place before your departure. This should be appropriate for your age, health and destination you are visiting.