Mystic Moments.

» Day1.

DELHI/RISHIKESH/GANGA BANKS (6 hrs) :

Drive to Rishikesh or optionally board train up to Haridwar and transfer to Ganga Banks(1 hour), situated 260 kms away at the foothills of The Garhwal Himalayas. It is here that the holy river Ganges enters the plains offer itsjourney down from the Himalayas. A renowned centre for Yogic discipline - Rishikesh is dotted with shrines. Drive 30 kms through sal forest to the luxurious riverside resort 'Ganga Banks'. Check into private cottages. Rest of the day at leisure to enjoy jungle walks or sunbathe on the resort's private silver sands beach or the "jungle pool". Overnight Ganga Banks.

2. GANGA BANKS: After a late breakfast drive down

to Rishikesh, sightseeing tour of the temples, ashrams and the famous Transport Meditational Centre where the "Beatles" lived for a year. Option-ally you can drive onto Haridwar and witness the priests performing the evening 'Ganga Aarti'at Hori-ki-Pouri,where Lord Vishnu is believed to have left his footprint. Bathing at this point is believed to cleanse all sins. Also visit the colourful and interesting bazaar Evening relax at the river beach with a bonfire and beach dinner.

3. GANGA BANKS: Morning enjoy a gentle rotting or floating trip on the Ganges right up to Rishikesh to see the way of life in the Himalayan foothills. Later drive upon astonishingly beautiful 40 km stretch to Deoproyag.Luxuriant forest rundown to the water's edge which in many places is fringed with silver sand beaches,in places The blue-green mystical river rushes over foaming rapids. Deoprayag is on important pilgrimage spot for here is the confluence of the rivers Bhogirothi and Alaknonda. Overnight Ganga Banks.

4. GANGA BANKS/ CORBETT: Drive to Corbett National Park(4 hrs). Check into the luxurious Tiger Tops Corbeft Lodge. Cornmence park satan on elephant back accompanied by naturalist.Evening bonfire and bar-be-cue with ha "Chota Peg". Overnight Corbett.

5. IN CORBETT: Morning and evening park visits to see a van~ety of w~ldlife in jeeps and elephant back. Overnight Corbett

6. CORBETT/DELHI : Early morning repeat safari . Later drive to Delhi.

OPTIONS AND EXTENSIONS

1 Meatalon and Yoga Workshops at Ganga Banks.
2. White Water Rafting from Ganga Banks.
3. Various trekking options.
4. Trout fishing at Dodital lake (from Uttarkashi).
5. Mahaseer fishing trips from corbett or 3 days / 2 nights elephant safari with overnights in jungle lodges.
6. Extensions to Badrinath / Kedarnath I Valley of Flowers I Yamunotri / Gangotri

POSSIBLE VARIATIONS

1. DELHI I JAIPUR I AGRA I CORBETT I GANGABANKS I MUSSOORIE / DELHI
2. DELHI / CQRBETT I GANGABANKS I CHILLA I DHANAULTI / MUSSOORIE
3. DELHI / GANGABANKS / YAMNOTRI / UTTARKASHI / GANGOTRI / KEDARNATH I BADRINATH / GANGABANKS / DELHI

BEST TIME:September to June.

BEST OF GARHWAL

CLASSICALLY WILD

» Day 01 : Arrive Delhi :

Meet at the airport and transfer to your downtown hotel. Overnight Delhi.

» Day 02 : Delhi :

Post breakfast city sightseeing tour to include Rashtrapati Bhawan, India Gate, Humayun's Tomb, Bahai Temple and Qutab Minar. Lunch at Bistro restaurant at the Hauz Khas village, the original site chosen by Ala-Ud-Din Khilji in 1303 for a "Madrasa" - a place of learning. Deepening horizons, gentle breeze, panaromic view of the Madrasa and the Royal Reservoir, along with finger licking Bar-be-que delights makes for a perfect setting. Post lunch City tour of Old Delhi to include Red Fort, Rajghat, Jama Masjid and a cycle rickshaw ride through the silver street of Chandni Chowk. Welcome cocktails & dinner at the elite 50 years Gymkhana Club. Overnight Delhi.

» Day 03 : Delhi Ganga Banks :

Morning drive to Ganga banks & check into India's first eco & environment friendly banks resort set in the serenity of the Himalayan foothills. Post lunch relax by the riverside resort. Evening enjoy bon fire and bar-be-cue by the beach with rum punch. Overnight Ganga banks.

» Day 04 : Float / Raft Down the Ganges :

Post breakfast commence a 14 kms river rafting run from the Marine drive up to the resort. During rafting there will be ample stretches for swimming and body surfing. Evening fun trek on the leopards trail. Round off the evening with a beach side bonfire and chota peg. Overnight Ganga Banks (The less adventurous can opt for a gentle float trip).

» Day 05 : Ganga Banks / Corbett :

Morning depart for Corbett National Park. Check into your Lodge. Corbett National Park lies on the Himalayan foothills spread over 324 sq. kms. A variety of wildlife including tigers, leopards, elephant, hyenas and deer inhabit the sanctuary. This very attractive park of valleys, grassland and Sal forest with a backdrop of Himalayan ranges is characterized as a land of "roar and song". Evening jeep/Elephant safari to the park accompanied by naturalist & later bonfire with a bar-be-que. Overnight Corbett.

» Day 06 : Corbett :

Morning optional repeat jeep safari of the park for wildlife viewing with picnic lunch. Evening free for nature walks or at leisure at the resort. Overnight Corbett.

» Day 07 : Corbett / Agra :

Morning drive to Agra and check into your hotel. Agra, in terms of ambience is still associated with the Mughal period. With it's laid back lifestyle & it's immense wealth of architecture, handicrafts and jewellery, is amongst the most remarkable cities of the world. O/N Agra.

» Day 08 : Agra / Jaipur (5 1/2 kms) :

Morning sunrise tour of Taj Mahal & later the Red fort. Drive to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri. Check into your hotel. Jaipur-the city capital in the tone of an autumnal Sunset, literally blushed pink when prince Albert, the consort of queen Victoria, stopped on it's soil in 1883. Interspersing the plan of red and pink were white borders and motiffs, painstakingly outlining the architectural highlights of Jaipur's buildings. This is the only city in the world symbolizing the nine divisions of the universe through nine rectangular sectors subdividing it. The palaces & forts of yesteryears that were witness to royal processions & splendour are now living monuments, accepted quite naturally into the lifestyles of the people of the Pink city. Overnight Jaipur.

» Day 09 : Jaipur :

Early morning tour of Amber fort on elephant's back. You ride on elephants as the royalty would, to the former Palace, set to the backdrop of wooded hills. Afternoon tour of the City Palace, Palace of Winds and the observatory. Overnight Jaipur.

» Day 10 : Jaipur / Water Banks :

Morning at leisure. Later drive to Waterbanks. Day at the Waterbanks island Resort, 25 kms from the airport. Waterbanks can be reached only by boats and the place abounds with a variety of birds, deer and lots of flora and fauna. (Optional : Gala farewell with a Western band at the lakeside dance floor. Bonfire & Bar-be-que.) Overnight at Water Banks.

» Day 11 : Water Banks / Depart Delhi :

After breakfast or late night transfer to the airport to board flight to you destination.

BEST OF GARHWAL
CHAR-DHAM : ABODE OF THE GODS

» Day 01 Delhi / Ganga Banks (260 kms/ 6 hrs.) :

Depart Delhi after Breakfast for Ganga Banks. ArrivalGanga Banks by lunch. Day free at the beach and the jungle landscape at this beautiful resort at the Himalayan Foothills. Overnight at Ganga Banks.

»Day 02 Ganga Banks / Barkot / Syani Chatti (165 kms) : Depart Ganga Banks after breakfast. Halt enroute for lunch. Arrive Barkot/Syani Chatti by evening. Overnight stay at Barkot/Syani Chatti.

»Day 03 Barkot/Syani Chatti/Hanuman Chatti/Yamnotri Janaki Bai Chatti (35 kms by coach, 26 kms trek/pony) : Leave at 0630 hrs reach Hanuman Chatti by 0800 hrs. Trek up to Yamnotri and back to Janaki Bai Chatti (26 kms total). Overnight staty at Janaki Bai Chatti.

» Day 04 Janaki Bai Chatti/Hanuman Chatti/Uttarkashi (120 kms) :

Leave Janaki Bai Chatti at 0600 hrs halt enroute for breakfast and lunch. Arrive Uttarkashi by 1600 hrs overnight stay at Uttarkashi.

»Day 05 Uttarkashi/Gangotri (100 kms) :

Leave Uttarkashi at 0600 hrs halt enroute for breakfast. Arrive Gangotri by 1100 hrs. Day free to enjoy the beautiful cool environment. Overnight stay at Gangotri.

» Day 06 Gangotri :

Day free to visit Gangotri (18 kms trek one way). Overnight stay at Gangotri.

» Day 07 Gangotri/Uttarkashi (100 kms) :

Leave Gangotri at 0800 hrs after breakfast. Arrive Uttarkashi by lunch. Evening free, overnight stay at Uttarkashi.

» Day 08 Uttarkashi/Gaurikund (235 kms) :

Depart Uttarkashi at 0700 hrs halt enroute for breakfast and lunch. Arrive Gaurikund by evening. Overnight stay at Gaurikund.

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