North India Tour with Nirvana in Kumbh 2025 @ $720
Delhi – Jaipur – Agra –Varanasi – Prayagraj – Varanasi – Delhi
Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred Pitcher) is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth, during which participants bathe or take a dip in a sacred river. Devotees believe that by bathing in the Ganges one is freed from sins liberating her/him from the cycle of birth and death. Millions of people reach the place without any invitation. The congregation includes ascetics, saints, sadhus, aspirants-kalpavasis and visitors. The festival is held at Prayagraj from 15th January to 04th of March 2025. Kumbh Mela plays a central spiritual role in the world, exerting a mesmeric influence on ordinary Indians. The event encapsulates the science of astronomy, astrology, spirituality, ritualistic traditions, and social and cultural customs and practices, making it extremely rich in knowledge.
Ardh Kumbh is said to be organized in two places of India Haridwar and Prayagraj 2025, gives a chance to be a part of the Ardh Kumbh Mela to be held at Prayag a destination seated on the bank of Saraswati, Ganga and Yamuna confluence. A large gathering at Prayagraj Ardh Kumbh Mela 2025, the devotees are allowed to have the experience the sight of Naga Sadhus, smeared with ash to the evening aartis to royal baths.
TRAVELASTU SPECIAL PRIVILEGES INCLUDED ON KUMBH ALLAHBAD TOUR:
| TRAVEL ASTU EXPERIENCE INCLUDES | SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED |
|---|---|
| ACCOMMODATION AT MENTIONED HOTELS, | KUMBH CELEBRATIONS WITH NAGA SADHUS |
| SIGHTSEEING TOURS AS MENTIONED IN THE ITINERARY, | ALL MEALS INCLUDED IN Prayagraj, |
| PRIVATE AIR-CONDITIONED VEHICLE WITH DRIVER, | RICKSHAW RIDE IN OLD DELHI, |
| ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDES FOR ALL MENTIONED TOURS, | OLD CITY WALKING TOUR IN DELHI, |
| ENROUTE VISIT OF ABHANERI VILLAGE, | MONRING TAJ MAHAL VISIT, |
| ASSISTANCE AT THE AIRPORTS/STATIONS ON ARRIVAL / DEPARTURE, | EVENING AARTI EXPERIENCE IN VARANASI, |
| ALL EXCURSIONS AS MENTIONED, | MORNING BOAT RIDE IN VARANASI , |
| NORMAL CLASS AIRFARE FOR JAIPUR – DELHI, | ELEPHANT RIDE AT AMBER FORT IN JAIPUR, |
| ALL MONUMENT ENTRANCE CHARGES AND DRIVER ALLOWANCES, | UNLIMITED MINERAL WATER AND TISSUES DURING DRIVES AND |
| ALL APPLICABLE TAXES, ALL ROAD TAXES, GOVERNMENT TAXE AND SERVICE CHARGES, AND | DEDICATED 24/7 TOUR MANAGER / COORDINATOR FOR TOUR. |
Day 01::
Arrival at Delhi:
As per you flight time Travel Astu Assistance will be there on Delhi International airport to receive you with driver. We will receive you in traditional Indian style and transfer you to hotel.
In hotel, our assistance will hand-over your travel documents to you like detailed printed itinerary and hotel voucher, flights tickets and will give you small welcome good luck gift from our side.
Delhi is a city built and re-built seven times over several centuries. The capital city today marries the quaint and unique elements of different historical eras with the pace of the bustling, growing economy. At every turn of the road, the past and the present coexist.
We will start our Delhi tour from Akshardham temple.
Akshardham or Swaminarayan Akshardham complex is a Hindu mandir, and a spiritual-cultural campus in New Delhi, India. It is also referred to as Akshardham Temple, the complex displays millennia of traditional Hindu and Indian culture, spirituality, and architecture.
The temple, which attracts approximately 70 percent of all tourists who visit Delhi, was officially opened on 6 November 2005 by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. It sits near the banks of the Yamuna adjacent to the 2010 Commonwealth Games village in eastern New Delhi. The temple, at the center of the complex, was built according to the Vastushastra and Pancharatrashastra.
Later proceed for city Tour of NEW DELHI - drive past the stately government buildings of the British Era designed by Lutyen's, including the India Gate & the Presidential Palace.
Then, make your way to Raj Ghat, a memorial built to commemorate the site of Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation. Raj Ghat is a simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. He is also famously known as the “father of the nation”.
If time will permit, we will visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is one of the most prominent Sikh gurdwara, or Sikh house of worship, in Delhi, India and known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru HarKrishan, as well as the pool inside its complex, known as the "Sarovar."
At Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, an historic Sikh shrine in central Delhi, everybody is welcome to a meal, and nearly everybody comes. Fascinated by stories of the extremely busy ‘langar’ (free kitchen) housed within the golden-domed complex, I set off one afternoon to visit the shrine and meet the people who prepare and eat the 10,000 meals served here every day.
Overnight at Hotel.
Elisabet and Maria from Spain enjoying India Gate Delhi tiur with TravelAstu
Day 02:
Delhi Tour:
After breakfast full day Delhi tour.
We will proceed to Jama Masjid by bicycle rickshaws, one of Asia's largest mosques. People stream in and out of the mosque continuously and the presence of a nearby bazaar means that the area is rarely quiet.
Enjoy the rickshaw ride at Old Delhi peddling through the narrow by lanes of Chandani Chowk.
Then we will visit Qutub Minar.
Imperial Delhi will include the Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India. QutubMinar in red and buff standstone is the highest tower in India. It has a diameter of 14.32 m at the base and about 2.75 m on the top with a height of 72.5 m. Qutbu'd-Din Aibak laid the foundation of Minar in AD 1199 for the use of the mu'azzin (crier) to give calls for prayer and raised the first floor, to which were added three more floors by his successor and son-in-law, Shamsu'd-Din Iltutmish (AD 1211-36). All the storeys are surrounded by a projected balcony encircling the minar and supported by stone brackets, which are decorated with honeycomb design, more conspicuously in the first floor.
After then visit to Lotus Temple is one of the remarkable landmarks of Delhi. The notable lotus shaped temple was built in the year 1986 and is dedicated to Bahai faith. The motive of Bahai faith is to unite all races and people of every religion and spreading peace and harmony. The marble structure has twenty seven petals that captivate the attention of every visitor and spectator.
The architect of this Bahai Temple, Furiburz Sabha selected lotus as a common symbol to Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Islam. Therefore, people of all religion are allowed to visit the place and spend time in silence. The temple is surrounded by well-maintained garden and nine pools of clean water.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Travel Astu guest Bruny in Qutub Minar Delhi
Day 03:
Delhi to Jaipur (280 Kms – 5.15 Hours):
After early morning packed breakfast in hotel, drive to Jaipur.
Jaipur: Beautiful palaces, forts and colourful bazaars speak of the pink city’s glorious regal past. Modernity walks hand-in-hand with history in Jaipur. This largest city of Rajasthan, founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, is famous for its magnanimous hospitality. If we will be time we will go to local market to enjoy charm of Jaipur.
In evening, visit the Birla Temple.
Birla Temple is beautifully lit in the evening, which attracts a flood of tourist attraction. Built 1988 with the finest quality of white marble, this temple is dedicated to lord Vishnu. The stained glass work in the temple depicts the scenes from Hindu scriptures. It is a modern architectural wonder with lush green gardens all round.
Here you will also be witnessing AARTI ceremony, which is a treat to watch.
After Aarti ceremony you are free to explore local market of Jaipur city.
Night stay in Jaipur.
Mr. Juan Camilo Restrepo in Amber fort Jaipur with TravelAstu
Day 04:
Jaipur Full Days Sightseeing Tour:
After breakfast we move forward for sightseeing to Amber Fort. An elephant ride lifts you up to the Fort.
Amber Fort: Perched high on the hill, 11 kms from the capital city, the palace is a classic romantic fort with the artistic style of Hindu elements in its architecture. The palace has beautiful fusion of both Hindu and Mughal architecture which is an ultimate feature of this fort.
We continue with our sightseeing and move to city palace.
City Palace, a seat of the ruler of Jaipur is a complex of palaces with many courtyards and palaces was built by Sawai Jai Singh II between 1729 to 1732 AD. The architecture of the palace is a great combination of three dynasties, namely, Mughal, Rajput and European. The palace comprises of two famous palaces known Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal. Whereas today Chandra Mahal has been turned into a museum, which portrays various uniforms, handcrafted products and lifestyle of royal families.
Next we go and speculate is Jantar Mantar, astrological devices for individual constellations is one of the largest and best preserved observatories out of five in the country. This observatory was built by Jai Singh II and is a unique experience of walking through solid geometry.
After a unique walk in solid geometry we refresh our imagination with sightseeing of Hawa Mahal, also famed as the Palace of winds. The place got its name due to the high screen wall of palace with 953 windows through which the women of the palace could witness street festivals but it was not visible from outside. The palace is located on the edge of City palace and is constructed with pink and red sandstone in the year 1799 by Pratap Singh.
In evening we will take you to local Jaipur market to see real culture of India.
Night stay in hotel.
Travel Astu guests Gabriela and Sofia enjoying Elephant ride at Amber Fort
Day 05:
Jaipur to Agra (4.30 hours 240 km):
After breakfast, drive to Agra en route visit of Abhaneri Village
Abhaneri Village is situated on the Jaipur / Agra Highway in Dausa District. It is an ancient village in Rajasthan famous for its post Gupta or early medieval monuments. The sculpture and architecture of Abhaneri suggests that it must have been a great center of art and architecture. The sculptures of Abhaneri are the best example of GurjarPratihari art. This flourishing town has ruined by the Mughal Empror Mahmud Ghaznavi in one of his invasions. The village has contributed numerous pieces of sculpture to various museums worldwide. The name of the village Abhaneri is so called because the local Goddess Harshat Mata is shown portrayed in a joyous mood and spreads brightness or “abha” all around. The village’s original name was AbhaNagri. The village is said to have been founded by the legendary King Raja Chand and thus the village could be over three thousand years old. It is however felt that the mythological Raja Chand could be King Bhoja, who ruled GUJJAR Kingdom in the ninth century AD.
Chand Baori is about 100 feet deep open well with flights of steps on three sides is another 10th century monument. The stairs of the chandBaori are in the shape of an inverted English letter “V” in sets of 4-5 steps. This Baori is not an ordinary structure, but is a marvel of Architecture. The chandBaori has beautiful carved panels inserted into the sides. Nobody has been able to count the steps. One can see the two royal toilets with carved windows and Jharokhas, which were used by the then Kings & Queens. The water for the royal toilets was used to be pulled from the Baori with the help of bulls. The carved stone pillars, which have now been damaged, were once strong enough for supporting pulleys to draw water. One can also witness all 24 Avtars of Lord Vishnu which were carved on the stone inside one of the cenotaph. There are three tunnels which have opening of about 20 Km away from Chand Baori, were being used by the rulers as escape routes in care of attack by the enemies. An encyclopedia of stone architecture showing a fine degree of craftsmanship lies strewn all around the village. In fact, Chand Baori is a unique example of its own kind of stone architecture where one can see the ladies figures with various kinds of musical instruments and the dancing possess.
After visit continue drive to Agra. In evening visit of Mehtab Garden of Agra.
Overnight at Agra.
Travel Astu Guests Angela and Jesus in Taj Mahal, Agra
Day 06:
Agra Sightseeing :
Proceed for a sunrise view of the Taj Mahal.
TAJ MAHAL - Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen.
Return back to the hotel for breakfast.
Proceed for an afternoon visit of Agra fort.
AGRA FORT – The red sandstone structure is surrounded by chahar-bagh, a four-square formal garden. Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced within is the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction. It lies on the bend of the river Yamuna, almost in the heart of the town. Akbar built it as his citadel over the years 1563-73 in the finest architectural style. It has imposing gates and walls of red sandstone and a moat.
After Agra Fort we will visit BABY TAJ or the ITMAD-UD-ULLAH – The interiors of which are considered better than the Taj. One of the most beautiful Mughal tombs, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb was built by Nur Jahan, the Empress of Jahangir for her father in 1628. The tomb is a resting place of the powerful personality in Mughal Court, Itmad-Ud-Daulah, whose life is very interesting. Formerly a very poor Persian merchant then named Mirza Ghiyas or Ghiyas Beg he became a minister and a trusted treasure in Akbar's court. After Akbar's death in 1605, his son Jahangir rose into power. Jahangir made Ghiyas Beg his chief minister and honored him with the title of Itmad-Ud-Daulah, the Pillar of State. Later, Jahangir met a beautiful daughter of Ghiyas Beg named Mehr-Un-Nissa and married her. Mehr-Un-Nissa soon played a significant role in the Jahangir's court and was called Nur Mahal, the light of the Place. Owing to her influence, her father and brother were granted with privileges in the court. When Ghiyas beg (Itmad-Un-Daulah) dies in 1622, Nur Mahal decided to build a mausoleum for him. Queen Mumtaz Mahal or the lady of the Taj was also from this prevailing family. The mausoleum is entirely made of white marble and graced with intricate decoration of inlay work, and marble-screen work belonging to the Islamic style. With its tranquil, small garden on the bank of Yamuna River, the tomb stands impressively elegant from a distance.
Overnight will be at Agra.
TravelAstu Group from Mexico in Taj Mahal
Day 07:
Agra-Delhi by road in 4 hrs and Delhi –Varanasi by air:
After breakfast, drive to Delhi for flight to Varanasi, reach Varanasi, check in to hotel after wash up and changes visit Ghat.
Enjoy the evening AARTI at the Varanasi GHATS. The guide will be giving a commentary to you on the proceedings and meanings of the chants during the AARTI of the river.
Overnight will be spent at Varanasi.
Aarti Ceremony at river Ganges Varanasi
Day 08:
Varanasi – Prayagraj by road in 4 hrs:
Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast drive to Prayagraj by car. After rest, proceed to explore the Kumbh Mela of your account.
Overnight will be spent at Prayagraj.
Kumbh Allahbad Tour
Day 09:
Prayagraj Kumbh Festival:
After breakfast, Full day to explore Kumbh Mela (Kumbh fair) and take holy bath in Triveni Sangam (confluence of sacred rivers Ganges, Yamuna and river Sarswati myth). Visit nearby places such as Akshyavat, Hanumana temple, and Prayagraj fort.
Later returns to the camp for lunch and rest. Afternoon free to visit the field of Akharas (Several groups of Hindu monks).
Overnight will be spent at Prayagraj.
Sadu in Kumbh
Day 10:
Enjoy Kumbh Festival:
Full day to explore Kumbh Mela from your account.
You can visit the Sangam area (sacred confluence), you can interact with Sadhus (monks) and then participate in the Aarti ceremony in Sangam.
Travel Astu Group in Sangam
Day 11:
Prayagraj to Varnasi by road in 4 hrs:
After breakfast, drive to Varanasi. Reach Varanasi. After wash up and changes.
Proceed for a guided tour of Varanasi accompanied by an English speaking guide.
which will include the Sarnath, Bharat Mata Temple, which features a big relief map of Mother India engraved in marble. Also visit the 18th century Durga Temple, commonly known as the Monkey Temple due to the huge population of the monkeys. Proceed to the Tulsi Manas Temple, crafted from white marble which features the entire Ramayana inscribed on its walls. Also visit the BHU considered as the biggest residential university in Asia. The University Campus houses an Art Gallery and the Mosque of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
A visit to Sarnath 5 miles out of Varanasi: The great Buddha enhanced the sanctity of Varanasi by choosing the environs of the city to preach his first sermon at Sarnath, (only 10 Kms away) after attaining enlightenment. Later, Ashoka, the great Mauryan Emperor erected magnificent stupas and other buildings along with his mighty stone pillar, Dharmarajika Stupa. The 110 ft. tall Damekh Stupa marks the place where Buddha preached first sermon.Sarnath has been a premier centre for Buddhism. It is a rich collection of ancient Buddhist relics and antiques comprising numerous Buddha and Bodhisatva images on display at the Archaeological Museum (1000 hrs to 1700 hrs. Open all days except Friday).
Vishwanath Temple: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is the most sacred shrine in Varanasi. The original temple was destroyed by the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb which was later restored by Rani Ahilyabai of Indore in the 18th century. The Gold plating of the dome was done during the 19th century by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab. Foreigner’s entry restricted.
Banaras Hindu University: Founded by Pundit Madan Mohan Malviya it is considered to be the largest residential university in Asia. Within the university campus, Vishwanath Temple and Bharat Kala Kendra (Museum) are well worth a visit.
Overnight will be at Varanasi.
Kedar ghat and river Ganges Varanasi
Day 12:
Varanasi to Delhi by air:
In the early morning drive to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat ride on the sacred river Ganges to see the cremation Ghats and witness the living traditions of one of the world's oldest and most important religions. (To start at 0500 hrs. for the best lifetime experience) For you to appreciate this remarkable city, we'll transfer you to the banks of the River Ganges before the sun rises. Board a boat with your guide and proceed to the middle of the river, where at sunrise the sight unfolds before you. Thousands of faithful come daily to the banks to bathe and pray while in the background, temples and palaces rise in tiers from the water's edge. Then return for a walk through the cobblestone streets along the banks of "Ganga". As shops are opening, the place now becomes a beehive of activity as the faithful are coming and going. Visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple while returning to the hotel.
Later, proceed for Food Tour of Varanasi with the guide.
Varanasi is a hotbed of culture and spiritualism in India and has so many things to offer. Unlike more touristy cities like Delhi or Jaipur, one really needs to know and appreciate the nuances of the city life at Varanasi to be able to experience the cultural and spiritual richness of the city. Every nook and corner of the city has a different story to tell. It this beauty and diversity, that attracts tourists to this fascinating city. Another interesting thing to do in the city is to try out different local food. Accompanied by a guide, visit some of the narrowest gallis, famous for traditional local cuisines. Eat and spend time in noticing the intricacies that goes in making it. Try your hand at it and take with you memories that you will able to share with your friends and family back home.
Tours end.
TravelAstu Guest Claudia in Varanasi
