SHIVALIKS & THE HOLY GANGES
Celebrated in Hindu mythology and religion, the
Garhwal Himalayas are said to be the "Abode
of the Gods." The river Ganges has its sources
at the sacred shrine of Gangotri and rushes down
to the plains in a torrential fury. The Shivalik
Himalayas are said to represent the matted locks
of Lord Shiva, trying to calm her decent as she
meanders down towards Rishikesh, a town internationally
famous for its meditational and yoga ashrams and
the temple town of Haridwar. Just 30 km upstream,
on the west bank of the Ganges, amidst luxuriant
forests Wanderlust has set up India's most eco-friendly
resort `Ganga Banks'. So whether the search is spiritual,
for solace or high life adventure-this is where
you get it all.
DELHI / RISHIKESH / GANGA BANKS
/ CORBETT / DELHI
Day 1. 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.
Day 2. GANGA BANKS:
After a late breakfast drive down to Rishikesh,
sightseeing tour of the temples. ashrams and the
famous Trans 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
Day 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.
Day 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.
Day 5. IN CORBETT:
Morning and evening park visits to see a van~ety
of w~ldlife in jeeps and elephant back. Overnight
Corbett
Day 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 / Valley
of Flowers / Yamunotri / Gangotri
POSSIBLE VARIATIONS
1. DELHI / JAIPUR / AGRA / CORBETT / GANGABANKS
/ MUSSOORIE / DELHI
2. DELHI / CQRBETT / GANGABANKS / CHILLA
/ DHANAULTI / MUSSOORIE
3. DELHI / GANGABANKS / YAMNOTRI / UTTARKASHI
/ GANGOTRI / KEDARNATH / BADRINATH / GANGABANKS
/ DELHI
BEST TIME:
Septemberto June.
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.
GARHWAL - I
CHAR-DHAM : ABODE OF THE GODS
Day 01 Delhi / Ganga Banks (260
kms/ 6 hrs.) :
Depart Delhi after Breakfast for Ganga Banks. Arrival
Ganga 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.
Day 09 Gaurikund / Kedarnath (14
kms trek/pony) :
Leave Gaurikund early morning arrive Kedarnath by
lunch. Evening free for darshan. Overnight stay
at Kedarnath.
Day 10 Kedarnath / Gaurikund / Nandprayag
/ Pipalkoti (150 kms) :
Leave Kedarnath after early breakfast. Arrive Gaurikund
by 1200 noon (14 kms trek). Leave Gaurikund after
lunch. Arrive Nandprayag / Pipalkoti by 1900 hrs.
Overnight stay at Nandprayag / Pipalkoti.
Day 11 Nandprayag / Pipalkoti /
Badrinath (80 kms) :
Leave at 0700 hrs. Halt enroute for breakfast. Arrive
Badrinath by lunch evening free for darshan. Overnight
stay at Badrinath.
Day 12 Badrinath / Nandprayag /
Pipalkoti (80 kms) :
Half day free leave Badrinath after lunch. Arrive
Nandprayag / Pipalkoti by 1800 hrs. Overnight stay
at Nandprayag / Pipalkoti.
Day 13 Nandprayag / Pipalkoti /
Rishikesh (209 kms) :
Depart after breakfast. Halt enroute for lunch.
Arrive Rishikesh by evening. Overnight stay at Ganga
Banks.
Day 14 Rishikesh / Haridwar / Delhi
(225 kms) :
Depart Rishikesh after breakfast. Visit Har Ki Pauri.
Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar. Depart Haridwar by
superfast Shatabdi. Express Arr. Delhi by 2200 hrs.
.