Hindus and Hanuman


Taj Mahal as seen from the main entrance (Photo: Jwalant)

Hindus and Hanuman (14 days, 13 nights)

Visit the land of Hindu sadhus and hanuman. According to Ramayana (hindu literature), Hanuman is the monkey god who helped Ram (a Vishnu avatar) defeat Ravana. And this perhaps is why there are plenty of monkeys in hindu temples in India and Nepal.

With the burgeoning population in the major cities of India and Nepal, things often times seem chaotic. But in this chaos is a beautiful way of life which to many visitors is fascinating. Despite the rigors of everday life, the denizens of these cities seem to balance their daily life and practice age-old religious traditions. Cows are sacred and so are the monkeys. You will visit the ghats of Kathmandu and Varanasi. The bagmati which flows through the Kathmandu valley eventually becomes the Ganges which flows through Varanasi. The trip includes a 1 hour mountain flight from Kathmandu that goes around the eastern Himalayas of Nepal to view Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt Cho Oyu and many others.

Come with an open mind as this will help enhance your experience - one that will remain with you forever.

The trip begins and ends in Delhi. There are direct flights to Delhi from most cities in the US including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Visas for India must be obtained prior to departure from the US and is processed by Travisa Outsourcing.

Itinerary

Day 01 - Delhi

Met on arrival and transfer to Hotel. Remaining day at leisure. Overnight Hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 02 - Delhi


Night time at Jama Masji, Old Delhi

Visit Jama Masjid in Old Delhi. Commissioned by Shah Jahan in 1656, Jama took 5,000 laborers 6 years to complete and is the largest mosque in India. (Wear full-sleeved shirts and pants). Continue to Red Fort - the seat of Mughal power from 1639 to 1857. Drive past the presidential building (Rashtrapati Bhawan) to Qutab Minar in South Delhi. Qutab Minar was built by Qutbuddin Aibak in the 12 century. Overnight Hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 03 - Jaipur

Drive to Jaipur (4 hours). In Jaipur, visit the Hawa Mahal. Entry is not permitted but the building is still a marvelous architecture to view. Evening free to roam the streets of Jaipur. Overnight Hotel. (B)

Day 04 - Jaipur

Visit the Amber Fort. You may opt to ride an elephant to the top. Overnight Hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 05 - Agra

Drive to Agra. Visit Fatehpur Sikri enroute. Overnight Hotel. (B)

 Day 06 - Delhi

Visit Taj Mahal in the morning. Continue drive to Delhi. Overnight Hotel (B)

Day 07 - Kathmandu

Transfer to airport for your flight to Kathmandu. Visit Thamel in the evening. Dinner in Thamel. Overnight Hotel. (B,D)

Day 08 - Kathmandu


Sadhus and the Pashupati ghat (Photo: Claudine)

Full day sightseeing in Kathmandu: In the morning, visit Bodhanath, the Stupa of a MillionDewdrops, to watch monks and devotees circumambulate the largest stupa in the world. Then visit Pashupatinath, Nepal's most sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, with its two-tiered golden roof and silver door. Here you will witness a cremation along the ghats of the Bagmati river. Drive to Bhaktapur, the city of Devotees, for lunch and a tour of the royal palace square. Bhaktapur is regarded as an open museum and the city houses numerous temples and palaces dating back several centuries. Drive back to Kathmandu. Overnight Hotel. (B,L)

Day 09 - Kathmandu

Visit Swayambhunath often referred to as the monkey temple. Here there is a Buddhist monument - the Swayambunath stupa - and a Hindu temple standing side-by-side. Watch out for the monkeys as they enjoy stealing the offerings from helpless devotees.Drive to Patan for lunch in the garden of the Patan Museum Café. After lunch, visit the well-maintained Patan Museum storing ancient Nepali artifacts, followed by a tour of Patan Durbar Square. The day ends with a cultural Nepali dinner. Overnight Hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 10 - Delhi

Rise early and drive to the airport for a 1 hour mountain flight to view Mt. Everest and many other 20,000 ft. + mountains. Afternoon flight to Delhi. Overnight Hotel. (B,L)

Day 11 - Varanasi

Fly to Varanasi from Delhi. Explore Varanasi. In the evening, visit the Ghats of Varanasi to view the hustle bustle of devotees and others. Overnight Hotel. (B)

Day 12 - Varanasi

Day excursion to Saranath, the site where Siddhartha Gautama - the Buddha - conducted his first sermon. Return to Varanasi. Overnight hotel. (B)

Day 13 - Delhi

Fly back to Delhi. Evening free in Delhi. A vehicle and driver will be made available if you wish to go shopping at Safdarjung enclave or Hauz Khas. Overnight Hotel. (B)

Day 14 - Final Departure

Transfer to airport for your final departure.

Please contact us for a detailed itinerary and final prices.

Price Includes

Price Does not Include

TO BOOK THIS TRIP

A completed reservation form must be either faxed to us or scanned and emailed as an attachment.

Email: info@crystalmountaintreks.com
Fax: 977 – 1- 4412647

You must also send us a non-refundable deposit of $500 per person. The deposit must be wired. We will refund up to $30 to cover your wire expenses. Wire details will be provided. The balance of the amount must be paid on arrival, either in traveler’s checks or cash.

Download reservation form here »

Cancellation Policy

Cancel anytime prior to trip start date, forfeit trip deposit. No refunds for unused services after your trip begins.

REFERENCES

Crystal Mountain organizes treks and tours in Nepal, India, Bhutan and Tiber for hundreds of satisfied travelers each year. Feel free to ask us for references who can tell you about their experience with us.

PRE AND POST TRIP EXTENSIONS:

Arriving early or leaving late? Nepal (and the region) has a lot to offer besides your main trip to Everest. Depending on the extra days you have and your budget, we would be glad to match you up with one of the following activities:

Contact us for more details: info@crystalmountaintreks.com

QUESTIONS:

Email: info@crystalmountaintreks.com

Phone
Land Line: + 977 1 4416813
Mobile: + 977 97410-33916

Or if you would rather have us call you at a time convenient for you, please email us your phone number and time that works best for you.