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Kumbh Mela and Hidden Jewel of India
Culture, discovery, devotion and spirituality: from the Golden Temple of Amritsar through the Himalayan foothills to the Ardh Kumbh Mela at Haridwar and the Taj Mahal
Gallery
Duration
Duration

13 Days

Region
Region
  • Agra
  • Delhi
  • Uttranchal (Garhwal)
Activity
Activity

Culture Tours

Season
Season

N/A

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Description

The next Kumbh Mela in Haridwar is the Ardh Kumbh Mela, from January 14, 2027 to April 20, 2027.

Kumbh Mela is a mega religious and spiritual event, the largest peaceful gathering of people on earth. Pilgrims and ascetics (sadhus) come from every part of India to take a holy dip in the river Ganga to attain moksha. A ritual bath at a predetermined time and place is the major event of this festival. Other activities include religious discussions, devotional singing, mass feeding of holy men and women, pilgrims and the poor, and religious assemblies where doctrines are debated and standardized.

Before joining the Kumbh Mela you follow a tour of incredible diversity of culture, religion and landscape. It starts in Amritsar, the holiest place for followers of Sikhism. The Kangra valley houses ancient Hindu temples. Dharamsala, seat of the Tibetan Government in exile, is the residence of HH the Dalai Lama and houses Buddhist monasteries. Then the lush green tea gardens of Palampur, Mandi, an ancient and important commercial centre, and Rewalsar, a pilgrimage site for Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs. Chandigarh features the Rock Garden among its many attractions.

You will explore highly revered Hindu pilgrimage sites along the holy Ganges at Rishikesh, world-famous as a centre of yoga and meditation, and Haridwar, where the Kumbh Mela takes place and pilgrims take the holy bath. To end the trip you visit the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world, and Delhi, the capital of India.

Important bathing (Snan) dates 2027

#Bathing dateOccasionTour departure1January 14, 2027Makar Sankranti (Opening Day)–2February 6, 2027Mauni Amavasya27 January 20273February 11, 2027Vasant Panchami4 February 20274March 6, 2027Mahashivratri (First Amrit/Shahi Snan)27 February 20275March 8, 2027Somvati Amavasya (Second Amrit/Shahi Snan)27 February 20276April 14, 2027Mesh Sankranti / Baisakhi (Third Amrit/Shahi Snan)7 April 20277April 20, 2027Chaitra Purnima (Fourth Shahi Snan / Closing)13 April 2027

Kumbh Mela and Hidden Jewel of India route map
Highlights

·Amritsar: the centre of the Sikh religion and the Golden Temple

·Dharamshala: ancient Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries and the Tibetan Government in exile

·Rewalsar and Mandi: sacred lake and cluster of temples

·Chandigarh: a modern well-planned city and the Rock Garden

·Rishikesh: centre of yoga, meditation and ashrams

·Haridwar: take part in the Kumbh Mela on the bank of the sacred river Ganga

·New Delhi: overview of India's capital

·Taj Mahal: symbol of love, one of the seven wonders of the world

Itinerary

Itinerary

Arrive Delhi by evening, reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Night in hotel.

Morning transfer to the railway station and train to Amritsar; on arrival transfer to the hotel. Amritsar translates as "pool of nectar", surrounding the Sikh Golden Temple. A causeway connects to the temple in the middle of the pool. A Sikh high priest reads the holy book, sitting on the east side of the temple, attracting pilgrims from all over the world. Visit one of the biggest community kitchens in the world, where volunteers peel, chop, cook, wash dishes and serve free meals to thousands of devotees. In the afternoon visit the Wagah (Attari) border for the retreat ceremony on the Grand Trunk Road between India (Amritsar) and Lahore (Pakistan), an incredible experience at sunset. In the evening attend the closing ceremony of the sacred book and enjoy the serenity of the Golden Temple. Night in hotel.nd

Leave for Dharamsala. En route visit the thousand-year-old Brijeshwari Temple dominating old Kangra town, built in Shikhara style and dedicated to the goddess Brijeshwari. The 10-minute walk to the temple passes through a decorated alley of colourful shops selling articles devotees need for their rituals. In the afternoon check in at the hotel, and in the evening stroll with the Indo-Tibetan crowd on the streets of McLeodganj. A former colonial retreat, it rose to prominence after the large-scale exodus of Tibetans from their homeland in 1959. It is the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, with the majestic Dhauladhar mountains in the backdrop. The Tibetan Government in exile has been based here for decades, with traditional architecture drawn from Tibet. Night in hotel.cad

Morning visit to the impressive Namgyal monastery, surrounded by a row of prayer wheels and housing larger-than-life images of Buddha, Padmasambhava and Avalokiteshvara. The Tsuglagkhang complex is the most important Buddhist monument of McLeodganj, with an interesting collection of sacred texts based on the teaching of Buddha, and the centre of medicine and astrology. Visit the Norbulingka Institute and its museum, which promotes the study and representation of Tibetan arts to ensure their preservation. We may have the opportunity to meet the monks (it sometimes closes for renovation and Tibetan festivals). The Tibetan handicraft centre can also be visited. Night in hotel.ndicraft

Leave for Mandi. En route glimpse the tea estates of Palampur in the foothills of the Dhauladhar range, with a short stop at the Shiva temple at Baijnath dedicated to Vaidyanath. The temples are built in Shikhara style and are remarkable for their proportion and architectural beauty. Drive on to Rewalsar (Pool of Ancient Wisdom), like a dark jewel on a wooded hillside. Legend identifies this sacred lake as the place from where Padmasambhava left for Tibet to spread the words of the Buddha in the 8th century. Mandi is an important town of Himachal Pradesh and gateway to the Kullu valley, known for its carved Shikhara-style temples of Bhootnath, Triloknath and Panchvaktra. Stroll the old street leading to these temples. Night in hotel.oll

Drive through several villages of Himachal Pradesh and arrive in Chandigarh in the afternoon, a modern city designed by the famous Swiss architect Le Corbusier. Visit the Rock Garden, a true concentration of creativity and innovation. This unique garden holds many works of art, and its most remarkable feature is that each of them was made from industrial and urban waste. Take an outside view of the Open Hand Monument, the emblem of Chandigarh. At sunset take an optional boat trip on Sukhna Lake (subject to availability, summer only), the right place to stroll and mingle with local people. Night in hotel.ple

Depart for Rishikesh, the sanctuary of saints and sadhus. On the banks of the Ganges, it has been a great pilgrimage centre since medieval times, attracting large numbers of pilgrims, saints and sages, and is known as a centre for yoga and meditation. Visit ashrams and temples and witness the evening ritual ceremony on the bank of the holy Ganga, when hundreds of people float little flower bowls with oil lamps on the river. Night in hotel.

Start your journey to Haridwar and check in to the hotel. The Chandi Devi temple, at the top of Neel Parvat, is the most revered destination for devotees; the Goddess is a fierce manifestation of the Divine Mother, worshipped as the destroyer of evil forces. The temple is reached by cable car, travelling among pilgrims with panoramic views of the valley. Visit Kankhal and the historic Daksha Mahadev temple, named after King Daksha Prajapati, connected with Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati. Visit the ghats where pilgrims bathe in the sacred Ganga, and in the evening join the grand Aarti, one of the most fascinating religious rituals in the world. Haridwar literally means gateway to God. It has been a sacred place since time immemorial and is one of the most important pilgrimage places on the Ganges, where millions of Hindus take a holy dip to seek emancipation. Three nights in hotel.s o

Morning transfer to Delhi. After lunch visit India Gate, a prominent war memorial commemorating Indian soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War, inspired by Roman triumphal arches. Overview of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India, blending classical European and Indian architecture. Rest of the time free for souvenir shopping. Night in hotel.

Morning drive to Agra, the city of the Taj. In the afternoon visit the Taj Mahal, one of the most famous monuments in the world, built in the seventeenth century by Emperor Shah Jahan as a token of eternal love. If time allows, visit Itimad-ud-Daulah (the Baby Taj), built between 1622 and 1628, an elegant white marble mausoleum considered a forerunner of the Taj Mahal and admired for its delicate inlay work. Agra is home to many artisans renowned for marble replicas, an ideal souvenir along with leather goods and embroidered textiles. Evening stroll in the bazaar. Night in hotel. ho

Morning visit the Agra Red Fort, built in the 16th century of red sandstone. Once the seat of the Mughal Empire, it served as their residence and is a historic blend of Hindu and Islamic architecture. After lunch drive to Delhi, and before or after dinner transfer to the airport for your onward flight. No hotel in Delhi.
For Inquiry

Cost

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What's Inside the Package?

Airport transfers

checkGround transport by Toyota Innova or minibus for groups

checkChair class / two or three-tier train from Delhi to Amritsar

checkTwin sharing rooms in 3* hotels

checkBreakfast and dinner

checkEnglish speaking local guide for the entire tour

Any airfare

closeLunch and snacks

closeMonument fees

closeInsurance

closeBeverages including bottled water

closePersonal expenses

closeMedical evacuation / repatriation

closeLoss or damage of bags and belongings

closeExpenses from unforeseen circumstances (natural calamities, road blocks, flight cancellation, sickness)

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