Morning on arrival at the Airport / Railway Station & drive to Haridwar, on arrival Haridwar check in Hotel. Later we shall take you to visit to the Har- ki- Pauri, Revel in Ganga Aarti in the Evening is at leisure to walk along the Ganges & explore the colourful bazaars. Dinner & Overnight at Haridwar.
'Haridwar'- Gateway to the Lord. One of the holiest Hindu pilgrim sites on the banks of the sacred river Ganga, Haridwar is a bustling town with crowded markets, a multitude of temples, ashrams and Ghats overflowing with pilgrims desirous of attaining a measure of salvation - in this life or in the next one.
Visit Har-ki-Pauri which literally means footsteps of God. Lined with temples and guesthouses looking on to the river, the Ghats (river landings for bathing) have worshippers bathing early in the morning and the spectacular Ganga Aarti (worship of the river Ganga with lamps) in the evenings. In the distance are the Himalayan peaks, and all around forests and hill shrines. The atmosphere, the rituals and the view around Haridwar all serve to give the uninitiated a glimpse into Hindu religious philosophy.
Morning after an early breakfast, take an excursion to Rishikesh. Here you may opt to enjoy some adventure activities like River rafting, etc. (On Own). Later visit to Laxman Jhula & surrounding temples & ashrams. Return back to Haridwar for overnight stay at the hotel.
Rishikesh : 25 kms upstream on the banks of the Ganga where it is met by the Chandrabhaga is the holy town of Rishikesh. Literally, Rishi's (holy man) locks, this small town is the point where the holy Ganges crashes down in full glory onto huge boulders and creates long stretches of white sandy beaches. The banks are lined with ashrams, where saints and holy men rested before beginning their arduous pilgrimage up into the snow-covered land of the gods. Rishikesh is essentially a combination of five different districts- Rishikesh the commercial centre, Muni-ki- reti in the quiet suburbs, Shivananda Nagar to the north, Lakshmanjhula with its holy shrines and Swarg Ashram where most of the ashrams are located.
Swarg Ashram, with its numerous ashrams, food stalls and shops is a haunt for those looking for insights into religious themes. The newly constructed Ram Jhoola straddles the Ganga at this point. You can also make a river crossing on the ferries that run during the day. Important shrines and ashrams at Swarg Ashram include Kali Kumbliwale founded by Swami Vishudhananda, Parmarth Niketan with large statues of gods and goddesses and the Gita Bhavan with its Ayurvedic dispensary and shop selling religious books and cotton Khadi.
About 2 kms upstream is the old footbridge called Lakshmanjhula, named after the brother of Lord Rama. Temples line both sides of the river at Lakshmanjhula.To the northeast is the area of Muni-ki-reti. Along the banks of the Chandrabhaga river, this area with its secluded white sand beaches is ideal for swimming. Boat rides on the river near Swarg Ashram are a pleasant diversion, and you can feed the fish that cluster around pilgrims throwing balls of wheat flour into the waters.
Today After Breakfast get transferred to Delhi for onward journey.
