| DAY 1
: Arrive Amritsar |
| Arrive Amritsar.
Transfer to hotel. Overnight stay. |
| DAY
2 : Amritsar |
After
breakfast move for sightseeing covering
Golden Temple- Golden Temple or Darbar Sahib is
the most sacred temple for Sikhs - one which every Sikh
longs to make a pilgrimage to, and thousands visit daily.
Guru Ram Das, the fourth Guru of the Sikhs, who came to
live near this peaceful place, started building the pilgrimage
centre around the small pool, (later to become the Sarowar).
The Harmandir Sahib, as the main temple is known, was
envisioned by Guru Arjan Dev. It was conceived by him
to reflect the resoluteness, clarity and simplicity of
the Sikh religion. The four doors, one on each side of
the Temple, are symbolically open to all four castes -
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.
The beautiful gilding, artistic marble inlays and the
elaborate mirror-work on the Harmandir Sahib came much
later. It was only in the nineteenth century during the
reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, that the people of Punjab
lavished their wealth on their revered shrine. The Granth
Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, was installed in the
Harmandir Sahib in 1604, three years after its completion.
The fact that the foundation stone of the Golden temple
was formally laid by the Muslim mystic, Mir Mohammed Muayyinul
Islam, popularly known as Mian Mir, in 1589 on the request
of Guru Arjun Dev, sends out a strong message of communal
amity. The Guru-ka-Langar or the common canteen, provides
free food to all visitors, regardless of colour, creed,
caste or gender.
the holy scripture is brought in a vivid procession from
the Akal Takhat (the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs)
in the morning to the temple to be returned at night.
Singing is central to Sikh worship & is a feast to
the souls when hymns from the holy scripture are recited
Kirtan and the waves of the classical ragas, a sublim
blend of voice & music.
Jallianwala Bagh-the historic site where hundreds
of innocent Indian men, women an children were massacred
by British General Michael Dyer on April 13, 1919. A memoral
and Garden have been created here as a national monument.
Afternoon visit Indo-Pak Border to watch retreat
ceremony-35 KM on the road to Lahore is India-Pakistan
Border. A visit to the border is an interesting experience
especially at Sunset, when the retreat ceremony takes
place with the Border Security Force on the Indian Side
and the Sutlej Rangers on the Pakistan side putting up
a well coordinated and spectacular display. The sound
from the Bugles blown together from both sides paints
past on the canvas when India and Pakistan were one, simultaneously
Flags of the two nations are ceremoniously retrieved and
lights are switched on marking the end of the day. Amidst
thunderous applause today this point is the only land
route open to approach Pakistan and central Asia.
Return to hotel. Overnight stay.
|
Golden Temple
Golden Temple
Langar
|
| DAY 3
: Amritsar - Anandpur Sahib - Paonta Sahib |
After
breakfast drive to Paonta Sahib. On the way visit Anandpur
Sahib.
Visit Gurdwara Sri Kesgarh Sahib:
Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib is the birthplace of the Khalsa.
Amid the Shivalik hills, it is situated on the bank of
the Satluj. It was here on March 30th, 1699 that a very
large gathering of Sikhs had arrived at Anandpur Sahib
as per Guru Gobind Singh's instructions. It was here,
Guru Gobind called his Five Beloved Ones and gave them
the last name 'Singh' which means Lion. Guru Gobind Singh
then humbly bowed before the Five Beloved Ones and asked
them to initiate Him into the Khalsa Brotherhood. Some
of the original weapons of Guru Gobind Singh as well as
the khanda (two edged sword) used by the Guru to stir
the amrit (sweet water) during the Khalsa baptism ceremony
are kept here.
Continue your journey towards Paonta Sahib. Reach Paonta
Sahib. Check in hotel.
Visit Gurudwara Shri Paonta Sahib :
This site was Guru Gobind Singh's home for over four years
and it was here that he wrote the Dasam Granth. Within
its precincts are the Sri Tlab Asthan where he disbursed
salaries and the Sri Dastar Asthan were he judged the
turban -tying competitions. At the Kavi Darbar Asthan
poetic symposia were held. There is also a memorial to
Kalpi Rishi and a museum that displays pens of the Guru
and weapons of the time. Return to hotel. Overnight stay.
|
Hola Mohalla
Sri Paonta Sahib
|
| DAY
4 : Paonta Sahib - Rudraprayag |
| After breakfast
start for Rudraprayag. On the stop at Rishikesh. Visit
Laxman Jhula, Ram Jhula and Gita Bhawan there. Continue
your journey towards Rudraprayag. Reach Rudraprayag. Check
in hotel. Overnight stay. |
| DAY
5 : Rudraprayag - Gobindghat |
| After
breakfast drive to Gobindghat. Reach Gobindghat late evening.
Check in hotel. Relax for a while. Visit Gurudwara there.
Return to hotel. Overnight stay.
|
Sri Gobindghat
|
| DAY
6 : Gobindghat - Gobindham |
| After
early breakfast start trekking for Gobindham (13 Km trek).
The trek runs all along the Bhyundyar Ganga, ascending
and descending at regular intervals. One passes through
a varied forest of many types of trees and several meadows
covered with dandelions. The forest floor is thick with
ferns and huge rocks covered with many types of moss.
The walk, though difficult, is nevertheless refreshing;
one is awestruck with rapturous exclamations over the
pristine beauty of the mountains and springtime flowers.
One can opt for horse or wooden Palanquin. Reach there
late afternoon. Check in hotel. Relax for a while. Visit
Gurudwara Shri Gobindham there. Return to hotel. Overnight
stay.
|
Sri Guru Granth Sahib
Sri Hemkund Yatra
|
| DAY
7 : Gobindham - Hemkund Sahib - Gobindham |
| After
early breakfast start trekking for Hemkund Sahib(7 Km
trek). However, the journey is quite arduous because of
a steep gradient. The trek from here to Hemkund is through
forests of pine and rhododendron where wild roses, ferns,
and alpine flowers bloom. The surging waters of the Lakshman
Ganga are also visible. Reach there in afternoon. Have
a dip at holy Sarovar. Enjoy tea and listen to Kirtan.
Afternoon attend Ardas there. Return to Gobindham. Overnight
stay.
|
Sri Hemkund Sahib
Sri Hemkund Sahib
|
| DAY
8 : Gobindham - Gobindghat |
| After
breakfast start your trek back to Gobindghat (13 Kms Trek).
Reach Gobindghat. Overnight stay. |
Sri Govindghat
|
| DAY
9 : Gobindghat - Rudraprayag |
| After breakfast drive to
Rudraprayag. Reach Rudraprayag. Check in hotel. Overnight
stay. |
| DAY
10 : Rudraprayag - Haridwar |
| After
breakfast start your drive for Haridwar. Reach Haridwar.
Check in hotel. Visit Aarti Ceremony at The Ganga river's
Bank in the evening. Return to hotel. Overnight stay.
|
Haridwar
|
| DAY
11 : Haridwar - Amritsar |
| After
breakfast start for Amritsar. Reach Amritsar. Check in
hotel. Overnight stay. |
| DAY
12 : Amritsar - Tarn Taran Sahib - Goindwal
Sahib - Sultanpur Lodhi - Amritsar |
|
Have breakfast. Proceed to Gurdwara Sri Tarn Taran
Sahib-
Around 1590 Guru Arjan Dev set out on a tour of the
country between the rivers Ravi and Beas. Here Guru
Arjan Dev bought some land and laid the foundation of
a Gurdwara in honor of Guru Ram Das and started the
excavation of a tank even larger than Amritsar. The
Gurdwara has one of the largest tanks and resembles
the Golden Temple, except that it is built on the side
of the tank and has a marble exterior. Guru Arjan Dev
also established the first home for lepers in India
at Tarn Taran.
Later proceed to Goindwal to visit Gurdwara
Sri Baoli Sahib
This was the first center of Sikhism and was established
by Guru Amar Das. The Hindus went on pilgrimage to Hardwar
and Benaras but the Sikhs needed a place of their own.
Understanding this Guru Amar Das purchased the land
and personally helped in the construction of the Gurdwara
and Baoli (well) with 84 steps leading down to it. Guru
Amar Das said that whoever recited the entire Japji
prayer of Guru Nanak Dev Ji on each of the 84 steps
with a pure heart before bathing in the Baoli would
receive spiritual emancipation.
Evening proceed to Sultanpur Lodhi to visit
Gurdwara Shri Ber Sahib
At this spot Guru Nanak would go bathing early in the
mornings in the Bein river before meditation. While
bathing here one day Guru Nanak disappeared in the stream
and was missing for three days where he was in communion
with God. Upon returning the enlightened Guru Nanak
began his lifelong mission of preaching Sikhism. Guru
Nanak had planted a Ber (jujube) tree seedling on this
spot which has today grown into a large tree.
Gurdwara Sri Hatt Sahib
As a young man Guru Nanak was convinced by his family
to accept employment here as the accountant of the provisions
of Nawab Daulat Khan Lodhi. Guru Nanak got the job on
the recommendations of his brother-in-law Jai Ram. The
Nawab was very much impressed by the young Guru who
would work diligently in the day and spend the evenings
and night singing the praises of God with his friends.
Later proceed back to Amritsar.. Overnight stay at Amritsar.
|
Sri Tarn Taran Sahib
Sri Baoli Sahib
Sri Ber Sahib
Sri Hatt Sahib
|
| DAY
13 : Amritsar |
| Day free at Amritsar. Overnight
stay. |
| DAY
14 : Depart Amritsar |
| Transfer to
Airport for your flight back. |
