Kumbh Mela 2019, Kaziranga Park and Varanasi
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Diving in Immortality Safari Experts has found a ground handler that shares our philosophy to discover the inspiring and the unbelievable, the traditional, the beautiful and the bizarre. We are travelers not tourists, as we experience India in a whole a new way, with a new perspective. Our safari will leave you with the sense of thrill and delight, lasting far beyond your trip. ITINERARY THURSDAY, 17 JAN’19: ARRIVE KOLKATA (Meals Aloft) On your arrival at the international airport in Kolkata and after clearing customs & immigration, our representative will greet you and transfer you to the hotel. Kolkatta (spelled Calcutta before 1 January 2001) is the capital city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the second largest city in India after Mumbai. It is on the east bank of the Hooghly River. When it is called Calcutta, it includes the suburbs. This makes it the third largest city of India. This also makes it the world's 8th largest metropolitan area as defined by the United Nations. Kolkatta served as the capital of India during the British Raj until 1911. Overnight at the hotel in Kolkata Safari Experts - Independent Safari Consultants P. 435.649.4655 - P.O. Box 680098 Park City UT 84068 [email protected] www.safariexperts.com FRIDAY, 18 JAN’19: KOLKATA (B, L & D) In the footsteps of the Raj - Dalhousie Square - Colonial Calcutta Walk The British had sought to build ‘the second city of the Empire’ right here and it is this ‘building’ that you will see the ‘European’ areas of what was once the capital of the British Empire in India. There are major plans underway to beautify and restore this heritage site with its rich and varied architectural styles. One of our most popular sites serves as the perfect introduction to British Calcutta and gives you a sneak peek into what went into the making of the Colonial Capital of India. So prepare to whet your appetite for all things Raj. Also visit The Victoria Memorial which is a large marble building in Kolkata, it was built between 1906 and 1921. It is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria (1819–1901) and is now a museum and tourist destination under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture. The memorial lies on the bank of the Hooghly River Overnight at the hotel in Kolkata Safari Experts - Independent Safari Consultants P. 435.649.4655 - P.O. Box 680098 Park City UT 84068 [email protected] www.safariexperts.com SATURDAY, 19 JAN’19: KOLKATA –KAZIRANGA (B, L & D) Transfer to Kolkata airport, flight to Guwahati Kolkata – Guwahati Air India (AI-729) dep. 0950 / arr. 1105 hrs Pick up from Guwahati airport and drive to Kaziranga National park (5 hrs) famous as the only natural habitat of the Great Indian Rhinoceros. Kaziranga National Park, Assam-This national park covers about 430 sqkms, bordered on the north by the Brahmaputra River and on the south by the Karbi Anglong hills. The largest number of one-horned rhinoceros in the world roams its swamps and grasslands with tall thickets of elephant grass and areas of a mixed deciduous and tropical semi-evergreen forest. It is home to a wide variety of other animals and birds, and the open vistas make it relatively easy to see many species of wildlife in a day. The park contains approximately 35 major mammals, including wild elephants, a tiger, a small population of hoolock gibbon, capped langurs, bristly hare, hog badger, otter, leopard, wild boar, sambar, swamp deer, hog deer, muntjac, water buffalo and gaur. Among the rich birdlife are the rare greater adjutant stork, Bengal florican, black-necked stork, lesser adjutant stork, Pallas's fish eagle, swamp partridge, grey peacock-pheasant, great pied hornbill, green imperial pigeon, babblers and thousands of migratory birds, seasonally attracted to the various water areas of the park from as far away as Siberia. Overnight at the hotel in Kaziranga Safari Experts - Independent Safari Consultants P. 435.649.4655 - P.O. Box 680098 Park City UT 84068 [email protected] www.safariexperts.com SUNDAY-MONDAY, 20-21 JAN’19: KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK (B, L & D) Early morning Elephant Safari (subject to availability) and after breakfast enjoy a morning Jungle Safari, returning to the lodge for lunch. Evening jungle safaris in Kaziranga National Park by 4x4 open Jeep Overnight at the hotel in Kaziranga TUESDAY, 22 JAN’19: KAZIRANGA – VARANASI (B, L & D) Early morning (around 0530 AM) transfer to Guwahati airport (5 hrs), for flight to Varanasi via Kolkata Guwahati – Kolkata Air India (AI-730) dep. 1140 / arr. 1300hrs Change plane at Kolkata airport, layover time 1h30m Kolkata – Varanasi Air India (AI-422) dep. 1430 / arr. 1530hrs Pick up from Varanasi airport and transfer to hotel. Varanasi, known to the devout as Kashi, is said to have been founded by Shiva, Lord of the Universe. It is one of the oldest living cities in the world and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in India. Varanasi is a major tourist attraction. Situated on the banks of the sacred Ganges, the city has been a center of learning and civilization for over 2000 years. Overnight at the hotel in Varanasi Safari Experts - Independent Safari Consultants P. 435.649.4655 - P.O. Box 680098 Park City UT 84068 [email protected] www.safariexperts.com WEDNESDAY, 23 JAN’19: VARANASI (B, L & D) Boat Journey - Subah-e-Banaras Sunrise Boatride The subah, or morning, is for Banaras! Get up at the crack of dawn with us for this amazing boat journey. As the sun rises you will see those who flock to the riverside for morning worship. Along the way you will hear about the interesting history of the ghats and their patronage by the Maharaja's who built them. The adventure ends with a short walking tour around Tulsighat's hidden sun temple. You will come away refreshed and ready for the rest of the day. Breakfast at Panchkote Raj Ganges Further walking tour – Historical Walk – Southern Temples & Sacred Ponds Walk A walk through the mystical landscape of poets, sacred temples, holy ponds near Assighat, the southernmost embankment of the holy Ganga River. Walk in the footsteps of 16th century Banaras poet and mystic Pandit Goswami Tulsidas, translator of the sacred Ramanyana text. You will hear about the history and special culture of Varanasi while visiting the Southern temple established by Tulsidas! The walk ends with a special darshan, meaning 'taking sight' of a hidden sun temple behind his home. Evening visit to the Ganges for glittering evening Aarti (prayer) ceremony. This memorable experience will take you on a rickshaw ride through the bustling streets of this unique city followed by a sunset cruise on the Ganges. Here you will witness striking religious rituals being performed—a truly unique experience. Overnight at the hotel in Varanasi Safari Experts - Independent Safari Consultants P. 435.649.4655 - P.O. Box 680098 Park City UT 84068 [email protected] www.safariexperts.com THURSDAY, 24 JAN’19: VARANASI – ALLAHABAD (B, L & D) Drive to Allahabad (3-4hrs) Allahabad is one of the oldest cities in India. It is crowned in ancient scriptures as ‘Prayag’, ‘Prayagraj’ or ‘Teertharaj’ and is considered the holiest of pilgrimage centers of India. It is situated at the confluence of three rivers- Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati. The meeting point is known as Triveni and is very sacred to Hindus. The biggest religious ceremony in the world, known as "Kumbh Mela" (Festival of Urn), The Purna Kumbh Mela is the biggest and the most auspicious fair. It occurs four times every twelve years and is organized in rotation among four places where drops of the sacred nectar spilled over: Allahabad (Prayag), Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. A mass pilgrimage for the Hindu community of India, the Kumbh Mela or Kumbh fair is rumored to be one of the largest congregation of sages, yogis, ascetics, mendicants, men, women and children on the planet. But every sixth year after a Purna Kumbh Mela, an Ardh Kumbh Mela takes place. In the Hindi language the word "Ardh" stands for "half" and "Mela" means "fair". The "Ardh Kumbh Mela" is called so because it is held at the sixth year and marks the halfway stage between the celebrations of the Purna Kumbh Melas every 12 years. The Ardh Mela (half Fair) takes place six years after the Maha Kumbh at Haridwar& Allahabad only. Safari Experts - Independent Safari Consultants P. 435.649.4655 - P.O. Box 680098 Park City UT 84068 [email protected] www.safariexperts.com Kumbh Mela derives its name from the immortal - Pot of Nectar - described in ancient Vedic scriptures known as the Puranas. Kumbh Mela literally means festival of the pot or a festival celebrating the appearance of the pot of nectar. During the festival, Hindus consider Allahabad as India's religious capital and more than ten million people dip into the holy Ganga, in order to purify body, mind and soul and wash off their sins. On the eve of such a bathing day, the town vibrates in hectic religious fever and the center stage of the Maha Kumbh Mela is occupied by the sadhus who belong to dozens of Hindu sects. Ardh Kumbh Mela is not just a mere festivity like Diwali or Holi but holds a lot of importance for people in India. People look up to Kumbh Mela & Ardh Kumbh with highest regard, as this event gives them a golden opportunity to liberate themselves from the miseries and sufferings of life. It enables them to take a holy dip in the sacred water and wash away all the sins they have committed in the past.