Festival Brochure 2017-2018
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Festivals of India 2017 KNOWLEDGE IS EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST INFORMATION 3 MAP INDIA & CONTENTS 1 Hola Mohalla, Anandpur Sahib, Punjab March 2017 >> pages 512 Srinagar Leh Ladakh 2 Namkhan, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh August, 2017 Amritsar >> pages 1326 3 Pulikali Tiger Dance, Thrissur, Kerala September, 2017 >> pages 2736 4 Bateshwar Fair, Bateshwar November 2017 >> pages 3754 Gujrat Kerela Mountain National Park INTRODUCTION 4 Dear Travel Partners, We bring to you a selection of festivals in India experienced rst-hand by us. From small local community celebrations to festival which are centuries old that haven't yet aracted the hordes of tourists and retain their original essence. Our insiders will tell you how to plan your itinerary as well as provide tips on what not to miss while you are there. Come Explore with us Dipak Deva Managing Director 5 ANANDPUR SAHIB, PUNJAB, INDIA MARCH 2017 Hola Mohalla HIGHLIGHTS Mock bales, sword-ghting, archery and horse-riding displays by the Nihang Sikhs. Interaction with Nihang Sikhs. The Sikh festival of Hola Mohalla is celebrated in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab the day aer Holi, the festival of colours. Hola Mohalla was started by the tenth Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh, in 1701 as a gathering of Sikhs for military exercises and mock bales who were at that time baling the Mughal Empire. It is a time for Sikhs to rearm their commitment to the community and involves everyone. Destination Anandpur Sahib, Punjab Festival Date 13th March, 2017 Travel Duration 7 nights / 8 days Group Size Ideal for FITs and small groups of 10 - 12 pax Included in the Tour • An accompanying English speaking Escort cum Guide • Breakfast, transportation, accommodation, all sightseeing as per itinerary Excluded from the Tour Expenses of personal nature 6 Sample Itinerary 8 March (Wednesday) - Arrive Delhi. Overnight stay at Shangri- La, New Delhi The Shangri-La is located at a walking distance from Connaught Place, one of the most liked and lively shopping centres of New Delhi and near to many historic sites as well. One of the highlights of your hotel is its ne dining restaurants serving Indian, Mediterranean, Asian and Italian specialties. Website: hp://www.shangri-la.com/newdelhi/erosshangrila 9 March (Thursday) - Delhi Today morning discover the charms of Old Delhi with a friend of Sita. This walking tour of Old Delhi acquaints you with the food, the culture and the rich heritage of the Old city. The narrow winding lanes will surprise you with its vibrancy, heritage buildings, places of worship and mouth-watering cuisine. Our adventure nally ends with lunch at the ancestral home of our friend. Aernoon at leisure to enjoy the facilities of your hotel. Overnight stay at Shangri-La, New Delhi. Website: hp://www.shangri-la.com/newdelhi/erosshangrila Programme subject to change. 7 ANANDPUR SAHIB, PUNJAB, INDIA MARCH 2017 10 March (Friday) Delhi Amritsar by train. Train: 07:20 hrs / 13:25 hrs Arrive Amritsar. Overnight stay at Ranjit's Svaasa. Ranjit's Svaasa was once the private residence of a prominent local family of Amritsar and now lovingly converted into a heritage hotel by its owners. Its history dates back to over 200 years and seven generations. Aernoon at leisure. Post dinner we visit the Golden Temple, where its community kitchen manned completely by volunteers feeds more than one hundred thousand devotes free of cost every day. We will also witness the Night Ceremony here for an insight into how the Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy Book of the Sikh religion is considered a living master who needs to rest at night. Every night at the Golden Temple there is an elaborate ceremony where the Guru Granth Sahib is carried into bed from the prayer hall. And every morning the Holy Book is carried back from the resting place to the prayer hall of the Golden Temple amidst showering of rose petals. Website: hp://www.svaasa.com 8 11 March (Saturday) Amritsar Today morning we will spend our time in a village in the outskirts of Amritsar where we will be welcomed by the village band. We will walk through narrow bricked laid paths for a sneak peek into the life and times of rural Punjab. We will nish the tour with a tractor ride through farm land where we will be served lunch. Aernoon at leisure. Website: hp://www.svaasa.com 12 March (Sunday) Amritsar Anandpur Sahib by surface 200Km/ 5 hrs approx Arrive Anandpur Sahib. Overnight at Aagman Luxury Camps. The camps are comfortable and spacious with the advantage of being at a walking distance from Gurdwara Kesgarh Sahib the epicentre of the festivities. We do not recommend stays outside Anandpur Sahib as we have experienced rsthand that it takes a couple of hours just to reach the Hola Mohalla grounds because of huge trac jams during the festival. Highly avoidable. Aer you are adequately rested, we visit the Gurudwara Kesgarh Sahib to soak up the pious atmosphere and the sunset. You may want to also visit the Virasat-e-Khalsa Museum, a repository of the rich heritage of the history and culture of the Punjab. (Open on all days except Monday/09:30 hrs to 16:30 hrs). Website: hp://aagmanindia.com/Camping%20Festivals/Holla_Mohalla.aspx Programme subject to change. 9 ANANDPUR SAHIB, PUNJAB, INDIA MARCH 2017 13 March (Monday) Anandpur Sahib Today we spend the day at the Hola Mohalla festival ground showcasing cultural performances by schools children and local artists, rural sports and exhibitions on the Sikh history. It's absolutely up to you how long you want to spend your time at the festival ground. Your hotel is a walking distance from here. Website: hp://aagmanindia.com/Camping%20Festivals/Holla_Mohalla.aspx 14 March (Tuesday) Anandpur Sahib Today is the last day of the festival and the most interesting day in terms of visual delight as well as photography. The Nihang Sikhs, who were once a part of the Sikh army that Guru Gobind Singh founded, exhibit their martial skills and through mock bales, sword-ghting, archery and horse-riding displays. Depending on permissions we will have an interaction with a group of Nihang Sikhs during our time in Anandpur Sahib. Website: hp://aagmanindia.com/Camping%20Festivals/Holla_Mohalla.aspx 10 15 March (Wednesday) - Anandpur Sahib - T3 International Airport, New Delhi by surface - 350Km/ 6hrs approx. On arrival we drive to the Aerocity. Those needing just a pre-ight freshen up, one can make use of Holiday Inn Hotel day use facilities. Later board your international ight back home. Website: hps://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/new-delhi/delap/hoteldetail Programme subject to change. 11 ANANDPUR SAHIB, PUNJAB, INDIA MARCH 2017 12 Insider tip Go watch the sunrise from the premises Gurudwara Kesgarh Sahib. You will come back refreshed by its positive vibes and some amazing pictures too, says Sunil Kumar from Tour Operations. Sunil Kumar has been escorting guests to the Hola Mohalla Festival since the past three years. For a detailed itinerary and quote contact [email protected] Follow us on FACEBOOK and TWITTER for more festival updates from India. Programme subject to change. 13 DEMUL, SPITI, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA AUGUST 2017 Namkhan HIGHLIGHTS Elaborate ceremony to appease the village deity aer which the villagers ride on horseback to an auspicious spot believed by the locals to house all the 5 monasteries of Spiti in a world which can be seen only by enlightened beings. Visit to the auspicious place on Yaks a day before Namkhan. It has an amazing 360 view of the mountain ranges. Folk Dance by the girls of Demul. An insight into the Green initiatives of Demul their agricultural practices along with the intricate system of irrigation which ensures minimal wastage of water. Meeting with the Nono (title for the King of Spiti), who prefers to be known as a progressive farmer. The Namkhan festival at the highland village of Demul at an altitude of 4350 meters in the cold desert of Spiti is wrapped around the agricultural practices of the village. The main objective of this small community festival is to appease and pray to the Gods for a good harvest. Namkhan provides an interesting insight into the relationship and signicance of the village deity in the day to day life of the village. Demul also happens to be the village where our Friends in Spiti has launched their O the Grid project. From lighting to water heating to room heating using Solar energy and cultivation of vegetables using Greenhouses, Demul is being developed as a sustainable village. Destination Demul, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh Festival Date 3rd August, 2017 Travel Duration 15 nights / 16 Days Group Size Ideal for FITs and small groups of 6 - 8 pax Included in the Tour • An English speaking escort throughout • Meals, transportation, accommodation, all sightseeing as per itinerary Excluded from the Tour Expenses of personal nature 14 Sample Itinerary 25 July (Sunday) Arrive Delhi. Overnight Stay at the Claridges Remainder of your time at leisure. A seamless blend of old world charm and the contemporary, your hotel is one of New Delhi's best addresses since the 1950's. Website: hp://www.claridges.com 26 July (Monday) Delhi-Kalka-Kandaghat-Shimla. Overnight stay at the Clarkes Shimla We start early today and catch the morning train to Kalka departing at 07:40 hrs. We arrive Kalka at 11:45 hrs to board the toy train to Kandaghat at 12:10 hrs. A friend of Sita will be on board to share the stories and legends surrounding the construction and the initial years of its running which is another tale of its own.