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Michele's
love of travel has led her to extend her passion for teaching Yoga
in sacred places around the world. Her commitment is to teach and
empower people to be the best they can be, mentally, physically and
spiritually. It is with pleasure that she creates an environment of
integrity, fun and ease in all that she does. 
Our
Tour Escort in India for the entire trip is Karampal Singh.
Karampal began his own spiritual path at age 9 and is still learning
every day because, as he says "ancient learning and wisdom is an
ocean." Holding a Masters in art history, Karampal has been
assisting seekers of wisdom for 30 years and has been a licensed
tour guide with the India Tourism Department since 1984. We're
privileged to have him share his unique experience and perspective
on the ancient wisdom of India.
Join
Michele Labelle and Karampal Singh on a journey of
Yoga and Spirituality – The Spirit of India! 
practices
and group meditations which have been designed to open the
seven major energy centers or chakras. Also learn about the Indian
philosophies of Pantajali’s 8 limbs of Yoga. Each Yoga session will
have a specific focus to allow your spirit to open to India’s
magical diversity.|
Day 1 Arrive Delhi
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Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Mon, Mar 2: Arrive Delhi
Arrive in bustling Delhi. Meet and greet on
arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel for check in.
Overnight in Delhi
Day 2 Tue, Mar 3: Delhi – Jodhpur – Manvar Camp (B, D)
After
breakfast at hotel we drive to visit the amazingly beautiful
Bahai Temple – The Lotus of Bahapur – A Magnet for the Heart. (http://www.bahaindia.org)
In the heart of New Delhi, the bustling capital of India, a
lotus-shaped outline has etched itself on the consciousness of the
city's inhabitants, capturing their imagination, fuelling their
curiosity, and revolutionising the concept of worship. This is the
Bahá'í Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, better known as the "Lotus Temple".
With the dawning of every new day, an ever-rising tide of visitors
surges to its doorsteps to savor its beauty and bask in its
serenely spiritual atmosphere.
Since its dedication to public worship in December 1986, this Mother
Temple of the Indian sub-continent has seen millions of people cross
its threshold, making it one of the most visited edifices in India.
From its high-perched pedestal, this 'Lotus' casts its benevolent
glance over vast green lawns and avenues covering an expanse of 26
acres of land. Its soothingly quiet Prayer Hall and tranquil
surroundings have touched the hearts of the Temple's numerous
visitors, awakening in them a desire to trace its inspirational
source and capture a bit of its peace for themselves.
In
the afternoon we return to the airport for a short flight to
Jodhpur, from where we will be driven to Manvar Desert Camp.
Check in to the camp, with accommodations in deluxe tents surrounded
by sand dunes in the Great Thar Desert. It lies between the
cities of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Bikaner. It is an unprecedented
tourist destination offering a rare opportunity to enjoy Rajasthan’s
desert life, culture, wildlife & beauty. The evening is livened up
by dinner, campfire, mashaals, local musicians and dancers.
Overnight at Manvar Camp
Day 3 Wed, Mar 4: Manvar Camp, Jeep Safari, Tribal
Villages (B, L, D)
Early
morning Yoga in the desert followed by breakfast at camp. Enjoy
the rest of the day at your leisure. This evening we will revel in a
thrilling Jeep Safari to visit tribal villages, see the
desert wildlife, watch local crafts people at work, and enjoy the
beautiful sand dunes. After dinner we will enjoy an evening
discussion with Karampal.
Overnight at Manvar Camp
Day 4 Thu, Mar 5: Manvar Resort (B, L, D)
Early morning Yoga in the desert followed by breakfast at
camp. After breakfast we take a short drive to the Manvar Resort.
Take a dip in the pool, enjoy the surroundings, and relish the
stunning peaceful atmosphere. Lunch and dinner at the resort. After
dinner we will enjoy an evening discussion with Karampal.
Overnight at Manvar Resort
Enjoy
a leisurely breakfast at Manvar Resort. Afterwards we head out to
the local markets in Jodhpur to immerse ourselves in the lively
atmosphere. Barter for wonderful treasures and gifts and interact
with the locals. Later we drive to the Jodhpur airport for our
flight to Jaipur. Upon arrival we transfer to the hotel for
check-in. A Traditional Welcome with flower garlands awaits
us at the Shahpura house.
The evening is yours to settle in and enjoy at your leisure. Overnight in Jaipur
Day 6 Sat, Mar 7: Jaipur, Hawa Mahal, Elephant Ride, Amber Fort (B, D)
Early
morning Yoga followed by breakfast. We then head out to enjoy a
brief photographic stop at Hawal Mahal, the Palace of Winds.
Later we make our way to the beautiful Amber Fort and enjoy a
delightful Elephant Ride! Amber Fort is a classic, romantic
Rajasthani Fort Palace. The rugged, time-ravaged walls of the Fort
may not look beautiful from the outside, but once inside, the
interior is a virtual paradise. Miniatures painted on the walls
depict hunting and war scenes as well as festivals, and precious
stones and mirrors are embedded into the plaster. A major attraction
at Amber is the Elephant Ride all the way up to the Fort entrance.
This adventure is bound to enrich your memories of the Royal
lifestyle of the Maharajas and leave you with a truly unforgettable
experience. Inside the Fort, visit the Jag Mandir or the Hall of
Victory. Dinner this evening at the Shahpura House Rooftop
Restaurant.Overnight in Jaipur
Day 7 Sun, Mar 8: Jaipur, Maharaja City Palace, Jantar Mantar (B)
Enjoy
an early morning Yoga class to get us ready for the day.
After breakfast at the hotel, we tour the “Pink City” of Jaipur.
We visit Maharaja’s City Palace, the former Royal residence.
Part of the Palace has been converted into a museum, while a small
portion is still used by the Royal Family of Jaipur. Built in the
style of a fortified campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh of
the area of the city. The main entrance leads to the courtyard at
the centre which is the Murbarak Mahal. One of the major
attractions in the museum is the portion known as Armoury Museum.
On the first floor is the Textile and Costume Museum, with
the finest example of fabrics and costumes from all over India.
Later visit the Jantar Mantar, the largest stone and marble
crafted observatory in the world built by Jai Singh from 1728
to 1734. Situated near the gate of the city palace, the
Observatory has 17 large instruments, many of them still in
working condition. The afternoon is free for independent activities.
Overnight in Jaipur
After
breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Agra while stopping enroute to
visit the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri. Located 40
km from Agra, the city was built in 1569 by Emperor Akbar in honour
of the great Sain Sheikh Chisti, who blessed Akbar and prophesied
the birth of three sons to the heirless Emperor. Akbar used Fatehpur
Sikri as his capital and the city was fully occupied for 14 years
but slowly became deserted and fell to ruin after Akbar left the
city. Scarcity of water was the prime factor for the abandonment of
this beautiful city. Here we will visit the remarkably
well-preserved and graceful building with the “Ghost City”,
including the Jama Masjid, tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal Palace
and other palaces that speak to the grandeur and splendour of the
Mughal Empire in the height of its power.In the afternoon we enjoy a sightseeing tour of Agra, a city on the banks of the Yamua River. At one time Agra served as the capital city for the great Mughal Empire, and is now the repository of some of their finest architectural creations. The Agra Fort built by Emperor Akbar between 1565 and 1573, reveals the Mughal talent for combining defensive architecture with beauty and design. Construction for this fort palace was initiated by Akbar as a purely defensive citadel. It was subsequently completed by two successive generations that added the delicate mosaic and magnificent marble palaces. The fort is the history of Mughal life in Agra and offers a magical view of the Taj Mahal.
After visiting the fort we make our way to the stunning Taj Mahal. Built by Sha Jahan in 1630 for his Queen, Mumatz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains, it is described as “a tear on the face of eternity” by the poet laureate Tagore and is an enduring monument to love. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned from white marble that stands testimony to the skill of 20,000 craftsmen brought together from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy. The construction of this “Love Poem in Marble” took 17 years to complete.
Later transfer to the railway station to connect for our overnight train (Magadh Express) to Varanasi, departing at 11:30 PM.
Overnight Train
Day 9 Tue, Mar 10: Varanasi, Aarti Ceremony (B)
Arrive
in Varanasi at 7:40 AM and transfer to hotel for check-in. The rest
of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure. In the evening we
witness the intriguing Aarti Ceremony (collective prayer) and
watch the floating oil lamps on the river Ganges. Enjoy the mystical
scene of Ghats and temples lit with oil-lamp lights or candles, and
observe the people performing their prayers.Overnight in Varanasi
Day 10 Wed, Mar 11: Varanasi, Boat Ride on River Ganges (B)
Awake
in the early morning and revel in a relaxing boat ride on the
holy River Ganges. Later we will enjoy Yoga in the Ghats
overlooking the sacred river. We then visit the Old City of
Varanasi before visiting Bharat Mata Mandir, Durga Temple.
On our way back we drive past the Banaras Hindu University
before returning to the hotel for breakfast. Enjoy the rest of the
day at your leisure.
Overnight in Varanasi
Day 11 Thu, Mar 12: Varanasi, Sarnath (B)
After breakfast at the hotel we visit Sarnath, where Lord
Bhudda preached his first sermon “Maha-Dharma-Chakra-Pravartan” (in
Buddhist terminology, “turned the wheel of law”), after his
enlightenment. Sarnath is one of the richest in Buddhist antiquities
ranging in dates from the time of Ashoka to the 12th century AD.
Ashoka built here the Dharmarajika Stupa and near it erected a
pillar surmounted by the magnificent capital of four adored Lions,
which today forms the national emblem of India. Among other
structures at Sarnath are the ruins of the brick temple,
representing the Mulagandha kuti, ruins of stupas, and monasteries.
Sarnath has also yielded an extremely rich collection of Buddhist
sculptures comprising of numerous Buddha and Bodhisatva images which
can be seen at the Archaeological Museum in Sarnath. Later in the
afternoon or early evening enjoy a relaxing Yoga class. We
then enjoy a group dinner at the Hindustan Hotel Restaurant. Evening
discussion with Karampal.
Overnight in Varanasi
Awake early this morning for an energizing Yoga Class to start the day followed by breakfast. We then transfer to the airport for our flight to Khajuraho. Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel for check in. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Overnight in Khajuraho
Day 13 Sat, Mar 14: Khajuraho (B, D)
Another early morning Yoga Class prior to breakfast and then
a full day visit to the Eastern and Western Group of Temples.
The Western Group houses the Kandariya Mahdeo Temple,
the most important temple of the grouping dedicated to Lord Shiva.
It is one of the largest and most typical of the Khajuraho temples.
We also visit the Chaunsat Yogini Jain Temple dedicated to
the 64 “Yoginis” or attendants of the goddess Kali. This temple
stands apart from the rest.
The Easter Group includes the Ghantai Temple,
Vamana Temple dedicated to the “Vamana” or dwarf incarnation of
Lord Vishnu, and the Javarti Temple. There are also three
Jain Temples which contain numerous Vaishnav deities.
In the evening enjoy a Sound and Light Show in Khajuraho
followed by your Farewell Dinner. Gather with new-found
friends to share stories and relive the wonderful memories of all
our extraordinary experiences.
Overnight in Khajuraho
After breakfast we will gather for our Closing Sharing Circle to share our favourite experiences from our journey and to bid everyone farewell. We then check out of the hotel by noon. In the afternoon we transfer to the airport for our afternoon flight to Delhi and then on to our individual return flights home.
(B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.
Tour Inclusions & Price - Your Journey Includes:
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| Tour Price Per Person (Land Only) | Single Supplement | Gratuities |
| USD $3630.00 | USD $707.00 | Included in Price |
Note: Gratuities are to
cover guides, drivers, waiters, baggage handling, etc. Your Tour
Escort will carry and disburse these funds so that you can relax and
enjoy your trip, knowing that everyone assisting you is being taken
care of properly.
Note: The single supplement is ONLY for those who would like
to secure a private room throughout the tour, at the indicated
additional price. If you are not traveling with anyone you know and
would like to share a room, we will be happy to work to find you a
suitable roommate. Per our Terms and Conditions, registration for
the tour will be held open until two weeks before the departure date
in order to try to match everyone with a roommate. If by that date
we have not been able to match you with a suitable roommate, you
will be responsible to pay for the single supplement. An early
registration will facilitate this process.
Click on the link to register
Registration Form
