Mahashivratri India & Nepal

DELHI - HARIDWAR - - RISHIKESH - AGRA - KATHMANDU

Duration

10 Days

Tour Type

Pilgrimage Tour

Group Size

100 persons

Location

India

Overview

Experience the vibrant celebration of Maha Shivratri across India and Nepal in this enriching 10-day tour. This sacred Hindu festival honours Lord Shiva with rituals such as fasting and night vigils, culminating in grand festivities at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.

Begin your journey in Delhi, exploring its rich history and modern culture before heading to Haridwar and Rishikesh, renowned for their spiritual significance and stunning river views. Visit sacred temples, including Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi, and witness the mesmerizing Ganga Aarti at Har-Ki-Pauri.

Next, marvel at the architectural wonder of the Taj Mahal in Agra, symbolizing love and devotion. Finally, fly to Kathmandu, where you'll delve into the heart of Nepal’s spirituality. Explore historical sites like Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa, and Pashupatinath Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This journey offers a unique blend of spirituality, culture, and tradition, making it an unforgettable experience for devotees and travellers alike.

Know before you go

Meeting and assistance by our representative, Airport to hotel & vice versa transfers as per the itinerary.
Welcome with garlands on arrival.
Sightseeing services using air-conditioned transport with the driver as per the tour programme.
Accommodation to choose from in standard hotels offering 3-star facilities or superior hotels offering good 4-star facilities or deluxe hotels offering 5-star standard facilities with breakfast in all the places. Double or twin sharing shall be provided as per your preference.
Parking fees, fuel charges, driver allowance are all included.
Services of an English speaking local guide is included only during the sightseeing tour as per the programme.
A small group size of a minimum of 4 people is required for any particular date and in case of fewer numbers on any particular date, we will give you the option of date change or still travel on the same date by paying a slight supplement.
Rates are based on using standard hotels offering 3-star facilities with the option of upgrading to superior and deluxe categories offering 4 star and 5-star facilities respectively at a slight supplement.
All taxes are included.

Itinerary

DAY 01 : ARRIVAL DELHI

Welcome. On arrival you will be greeted & provided with warm assistance by our representatives to get transferred to the hotel. Check in at the hotel. This is the capital city of India, and can be called as a major gateway to India. Delhi is one of the most important metropolitan in India, as it is the city of power. It has a very good combination of both modern, as well as ancient culture. In these 3000 years of its existence, there has been the origin of seven more cities, where the traditional Indian capital is. Strategic location, mixture of modern and Indian culture, rich history, medieval market, beside the modern ones etc are the main reasons for choosing it, as the seat of power. Delhi is a city waiting to be explored. It is also known as the Headquarters of Indian politics, as most of the heads of the Indian government and other political parties; reside here, including the Prime Minister, and President of the country. Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 02 : IN DELHI

After breakfast combined full day city tour of Old & New Delhi visiting Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated Red Fort , Made by Mughal Empror Shahjahan, Jama Masjid, The largest in India, It has three great gateways, four angle towers and two minarets constructed of alternating vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble. Chandni Chowk , this main street of Old Delhi is the colorful shopping bazaar, known as Chandni Chowk. It has very sharp contrast to the open, spacious streets of Delhi. Laxmi Narayan Temple, dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and good fortune. India Gate, this 42ms high stone of triumph is a war memorial. It bears the names of 85,000 Indian army soldiers, who died in the campaigns of WWI. Rashtrapati Bhawan - This palace-like building is the official residence of the President of India and an interesting blend of Mughal and western architectural styles . Bahai Temple, or the Lotus Temple is a marvel of modern architecture. Set among pools and gardens, adherents of any faith can visit, pray or meditate. Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 03 : DELHI - HARIDWAR (242 Km, 4 Hrs 39 Min)

After breakfast depart by surface to Haridwar, On arrival check-in at Hotel. Afternoon visiting Temples of the city including Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi located on tw different hills opposite each other,Daksh Mahadev Temple - The ancient temple of Daksha Mahadev. Evening visit Har-Ki-Pauri - These sacred ghats are named after the Charan or Footprints of Hari (Vishnu) impressed on a stone. The reflection of golden hues of floral diyas, in the river Ganga, is the most enchanting sight in the twilight, during the Ganga Arti Ceremony. It is the most important ghat on the river Ganga, where a holy dip is a must for every devotee. Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 04 : HARIDWAR - RISHIKESH - HARIDWAR (28 Km, 46 Min One Side)

After breakfast depart by surface to Rishikesh, On arrival check-in at Hotel. Afternoon visiting Lakshman Jhoola – legend says this bridge was built by Lord Rama. Today, a concrete one, by the same name, has replaced the rope bridge. Ram Jhula is the other uspended iron bridge, recently constructed. Gita Bhawan - Founded in early 50s, Gita Bhavan is an ashram that runs an ayurvedic dispensary and has a branch of the famous Gita press, Gorakhpur. Triventi Ghat - The Arati on the Triveni Ghat makes for an unforgettable experience. Barefoot, scores of devotees sit in rows on The steps of the ghat. As the sun begins to stem plating the river with its golden orange hue, a row of religious Mahants hold plates of flaming clarified butter, moving them in circular salutation to the river Ganges. Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 05 : HARIDWAR - AGRA (450 Km, 7 Hrs 22 Min)

After breakfast depart by surface to Agra, On arrival check-in at Hotel. Agra is the quintessential Mughal City, where the world marvels at the epitome of love, beauty and sacrifice, The Taj-Mahal one of the wonders of the world. So overwhelming is the magic monument, that Agra has been immortalized, as the City of the Taj. Afternoon city tour visiting Taj Mahal, built by the Moghul Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. Besides the Taj, the Agra Fort (also called the Red Fort) makes an interesting sight. Besides the historical monuments, one can also explore Agra’s rich heritage of handicrafts in its markets. Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 06 : AGRA - DELHI - KATHMANDU

In time transfer to Delhi airport to board flight for Kathmandu, On arrival meeting and assistance by our representative, welcome and escort you by a private transport and then transfer to Hotel and assist with check in Hotel. Kathmandu is the capital and largest metropolitan city of Nepal. The city is the urban core of the Kathmandu Valley in the Himalayas, which also contains two sister cities namely Patan or Lalitpur, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to its southeast and Bhaktapur, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) to its east. It is also acronymed as 'KTM'.The city stands at an elevation of approximately 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) in the bowl-shaped valley in central Nepal surrounded by four major mountains, namely: Shivapuri, Phulchowki, Nagarjun and Chandragiri. It is inhabited by 671,846 (2001) people. The Kathmandu valley with its three districts including Kathmandu District accounts for a population density of only 97 per square kilometres whereas Kathmandu metropolitan city has a density of 13,225 per square kilometres. It is by far the largest urban agglomerate in Nepal, accounting for 20% of the urban population in an area of 5,067 hectares (12,520 acres) (50.67 square kilometres (19.56 sq mi)).Kathmandu is not only the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal but also the headquarters of the Central Region (Madhyamanchal) among the five development regions constituted by the 14 administrative zones of Nepal located at the central part of the country. The Central region has three zones namely, Bagmati, Narayani and Janakpur. Kathmandu is located in the Bagmati Zone. Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 07 : IN KATHMANDU

After breakfast proceed to city tour Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swyambhunath Stupa & Patan visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, with its old temples and palaces, epitomizes the religious and cultural life of the people. Here, the kings of Nepal are crowned and solemnized. Interesting things for visitors to see are Taleju temple, gigantic figure of Kalbhairav (the god of destruction), the Basantapur Durbar, and Temple of Kumari (living goddess). After Durbar Square visit Swayambhunath or also known as the ‘Monkey Temple’, the world’s most glorious Buddhist Stupa of over 2,000 years standing on a hillock at a majestic height of 77m. This site also commands an excellent view of the Kathmandu Valley. Afternoon visit the Patan Durbar Square, a World Heritage Site. Marvel the ancient palaces, temples and shrines with their splendid courtyards. Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 08 : IN KATHMANDU

After breakfast, proceed to tour Pashupatinath, the majestic temple with golden roof. It is considered as being amongst the most important Hindu pilgrim center. Located on the banks of the Bagmati River one can even witness cremations taking place here. Later visit Bouddhanath. This colossal stupa is one of the biggest in the world and also serves as the center of Tibetan Buddhism. Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 09 : IN KATHMANDU

After breakfast, full days free for independent activities. Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 10 : DEPART KATHMANDU

Meeting and assistance for your departure transfer to the airport for your flight to your onward journey.

Included/Excluded

Return Airport transfers with Meeting and assistance

Hotel accommodation on twin sharing with breakfast

Airconditioned Transport with driver

One Lunch or dinner with our compliments

Guide services during sightseeing

All taxes, Toll, Parking Charges

Entrance fees to the Monuments

Any items of personal nature like laundry, Tips, Camera fees etc.

Any Domestic or International Airfare

Travel Insurance

Any item not mentioned in Inclusion

Travel Styles

Cultural

Nature & Adventure

Meeting & Assistance

Independent

Activities

Festival & Events

Special Interest

Sightseeing

Facilities

Wifi

Gymnasium

Restaurant

Reception

Room Service

Dinning & Bar

Experiential Options

Activities

FAQs & Important Travel and Package Info

Exclusions

Return international flights, Visas, Insurance and items of personal nature.

Age restrictions

This visit is focused on guests aged 18 years or more seasoned For youngsters and child accompanied by the adults.

Tour occupancy

Minimum number for any tour date is 2 persons travelling together.
For solo travellers a single occupancy room is allocated.

Passport and Visa Requirements

All guests require a visa with a minimum validity of 6 months which should be beyond your return travel date is required for all passengers.
All Guests need visa and same should be applied in advance, do contact us for any assistance you may need.
It is the visitors responsibility to ensure they are holding the correct and current visa for the countries they are visiting.
Important: We suggest to arrange your visa at least 2-8 weeks prior to departure just incase for any delays due to consulate operating hours and processing times.

Travel Insurance

We recommend you purchase travel insurance as soon as possible after purchasing this package.

Health & vaccination

Travellers are advised to check with their local health professional at least 45 days prior to departure, as some vaccinations require 30 days or more to be effective.
Health care such as a doctor’s surgery, dentist and optometrists may not always be accessible on this tour. It is advised that you ensure you have adequate health insurance cover as part of your travel insurance.

Tipping

Tipping or porterages are not included and are entirely on your discretion while on tour.

Fitness requirements

Travellers should have a good level of physical fitness and mobility. They must be able to partake unaided in their chosen activities/package tours/cruise etc. as outlined in the itinerary.

Dietary Requirements

Any dietary necessities should be received by Special Holiday at least 7 days prior your scheduled departure date. Failure to provide these details by this date may result in an inability to cater for your requirements.
By and large Special Holiday tries to cater for your pre booked dietary requirements but please note that on occasion, this may not be possible due to location, lack of availability of ingredients, and other extenuating circumstances. It is always advised to carry supplies with you.

Transfers

All airport and hotel transfers are included in the tour from the day of your arrival as per the package.

Documentation

Any applicable pre trip or tour documentation will be emailed to you prior to travelling. Should you have any queries regarding this please feel free to contact us directly via email at support@specialHolidays.com.

Special Holiday savings

The value and comparative savings have been determined based on published rack rates and the value of inclusions. Please be advised that rack rates may not be reflective of actual rates being charged, dependent on the timing and manner of your booking and therefore are only indicative of the level of saving.

Itinerary amendments & changes

Occasionally our itineraries are updated prior to departure to incorporate improvements stemming from past travellers’ feedback as well as updates from our ground operators. Please note that while we operate successful tours in this region throughout the year, some changes may be necessary due to inclement weather, public holidays, common seasonal changes to timetables and transport routes, and unforeseen circumstances. This can happen with little notice so please be prepared for modifications to the route. The order and timing of included activities may also vary from time to time.

Availability

ll Special Holiday trips are available on a request only basis and are subject to availability. Once booked you should receive a payment confirmation and receipt via email, followed by a booking confirmation normally within 48hrs of making a booking, sometimes this can take a little longer subject to supplier delay.
If you have not received your confirmation within 2 business days of payment confirmation please contact us immediately by email at support@specialholidays.com.
In the event that your trip is unavailable for the dates you have chosen we will contact you by telephone to advise the next available dates.

Surcharges

Any prices quoted exclude specific costs/measures which may be introduced at a later stage as a result of Government changes due to COVID-19 health and safety restrictions. Special Holiday will inform its guests of these changes as soon as possible, these additional charges will be passed on by Special Holiday to the guest.

Name change or corrections

Name corrections or corrections may incur a fee.
After bookings are fully paid, any amendment has to be requested in writing and may incur a fee per person plus any additional costs and administrative expenses incurred in arranging the amendment.

Date changes

Date changes perhaps allowed at a slight fees.

Refunds

Kindly refer to our booking conditions for all information on refunds.
SpecialHolidays reserves the right to modify prices for marketing and commercial reasons. Please note that full terms and conditions apply. Refer to the website's terms and conditions.

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This is where we give you even more liberty and flexibility to choose and book your own flights as per your specific requirements. SpecialHolidays also has a committed Travel Concierge group, ready to find flights which synchronize impeccably with your vacation and specifically for domestic travel.

Travel insurance is always strongly and unequivocally recommended for all the domestic and global travel. The expense of not having insurance on the off chance that something happens is a lot more prominent than an insurance protection contract at any point is. Keep in mind, your tour is covered from the moment you buy insurance and its validity date. So to be certain you are covered for any unexpected conditions, we absolutely suggest booking it simultaneously as your tour.

Indeed, the new thing each voyager needs to consider. We have kept our tours flexible and to ensure that assuming your tour is impacted by Covid, you will be covered by easily postponing or changing the travel dates that suits you.

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