Delhi

Upon arrival, meet at airport and transfer to hotel. Check-in at hotel. Perhaps there is no other capital city in the world so steeped in history and legend as the Indian capital Delhi. It was the magnet, which drew the Mongols, Turks, Persians, Afghans, Mughals and the British, all of whom contributed to its glorious but turbulent past. The fascination with Delhi was such that even though it was abandoned many times, its rulers returned to it again and again rebuilding it at least seven times. Today, the twin cities of Old and New Delhi still intrigue Indians and tourists alike as the cultural and political capital of the largest democracy in the world. Dinner & Overnight at stay at hotel.

Delhi/ Haridwar (212 kms / 06 hrs approx.)

After breakfast at hotel proceed to Haridwar. Haridwar ( Vishnu’s door) at the base of the Shiwalik hills is a town of temples, ghats and ashrams. Its location at the point where the Ganges leaves the Himalayas to begin its journey across the plains, makes it a particularly holy place. Every 12 years the Kumbh festival attracts millions of pilgrims who come and bathe in the river. Various episodes from the Hindu epic Mahabharata are set in this ancient town. Har-ki-Pairi, the most popular ghat, has a footprint of Lord Vishnu set in stone. Upon arrival, check-in at hotel. Afternoon proceed for sightseeing tour of Haridwar - visit Mansa Devi temple, perched on a hilltop, this ancient Hindu temple honors Mansa Devi, the folk goddess of snakes. (1-2 hours). After visit to temple, you will proceed to Har-ki-Pauri – one of the most famous Ganga ghats, where you have option to take dip in sacred Ganges water which is considered auspicious in Hindu rituals. This revered place is the major landmark of the holy city of Haridwar. Literally, "Har" means "Lord Shiva", "ki" means "of" and "pauri" means "steps". Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are believed to have visited the Brahmakund in Har ki Paudi in the Vedic times. There is a large footprint said to belong to Lord Vishnu on a stone. In the evening, attend the famous aarti of Maa Ganga - one of the popular bathing ghats, is an interesting place to be at dawn when people make offerings of milk to the river and feed fishes. After sunset, priests set floating lamps on the water during the Aarti (ritual prayer ceremony). Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel.

Haridwar/ Auli (285 kms/9hrs approx.):

After breakfast at hotel proceed to Auli en route visit of Devprayag – The Town of Godly Confluence. Devprayag is the last Prayag or the holy Confluence of the Alaknanda River, from here that the confluence of Alaknanda & Bhagirathi river is known as Ganga. Devprayag is Godly Confluence as ‘Dev’ means mans god & ‘Prayag’ means confluence. Later proceed to Auli- The Skiing destinations of India. Upon arrival, check-in at hotel. Auli - Dotted with apple orchards, oaks and deodars; Auli is a popular hill resort in the Himalayan range dating back to 8th Century AD. Auli is a popular skiing destination in India because of its glittering slopes and clean environment. Dotted with apple orchards, oaks and deodars, Auli is a popular hill town with numerous ski resorts situated amidst the Himalayan range. Located at 2800 meters above sea levels, it is home to mountain ranges of Nanda Devi, Mana Parvat and Kamat Kamet. Many religious destinations are also scattered around Auli. It is believed that Shankracharya had blessed Auli with his visit.

Trek to Gurson Bugyal:

After breakfast at hotel, proceed for a trek of Gurson Bugyal also experince ropeway. Gurson Bugyal - It is located at an altitude of 3056 mts above the sea lever that provides best view of snowcapped Himalayan Mountains. The place is located about 3 km away from Auli. Thus, visitors who explore Auli always prefer to spend some time at this wonderful calm place. Gurson Bugyal Auli has large lush green surroundings that are blessed with oak trees along with green pastures with coniferous forest. Visitors to this place have an opportunity to enjoy trekking adventure into a dense forest towards Chattarkund that is located about a kilometer from this place. People who are in Gurson Bugyal always prefer to spend some best time at Chattarkund and local guides are available to serve everyone best. [Bugyals are alpine pasture lands, or meadows, in higher elevation range between 3,300 metres (10,800 ft) and 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) of the Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, where they are called "nature’s own gardens".] Back to hotel. Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel.

Auli/ Govindghat to Ghangaria (30 kms/1 hr drive approx. and 11 Kms/6/7 hrs trek approx.):

After breakfast at hotel proceed to Govindghat en route visit of Narsingh Temple in Joshimath. Narsingh Temple is a popular temple in Joshimath. Famous as a part of Sapt Badri, Narsingh Temple is also called as Narsingh Badri Temple and a sacred place to visit iin Joshimath. The deity of the temple is fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu (Narsimha Avatar), in the form of half Lion and half man. Narsingh temple is the place where Badrivishal rest during winters. The idol of Badrinath temple is taken down to Narsingh temple by the priest of Badrinath during winters. Badrinath idol is then placed along with Narsingh idol. Later proceed to Govindghat -the trek begins at Govindghat. Govindghat is 25 kilometers before Badrinath. Govindghat is at the height of 5500 feet and Ghangaria is at the height of 10,200 feet. That is the gain 4700 feet after trekking for 14 km. The trek is steep in its first 3 km and last 3 kilometers. Govinghat to Pulna we will travel by local jeep (4 kms/30 min) and from Pulna village, we shall start the trek to Ghangaria (11 kms / 06-07 hrs).The first 07 kms of trek are alongside Pushpavati. After having lunch on the banks of the river, we will cross it. The forthcoming 4 kms are slightly steeper. A total altitude gain is approximately 1.5 kms. Reach Ghangaria by the evening & relax. Upon arrival, check-in at hotel or tented accommodations. One can also visit the nearby waterfall and enjoy the picturesque locale. Some rare species of birds and tailless rats can be seen here Ghangaria is a small village on the way to Hemkund Sahib, a popular pilgrimage site for Sikhs which is about 6 km from here and the Valley of Flowers, a national park known for its variety of flowers about 3 km from here. It is located in the northern Himalayan ranges at an altitude of 3049 meters in Uttarakhand. Ghangaria is situated at the confluence of the rivers Bhyundar Ganga and Pushpawati, which forms Lakshman Ganga, that later meets the river Alaknanda at Govindghat. It is the last human habitation in the Bhyundar valley. This place is usually used by travelers as a base camp to visit Hemkund and Valley of flowers. It is only open from May till September. The rest of the year, the valley is covered under snow. Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel or tent.

Ghangaria / Valley of flowere/ Ghangaria (Trek 6 kmd/3-4 hrs one way approx.)

After breakfast at hotel hotel (tented accommodations), you will proceed for excursion tour of Valley of flower. Ghangaria to Valley of Flowers is not so steep trek as once you reach to the official starting point of the Valley of Flowers it almost at the same level for the next 3-4 kilometers. The official starting point of the Valley is almost 3.5 km from Ghangaria and according to me out of this 50% is steep uphill and the remaining is not so steep. This day ponies are not available as they are not allowed to enter in the valley. But Palanquins and Doli’s are available. But you need to buy the entry tickets for the porters as well. Their help can be taken up to the first three kilometers and after that you can trek as it is almost flat. But I recommend you to trek only or you will miss out lot of flowers on the way while in to Doli or Palanquin. Enter and the valley’s check point and you will witness the solace of nature. Your ears are blessed with sounds of chirping birds and rhythmic flowing water. There is no pollution and a life of natural beauty awaits here. You should prefer to have packed lunch at the Pushpavati River bed. If you quickly wind up your time, you can reach this point. You should not be missing this splendid scene which is 6 km far from Ghangaria. So, the total trek becomes 14 km. The experience is impeccable and will create memories of a lifetime. It’s an epitome of unblemished natural beauty.Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel or tent.

Ghangaria / Hemkund Sahib/ Ghangaria (Trek - 13 kms/ 06-07 hrs one way):

Early breakfast and an early start to Sri Hemkund sahib will begin your day. Leave by 7am and reach this pious Gurudwara. The high altitude lake is a treat for nature lovers. Overnight stay is not allowed at Hemkund Sahib and so it is necessary to leave by 2 PM to make it back to Govindghat by nightfall. This is quite steep and I recommend to take a pony at least while going uphill. This saves time and energy both. If you have booked your trip with us we will be trekking beyond Hemkund Sahib where some of the rare flowers bloom. They are not even available in the Valley of Flowers. While coming back you can walk down. The lake is reposing at an astounding altitude of 13500 ft above sea level. Fabulous scenes can be enjoyed along the way. This 6 km trek is quite steep but worth it. Charming scenic beauty along with sights of flowers like blue poppies, Vajardanti and brahmkamal is truly delightful. Hemkund Sahib (also spelled Hemkunt), formally known as Gurudwara Sri Hemkund Sahib Ji, is a Sikh place of worship and pilgrimage site in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India. It is devoted to Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), the tenth Sikh Guru, and finds mention in Dasam Granth, a work dictated by Guruji himself. Hemkunt is a Sanskrit name derived from Hem ("Snow") and Kund ("bowl"). Dasam Granth says this is the place where Pandu Raja practiced Yoga. Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel or tent.

Ghangaria / Pulna / Govindghat / Badrinath temple [11 kms / 06-07 hrs trek approx.] [30 kms/ 01 hrs drive approx. [20 kms / 01 hrs drive approx.]

Early breakfast and an early start to Sri Hemkund sahib will begin your day. Leave by 7am and reach this pious Gurudwara. The high altitude lake is a treat for nature lovers. Overnight stay is not allowed at Hemkund Sahib and so it is necessary to leave by 2 PM to make it back to Govindghat by nightfall. This is quite steep and I recommend to take a pony at least while going uphill. This saves time and energy both. If you have booked your trip with us we will be trekking beyond Hemkund Sahib where some of the rare flowers bloom. They are not even available in the Valley of Flowers. While coming back you can walk down. The lake is reposing at an astounding altitude of 13500 ft above sea level. Fabulous scenes can be enjoyed along the way. This 6 km trek is quite steep but worth it. Charming scenic beauty along with sights of flowers like blue poppies, Vajardanti and brahmkamal is truly delightful. Hemkund Sahib (also spelled Hemkunt), formally known as Gurudwara Sri Hemkund Sahib Ji, is a Sikh place of worship and pilgrimage site in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India. It is devoted to Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), the tenth Sikh Guru, and finds mention in Dasam Granth, a work dictated by Guruji himself. Hemkunt is a Sanskrit name derived from Hem ("Snow") and Kund ("bowl"). Dasam Granth says this is the place where Pandu Raja practiced Yoga. Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel or tent. Day 8: Ghangaria / Pulna / Govindghat / Badrinath temple [11 kms / 06-07 hrs trek approx.] [30 kms/ 01 hrs drive approx.] [20 kms / 01 hrs drive approx.] Rise early and begin the trek at 6am. You will traverse towards Govindghat. Later will be road journey to Badrinath. It’s a beautiful journey with sights of waterfalls and rivers. The flowing Alaknanda is an amazing view. Wonderful sights all along the journey are delightful. Upon arrival, check-in at hotel. Badrinath or Badrinarayan Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu which is situated in the town of Badrinath in Uttarakhand. The temple and town form one of the four Char Dham and Chota Char Dham pilgrimage sites. The temple is also one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Badrinath—holy shrines for Vaishnavites. It is open for six months every year (between the end of April and the beginning of November), because of extreme weather conditions in the Himalayan region. The temple is located in Garhwal hill tracks in Chamoli district along the banks of Alaknanda River at an elevation of 3,133 m (10,279 ft) above the mean sea level. It is one of the most visited pilgrimage centres of India, having recorded 1,060,000 visits. Badrinath is situated in the lap of Nar-Narayan Parvat, with the towering Neelkanth peak (6,597mts.) in the background. Also known as the Vishal Badri, the largest among the five Badris, it is revered by all as the apt tribute to Lord Vishnu. The image of the presiding deity worshipped in the temple is a 1 m (3.3 ft) tall, black stone statue of Vishnu in the form of Badrinarayan. The statue is considered by many Hindus to be one of eight swayam vyakta kshetras, or self-manifested statues of Vishnu. We will head towards village Mana. It’s pleasurable to see the starting point of River Saraswati at Mana. Visit the small locale and check-in hotel for relaxing. Evening visit of Badrinath temple. Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel.

Badrinath / Chopta[140 kms / 05 hrs drive approx.]

After breakfast at hotel, departure from Badrinath for Chopta - Gateway to the gods!! Upon arrival, check-in at hotel. Chopta, very simply put, is a trekker cum explorer's heaven. If you aren't an adrenaline junkie but inclined towards pushing your limits, visit the valley of Chopta for a life altering experience and expand the boundaries of your physical horizon. Chopta is possibly the only valley town in Uttarakhand, that has minor human alteration, and a good place for intermediate trekkers to brush up their skills while exploring locally renowned tourist spots, like the Tungnath Temple and the Deoria Tal, which are both accessible after a well guided trek. Talking about the rare opportunities that Chopta offers, what cannot be missed is the Kanchula Korak Musk Deer Sanctuary, which attracts wildlife enthusiasts who are into exploring rare Himalayan animal species. Chopta slopes on softly, among alpine and grassy meadows, and in this valley of abstract but absolute natural beauty, one does actually stand at any hilltop and spin around as a practice of spotting the multitude of peaks visible. Later proceed for a trek to visit Tungnath temple (3680 km) – 4 kms / 03 hrs trek ). Tungnath is the highest Shiva temple in the world and is one of the five and the highest Panch Kedar temples located in the mountain range of Tunganath in Rudraprayag district, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The Tunganath (literal meaning: Lord of the peaks) mountains form the Mandakini and Alaknanda river valleys. Located at an altitude of 3680 m (12073 ft) and just below the peak of Chandrashila, Tungnath temple is the highest Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is believed to be a 1000 years old and is the second in the pecking order of the Panch Kedars. It has a rich legend linked to the Pandavas. If time allowed, we will do 2 kms further trek from Tungnath to Chandrashila peak , which is a 600 feet ascent from here. From here you move towards the Upper Chandrashila base and 01 hr from here you finally reach the summit. 360-degree views of Garhwal and Kumaon ranges await you at the top. Nanda Devi, Trishul, Nanda Ghunti, Kamet, Dunagiri, Chaukhamba, Kedar dome, Thalaysagar, Gangotri ranges, and Jahanukut are some of the prominent peaks visible from here. Getting back to Chopta via the same route will take you not more 2 hours. Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel.

Chopta / Rishikesh [212 kms / 08 hrs approx.]

After breakfast at hotel hotel proceed to Rishikesh. Upon arrival, check-in at hotel. Rishikesh - located in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, it is known as the 'Gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas' and 'Yoga Capital of the World'. It is known as the pilgrimage town and regarded as one of the holiest places to Hindus. Hindu sages and saints have visited Rishikesh since ancient times to meditate in search of higher knowledge. Rishikesh and Haridwar will be the first in India to be given the title of "twin national heritage cities". Rishikesh is known as 'Lord of the Senses'. Due to the religious significance of the place, non-vegetarian food and alcohol are strictly prohibited in Rishikesh. Later afternoon proceed for the visit fo Rishikesh - You will visit the Lakshman (Laxman) Jhula, a very long of about 450 ft Iron Bridge suspended over the mighty Ganges River, is constructed in the year 1939. It is situated nearby to Swarga Ashram in Rishikesh. The story behind this bridge is legendary, related to the crossing of the Ganges River on the Jute ropes by the epic character Lakshmana and it is believed that the bridge is built at the same place. There is a Lakshmana temple located at the west bank of Ganges, revealing the deed act of Lakshmana. The bridge attracts many tourists not only because of its legendary story, but due the number of temples and ashrams scattered around the bridge. A new swinging bridge, constructed a few years back and known as Ram Jhula (also Shivanand Jhula), is nearby. Experience Ganga Arti in Triveni Ghat. Triveni Ghat is situated bank of the holy river Ganges. This scared ghat used for bath for most of pilgrims. The main daily event of the attraction is the evening Aarti of Goddess Ganga also commonly called as "Maha Aarti". You can see the devotee's offers prayer during aarti. Triveni Ghat, a confluence of three holy significant Rivers the Ganges, the Yamuna and the Saraswathy, is a most revered sacred bathing spot in Rishikesh and is situated on the banks of Ganges River. It is of belief that those who take a dip in Triveni Ghat will have release, a relief from all sins carried out; the water here has the power to purify them. Devotees make many offerings at Triveni ghat, in the early morning at sunrise they offer milk to the river and happily feed the fish in the Ghat. An impressive view of lamps floated in the river as part of aarti ceremony is pleasing to eyes after the sunset. Triveni Ghat holds a significant place in the Hindu Mythology and Puranas and also finds a mention in the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is believed that Lord Krishna visited this holy spot when he was hurt by an arrow shot by Jara – a hunter. The popular temples Gita Mandir and Lakshminarayan temple are located on the banks of Triveni Ghat. Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel.

Rishikesh / Delhi[ 240 kms / 06 hrs drive approx.]

After breakfast at hotel proceed to Delhi. Upon arrival, check-in at hotel. Day at leisure on your own. Later afternoon orientation tour of New Delhi. Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel.

Delhi – Dep. Delhi:

After breakfast at hotel proceed to airport to board the flight for return journey.