Your journey begins in Delhi, city of eight dynasties, where you encounter
at first hand India's Muslim and Sufi heritage. Then, from Amritsar, the
sacred Sikh city in the Northwest, you journey along the line of the great
river Ganga (Ganges), to the Buddhist shrines of Bodhgaya in the Eastern
state of Bihar.

En route you enter the paradise which is Lord Krishna's birthplace, at
Mathura, where 5000 temples commemorate the events of his early life.

In Varanasi, the city of Shiva, you take a dawn boat ride along the river
at the most sacred of all bathing sites. Nearby, at Sarnath, important to
Jains as well as Buddhists, you stand in the shadow of a huge 1500 year
old stupa built to house relics of the Buddha. And at Bodhgaya you sit
under the Bodhi tree, place of the Buddha's enlightenment.

Day 1

Evening departure from Heathrow on direct British Airways flight.

Day 2

Midday arrival in Delhi. Stay at the Oberoi Maidens Hotel (4*).

Day 3

Morning visit to the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque. Afternoon visit
to the Qutub Minar, oldest Muslim monument in India, and to the nearby
Baha'i Lotus Temple.

Day 4

Visit the shrine of Sufi saint Nizamuddin Chisti. Late afternoon train to
Amritsar. Stay at Mohan International Hotel (4*) or Ritz Plaza Hotel (4*).

Day 5

Visit the spectacular Sikh Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of
Sikhism, and the Jallianwala Bhag, where General Dyer massacred
unarmed Indians in 1919.

Day 6

Morning visit to the nearby Sikh shrines of Tarn Taran and Goindwal,
places almost unknown to Westerners. Overnight first class
air-conditioned sleeper train to Mathura.

Day 7

Mathura, birthplace of Lord Krishna. Stay at Madhuban Hotel (3*).
Afternoon visit to temples in Mathura and nearby Vrindaban, where
the mischievous Krishna spent his childhood.

Day 8



Visit the enchanting villages of Gokul and Goverdhan, steeped
in the legends of Lord Krishna's enchanted childhood.

Day 9

Drive via the world famous bird sanctuary of Bharatpur to Agra, city
of the Taj Mahal. Stay at Taj View Hotel (5*).

Day 10

Visit the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.

Day 11

Flight from Agra to Varanasi. Stay at Taj Ganges Hotel (5*)

Day 12

Dawn boat ride on the Ganges. Afternoon visit to nearby Sarnath, where
the Buddha began to spread his message.

Day 13

Drive or train to Bodhgaya. Stay at the Japanese Guesthouse, or
Mahayana Guesthouse.

Day 14

Visit the Mahabodhi Temple and sit under the Bodhi tree of the Buddha's
enlightenment.

Day 15

Day at leisure in Bodhgaya. Overnight air-conditioned sleeper train to
Delhi.

Day 16

Day for shopping and sightseeing in Delhi. Late night departure on direct
British Airways flight.

Day 17

Early morning arrival at Heathrow.