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"Discover India"
February, 2011
Your Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1. We begin our exciting journey, heading east, as we depart this evening on board our overnight jet flight. En route we will enjoy dinner and breakfast.
Day 2. We arrive in Delhi today, the capital of India. Dominated by Old Delhi and New Delhi, we will find that the city is a contrast of ancient sights and modern development. Upon arrival, continue to our hotel.
Day 3. After breakfast, we will tour New Delhi. Starting the tour visiting the Birla Temple, we then proceed past the stately government buildings of the British Era designed by Lutyens, including the India Gate and the Presidential Palace. Continue on to the beautiful "Humayn's Tomb" of the Mughal era and predecessor of the world famous Taj Mahal. Then to Gandhi Museum, a testament to the powerful ideas of the man called "The Father of India." En route we will see the towering minaret of "Qutab Minar," in South Delhi and containing five stories, three of red sandstone and two of marble and sandstone. The minaret itself tapers up to a height of 72.5 meters (over 210 feet).
This afternoon we head out to explore Old Delhi, with its narrow lanes bustling with craft workshops and colorful bazaars. We will visit the Red Fort – Shah Jehan's elegant citadel in red sandstone, the Jama Masjid – India's largest mosque, and Raj Ghat - the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. We will possibly be given the chance to ride through a part of this busy city on bicycle- or auto-rickshaws. We also stop at the Sanskriti foundation for an introduction to the heart of India's artistic and cultural heritage, and the organization's efforts to preserve it. Overnight in Delhi.
Day 4. After breakfast we will take some time to see some other sites in Delhi (possibly some that could not be covered on Day 3), and after an early lunch go south to Agra on our motor coach (or by train).
Agra is the home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Taj Mahal. The architectural splendor of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces in Agra are vivid reminders of the opulence of the legendary Mughal Empire. Agra is known for its superb inlay work on marble and soapstone by artisans who are hereditary craft persons. Overnight in Agra.
Day 5. This morning after a hearty breakfast we will visit the Taj Mahal, a legendary monument to love built by Emperor Shah Jehan in 1630 to enshrine the mortal remains of his Queen Murntaz Mahal. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned from white marble. It stands testimony to the skill of craftsmen brought in from Persia, Turkey, France, and Italy, and to 17 years of labor by 20,000 workers. Afterwards, we visit a marble inlay factory to see the "Pietra Dura" work made famous by the Taj Mahal. This art is passed down from father to son.
This afternoon we will tour the Red Fort (Fatehpur Sikri), built by three generations of Mughal Emperors starting from Akbar the Great in 1565 A.D. It is truly a masterpiece of design and construction. It housed both the residential palaces of the Royal family and the military quarters. If time, we will explore Agra Fort's maze of courtyards, mosques, and private chambers, which bring to life the story of the Mughal Empire. Or there will be some time for shopping in this famous city. In the evening we hope to see the Taj Mahal change color at sunset. Overnight in Agra.
Day 6. This morning we will depart for Varanasi either by train or by air. Known as the "City of Light," Varanasi is Hinduism's holiest city renowned for its sacred River Ganges. There are over 700 temples in Varanasi , but none are more sacred than the river itself. Known also as Kashi and Benares, Varanasi is one of the world's oldest living cities, and has been a center of learning and culture for over 2,000 years.
Late in the afternoon, we visit Sarnath located five miles outside of Varanasi - the place where the Buddha turned the Wheel of Law and delivered His First Sermon. See the Chowkandi and Dhamek Stupas, the ruins of 9th and 10th century monasteries and temples. Also a possible visit to the famous Sarnath museum. Upon completion of our tour, we will continue to our hotel in Varanasi for overnight.
Day 7. Very early this morning we will take a boat ride on the Ganges to see the cremation Ghats, and witness the living traditions of one of the world's oldest religions. We will take the boat up to the panchganga ghat for "aarti" at sunrise. Continue to "Dhobi Ghat" area before finishing at "Dasashwamedh." See the Hindu pilgrims flock to the ghats and have a ritual morning bath, practice yoga and perform "puja" to the rising sun...all rituals evolved and derived from thousands of years of worship and traditions. On a particularly auspicious day, as many as 3,000 pilgrims may appear at the central ghat which offers a splendid view of the river front greeting the dawn. Also cruise past the Manikarnika Ghat to see the pyres being lit for the first cremations of the day.
We return to our hotel for breakfast and then tour Benaras where we visit the Benaras Hindu University founded in 1918, and also its famous museum - Bharat Kala Bhawan - which houses one of the finest collections of Mughal miniature paintings and brocade textiles. We then drive past the Bharat Mata and Durga temples and see the famous Vishwanath Temple with its spires covered with gold, dedicated to Shiva, the presiding deity of the city.
After lunch there will also be time to visit an eastern carpet shop, which makes some of the finest mirzapur carpets in the world. We will try to save some time for visiting the shops and picking up some souvenirs from this world-famous location. Overnight in Varanasi.
Day 8. After breakfast we continue to head to the east by motor coach - about a four-hour trip to Gaya, situated along the banks of the Phalgu River, one of the three most sacred sites for performing Hindu funeral rites. We can see the Vishnupsad Temple, which dominates the religious life of the city, but is open only to Hindus. Then we drive to Bodh Gaya, the holiest site for Buddhists from all over the world. Bodh Gaya is the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment. The focal point of the town is the Mahabodhi Temple, whose soaring pyramidal spire dominates the landscape. This is where Prince Siddhartha meditated on the causes of human suffering, found the answers under the Bodhi Tree, and became the Buddha - the Enlightened One. Hopefully we can visit the temple at dusk, when thousands of oil lamps bathe the temple in a golden light, and the sound of Buddhist prayers fills the air, as they pray "Om mane padme hun" (Hail to the jewel in the lotus [flower]). There is also the traditional "footprint" of the Buddha. Overnight in Bodh Gaya.
Day 9. This morning, just past our mid-way point on the trip, we will have a little free time, and then board our bus, and then find a nice place for good Indian food, once again.
After lunch we will proceed to Ranchi by motor coach, a four-hour ride. On the way we will stop at a mission station where missionaries under Mennonite Board of Missions (now Mennonite Mission Network) lived and shared their witness. We will also visit the grave where missionary Milton Vogt is buried in the rural Bathet region. Paul & Esther Kniss initiated the work here, followed by Milton and Esther Vogt. They together reached out in evangelism in India for many years, and also performed relief work during the famine in Calcutta and Jharkhand. The Vogts and Jay and Ida Hostetler were the first Mennonite missionaries in Jharkhand (then Bihar) around 1940.
We will arrive in Ranchi, a city of over one million, located in the natural beauty of the Chhota Nagpur Plateau. The city’s main attraction is the 17th-century Jagannath Temple, perched on a hill in the south-western outskirts. Ranchi has more Christian churches than most Indian cities. We will visit "Good Books," a Christian bookstore and recording studio, where Christian radio programs are recorded in various Indian languages. This was established by Mennonites and is governed by an interdenominational trust. We will also see the office of the Mennonite Christian Fellowship of India, an organization of all the Mennonite-related denominations. Nearby is a large Lutheran Church built in 1850. We will stay in a Ranchi hotel overnight.
Day 10. After breakfast we will board our motor coach and travel to the Chandwa area, northwest of Ranchi, and visit a couple of the Mennonite churches, and share with the Indian Christians. Chandwa was the central mission station, and is now the central office of the "Bihar Mennonite Mandli." Other stations or churches include Latehar, where beside the church there is a girl's hostel for school girls from the villages. We will then proceed to Tumbagara, and see Nay Jivan (New Life) Hospital, established in 1962, where Dr. Mark and Betty Kniss were the first doctor and nurse. This hospital has a vast community health program covering many villages. Return to Ranchi for overnight.
Day 11. We will fly this morning to Kolkata (Calcutta) as we get our first glimpses of this city of several million people. Today we may get to visit the Indian Museum and the Victoria Memorial, or save this until Day 15. Then in the afternoon we will take a short flight to the Bagdogra Airport, and then a motor coach to Darjeeling located in the foothills of the Himalayas, in the state of West Bengal. This is the most northern region of India, situated right on the border of Nepal. The name, Darjeeling, derives from the monastery of Dorje Ling (meaning Place of the Thunderbolt) that once stood on Observatory Hill. The presence of Kanchendzonga at 28,209 feet, India’s highest peak, dominates the town. Overnight in Darjeeling.
Day 12. In early morning we will travel by motor coach to Tiger Hill, about 12 miles out of Darjeeling. From Tiger Hill, if it's a clear day we will see some great views of the entire snow-clad range of the Eastern Himalayan peaks, including Mt. Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, and Mt. Khanchanjunga, the third highest. On our return trip to Darjeeling, we can visit the beautiful Buddhist monastery, with its prayer wheels. There are many English schools around Darjeeling, where missionary children attended. Those who are enrolled now are mostly the children of officials and the wealthy. If time, we may be able to board a cable car connecting Darjeeling to Single Bazaar in the Little Rangeet Valley. This hour-long journey provides a good view of the mountains and the tea gardens along the way, just a few of the estimated 75,000 acres of tea gardens in this area! Overnight in Darjeeling.
Day 13. After breakfast we will depart by motor coach for a five-hour trip to the east to the Alipur Duar, where we will meet Satyendra Basumaia, secretary of the Missionary Church in northeast Bengal, and Rohindra Narjinari, president of the churches, and other church leaders of the area, and have lunch with them. Next it’s to nearby Holong Village to see one of their growing churches. From there we will proceed to the Holong Forest Rest House. Together with a hotel, a few miles away, we will all be well accommodated. We will join together at the Forest Rest House in the evening to see the deer, Indian bison, and maybe even the rhinoceros that come to the salt licks less than 100 yards away from the Rest House. Then it’s another delicious evening meal and a good night's sleep.
Day 14. In the early morning we can have the opportunity to have a light breakfast and then go outside and observe any animals that may be around the salt lick. Those staying at the hotel will also come over, and we will take a short ride into the forest on the elephants belonging to this resort - four to six persons on each elephant. Nothing to fear - we will be seated on a platform on the elephant-s back, and it's a smooth and enjoyable ride. After this forest experience we will go to one of the area's churches and have a worship service with local members. Their worship will inspire us all. This is a multi-lingual area and they sing and speak in four or five languages. There will be an English interpreter for parts of the service and an opportunity for us to give greetings. An offering will be taken to contribute to the fund they are raising to help the many unemployed tea garden workers due to the closing of the tea companies.
We will then leave this area and go to see the Maharaja of Cooch Bihar's palace. This Maharaja was once one of the native kings during the British Raj before India received independence. His palace is now a tourist attraction. Overnight at Holong Village.
Day 15. This morning our motor coach will take us back to Bagdogra where we will catch our flight to Kolkata. Upon arrival we will be picked up by our own private motor coach, and visit the Mother House, the headquarters of Mother Teresa's work. In 1950 she formed a new order called Missionaries of Charity, which reached out to the poor, the lepers, the unwanted and the suffering people until she died at the age of 87 in 1997. Here, we will listen to stories of the impact of Mother Teresa and those who have worked with her. We will visit the Victoria Memorial (if missed on Day 11) and New Market (Hogg Market). We may also drive through the BBD Bagh area, noting the various structures, with and maybe make a stop or two. Hopefully we can drive past the site where Mennonite World Conference met in 1997. There are no Mennonite churches in Calcutta. The few Mennonites who live in the area attend the Missionary Church. We do hope, however, to visit with persons in the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) office.
Depending on air connections we may be able to depart in late evening for our flight back home or stay in a hotel overnight and leave on the next day for our trip back to the U.S. or Canada, or wherever we call home.
Ed Bontrager, Tour Coordinator, and Paul Kniss, Tour Consultant and Guide