North India: Mother Ganges Ext. - Khajuraho & Varanasi

After breakfast, transfer to the Delhi Airport for your flight to Varanasi (Benares).   In the afternoon have a guided tour of Varanasi where you will see the Varanasi Hindu University, a great site of oriental learning (a center of education in Sanskrit, Indian Art, culture & music). See the Durga (Goddess of Power) Temple, popularly known as the Monkey Temple because hundreds of monkeys cavort in the courtyard.

In the evening join your guide to walk through the oldest and most famous narrow and winding lanes of the city, past the endless human panorama - pilgrims, worshipers, sadhus, children selling flowers and floating lights to place in the river - to arrive at the ghats at the Ganges to witness the Aarti Ceremony which is part of the evening puja or prayers.  During the ceremony deepas (oil lamps) are offered to Mother Ganga with thanks and devotion for the light of the sun and for her divine light.  As the aarti fire ceremonies take place, bells are rung and chanting and singing provide a fascinating, magical and spiritual conclusion to the days end.  B, L, D Taj Ganges (4-star)

Your visit today begins with a pre-dawn boat ride on River Ganges.  As your boat glides along the river, you will see Hindu pilgrims descending the wide steps (ghats) leading down to the riverbank and to the sacred river to perform centuries old rituals that by immersing the body in the holy Ganges or by dying in Varanasi, it removes one from the cycle of birth and death.  As the first rays of the sun the illuminate the river you will see worshipers immersing themselves in the holy waters as they salute the sun.  In Varnasi, the ghats extend for about three miles along the river, where you will see some of the important ghats including the Bathing Ghats, the Cremation Ghats, and the 17^th c.  Gyanvapi Mosque, Emperor Aurangazeb’s Mosque built in the 17^th century on the site of a Hindu temple.

The riverfront, as seen from a boat early in the morning, is a spiritually uplifting sight.  This holy city is crowded with temples and its labyrinth of ancient streets lined with stalls and shops is alive with throngs of people.  After the boat ride, visit the Kashi-Vishwanath Temple (Golden Temple), the most sacred of shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, the patron deity of Varanasi.  Reconstructed in the 18^th c., its gold plating on the “shikaras” or dome was a gift of the on-eyed Sikh king, Maharaja Ranjit Singh.  Also visit the Bharat Mata Temple; inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, is a unique temple dedicated to Mother India, which houses a relief map of India carved out of marble.

The rest of the morning will be at leisure to relax or explore on your own.

After lunch visit Sarnath, near Varanasi, one of the major pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. After achieving enlightenment at Bodhgaya, Buddha, the “awakened or enlightened one,” delivered his first sermon at the Deer Park here to five disciples, enshrining the principles of his teaching into laws. See the Dhamek Stupa, along with a large complex of monastery ruins & stupas, some from the 3^rd c. BC. Visit the interesting Archaeological Museum & see the famous Sarnath Pillar whose capital forms India's national emblem.  Nearby a new Buddhist monastery has been built with major events of Buddha’s life depicted in wall paintings.   The afternoon will be at leisure.   B, L, D Taj Ganges (4-star)

In the late morning transfer to the airport for your flight [departure 1220 hrs /arrival 1300 hrs] to Khajuraho, capital of the 12^th –14^th c. Chandela kings, who built some of India’s most magnificent temples here. Located in Madhya Pradesh, the temples are examples of the peak of the north Indian “nagara” style of architecture. Upon arrival in Khajuraho you will check-in at your hotel.

After lunch, enjoy guided visit to the Chandela Temple Complex to see some of the most famous temples made of granite and sandstone adorned with exquisite sculpture which represent some of the finest examples of temple architecture in Northern India.  After ruling for about 500 years, the Chandela dynasty fell to the might of Islam and the religious center of Khajuraho was abandoned, but the remote location of Khajuraho meant that the temples were left unharmed.    The intricately carved stone statues - a galaxy of gods & goddesses, beasts, & serpents, and on some a multitude of erotic couples which represent a paean to life, to love & to joy – the best of Hindu sculpture are a reminder of a society that believed in the full enjoyment of life, with all the senses being a path to nirvana. 

Notes: The Western Group: The Kandariya Mahadev is the best example of the Central Indian style of temple architecture. It is the largest of the Khajuraho temples & is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Located close to it is the Matangeshwara temple, the only one in the entire complex where the deity (Shiva) is still worshipped everyday with prayers & rituals. The Lakshman temple is finest of the western group of temples & has four shrines attached to it. The Devi Jagdamba temple is known for its erotic sculptures & houses Khajuraho's most talked-about image, the mithuna (the sensuously carved figures of amorous couples). The temples of Vishvanath & Nandi depict the marriage of Lord Shiva with Parvati. The Chaunsath Yogini is the oldest of the surviving temples at Khajuraho & is dedicated to goddess Kali.  B, L, D Taj Chandela Hotel (4-star)

A morning at leisure with time to explore other temples. A short rickshaw ride will bring you to the Eastern Group of temples, also known as the Jain group. The Jain temples of Parswanath, Adinath, Shantinagh, & Ghantai have fine examples of elaborate carvings & are bereft of the erotic sculptures seen in the Hindu temples. These temples are dedicated to Jain deities, each temple having a finely sculpted image of the presiding deity. The three Hindu temples here are those of Vamana, Javari & Brahma. The temples of Brahma & Hanuman are two of the oldest eastern side temples.  Fly to Delhi - lunch will be on board the flight. Upon arrival at the Delhi Airport, you will be met and transferred to a nearby hotel with time to freshen up before dinner. Later transfer to the international airport for your return flights to the U.S.   B, L, D