A pilgrimage to India among Pushkar, Vrindavan and Varanasi

Arrival at New Delhi International Airport, meeting with our staff just outside the terminal and transfer to the hotel to rest. Some of the most famous attractions include the Red Fort, the Mughal Gardens, the Akshardham Temple, the Lotus Temple, and Raj Ghat. After resting, you will visit Jama Masjid, the main mosque of Old Delhi (each year nearly 25,000 people visit and pray at this mosque). Here an ancient copy of the Holy Quran, written on deerskin, is preserved. Walk through the narrow streets of this part of the city such as Chawri Bazar, one of the most crowded areas of Old Delhi. Afterwards, visit to the Red Fort (external visit), also called Lal Qila or Qil’ah, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. It was originally the emperor’s palace when the capital was moved from Agra to Delhi. The city remained the Mughal capital until the 1857 uprising.
Overnight in Delhi.

Delhi – Nawalgarh
In the morning (at 10:00 AM), visit to the Paharganj neighborhood in Old Delhi, guided by the young members of the NGO Salaam Baalak Trust, which rescues street children, educates them, and provides professional training. The City Walk tours aim to shed light on the harsh reality of street children and show the world from their perspective. The walk takes place in the Paharganj area and around the railway station, accompanied by a former street child who has been supported by the NGO and is now employed. This is a unique opportunity to explore the city with exceptional guides.
Right after lunch, transfer by car to Nawalgarh (about 260 km, 5 hours), located in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, where you will be able to stroll around and visit some of the 200 havelis — the ancient and lavish Indian mansions — found in Nawalgarh. The magnificent frescoes adorning the havelis are true works of art.
Overnight in Nawalgarh. (B, D)

Nawalgarh
After breakfast, departure to explore Nawalgarh and its most beautiful havelis (traditional mansions). Free time for lunch, followed in the afternoon by a camel ride through the countryside surrounding Nawalgarh, all the way to the village of Dundlod. Visit of the village and return to the hotel. In the evening, dinner accompanied by a small Indian classical music concert performed by local musicians.
Overnight stay in Nawalgarh. (B, D)

Nawalgarh – Pushkar
After breakfast, transfer to Pushkar (190 km, about 4 hours), one of the most important pilgrimage sites of the Hindu faith, known for its cattle fair and the temple dedicated to Brahma. Pushkar means “lotus flower,” which in the Hindu imagination serves as the seat of Brahma, the first deity of the Hindu Trinity (along with Vishnu and Shiva), worshipped as the creator of the world. Check-in at the hotel and then visit of the city. In the evening, it is possible to witness the sacred rituals performed on the lake’s shores.
Overnight in Pushkar. (B)

Pushkar
After breakfast, time to stroll through the streets of Pushkar and meet people from all over the world who come here in search of their inner self through Hindu meditation. On lucky occasions, you may spot a yogi meditating near the lake. It is recommended to have lunch by the lake and to visit the Jagatpita Brahma Mandir, one of the few existing temples dedicated to the creator god Brahma, and certainly the most important. Although the current structure dates back to the 14th century, the temple is believed to be 2,000 years old. It is mainly built of marble and stone, with red pinnacles (shikhara) and decorative motifs featuring hamsa birds. At the center, a statue of Brahma is enshrined alongside his second wife, Gayatri.
Overnight in Pushkar. (B)

Pushkar – Tilonia – Harmara – Bagru – Jaipur
After breakfast, departure for Jaipur (approximately 145 km, 3 hours). Along the way, stop in Tilonia, a small village home to the NGO Barefoot College. The “Barefoot Soldiers” have sparked important social and environmental changes by using local knowledge and resources. From puppet-making and mask workshops to discussions on water resource management and solar energy, the visit fosters direct interaction with local communities and offers insight into the complexity and vitality of the real Rajasthan, far from typical tourist routes. A library and documentary materials about the organization’s achievements are also available. Lunch at the campus.
Next, visit the village of Harmara to meet a leather craftsman and observe the process of making bags and belts. Before reaching Jaipur, there will be another stop in Bagru, known for its traditional block printing on textiles—an excellent opportunity to watch artisans at work and purchase handcrafted products. Continue on to Jaipur, the largest city in Rajasthan and a symbol of grandeur and abundance. Founded in 1727 by Jai Singh II, it was the first Indian city to be built following a grid layout.
Overnight in Jaipur. (B, L)

Jaipur – Mathura – Vrindavan
After breakfast, visit to the Hawa Mahal on the way to Amber Fort. After lunch, departure for the city of Vrindavan (approximately 230 km, 4.5 hours). Before arriving in Vrindavan, stop in Mathura, located on the western bank of the Yamuna River, venerated as the birthplace of Krishna—one of the most beloved and popular Indian deities, regarded by Vaishnavas as God, the Supreme Person, and incarnation of the second aspect of the Trimurti: Vishnu. The dark cell of the modern Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple, on the outskirts of the city, is believed to be his actual birthplace.
Along the river, the twenty-five ghats of Mathura form an intricate landscape of temples, pavilions, trees, and steps leading to the water. After the visit, continue on to Vrindavan, where according to tradition, Krishna spent his childhood around 5,000 years ago. Many of Krishna’s most celebrated lila (divine pastimes) are set in this town. Vrindavan is a sacred city with a peaceful and evocative atmosphere, home to around 4,000 temples and numerous ashrams for pilgrims.
Overnight in Vrindavan. (B, D)

Vrindavan
After breakfast, visit to the Hawa Mahal on the way to Amber Fort. After lunch, departure for the city of Vrindavan (approximately 230 km, 4.5 hours). Before arriving in Vrindavan, stop in Mathura, located on the western bank of the Yamuna River, venerated as the birthplace of Krishna—one of the most beloved and popular Indian deities, regarded by Vaishnavas as God, the Supreme Person, and incarnation of the second aspect of the Trimurti: Vishnu. The dark cell of the modern Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple, on the outskirts of the city, is believed to be his actual birthplace.
Along the river, the twenty-five ghats of Mathura form an intricate landscape of temples, pavilions, trees, and steps leading to the water. After the visit, continue on to Vrindavan, where according to tradition, Krishna spent his childhood around 5,000 years ago. Many of Krishna’s most celebrated lila (divine pastimes) are set in this town. Vrindavan is a sacred city with a peaceful and evocative atmosphere, home to around 4,000 temples and numerous ashrams for pilgrims.

Overnight in Vrindavan. (B, D)
Before dawn, we will take part in the rituals at the Krishna Balarama temple. While it’s still dark outside, a rickshaw will take us to Keshi Ghat, the spiritual heart of the Yamuna River. Here, we will have the opportunity to sit in silence, meditate, and witness the sunrise as pilgrims begin their morning rituals. After returning to the hotel for breakfast, we will visit the Maitri Foundation.
Maitri is a humanitarian development NGO that works with vulnerable populations in India, including women at risk of violence, impoverished and elderly women, widows, migrant workers and their families, marginalized communities, and individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. During the visit, we will be introduced to their ongoing projects and will have the chance to practice karma yoga—selfless service—by sharing part of the day in concrete support activities.
Overnight in Vrindavan. (B, D)

Vrindavan – Delhi – Varanasi
After breakfast, transfer to Delhi airport to board the flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival in the morning, transfer to the hotel located on the banks of the Ganges for some rest.
Later, guided tour of the sacred city and its many attractions and ancient temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, Kal Bhairava, Durga Kund, and Annapoorna. The first visit will be to the temple dedicated to Shiva Kal Bhairava, to symbolically ask his permission to enter the city.
Varanasi is also an important artistic, artisanal, and cultural center. The city is famous for its ghats—stone steps leading to the Ganges—many of which are used for ritual ablutions, others for cremations. Often, the ghats are associated with a legend or mythological episode; some are private.
In the evening, you will witness the famous Ganga Aarti Puja, a spiritual ritual held every day at sunset at Dasaswamedh Ghat near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. It is a highly choreographed ceremony, performed on a raised platform by young Pandits dressed in saffron robes, holding ceremonial plates in front of them.
Overnight in Varanasi (B).

Varanasi
Early in the morning, we will attend the Aarti Puja ceremony at Assi Ghat. Afterward, you will have the opportunity to join yoga sessions alongside pilgrims who have taken part in the morning prayers. Before sunrise, a boat ride on the Ganges (approx. 2 hours) will allow you to admire the rising sun and the city awakening through rituals, ablutions, prayers, and mantras.
Return to the hotel for breakfast. Varanasi is known as Mahashamstana, the great cremation ground, where death is honored as equally as life. During this guided experience, we will explore the places where death is perceived and lived through the Hindu perspective.
We will visit a Mukti Bhawan, a guesthouse where people spend their final days. These facilities welcome individuals from all over India who believe that dying in Varanasi grants moksha (liberation) from the cycle of rebirth. We will then visit Manikarnika Ghat, one of the most important cremation sites, where we may witness funeral rites.
The tour ends at one of the city’s most revered temples dedicated to Shiva Mahadev in his Maha Mrityunjay form, which means “the one who conquers death.” Inside the temple, there is an ancient well whose water is believed to cure all diseases. Here, we will have the opportunity to participate in a Rudrabhishek, a ritual dedicated to Shiva.
Overnight in Varanasi (B)

Varanasi – Sarnath – Varanasi
After breakfast, free time to explore the city on your own. In the afternoon, visit to the Buddhist city of Sarnath, located 13 km northeast of Varanasi, near the confluence of the Gomati River with the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh.
The Deer Park in Sarnath is the place where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma. Today, it is one of the four key sites of the Buddhist pilgrimage circuit (along with Bodhgaya, Kushinagar, and Lumbini in Nepal), attracting devotees from all over the world—especially during Purnima, Buddha’s birthday, when his life, death, and enlightenment are celebrated.
Overnight stay in Varanasi. (B)

Transfer to the airport and departure with international flight (via Delhi).