While virtually every city or town of India may justifiably be described as temple towns, most of those in this tour owe their existence to their temples of extraordinary magnificence and importance, hence the name ‘Temple towns’. Places like Bhubaneshwar and Aurangabad have temples of unbelievable architecture as reminders of a very rich classical era. The city of Madurai pulsates every bit with endless rituals of its mammoth Meenakshi Sundereshwar Temple. And those at Konark, Mammallapuram, Thanjavur and Karnataka should firmly leave you spell bound due to their sheer magnificence, mammoth conceptualization and unsurpassed artistry. Even an unsuggestive name like Goa has beautiful old temples hidden in dense rain forests.

• Day 01: Kolkata: Arrive at Kolkata and Check in. Later in the evening, visit its buzzing bazaars or its many famous art centers.
   
• Day 02: Kolkata: Early in the morning, take a walking tour of Maidan area to watch Kolkata waking up- jogging, aerobics, yoga sessions, meditation, chats, trams, horse rides at race course, etc. against the historic backdrop of buildings like the Victoria Memorial. During the day, take a sightseeing tour of the city that includes visits to Victoria Memorial museum, Indian Museum, BBD Bagh buildings, Haora Bridge, Belur Math and St.Paul’s Cathedral. Evening free for last day’s shopping.
   
• Day 03: Bhubaneshwar: Fly to Bhubaneshwar, the city of temples. In a guided sightseeing tour visit some of the finest temples of Classical Hindu age. Visit the Parsurameshvara Temple, Muktesvara temple, Rajarani temple, Lingaraj temple and many others around the Bindu Sagar tank.
   
• Day 04: Bhubaneshwar: Take a daylong sightseeing trip to Konark Sun temple visiting Udaygiri caves on the route. Also visit the outskirts of Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri- a scene of undying Hindu faith and festivities. Return back to Bhubaneshwar by the evening.
   
• Day 05: Mahabalipuram: Fly to Chennai and further transfer by car to Mamallapuram. Day free to relax in your beach side resort.
   
• Day 06: Mahabalipuram: Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) is famous for it’s shore temples and other monuments which are in a form of epic recreated on stone. Morning walk over the seashore and explore the temples on own.
   
• Day 07: Thanjavur: Driving down to fertile rice growing plains of Cauvery reach Tiruchirapally. Nearby visit the enormous Srirangam temple and then continue to the Chola citadel of Tanjore. Visit the World heritage Brihadishvara temple- simply unparalleled!
   
• Day 08: Madurai: Reach Madurai. Day to be spent completely at leisure or to soak in the unique Dravidian cultural atmosphere of this ancient temple city.
   
• Day 09: Madurai: Visit the Thirumal Nayaka Palace and the Dravidian masterpiece Meenakshi Sundereshwar temple which makes the city of Madurai so famous and pulsate with festivities. In the evening board the overnight express train to Bangalore.
   
• Day 10: Bangalore: Arrive at Bangalore in the morning. At Bangalore visit Cubbon Park, Lal Baug and intersting public buildings within Cubbon Park. Excursion to Nrityagram- a center for learning of Indian classical dances set up by noted Odissi dancer Protima Bedi.
   
• Day 11: Hassan: Drive to Hassan visiting Sravanabelagola on the way which is famous for the tallest monolithic statue in the World (of Lord Gomateshvara)! Reach Hassan and check in.
   
• Day 12: Hassan: During the day visit two most outstanding sites for Hoysala style temples namely Halebid and Belur. Visit some of the most beautiful temples of Hoysala kingdom notably the Hoysaleshwar temple and Kedareshwara temple at Halebid and Channekeshava temple at Belur. These temples have some of the most intricate and unbelievable carvings found anywhere in Hindu temples.
   
• Day 13: Hampi: After a long drive through central Karnataka reach Hampi and check in. Evening at leisure.
   
• Day 14: Hampi: In the morning take a walking tour of the Hampi bazaar and temples. Hampi has extraordinary remnants of once great city Vijayanagara. The sheer size and majestic appearance of this historical site is amazing! Cross the picturesque Tungabhadra River on a primitively designed corracle- a very different experience!
   
• Day 15: Badami: Reach the little town of Badami after a beautiful drive through countryside. Badami was once the capital of Chalukyan empire and today it boasts some of the most beautiful rock cut temples of that period. Also visit the Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal (Extraordinary for its sculptures, a World Heritage site) and a few remarkable temples at Aihole.
   
• Day 16: Goa: Drive to Goa and check in. Day completely at leisure.
   
• Day 17: Goa: Sightseeing tour of Old Goa and Panjim for beautiful churches, cathedrals and Mangesh Temple. Mandovi River cruise.
   
• Day 18: Goa: Day completely at discretion in the tropical paradise known as Goa.
   
• Day 19: Mumbai: Fly back to Mumbai. After checking in, day kept at discretion to indulge in last day’s shopping or to enjoy the pulsating nightlife of Bombay.
   
• Day 20: Departure: Day free till the time of departure. At appropriate time, transfer to airport to catch the flight back home.
   

Tour ends
Aurangabad Extension

Day 19: Aurangabad: From Goa fly to Mumbai and further to Aurangabad. After checking in keep the evening at your discretion.

Day 20: Aurangabad: Excursion to Ajanta caves site, a scenic gorge having a series of caves. The caves have ancient sculptures and some of the most stunning murals of Buddhist era. Also visit Daulatabad fort and Bibi ka Maqbara at Aurangabad.

Day 21: Bombay: Visit the Ellora caves that are famed for their extraordinary sculptures. Noteworthy is the unbelievably sculptured Kailasnath Temple. Reach Bombay in the evening by flight with the option of using rest of the evening enjoying the pulsating nightlife of Bombay.

Day 22: Departure: Day free till the time of departure. At appropriate time, transfer to airport to catch the flight back home.
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Amarnath Pligrimage Tour Programe
Trek: Pahalgam To Amarnath Cave Via Mahagunas Pass
Main Trek Base:
Altitude: 4,175m (13,700ft).
Alternative Trek: Sonamarg To Amarnath

During the yatra, stages of the walk are carefully controlled by the Indian authorities. The first stage of the trek is to Chandanwadi, the second to Sheshnag and the third over the Mahagunas Pass to Panchtami. Many pilgrims visit the cave from Panchtami and return to Sheshnag the same day, walking back to Pahalgam on the fifth day.
 

• Day 1: Pahalgam To Chandanwadi
  (Average walking time 4 hours)
  
  The trail leaves Pahalgam on a bitumen road, past the Shankar temple and along the east Liddar valley. The trail is easy to follow indeed it is suitable for jeeps as far as Chandanwadi (2,900m). There are many obvious short cuts on the route, and a number of tea stalls, as this first Day always seems to be quite hot. The campsite is in a pleasant glade just before the main line of tea stalls.
   
• Day 2: Chandanwadi To Sheshnag
  (Average walking time 5 to 6 hours)
  From Chandanwadi the trail winds steeply for 500m to the summit of ridge known as Pisu Top (3,390m). From here, there are commanding views back down the valley to the mountains beyond Pahalgam. During the main pilgrimage, the tea stall owners do a thriving business, which keeps the pilgrims going on the long incline to the next main resting area at Wawajana (3,550m). From here it is two to three km further to Sheshnag (3,720m). The glacial lake is set in remarkable surroundings, its waters reflecting the snow capped peaks of Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. Rumour among pilgrims has it that the lake is inhabited by a serpent of Loch Ness monster proportions, so it's advisable not to camp too close to the water's edge.
   
• Day 3: Sheshnag To Panchtarni
  (Average walking time 6 hours)
  The trail gradually ascends from Sheshnag with magnificent views of the mountains immediately above. The ascent towards the Mahagunas Pass winds up to a grassy plateau, and from there on to the pass it is a further hour's climb. The sign at the top of the pass states the height as 4,270m. It is not a dramatic pass, but it is still no mean achievement for the pilgrims, many of whom have never been beyond the Indian plains before.
  
  The descent to Panchtarni (3,450m) is quite long and tiring, but there are frequent flowered meadows to rest in and admire. The campsite can be seen from afar; and behind, on a further ridge, the bare, treeless mountainscape resembles the terrain on the far side of the Himalayas. There are more spacious campsites upstream from the main camping area, and these are also a little cleaner.
   
• Day 4: Panchtarni To Amarnath Cave & Return
  (Average walking time 5 hours return)
  
  The actual time to the cave will depend on whether one's trek coincides with the main pilgrimage. During the pilgrimage an early start is essential, with many of the pilgrims move more steadily and slowly than on the rest of the trek, as if in awe of their surroundings.
  
  The climb to the Singh Pass (3,850m) is gradual before the trail enters the Amarnath valley. It descends to a permanently blackened snow bridge, which fords the Amarvati stream before ascending the true right back to the base of the mountain. From here the final ascent is up a series of concrete steps to the entrance to the Amarnath Cave (4,050m). The J&K police manning the entrance to the cave only permit a limited number of pilgrims inside at any one time.
   
• Day 5: Panchtarni To Chandanwadi
  (Average walking time 8 hours)
  
  Many pilgrims return from Panchtarni to Chandanwadi in one day. After completing their pilgrimage to the cave most are happy to trek as far as they can the following Day.
   
• Day 6: Chandanwadi To Pahalgam
  (Average walking time 4 hours)
  
  On the final Day most pilgrims arrive back in the Pahalgam bazaar with enough time to complete the drive to Srinagar or Jammu the same day.
   

ALTERNATE TREK: -
SONAMARG AMARNATH
Although the traditional yatra trek to the Amarnath cave is from Pahalgam one can also go there from Sonamarg.
 

• Day 1: Sonamarg-Baltal
  
  This 15-km trek takes about five hours and it's an easy walk since there is little altitude change between Sonamarag and Baltal. One should be able to get a lift on a truck to the roadblock, from there on it is better to walk. The roadblock is closed until noon or later, waiting for traffic to come across the Zoji la from Ladakh. From the roadblock one can walk along the river valley track, which is very pleasant. The river valley track is also 2 to 3-km shorter than the vehicle road. A military camp is the first sign of Baltal, which can be reached in a day from Srinagar.
   
• Day 2: Baltal-Amarnath
  The 15-km trek to Amarnath climbs over a thousand metres from Baltal at 2,743 metres to the cave at 4,175 metres and the walk takes about nine to 10 hours. The route crosses one major snow bridge over a river and climbs steadily up, crossing the Satsing pass, 3 ½-km before Amarnath, at 4,115 metres dropping down and then climbing up again to the cave at 4,175 metres. There are some tea stalls along the way, even at the river, and after the junction with the main trail there are even more.
  
  From Amarnath one can follow the traditional yatra trail down to Pahalgam.
  
  Option:
  Amarnath to Baltal & Sonamarg from the Amarnath cave return along the pilgrim trail as far as the junction of the Panchtarni and Amarvati rivers. Here the trails divert, with the track to Baltal heading down the true right of the valley. The trail is prone to rock avalanches where it traverses large scree slopes and one should be wary of descending without first checking its condition. If there are no problems, the trek to Baltal can be completed in about four hours.
  
  GETTING AWAY
  Road: From Baltal there is a regular bus service during the pilgrimage period, getting back to Srinagar that night. At other times, camp at Baltal and continue to Sonamarg at a more leisurely pace the following morning. From Sonamarg there are three buses a day to Srinagar and the drive takes around five hours.
   

India Down The Ganges :

15 days ex Delhi
Delhi, sailing on the River Ganges, Camping, Varanasi, Camel safari, Taj Mahal, Jaipur, Pushkar
Journey the Mother Ganges, India's most sacred river. The Ganges is the heart of the Hindu faith and the soul of the Indian nation. Its banks and waters are host to the most intimate rituals of life and death. Add a desert camel safari, colourful cultural experiences, royal palaces and the incomparable Taj Mahal to experience the magic of India.

Tour Itinerary :
Days 1-2 Delhi Visit India's largest mosque, the Jama Masjid, get lost in the spice bazaar, where different areas specialise in festival paraphernalia, silk, copper, brass and spices, and discover museums, ruins and locals galleries.
Days 3-4 River Ganges On our voyage down India's most sacred river, we camp on its banks and imagine what life is like for the village communities who live along the Ganges.
Days 5-7 Varanasi To discover Varanasi is to embrace a mysterious world of ritual and wonder. Here, along the ghats and within the labyrinth of twisting alleys, shrines, temples and pilgrims, lies the soul of India. Spend the evening soaking up the magical atmosphere of a candle flower ceremony as you watch the sun set to a delicate melody of traditional live sitar and tabla playing.
Day 8 Agra This town is justly famed for one of the modern wonders of the world, the beautiful Taj Mahal. We also visit the Red Fort, built by the Mughal emperors.
Days 9-10 Jaipur The 'Pink City' of Jaipur is our first experience of the colours of Rajasthan. The Amber Fort, crowded bazaars and jewellery shopping make Jaipur a favourite haunt for visitors to India.
Day 11 Roopangarh Fort From a royal city to the turrets of the 17th Century Roopangarh Fort, this is your chance to be an Indian maharajah for a night!
Days 12-13 Pushkar An enchanting town of white-washed temples set around a holy lake, Pushkar stands on the edge of the desert. Travel by camel and spend a night feasting and listening to traditional songs around the camp fire for a taste of nomadic life.
Days 14-15 Delhi The morning still leaves time to explore the immense shopping possibilities in Pushkar before crossing Snake Mountain to board a late train back into Delhi.