Susan Shumsky of Divine Travels is a member of Travel Service Network, Inc. (TSN). Professional industry affiliations include: LINKS TO DIVINE TRAVELS TOURS, RETREATS AND CONFERENCES DIVINE TRAVELS HOME SPIRITUAL CRUISES SPIRITUAL RETREATS SACRED INDIA TOURS SACRED EGYPT TOURS SACRED PERU TOURS SACRED BALI TOURS SACRED GREECE TOURS SACRED MEXICO TOURS JOIN OUR MAILING LIST DIVINE REVELATION HOME DIVINE TRAVELS HOME   LINKS TO DIVINE TRAVELS TOURS, RETREATS AND CONFERENCES DIVINE TRAVELS HOME SPIRITUAL CRUISES SPIRITUAL RETREATS SACRED INDIA TOURS SACRED EGYPT TOURS SACRED PERU TOURS SACRED BALI TOURS SACRED GREECE TOURS SACRED MEXICO TOURS JOIN OUR MAILING LIST DIVINE REVELATION HOME DIVINE TRAVELS HOME   LINKS TO DIVINE TRAVELS TOURS, RETREATS AND CONFERENCES DIVINE TRAVELS HOME SPIRITUAL CRUISES SPIRITUAL RETREATS SACRED INDIA TOURS SACRED EGYPT TOURS SACRED PERU TOURS SACRED BALI TOURS SACRED GREECE TOURS SACRED MEXICO TOURS JOIN OUR MAILING LIST DIVINE REVELATION HOME DIVINE TRAVELS HOME   LINKS TO DIVINE TRAVELS TOURS, RETREATS AND CONFERENCES DIVINE TRAVELS HOME SPIRITUAL CRUISES SPIRITUAL RETREATS SACRED INDIA TOURS SACRED EGYPT TOURS SACRED PERU TOURS SACRED BALI TOURS SACRED GREECE TOURS SACRED MEXICO TOURS JOIN OUR MAILING LIST DIVINE REVELATION HOME DIVINE TRAVELS HOME   LINKS TO DIVINE TRAVELS TOURS, RETREATS AND CONFERENCES DIVINE TRAVELS HOME SPIRITUAL CRUISES SPIRITUAL RETREATS SACRED INDIA TOURS SACRED EGYPT TOURS SACRED PERU TOURS SACRED BALI TOURS SACRED GREECE TOURS SACRED MEXICO TOURS JOIN OUR MAILING LIST DIVINE REVELATION HOME DIVINE TRAVELS HOME	Day 1         Welcome to Delhi Fly overnight to India, arriving in the late evening. Your tour leader will accompany you to your hotel in the heart of Delhi, followed by the Traditional Indian Welcome at the hotel. Overnight at hotel. Hotel: The Oberoi Maidens or Similar Fly overnight to India, arriving in the late evening. Your tour leader will accompany you to your hotel in the heart of Delhi, followed by the Traditional Indian Welcome at the hotel. Overnight at hotel. Hotel: The Oberoi Maidens or Similar
	Day 2         Explore Old Delhi and New Delhi Meet your group over the late breakfast, then enjoy a walking tour of Old Delhi, featuring Raj Ghat, where Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque. In the afternoon, drive through New Delhi to visit the India Gate and the old residences of British Viceroys. Visit the powerful, majestic Hindu Temples of Delhi: Chattarpur Temple, Yogmaya Temple & Lakshmi Narayan Temple. Hotel: The Oberoi Maidens or Similar (Meals: Breakfast & Welcome Dinner at Chor Bizarre)        Old Delhi: The 350 years old walled city was built by Emperor Shah Jehan in 1648 as his capital. Opposite the fort are the black and white onion dome and minarets of the Jama Masjid, the most elegant mosque in India. Raj Ghat is worth a visit where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948. New Delhi: The new capital designed by Sir Edward Lutyens. An interesting drive in the one passing through the impressive Rajpath from the World War I memorial arch, the India Gate towards the Presidential Palace. Visit Humayun's Tomb built in 1565 AD, Safdarjung's Tomb, the Qutab Minar, 72 meters high and the most curious antique, the uncorroded Iron Pillar, which dates back to the 4th century AD.
	Day 3        Delhi/Agra/Delhi (Explore TAJ MAHAL) Early morning, transfer to New Delhi Railway Station to catch Shatabdi Express for full day return trip to Agra. Reach Agra and visit the TAJ MAHAL. Afterwards, return back to Delhi by Shatabdi Express. Transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Hotel: The Oberoi Maidens Or Similar (Meals ­ Breakfast and Dinner) Agra is famous as being home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World ­ the "TAJ MAHAL". The architectural splendor of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is a vivid reminder of the opulence of the legendary Mughal Empire, of which Agra was the capital in the 16th and early 17th centuries. While its significance as a political center ended with the transfer of the capital to Delhi in 1634 by Shah Jahan, its architectural wealth has secured its place on the international map. A pleasant town with a comparatively slow pace, Agra is known for its superb inlay work on the marble and soapstone by craftsmen who are descendants of those who worked under the Mughals. The city is also famous for its carpets, gold thread embroidery, and leather shoes.
	Day 4         Delhi/Bhubaneshwar After early breakfast, transfer to Domestic Airport for flight to Bhubaneshwar, IC # 877 at 11.40 Hrs. Reach Bhubaneshwar at 13.40 Hrs and transfer to hotel. Half day sightseeing of Bhubaneshwar City. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Hotel: The Oberoi or similar (Meals ­ Breakfast and Dinner) Orissa of Odysseys and Odissi, set in fertile green plains. Blue Mountains, game-filled forests, perfect seabathing beaches, waterfalls and mighty rivers. It lies on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. This province of only four cities is predominantly rural; but it is for just this reason that the visitor has a feeling of the timelessness of India. Orissa has some of the holiest Hindu cities in India with pilgrims, colorful festivals, priests and monks, and thousand year old temples covered with a profusion of exotic (and often erotic) sculptures. The origin of Orissa is hidden in the dawn of history. Legend has it that Kalinga, one of the five sons of a sage, traveled as far as the hills of the eastern Ghat and, looking down on the lovely countryside below him, decided to settle with his people "where nature abounds in wanton profusion". Part of the province is still called Kalinga by the local people. Outside of this hazy past, the recorded history of Orissa begins in 260 BC with the edicts of Emperor Ashoka (who converted to Buddhism) carved in rock in Dhauli, only five miles from Bhubneshwar, the present capital. Only 100 years after his death, the country came under Jain influence and in about the second century AD. Jainism was again replaced by Buddhism, which flourished until around 640 and gave way later to a Hindu revival. The zenith of Orissan civilization was reached between the 4th and 13th centuries under the Kesari and Ganga Kings. During their reigns, literally thousands of temples and monuments rose up all over the land. In the 16th century, Moslem invaders destroyed as many of the "idol worshippers" temples as they could. Of the 7,000 temples that once lined the banks of the sacred lake of Bhubaneshwar, a few remain in various stages of preservation. The Oriyas are simple and friendly people and even the fascinating primitive Adivasi hill tribes are gentle, though reserved. The Adivasis are descendants of the people who lived in Orissa before the Aryan invasions from the north over 3,000 years ago. The Oriyas follow the traditional craftsmanship of their forefathers and their love for bright colors is evident in their handloom silks. Bhubaneshwar: Visit the majestic Lingaraj Temple which dates from about the year 1000. Its tower can be seen for miles around, dominating the entire landscape. Entrance is limited to Hindus only but there is an excellent vantagepoint platform. The sculpture of the Lingaraj is profuse and lavish with gods, goddesses, nymphs and dryads and some mithuna couples. Visit Rajrani Temple (11th century) one of the most endearing temples, set in picturesque surroundings. The feminine form being the subject here, the result is an enchanting celebration of the female, captured in every seductive pose. Visit the Mukteshwar Temple, which has been called a "dream realized in standstone". The sculpture is the finest in this group and all the figures are full of life. This temple's most distinctive feature is its torana or arch gateway showing the influence of Buddhist architecture. Visit Vaital, the tantric temple of the terrifying goddess, Kapalini enthorned upon a corpse. Also visit the Kedar-Gauri and Gupteshwar Temples.
	Day 5         Bhubaneshwar/Karkatpur/Bhubaneshwar After breakfast, full-day round trip to Karkatpur to meet Copper Plate Astrologer. A golden opportunity to meet a very old man (Copper Plate Reader/Astrologer) who is still continuing his age old tradition. He lives in a small village outside Bhubaneshwar. While our group visits him, we will get a close exposure to see village/rural india. Dinner & overnight at hotel. Hotel: The Oberoi or similar (Meals ­ Breakfast and Dinner)
	Day 6         Bhubaneshwar/Konark - Puri/Hyderabad After breakfast, full day trip to Konark and Puri and afterwards transfer to Domestic Airport for flight to Hyderabad, IC # 7278 at 19.25 Hrs. Reach Hyderabad at 21.00 Hrs. Transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Hotel: Comfort Inn -- Woodbridge Or Similar (Meals - Breakfast and Dinner) Konark, here stand the impressive remains of the Sun Temple, better known as the "Black Pagoda" because of the black tint that it has acquired over the centuries. Sailors at sea, named it thus to distinguished it from the white temples of Puri. This temple was built sometime in the 13th century and is the crowning glory of Orissan art. It stands in lonely splendor on the sand dunes, on 24 enormous wheels, pulled by seven straining horses and gives the impression that it will take flight towards the sea. Konark presents life-size couples and intricate carvings of pierced Jalli work on stone. Sensual figures can be seen in the niches and even on the wheel spokes. There is a sort of mystical aura about even the frankest carvings. 1200 sculptures spent 12 years on this stunning symbol of religious architecture.   Puri is one of the four holiest places in all India and every aspect of it is touched by the aura of the enormous 12th century Jagannath Temple, shrine of the Lord of the Universe. Because of the intense religious importance and hollowed traditions, it is open to Hindus only. It can be observed from the top of the Raghunandan Library. More than 6000 males serve as priests, wardens of the temple and pilgrim guides. Altogether 20,000 people are dependent on the temple and the hierarchy of priests is divided into 37 orders and 97 classes. Every minute detail of the temple's life is strictly adhered to according to prescription. A special feature of the temple, since its hoary beginnings, is that all castes here stand equal. Also visit the Gundicha Mandir ­ Lord Jagannath's birth place, with in a walled garden at the far end of grand road. Also visit Mausimaa Temple and the Beach.
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Reach Bangalore at 10.50 Hrs. Transfer to hotel. Afternoon, half-day sightseeing of Bangalore City. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Hotel: Comfort Inn -- Infantry Court Or Similar (Meals ­ Breakfast and Dinner)        Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka State is one of India's most charming cities. Today, it is India's 5th largest city, the momentum of its industrial and commercial growth unequalled in the country. Aptly named "Garden City",it boasts of an amazing number of flowering trees and parks. With splendid pink cassias and golden acacias blooming, with jacarandas flowering in purple majesty and the gulmohurs lighting the roads with their flame-orange brilliance, the city is a sheer delight to simply wander around in, enjoying the fragrance of jasmine.
	Day 8        Bangalore/Srirangapatnam/Mysore Morning, "MAHAYAGYA" performed by the group of prominent priests. Afterwards, drive to Mysore via Srirangapatnam, the capital city of King Tipu Sultan. Reach Mysore. Transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Hotel: Quality Inn ­ Southern Star (Meals ­ Breakfast and Dinner) Srirangapatnam: The island fortress of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan is picturesquely located in the River Cauvery. Within the fort walls that still carry the poignant scars of Tipu's last stand against the British, are a mosque and the Ranganathaswamy Temple. The 'Daria Daulat', Tipu's summer palace with a beautifully gilded and painted interior and the majestic 'Gumbaz'-his mausoleum, are located close to the river.
	Day 9         Explore Mysore After breakfast, Full day sightseeing of Mysore. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Hotel: Quality Inn ­ Southern Star (Meals ­ Breakfast and Dinner) Mysore, No longer the official capital of Karnataka survives as the principle residents of the formal Royal Family and is called the "City of Palaces". Mysore has a long history of eminent dynasties who ruled from here and created a city that, even today, is one of the finest in Southern India with tree-lined boulevards, beautiful gardens, parks and stately places. Mysore's main attraction is the "Maharaja's Palace".   Mysore is a major craft centre with numerous shops selling an incredible range of ivory, sandalwood, rosewood and teak carvings and furniture. Until independence, the city was the seat of the Maharajas of Mysore, a princely state covering most of Karnataka. The 10-day Dussehra festival is one of the major attractions, culminating in the long procession of caparisoned elephants, liveried retainers, cavalary. flower-bedecked images of deities, complete with bands and clouds of incense. Other places of interest include the palace; Chaumundi Hills; Srirangapatnam, the former capital of Mysore state; Somnathpur temple, built by the Hoysala kings in the 11th to 13th centuries.
	Day 10       Mysore/Bangalore/Puttaparthi After breakfast, drive to Puttaparthi via Bangalore. Reach Puttaparthi. Transfer to Hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel. Hotel: Sri Sathya Sai Village (Meals - Breakfast & Dinner)
	Day 11        Puttaparthi/Kaleshwar & Narayani Ammah Ashram/Puttaparthi After breakfast, full day round trip to Kaleshwar & Narayani Ammah Ashrams. Dinner & overnight at hotel. Hotel: Sri Sathya Sai Village (Meals - Breakfast & Dinner)
	Day 12       Puttaparthi (Sathya Sai Baba) After breakfast, full day at Puttaparthi and visit Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ashram. Dinner & overnight at hotel. Hotel: Sri Sathya Sai Village (Meals - Breakfast & Dinner)
	Day 13        Puttaparthi/Tirupati After breakfast, drive to Tirupati and transfer to hotel. Visit to Lord Balaji Temple. Dinner & overnight at hotel. Hotel: Guestline or Similar (Meals ­ Breakfast & Dinner) Tirupati is a dusty bustling little town at the foot of the Tirumalai Hills in the southern tip of Andhra Pradesh. Every day thousands of pilgrims descend on Tirupati spilling out of buses, cars, taxis and trains. They are all on their way up to the temple of the Lord Venkatswara up in the Tirumalai hills. It is an old temple, that has witnessed the rise and fall of powerful dynasties. The Pallavas, Cholas and Pandayas were all patrons of the shrine and they endowed it with jewels and wealth. Later in the 16th century the great Vijayanagar kings enriched and embellished the temple and gave it a new lease of life. Today this shrine probably attracts more devotees than any other temple in India and about 25,000 people coming from all over the country visit it daily, firm in the belief that any wish expressed before this image of the Lord Venkateswara will be granted. The temple is located in the cool of the verdant hills at a height of 890 metres. It nestles in a hollow surrounded by the peaks of the 7 hills of Tirumalai and legend has it that these are the seven hoods of the serpent god Adishesha, the vahanam or the mount of the Lord Venkateswara. It is a pleasant drive from Tirupati up to Tirumalai and as the road winds its way up the forested slopes there are splendid views of Tirupati and the plains. In earlier times people climbed to the temple on foot, many do even today making the 11 kilometer trek a part of their pilgrimage. They start the ascent from Alipiri, and as the groups of devotees go up the hills echo with the chant of "Govinda Govinda" and "Om Namoh Venkatesaiya" Up at Tirumalai is a sparkling little township, beautifully maintained, with its guest houses, hotels and gardens. The imposing gopurams or gateways of the temple dominate the scene. Around the temple itself are colourful stalls selling souvenirs and handicrafts, brass lamps, copper ritual vessels and all the paraphernalia needed for the rituals. The air is full of the indefinable fragrance that surrounds a temple, of flowers, incense sticks a flickering oil lamps. All around is a shifting mosaic of cour as people move towards the temples. Yet there is order in all this chaos and devotees are directed to well-equipped sheds where they form orderly queues as they wait patiently for a darshan or a glimpse of the deity. The temple is a perfect example of the Dravidian style of temple architecture. Within the three parakarams or enclosures of the temple complex is the main shrine with its exquisitely worked and gilded vimana above it, gleaming in the sun. Within the sanctum is the majestic "swayambhu" or naturally formed image of the Lord Venkateswara. He is seen standing on a lotus with his symbols the shankh conch and the chakra or discus in his hands and on the chest are the image of the goddesses Lakhsmi and Padmavati, the figure is laden with jewels. Worship at the temple starts in early hours of the morning before dawn, with the "Suprabhatham" when the Lord Venkateswara is woken from his rest. This early morning ritual is an unforgettable experience - as the myriad flickering oil lamps light up the sanctum and the majesty of the deity decked in glittering ornaments, the absolute silence is broken by the chant of the priests. It is the beginning of another day at the temple.
	Day 14         Tirupati/Chennai After breakfast, drive to Chennai. Reach Chennai and later on half-day city tour of Chennai. Dinner & overnight at hotel. Hotel: The Trident or Similar (Meals - Breakfast & Dinner) Chennai (previously known as Madras), the first city of South India and the capital of Tamilnadu state, is a historic land of ancient culture. India's most southerly city brims with magnificent architecture, exotic pageantry, and age-old traditions. The Dravidian dynasties of Pallavas, the Cholas and the Pandiyas, all left their marks on the culture and architecture of the region. Chennai, a thriving seaboard that did business with the Chinese, Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, and Babylonians 2000 years ago and later the French, Portugese, Armenians, and Arabs. Chennai remembered history goes back to the 4th Century. Immensely proud and aware of the classic antiquty of their three thousand years old Dravidian Culture, respected by the Aryans when they came in 1500 B.C., many modern day Tamils still live largely the same life in many ways, not only in their culture and language, but in their food and clothes as well. Tamil -- one of the oldest languages known on the earth -- spoken by majority of the people, today Chennai is a city that still sustains a pure Tamil culture vibrantly alive with modern participation. Inspite of successive invasions, the Tamil art, scriptures, religion, dance, drama, vocal and instrumental music and architecture have remained essentially untouched. Modern day Chennai sprawls over 174 square kilometers and is home of more than 5 million people. This modern metropolis of Chennai, Tamilnadu's principal port, offers excellent hotels and transport, a terrfic range of food and some serious shopping for silks, cottons, jewellery and handicrafts. And of course, magnificent old Hindu temples that offer more than just a fabulous photo opportunity to the discerning. More, you will hear the splendid strains of classical music and sniff a heady compound of jasmines and spices living traditions that are still savored from Chennai's ancient past.
	Day 15         Chennai/Kanchipuram/Mahabalipuram After breakfast, leave for Mahabalipuram, en route visiting Kanchipuram and Kamakshi Temple. Reach Mahabalipuram in the evening. Dinner & overnight at hotel. Hotel: Quality Inn -- MGM Beach Resort Or Similar (Meals ­ Breakfast & Dinner) Mahabalipuram: Globally renown for its shore temples, Mahabalipuram was the second capital of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram. 58 kilometres from Madras on the Bay of Bengal, this tiny sea - side village of Mahabalipuram, is set in a boulder - strewn landscape. Tourists are drawn to this place by its miles of unspoiled beach and rock-cut art.   The sculpture here is particularly interesting because it shows scenes of day-to- day life, in contrast with the rest of the state of Tamil Nadu, where the carvings generally depict gods and goddesses. Mahabalipuram art can be divided into four categories : open air bas - reliefs structured temples, man-made caves and rathas ('chariots' carved from single boulders, to resemble temples or chariots used in temple processions). The famous Arjuna's Penance and the Krishna Mandapa, adorn massive rocks near the centre of the village. The beautiful Shore Temple towers over the waves, behind a protective breakwater. Sixteen man-made caves in different stages of completion are also seen, scattered through the area. Kanchipuram is among the most famous of the 'temple cities' of Tamil Nadu. Its temples house different Hindu sects. Though today it is only a destination for pilgrims, and a repository of major architectural monuments, in antiquity it occupied a more preeminent place in the history of South India. The city was the political capital of the Pallava rulers during the 7th - 9th centuries. It remained an important city during the succeeding Chola and Vijayanagara periods.The Kailasanatha temple is the finest structural project of the Pallava ruler Rajasimha. The temple is almost entirely constructed of sandstone and is integrated into a coherent complex. A large variety of Shaiva images adorns the outer walls; the inner walls were once painted. A polished linga (phallus, the symbol of regeneration associated with Shiva) is enshrined within. The Ekambareshvara temple is the principle Shaiva sanctuary and its soaring gopuras dominate the city's skyline. This temple was erected in 1509 by the Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadeva Raya. The temple is preceded by a long columned mandapa into which earlier shrines and altars have been incorporated. A corridor surrounds the principle shrine on four sides, presenting a continuous sequence of receding piers.The Vardhamana temple is the most important Vaishanava temple. Local legend has it that the temple commemorates the site where the Lord Brahma performed a yajna (fire sacrifice) to invoke the presence of Vishnu. It has a long history spanning the Chola and the Vijayanagara periods. One of the two high towered gopuras resemble 12th-13th century Chola projects while the other is characteristic of the 16th century Vijayanagara period. The main sanctuary enshrines bronze images of Vishnu flanked by his consorts. Some specimens of Vijayanagara paintings are still preserved on the walls.
	Day 16         Optional Day Trip to Thiru Annamalai and Ramana Maharishi Ashram OPTIONAL: Visit to Thiru Annamalai and the ashram in Arunachala of famous Vedanta Advaita (Non-dualism philosophy) saint, Ramana Maharishi.
	Day 17         Mahabalipuram/Chennai/Madurai After breakfast, transfer to Domestic Airport for flight to Madurai, IC # 671 at 11.45 Hrs. Reach Madurai at 12.40 Hrs. Afterwards, visit to the Meenakshi Temple and transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Hotel: Pandyan Or Similar (Meals - Breakfast and Dinner)
	Day 18         Madurai/Kanyakumari After breakfast, half-day sightseeing of Madurai and continue to Kanyakumari. Reach Kanyakumari and transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel. Hotel: Madhini Or Similar (Meals - Breakfast and Dinner) Madurai, situated in southern Tamil Nadu, is a district with its headquarters in Madurai city, on the banks of Vaigai river. Madurai is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu. It is more than 2,500 years old and is an important cultural and commercial centre. Madurai, once the seat of Tamil learning and still the place where Tamil language is spoken in its purest form, is an ancient city planned in the shape of lotus. Day 19        Explore Kanyakumari/Mata Amritanandamayi Ashram After breakfast, full day sightseeing of Kanyakumari and Vivekenanda Memorial Rock. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Hotel: Madhini Or Similar (Meals - Breakfast and Dinner) Cape Comorin, Land's End ­ mainland India's southernmost point, where three seas meet and where the shore temple to the virgin goddess Kanyakumari stands. It is one of the sacred pilgrimage places of the hindus. There are two significant memorials here. One is the Gandhi Mandapam, built to commemorate the immersion of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi in the waters by the temple. The other memorial, dedicated to Swami Vivekananda, is built on the rock 656 ft. from the shore where he meditated in 1892 before taking the message of the Hindu philosophy to the west. Swami Vivekananda was the foremost disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
	Day 20        Mata Amritanandamayi Ashram/Trivendrum Visit to Mata Amritanandamayi Ashram and later on continue to Trivendrum. Transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight at hotel. Hotel: The South Park (Meals - Breakfast & Dinner) Mata Amritanandamayi is believed to be an avatar--an incarnation of Mother Divine in human form. She is the first Indian saint to give her blessings by hugging each aspirant who visits her. To receive a hug from "Ammachi," as she is called by her devotees, is to experience the nectar of divine love flowing into your heart and illuminating your mind. This is something that has to be experienced in order to understand its power. A feeling of true spiritual grace is bestowed upon every person who visits this wonderful saint.
	Day 21         Trivendrum/Delhi After late breakfast, transfer to Airport for flight to Delhi, IC # 804 at 13.50 Hrs. Reach Delhi at 19.00 Hrs. and transfer to Village BISTRO for Farewell Dinner and later on transfer to IGI Airport and tour terminates.