16 Day Spiritual and Himalayan Tour

Your journey begins with a pickup from Dehradun Airport, followed by a scenic route to Rishikesh, the world capital of yoga. You will be staying at Parmarth Niketan Ashram, a serene ashram on the banks of the Ganges, where you can be introduced spiritually to your host, Pandit ji.

On Day 1, you will explore and visit two well-known river crossings—the iconic suspension bridges, Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula—and several vibrant ghats, including Triveni Ghat, which is famous for being the spot where three sacred rivers meet, including Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. You will also visit the Beatles Ashram and Gita Bhawan, which will allow you to appreciate some of the spiritual and artistic aspects of Rishikesh.

On the evening of your first day, you will participate in the Sundown Ganga Aarti on the banks of the Ganges, one of the most memorable and enriching experiences one can have during a trip to the Himalayas.

Your day starts with a drive to visit the Temple of Kunjapuri Devi, one of the holiest shrines of Sati, Goddess Durga—an important Shakti Peeth in Uttarakhand, according to Hindu culture, where it is believed that Sati's body was located.  Kunjapuri Devi is considered the seat of female divine energy.  The sunrise at Kunjapuri is one of the most promising views of the Garhwal Himalayas, as it provides the viewer with a revealing view of the snowy tops of these great mountains as they are first illuminated by the sun.

Once you are done enjoying the Temple at Kunjapuri and the views of the mountains surrounding you, you head back to Rishikesh.  Along the way, you will make a stop at Neelkanth Waterfall, a place of great quietness associated with Lord Shiva, located in the midst of hilly wooded areas covered with dense vegetation. The rest of your time will be free to relax, reflect, take a stroll along the banks of the Ganges River, or enjoy some solitude in the ashram, where you can also stay overnight.

On the 3rd day, you travel from Rishikesh to Kund and experience the Sacred Confluence of the Ganga, where the Alakananda and Bhagirathi Rivers meet. Your first stop is Vashishtha Gufa (A Cave of Meditation). The Cave of Vashishtha (The Vashishtha Cave) is where the sage Vashishtha practised intense meditation for a period of time. You can meet a monk to learn about the Himalayan tradition of meditation.

Next, you will travel to Devprayag (the holy meeting of the (Alakananda River and the Bhagirathi River). The Dev Prayag (The Holy Meeting Place) holds great spiritual significance; it is one of the Panch Prayag (The Five Holy Confluences) in Uttarakhand. Finally, you will visit Rudraprayag, where the Mandakini joins the Alakananda (in the area of Lord Shiva).

By the evening, you reach Kund (a quiet village). You spend the night at Kund, surrounded by mountains and rivers.

By the early morning, your journey continues from Kund onwards to Chopta, commonly known as the "Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand", thanks to its vast meadows and stunning views of the Himalayas. Continue to Tungnath Temple, which is not only the highest Shiva Temple in the world but also part of the Panch Kedar Pilgrimage circuit.

It is said that Lord Shiva's arms appeared at this location after the Mahabharata. Tungnath has a wonderful, tranquil atmosphere, and the many Himalayan peaks surrounding you create a perfect environment for meditation.

After you have spent time at Tungnath, you will make your way back down to Makku Village, where you will spend the night in a traditional homestay, experiencing true Garhwali hospitality.

We start the day by travelling to Ukhimath, the place where people worship the idol of Lord Kedarnath during the time when the Kedarnath Temple is closed. We visit the Omkareshwar Temple and the sacred Manikarnika Kund, both of which have great importance to the Shavite (Shiva) tradition.

From Ukhimath, we then travel to the Triyuginarayan Temple, which is said to be the site where Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati, with Lord Vishnu as a witness. The flame that is burning there is considered to be a symbol of the divine marriage and has been burning since then. After we visit this temple, we return to Kund for an overnight stay.

Today, we travel to the Temple of Kartik Swami, located on a high ridge with views of the Himalayan valleys below. This temple is dedicated to Lord Kartikeya and represents the principles of self-sacrifice and dedication. The Kartik Swami Temple is considered one of the most scenic spiritual sites in Uttarakhand.

Later, we start our trip towards Uttarkashi through a spiritual hot spring called Gangnani. We will stay at Uttarkashi or on the journey to Uttarkashi for the night.

On the 7th day of your journey, you can have the opportunity to visit the Shree Kashi Vishwanath Temple located in Guptkashi. This temple hosts many traditions and legends related to Lord Shiva, who is said to have hidden himself from the Pandavas. The area is filled with the legends of Shiva. After visiting the temple, you continue your travels to Pilot Baba Ashram, located on the banks of the holy River Ganga. Pilot Baba Ashram was developed by a former Indian Air Force pilot turned yogi as a peaceful place of retreat. Arrive in the evening at Gangnani, where you will spend the night surrounded by the tranquil atmosphere of the Himalayas.

The journey continues from Gangnani to Harsil Valley, which offers visitors breathtaking views of forests blanketing hills, the famed apple orchard, and all the natural beauty of the Himalayas. You also visit the temple of Ganga Maa Mandir located in Mukhwa, which serves as the winter residence of the Goddess of Ganga and remains open for the months of winter, in addition to being inaccessible during this time at Gangotri. You can also have the opportunity to visit other local villages in the surrounding area, like Dharali, where you will have a chance to experience life in traditional Himalayan villages. Your overnight lodging is provided through a homestay in Harsil.

This day is provided as a restful and reflective time for hikers at Harsil Valley. Visitors can enjoy walking gently along riverbanks on the Bhagirathi, interacting with local villagers, or soaking in the serenity of the Himalayan mountain region. On this night, you have another overnight stay in Harsil.

Today's journey begins as you leave Harsil behind and head to your next destination: Sankri, a secluded mountain community that serves as the cultural epicenter of Upper Tons Valley. The route from Harsil to Sankri is an incredibly beautiful drive. You will drive through many deep valleys and an area filled with wooded landscapes. You will spend a night in Sankri.

Day 11 is for visiting the surrounding communities of Sankri to learn about life in Upper Tons Valley. Each of these communities contains some of the oldest wooden homes and still displays the cultural practices that have been passed down for generations.

The first stop is the nearby communities of Saud, Kotgaon, and Sadri. In these three communities you can witness the unique Koti-Banal design, the oldest building construction method in the Himalayas that was used to withstand severe weather patterns and seismic activity. You see terraced cropland, animal enclosures, and several small temples, all of which play an important role in the cultures of these communities.

The last part of your day is going to be spent interacting with various residents of each community, learning about their way of life, and experiencing the slower pace of life in the mountain range before driving back to Sankri for a night.

On day twelve you travel from Sankri, take a short walk to Dharkot, and continue on to Osla Village, one of the culturally significant villages of the area. Osla is a village that has an ancient temple, built in honour of Lord Shiva, along with many old wooden houses that are beautifully carved.

The lifestyle of the villagers reflects their connection to their traditions, as much of it revolves around agriculture, temples, and gathering as a community. While there, you have the opportunity to walk around the village, meet the local people, and learn about their customs and beliefs.

The peaceful village environment and preservation of its heritage will provide you with a unique cultural experience. You spend the night in Osla.

After breakfast on day thirteen, you walk back to Dharkot and then return to Sankri, marking the end of this village immersion experience. You spend the night in Sankri.

You visit Mahasu Temple after departing from Sankri, as Mahasu Devta is the deity worshipped by the residents of the area of Jaunsar-Bawar. The area called Lakhamandal, which is located in the Uttarkashi District, is believed to have historical importance concerning the Pandavas and contains some significant archaeological remains, including the temple of Lord Shiva. Spend an overnight stay in Lakhamandal.

The next stop in your journey is Dehradun, where you will first visit the Buddha Temple, which is a major Tibetan temple, and then visit the colonial-style Building of the Forest Research Institute (FRI), where extensive research is conducted on forestry in the Himalayan Region. An overnight stay in Dehradun.

After breakfast, we take you to Dehradun Airport to complete your journey of spiritual and cultural activities in the Himalayas.