Kashi, Ayodhya with Chitrakoot

Cities Covered:

• Varanasi       : 4 Nights
• Ayodhya       : 1 Night
• Lucknow       : 1 Night
• Allahabad     : 2 Nights

Highlights:

• Varanasi City Tour with Darshan at Kashi Vishwanath Temple and evening Ganga Aarti
• Visit Sarnath Temple, Ashok Pillar, Varansi weaving Centre
• Visit Gaya and darshan at Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhi Tree, Vishnupaad Temple
• Ayodhya City Tour with visit to famous Ramayana era religious places
• Visit Namisharanya (Enroute Ayodhya to Lucknow)
• Holy Dip at Triveni Sangam and City Tour of Allahabad
• Day Trip to Chitrakoot including visit to Ram ghat, Hanuman Dhara, Janki Kund & Bharat Milap Temple

Meals:

• 08 Breakfast at the Hotel
• 08 Dinner at the Hotel

Day 1:- Arrive Varanasi / Transfer to Hotel.  City tour of Varanasi & evening Ganga Aarti.

(Dinner)

Welcome to Varanasi or Banaras, mentioned in the scriptures as Kashi, is less of a city and more of a dreamy experience. The city is located on the banks of River Ganga which has two tributaries in the city: Varuna and Assi; hence the name Varanasi. The combination of Kashi – the holy city, Ganga- the sacred river and Shiva- the supreme God, makes Varanasi an immortal destination.

On arrival, transfer to hotel and check in.

Freshen-up and then we proceed for city tour including visit to New Kashi Vishwanath Temple in campus of Banaras Hindu University, Sankat Mochan Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple, Durga Temple & Tridev Temple.

In the evening get ready for the boat rode on the River Ganga converge at the Dashashwamedha Ghat. Later proceed for the magical Aarti.

Back to hotel after Maa Ganga Aarti.

Day 2:- Day trip to Gaya and Bodhgaya.

(Breakfast & Dinner)

After breakfast, procced to Gaya, Bihar. Visit Vishnupaad temple for Ritual Pinda Dann Pooja and Mangala Gauri Darshan.

Later drive to Bodhgaya and visit / darshan at ​Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhi Tree, Great Buddha Statue, Chinese Temple, Barabar Cavas,

Later visit The Ajapala Nigrodha tree.

Lastly visit the Royal Bhutan Monastery, Another place to learn and practise Buddhismin Gaya is the Royal Bhutan Monastery, which is also considered as one of the most magnificent monasteries in the region.

In the evening, back to Varanasi.

Day 3:- Sightseeing in Varanasi with Darshan at Holy Temples.

(Breakfast & Dinner)

Early morning procced to banks of holy river Ganga to take a dip in the holy waters and darshan at main Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Annapurna Temple, Vishalakshi Temple & Kaal Bhairav Temple.

After breakfast visit Sarnath. Sarnath is the place where Lord Buddha preached first sermon after enlightenment.  Visit Dhamek Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa, Jain Temple, Buddha Temple, Sarnath Museum, Ashok Pillar, Deer Park. Then move drive to Ramnagar Fort, Palace of Maharaj Banaras.

In evening, indulge in some shopping at the famous Silk weaving center of Banaras. Varanasi is famous for its Silk Sarees and the brocades hand-woven in Gold or Silver thread. If you pass by these areas, the clack of weaving looms persists like a background score. Shopkeepers often do the quintessential ‘ring test’ to affirm the quality of the silk, where the complete Saree can pass through a ring.

Back to hotel in the evening.

Day 4:- Depart Varanasi / Arrive Ayodhya. Visit of holy Ramayana Era sites including Ram Janam Bhumi.

(Breakfast & Dinner)

After Breakfast, checkout from hotel and drive towards

It is a city situated on the banks of holy river Saryu. It is an ancient city of India, birthplace of Bhagwan Shri Rama and setting of the great epic Ramayana.

On arrival, transfer to hotel and check in.

Freshen-up and proceed to visit holy sites of Ayodhya including Saryu River, Hanuman Garhi, Ram Janam Bhumi, Kanak Bhawan, Ramkot, Swarg Dwar, Mani Parbat, Sugriv Parbat, Treta Ke Thakur and Nageswarnath Temple.

In the evening, back to hotel.

Day 5:- Depart Ayodhya. Day Trip to Namisharanya. Arrive Lucknow.

(Breakfast & Dinner)

After Breakfast, checkout from hotel and drive towards Namisharanya.

Start with the visit to chakrathirth, it is believed that Chakratirth is the place where Lord Brahma’s wheel cracked through the Earth developing a large source of water. Then next to Hanuman Garhi, Pandav Kila, Lalita Devi Temple, Yvas Gaddi, Havan Kund, Misrikh Dadhichi Kund, Sita Kund, Param Mandir and Ashram of Maa Anandamayi​.

After visiting all the pilgrimage places, head towards Lucknow.

Arrive Lucknow hotel and checkin.

Day 6:- Depart Lucknow / Arrive Allahabad. Local Sightseeing.

(Breakfast & Dinner)

After breakfast, checkout from the hotel and proceed to Allahabad now known as Prayagraj.

It is situated at the confluence of three rivers- Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati.

On arrival transfer to hotel and check in, and freshen up.

Witness and take holy dip at the Triveni Sangam, the point where the brown water of the Ganga meets the green water of the Yamuna, along with the mythical Saraswati, which remains unseen but believed to run underground.

Later visit the Allahabad Fort, Hanuman Temple, Anand Bhawan, Allahabad Museum, Iskon Temple, Alopi Devi Temple & Nav Grah Temple.

Day 7:- Day trip to Chitrakoot.

(Breakfast & Dinner)

After breakfast, procced to Chitrakoot, meaning “the hill of many wonders”.

It falls in the northern Vindhya Range of mountains spread over the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Lord Rama spend a major part of his exile here.

At Chitrakoot, everything relates to Lord Rama.

In Chitrakoot visit Ram ghat, Hanuman Dhara, Kamadgiri, Bharat koop, Bharat milap Temple, Gupt Godavari, Janki kund, Sati Anusuya ashram, Sphatik shila, Ganesh Bagh, Valmiki ashram, Lakshman chowki, Ram Shaiyya etc.

Retrace to Allahabad, transfer to hotel.

Day 8:- Depart Allahabad / Arrive Varanasi. Enroute visit Vindhyachal & Sitamadhi.

(Breakfast & Dinner)

After Breakfast checkout from hotel and proceed to Varanasi.

Enroute visit the Vindhyachal, Sitamadhi Devi Temple & Shaktipeeth. Vindhyachal is the only place in the world, where ‘Devi’ (Goddess) is worshipped as per tenets of ‘Vaam Maarg’ as well as ‘Dakshina Maarg’ of ‘Shakti’ cult of Hinduism. The very famous war between Goddess Durga and Demon King Mahishasur, took place at Vindhyachal.

Procced to Varanasi. On arrival, transfer to hotel. Rest of the day is free for leisure.

Day 9:- Depart Varanasi / Arrive Home.

(Breakfast)

After breakfast check out from hotel and transfer to Varanasi Airport / Railway Station for your journey back home with wonderful memories & souvenirs from your Kashi, Ayodhya with Chitrakoot Pilgrimage.