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This
safari takes you to the lap of the Himalayas, synonymous with
holiness and peace and among all the Himalayan regions, the
Garhwal Himalayas is considered especially holy because the
Holy Ganges emanates from here. This region also houses four
of the most revered shrines of the Hindu religion of Badrinath,
Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
This exciting jeep safari takes you to the holiest of these
four shrines, Badrinath. Skanda Purana (an ancient book) mentions
that "there are many shrines on earth, heaven and hell but
none has been nor will be like Badrinath". This mountain range,
with its snow covered peaks, enormous valley and extensive
plateaus, inspires awe in any one who visits it. The jeep
safari also takes you to the Auli ski slopes that has the
longest cable car service in India.
Season: May/ June & September
- November
Day
01: Arrive Delhi
You will be met on arrival
in Delhi and transferred to the hotel. Your room has been
booked from 1200 hrs the previous day to provide you a immediate
occupancy on arrival. O/n at the hotel.
Day
02: Delhi - Haridwar
Haridwar - Rishikesh/Snow Leopard camp (Drive)
Transfer to railway station
for train to Haridwar. Arrive Haridwar & be met by Cox
and Kings representatives and set off on the 1 ½ hour drive
to Hotel Natraj in Rishikesh/ Leopard Beach Tented Camp depending
on the season.
After lunch you can participate in any of the activities offered
at the camp including rafting/ kayaking/ beach volleyball
/ nature walk in the Himalayan foothills. Post-lunch, drive
to Rishikesh for sight-seeing. Visit temples, ashrams, yoga
centres, Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula, once the largest suspension
bridge in India. Overnight at Hotel Natraj/ Leopard Beach
Tented Camp.
Day
03: Rishikesh - Auli (Drive)
After an early breakfast,
drive to Joshimath on a mountainous road along the Ganga river
and later by the Alaknanda approx drive time 8 hours. There
is a 3.9 km cable car (the longest in Asia) to the scenic
and picturesque Auli Ski resort. We drive 14 kms. on a rough
track upto Auli. Excellent view of the Garhwal Himalayas including
Nanda Devi (the second highest mountain in India). Overnight
in Auli Tourist Bungalow.
Day
04: Auli
Day at leisure to explore
the surrounding mountains with glorious views of the high
Himalayan peaks. O/N at Auli Tourist Bunglow.
Day
05: Auli - Joshimath - Badrinath - Auli (Drive)
Drive to Badrinath (4 hrs)
situated on the banks of Alaknanda. Standing like twin sentinels
over the valley are Nar and Narain peaks and in the distance
one can see the Nilkanth peak (6597 m). The famous Hindu shrine
of Badrinath (3110 m) dedicated to Lord Vishnu is in the lap
of Narain peak with the Nilkanth peak in the background. Picnic
lunch en route. Drive back to Joshimath/ Auli. Optional visit
to the famous Narsingh temple in Joshimath. The statue of
Narsingh is carved out of a single semi-precious stone. Drive
to Reni to see the sulphur springs. O/n at Auli Tourist Bungalow/
Joshimath Hotel.
Day
06: Auli - Doggalbitta (Drive)
Drive from Auli via Joshimath
to Doggalbitta (4 hrs). At 2347 m it is a high altitude alpine
meadow with great views of the Himalayan ranges. O/N in tents
/the government rest house built in 1928.
Day
07: Doggalbitta - Tungnath - Doggalbitta (Drive)
Drive from Doggalbitta to
Chopta (7kms) and then a 3.5 kms. hike to Tungnath temple
at 13,500 feet. The famous temple is set on the crest of a
hill at a height of 3680 mtrs and from here one can view the
peaks of Panch Chuli, Nanda Devi and Kedarnath and panoramic
view of the Garhwal Himalayas makes the visit worthwhile.
Return to Doggalbitta. O/n in rest house/ tents.
Day
8: Doggalbitta - Uttarkashi (Drive)
Drive for about 8 hours from
Doggalbitta to Uttarkashi, situated on the banks of the Bhagirathi
river. It is a small town of historical monuments, temples,
ashrams and dharmshalas and is comparitively a prosperous
town with some modern amenities. Arrive and check into tourist
bungalow for dinner and o/n stay.
Day
09: Uttarkashi - Gangotri (Drive)
Early morning embark on the
97 km drive from Uttarkashi to Gangotri (3048m), close to
the source of Ganga River. The 4-hour drive is along the ancient
pilgrimage route and is very scenic.
From Gangotri, one can trek to Gaumukh, which is the mythological
source of the Ganges and the snout of the Gangotri glacier.
En route stop at the hot water sulphur springs at Gangnani.
The places of interest in Gangotri include a temple of Goddess
Ganga built in the eighteenth century. All sins are supposedly
washed away if one takes a dip in the Ganga, specially at
Gangotri. Check into the Gangotri tourist bungalow for dinner
and o/n stay.
Day
10: Gangotri
Day at leisure to explore
the area. O/N at Gangotri.
Day
11: Gangotri - Mussoorie (Drive)
Early morning a long nine
hour drive to Mussoorie (1921 mtrs) , one of the famous hill
stations of India. Packed lunch en route. Transfer to Mussoorie
Hotel. Visit the famous, Gun Hill where one can get panoramic
views of snow-clad Himalayas. O/N at Hotel.
Day
12: Mussorie
Morning at leisure for an
easy walk along the winding Charles Ville road which lead
one to the pine-scented Happy Valley and the Tibetan township
and see the Buddhist shrine with ceremonial trumpets and acolytes
reciting ancient scriptures. O/N at Hotel.
Day
13: Mussioie - Dehradun (Drive)
Dehradun - Delhi ( Train Shatabdi Express: 1720 - 2230 Hrs)
Morning at leisure or a walk
at the Mall. Lunch. After tea and snacks, drive down to Dehradun
to board the Shatabdi Express train to Delhi. Met on arrival
in Delhi and transferred to the hotel .
Day
14: Delhi - Next destination (Flight)
Transfer to the airport to
connect with your flight to the next destination.
Recommended Extensions:-
Delhi sightseeing
The Corbett Adventure
Visit Agra
Exotic Triangle
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