Allahabad, the city of Gods, is the most fascinating amongst the prime holy cities of India. Situated at the confluence of sacred rivers the Yamuna, Ganga, and Saraswati, the glory of Allahabad is mentioned in various mythological inscriptions and ancient Hindu texts. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Brahma offered his first sacrifice in Allahabad after creating the world. Hence its name Prayag which means a place of sacrifice. The place also holds special significance to the Hindus for being the nucleus of the Kumbh Mela celebration.
According to Hindu mythology, during an ancient ongoing war between the demigods and the demons for the possession of Amrit, a few drops of the elixir fell on earth at four different places currently known by the name Allahabad, Nasik, Ujjain, and Haridwar. Kumbh Mela is organized at each of these places every 12 years and Ardh Kumbh Mela every 6 years on the basis of astrological calculations to celebrate their divinity.
It is believed that during a specific time when the stars are aligned appropriately, the drops of fallen elixir provide divine powers to the water of the rivers at the four sacred places. Millions of devotees gather to have a bath in the sacred water to be blessed with the mystical powers. They believe that taking a dip in the sacred waters will provide them Moksha (Salvation) and frees them from the cycle of birth and death. People young and old, frail and fit belonging to different castes, creed, and regions unify to be a part of the divine celebration. The place of the Ardh Kumbh Mela gets overwhelmed with ash-smeared Naga Sadhus, Urdhwavahurs, Parivajakas, and Shirshasins. Devotees come from all over the world to witness the sadhus, participate in bhajan, kirtan, and chat hymns at the river ghats.
Be a part of the glorious congregation of millions of devotees from different spheres of life as they unify to make the Ardh Kumbh Mela in Allahabad a grand success like always.
What is included in the tour
- Accommodation and inclusive meals
- Transfers and sightseeing tours
- Local guides fluent in English and Hindi for tours & transfers
- Entrance fees for scheduled visits
- Potable water and snacks
- Baggage handling, room tax, service charges
What is NOT included in the tour
- Flights, visas and travel insurance
- Surcharges on services if any
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Alcohol and any meals or services not mentioned in the schedule
- Expenses for Puja and Prasad
- Enjoy enchanting morning and evening prayers
- Visit mythologically significant emblems
- Explore exotic Indian culture and heritage via divine Hindu temples
- Witness glimpse of history via interesting museums and ancient historical wonders
- Upon arrival, our tour guide will meet you at the Varanasi airport to drop you comfortably at your hotel. Once done with the check-in formalities, relax, unwind, and enjoy some tasty meal in the hotel. Head out to explore the beautiful and mesmerizing city. Soak in the spiritual vibes of the city at the vibrant Ganga ghats. In the evening, we will attend the fascinating Ganga Aarti. Capture the glimpse of hundreds of floating lamps in the river. Nod in excitement to the rhythmic incantation of the sacred Vedic hymn to worship river Ganga. The experience fills every soul with elation, enlightenment, and spirituality. You also have the option to witness the Ganga Aarti on a boat. At night, we will drop you at the hotel for a restful sleep.
- Meals: Lunch and Dinner are provided
- Wake up early in the morning and enjoy a lovely breakfast in the hotel. Our tour guide will take you to the Ganga ghat for an amazing boat ride. Known by the name Subah-e-Banaras, the mesmerizing morning boat ride will introduce you to the mystical spiritual activities and religious rituals performed at the Ganga Ghats.
- We will also have a spiritual tour to important monuments and famous temples of Varanasi including the Sarnath Temple, Sarnath Archaeological Museum, Ashoka Pillar, Dhamek Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Golden Temple, Man Mandir Ghat, Rajghat, Gyan Vapi, Tulsi Manas Mandir, Durga Mata Temple, and the BHU.
- At night, we will return to the hotel for a comfortable sleep.
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch are provided
- Start early and have a marvelous breakfast at the hotel. Complete your checkout formalities and board the cab for a journey of 4 hours to reach Allahabad via Chunar Fort. According to the Puranas, Chunar was initially named as Charanadri. It is believed that Lord Vishnu took his first step in this area during his incarnation as Vamana to win the dynasty of the Great king Bali. The name Chunar became prominent when Babar visited the place followed by Sher Shah Suri, Akbar, Humayun, Aurangzeb and lastly the Britishers. The Chunar Fort was established by Maharaja Vikramaditya who was the king of Ujjain. Alha Khand illustrates that King Sahadeo made the fort his capital and also established Naina Yogini statue in Vindhya hill cave. King Sahadeo also built a stone umbrella in the fort to commemorate his grand victory on 52 rulers.
- We will drive to Allahabad and visit the Triveni Sangam which is a confluence of the three sacred rivers Yamuna, Ganga, and Saraswati. Allahabad, also known by the name Prayag, is a primary venue of the Kumbh Mela. Our tour guide will drop you comfortably at the camp. Complete your check-in formalities, relax, and enjoy a delicious dinner. Have a restful sleep at the camp to prepare for the next day. You also have the option to stay in a hotel of your choice.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided
- Start your day with a delicious breakfast at the camp before you proceed to the Triveni Sangam for a mesmerizing visit to the Kumbh Mela Ground. Enjoy a refreshing holy bath in the sacred water at the Triveni Sangam. Witness the puja rituals performed by pandas at the Triveni Sangam to assist the devouts. Explore the cultural activities at the Kumbh Fair Ground. In the evening, we will return to the camp for a restful sleep.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided
- Wake up early in the morning and enjoy a lovely breakfast in the camp. Proceed to the Triveni Sangam for an early Shahi Snan in the sacred water. You can also perform ablutions and pay homage to the Rising Sun which is worshipped as a God in India.
- Witness the saints as they take the royal bath. Capture glimpse of bare bodied, saffron clothed, matted-haired, and ash-smeared sadhus in various akharas. Submerge your soul in spirituality at the satsangs. Explore nearby temples like the Hanuman Temple, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and the Annapurna Temple. Enjoy the calm of the river and the freshness of the air as the glittering ghats come alive in the evening. Return to the camp at night for a restful sleep.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided
- Start early to capture some more glimpse of the Ardh Kumbh Mela. You can participate in various rituals like devotional singing, religious discussions on Vedas and other holy scriptures often called the Shastrarth, religious assemblies, and mass feeding of men and women.
- Witness the different vibrant colours of spirituality at the Ardh Kumbh Mela. In the evening, return to the camp for a refreshing sleep.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided
- Wake up early in the morning and enjoy a delicious breakfast at the camp before checking out. Board the cab for a 4 hours drive to Ayodhya via Faizabad. Ayodhya is the famous birthplace of Lord Rama (from epic Ramayana). It is amongst the seven holiest cities of the country. An important pilgrim center that attracts many devotees from all over India.
- Our tour guide will drop you comfortably at your hotel in Ayodhya. Complete your check-in formalities and take some rest before you head out to explore the sacred city. Followers and believers of Lord Rama visit Ayodhya during important religious festivals to take holy bath in the auspicious Saryu river. At night, we will return to the hotel for a well-rested night.
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
- Start your day with a delicious breakfast and quickly complete your check-out formalities. Board the cab to proceed on a spiritual journey through the lanes of Ayodhya. We will start our tour from the auspicious Ram Janam Bhoomi proceeding to the Hanuman Temple, Ammaji Mandir, Seetha Temple, and other places of spiritual significance. You can also take a dip in the sacred water of the Saryu river for a refreshing bath.
- Our journey from Ayodhya will continue with a 4-hour drive to Lucknow, the city of Nawabs. Our tour guide will drop you at your hotel in Lucknow. Complete your check-in formalities as you reach the hotel. Prepare yourself for the next day with a refreshing sleep at night in the hotel.
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch provided
- Enjoy a lovely breakfast at the hotel before commencing on a mesmerizing journey through Lucknow known for the chivalry and grandeur of its Nawabs and royal families. Lucknow has been famous worldwide for its mannerism and courtesy. Even the language of Lucknow has gracious dialects that melt every heart. We will visit landmark locations if the city covering the Bara Imambara, Chota Imambara, and other historical monuments. You can also splurge on shopping at the beautiful markets of Lucknow. Purchase native hand-embroidered Chikankari-work dress pieces to grace your wardrobe with the essence of Lucknow. Towards dusk, we will return to the hotel for a comfortable sleep.
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch are provided
- Start early with a lovely breakfast and complete your check-out formalities. Board the cab to have another sightseeing tour through the lanes of Lucknow. We will have a relaxing tour covering the Dilkusha Garden, Ramakrishna Math, Shah Najaf, Chattra Manzil, and La Martiniere. After the sightseeing tour, you will be transferred to the Lucknow Airport for your return commute. Have a cordial departure from Lucknow with blissful memories and amazing reminiscence of the Ardh Kumbh Mela.
- Meals: Breakfast provided
Points to Note
- Camps provide cheap accommodation to the pilgrims along with three-course meals. However, hotel accommodation can also be availed at additional prices which can be adjusted for higher or lower categories on request. Featured hotels are subject to availability during booking, and you will be notified of any deposits when booking.
- Domestic airfares are quoted based on averages and are subject to change. The most convenient flight is booked and final price confirmed once tickets are issued based on the class of seat and availability.