Spiritual India - Foothills of the Himalaya

It was very special to be able to experience the country through spiritual ceremonies and visit the most important religious sites. We covered a lot of ground and explored many fascinating places on the way. From being in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Delhi and unforgettable rickshaw ride to relaxing at the stunning Ganga Kinare Hotel in Rishikesh where you can also spoil yourself with treatments - this trip had it all. Taking part in aarti ceremonies at the banks of the Ganges river, visiting the Rock Garden in Chandigarh, picturesque Dharamsala and the Norbulingka Institute were you can see traditional Tibetan art being made in of front of you were all unique experiences. The toy train to Shimla was a lof of fun as well! Our guide Vivek ensured everything went smoothly so we didn’t have to worry about anything. The beauty of the Golden Temple where everyone is invited was simply mind blowing. It was so heartwarming to watch how hundreds of people prepare and share food with pilgrims every single day. The vibrant colours of the country and friendly energy and smiles of its people is something you cannot describe in words but have to experience!

Great to see three key spiritual sites for the key Indian religions. Bathing in the Ganges and the Golden Temple were highlights Great insights provided by the tour leader

This tour was entitled Spiritual India and I chose it on the basis of that description. However, there were parts of the itinerary that were more historical or touristy than spiritual (Shimla and Chandigarh) and one 30 minute "lunch" stop (Mandi) added an unacceptable 2.5 hours to an already very long drive for no apparent reason. The accommodation was on the whole good, especially Rishikesh, but the hotel in Shimla was appalling. I had to change my room as it was smelly (presumably the windows didn't open so it hadn't been aired) and there was no access to any daylight whatsoever. My new room had a slither of daylight but the window didn't close so it was freezing at night. BUT on a positive note, there were some outstanding experiences - Rishikesh, Dharamshala and Amritsah being the main ones. An extra day in Rishikesh or Dhamshala could have replaced the non-spiritual aspects of Shimla, the needlessly long drive via Mandi and the visit to Section 17 in Chandighar (there was nothing there but a carpark!). The toy train to Shimla was great, though, and the rock garden at Chandighar was good too so all was not lost on those days. Summary: an experience never to be forgotten but an itinerary that needs considerable revision. This was the first trip of its kind but I feel more thought and testing out out of the route could have been done before trying it out on actual customers, and the word "spiritual" currently is a misnomer, in my opinion. However, my first (and probably only) experience of India was different to any country I've ever visited so that's a very good, albeit overwhelmingly, emotionally intense, thing as it certainly opened my eyes with wonder and incredulity at how different a culture can be.