Taj Mahal, the amazing stone work of Ajanta and Ellora Caves and magnificient temples of South India.  With an overnight cruise of Kerala’s Backwaters

The very land is steeped in spirituality, where many ancient practices were developed and perfected over 5,000 years ago. Simply walking the land can leave a profound and lasting imprint on your soul. To transform your life requires a journey which will change the way you view yourself and the world. This tour maintains all the comforts of home with the profound experience of India, allowing you to absorb the area’s rich spiritual traditions while enjoying safe food, excellent lodging and the guidance of experienced staff.

Highlights of the tour include:

• Visit New Delhi, Taj Mahal at dawn in Agra
• Forts and Palaces of Jaipur
• Caves, paintings and temple of Ajanta and Ellora Caves
• Travel from the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea,
• Most fantastic Hindu Temples of South India,
• Overnight on the Backwaters of Kerala,
• Spanish and English speaking Guides

India is geographically the size of Europe. There are 17 different languages with their own scripts. As a visit to France is not representative of visiting all of Europe, equally North India is vastly different in all respects to South India. The BBC has listed the Taj Mahal as onr of the top ten sites to visit in the world. Your fee includes breakfast and lunch daily, comfortable lodging, sacred ceremonies and Spanish- and English-speaking guides throughout the trip. Besides visiting the great religious and cultural sites, and walking in the footsteps of the Masters, our tour also provides time to shop, from museum quality pieces to bazaars, and partake in local customs and ceremonies.

Adrianna Castelazo will lead the tour in Spanish and Deepak Singh will lead it in English.  Adrianna has been coming to India since the 1990s and has visited India more than fifty times.  She knows more about India than many native Indians!

Itinerary

(Map of where we will go (https://maps.app.goo.gl/DBa8qeGu5Gcei58t6).  Zoom in or out.  Longer distances will be by air)

Sep 21:  Arrive Delhi

Arrive in Delhi this evening (or early morning October 2).  Overnight:  Delhi.

We welcome you in the capital city of India, for a journey across the fascinating history-markers of medieval north India. Wars were fought and rulers changed in Delhi but ordinary lives were lived in relative continuity. Glimpses of these can be seen even today as the character of the city underwent massive changes in the last decades. In the land to have been seven capital cities, signs of the old are continuously jostling with the new, presenting an ever-fascinating panorama. We welcome you to its chaos and stability, into its steadfastness and its impatience and into a delightful rainbow of amalgamation, producing a world completely its own. Spiritual Journeys representative will meet you as you exit customs and immigration at Delhi airport and transfer you to your airport hotel

Sep 22:  Delhi

Spend the day on a sightseeing tour of Delhi. Overnight:  Delhi. 

We will visit Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India with a capacity of 20,000 people, situated a quarter of a mile from the Red Fort, designed as Emperor Shahjahan’s principal mosque. Construction lasted six years, ending in 1644. The structure was placed on a high platform so that it’s magnificent facade would be visible from all the adjoining areas. It’s an austere yet beautiful building in red sandstone with white marble being used extensively. The pulpit is one of its best features, being carved out of a single block of marble. The Emperor used to arrive here every Friday and on Id. Spend a little time at Rajghat where Gandhi was cremated. While there are many noteworthy Gurudwaras (places of worship for the Sikhs), we will visit the lovely Gurudwara Bangla Sahib where Guru Har Krishan, the eighth Sikh Guru went to Delhi and stayed as the honored guest of Raja Jai Singh.

Sep 23: Delhi – Agra (by road)
Spend the morning sightseeing South Delhi then drive to Agra (4 hrs). Overnight: Agra.

Visit Emperor Humayun’s Tomb built by Haji Begum, the widow of the second Mughal Emperor Humayun nine years after his death and took eight years to complete. It is designed by the Persian architect Misak Mirza Ghiyaz. Octagonal in shape, raised on a plinth, with double domes, high arches, laid in the centre of a large walled enclosure, the monument is an imposing structure.  The Qutub Minar – Delhi’s landmark, 73 mtr. Tall victory tower was started by Qutub-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler in 1193 but could finish only the 1st storey of sand stones. Iltutmish succeeding him added 2nd & 3rd floor in sand stone and later in 1368 Firoz Shah Tughlak constructed 4th& 5th storey in both sand stone and marble. Delhi’s most curious antique, the uncorroded Iron Pillar, which dates back to the 4th century AD.  As we enter Agra, visit Agra Fort where Shah Jehan spent the last years of his life, imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb. The most impressive part of the Fort are the Dewan-eAm, Hall of Public Audience where the Emperor met officials and listened to petitioners, and the Dewan-e-Khas Hall of Private Audience where he received foreign dignitaries. The Peacock throne (now in Iran) was in this fort, before being moved to Delhi by Emperor Aurangzeb. 

Sep 24:  Agra – Jaipur (via Fathepur Sikri)

Visit the Taj Mahal then drive to Jaipur visiting Fathepur Sikri enroute (6 hrs).  Overnight:  Jaipur.

Before dawn, visit the spectacular Taj Mahal – the most extravagant monument ever built for love. On the death of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, Moghul Emperor Shah Jehan built her this memorial over which 20,000 men laboured for 22 years to create a masterpiece in white marble inlaid with semi precious stones; the art is called pietra dura.  Stroll down the ornamental gardens laid out along the classical Mughal charbagh lines. This garden is separated by a long watercourse, which reflects the monument in perfect symmetry.  Return to your hotel for breakfast.  Then depart for Jaipur, stopping at Fathepursikri on the way.   In its imposing red sandstone structure lies the city envisioned by Emperor Akbar only to be abandoned a mere fourteen years later due to water scarcity. 

Sep 25:  Jaipur

Spend the day sightseeing.  Overnight:  Jaipur.

Compare the city of Old Delhi with the city of Jaipur, a city unique amongst its medieval contemporaries. The streets, palaces, temples, residences, shopping place are all in accordance to the ancient Hindu rules of Vastu Shastra. The pink wash was added in 1853 in honour of the visit of Prince Albert. Perched atop the hill looking down majestically is the Amber fort. We ride up into the palace astride elephants just like the Maharajas of yore. The plain and time worn exteriors belie the exquisite detail with which the interiors were crafted with a gentle breeze which cools the interiors.  In the famed Sheesh Mahal look up and be prepared to feel a surge of color as the optical effect makes you a part of this royal past.  In the city, drive past Hawa Mahal, where again notice the jails. The Maharaja’s City Palace, much of which has been converted into a museum covers almost one-seventh area of the city in a fortified unit. Here the Armoury Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers. Become one with the planetary bodies at Jantar Mantar, the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world.  Jaipur is also an interesting place for those interested in jewellery, clothes, carpets and other handicrafts items. The city is a veritable paradise for those seeking souvenirs of the craftsmanship of Rajasthan.

Sep 26:  Jaipur

Spend the day sightseeing.  Overnight:  Jaipur.

Light day of sightseeing, shopping at local markets and spending time at some of the shops offering museum quality pieces. Overnight: Jaipur.

We head to Amber Fort. Perched atop the hill looking down majestically is the Amber Fort, one of the most fascinating of the Indian forts. he plain and time worn exteriors belie the exquisite detail with which the interiors were crafted with a gentle breeze which cools the interiors. In the famed Sheesh Mahal look up and be prepared to feel a surge of color as the optical effect makes you a part of this royal past. Spend a few hours with elephants where they live, what they eat, and what they do.

Sep 27:   Jaipur – Aurangabad (by air)

Fly to Aurangabad (via Mumbai).  Overnight:  Aurangabad.

Sep 28:  Aurangabad / Ajanta Caves

Depart for Ajanta Caves (1 hr) and spend the day there. Return to Aurangabad. Overnight: Aurangabad.

The Ajanta Caves include paintings and 30 rock cut sculptures described as among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art, particularly expressive paintings that present emotion through gesture, pose and form. These masterpieces of Buddhist religious art influenced Indian art that followed. The caves were built in two phases, the first phase starting around the 2nd cent BC and the second phase built around 400–650 AD.

The Caves constitute ancient monasteries and worship halls of different Buddhist traditions carved into a 250 feet wall of rock such as depicting past lives and rebirths of the Buddha, pictorial tales from Aryasura’s Jatakamala, as well as rock-cut sculptures of Buddhist deities. They are mentioned by several medieval era Chinese Buddhist travelers to India and by Mughal officials of Emperor Akbar. They were covered by jungle until accidentally “discovered” in 1819 by a colonial British officer on a tiger hunting party. Ajanta Caves are closed on Mondays.

Sep 29:  Ellora Caves, then Mumbai (air)
Visit Ellora Caves, then fly to Mumbai. Overnight: Mumbai.

Ellora is one of the largest rock-cut monastery-temple cave complexes in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments, and artwork, dating from the 600-1000 AD period. Ellora is home to the largest single monolithic rock excavation in the world, the Kailash temple, a chariot shaped monument dedicated to Shiva. This temple excavation also features gods, goddesses, and mythologies found in Vaishnavism, Shaktism as well as relief panels summarizing the two major Hindu Epics. There are many videos saved on www.YouTube.com on this temple, one of which is here. Ellora Caves are closed on Tuesdays.  Over 100 caves here consist of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves representing deities and mythologies that were prevalent in the 1st millennium CE.

Sep 30:  Mumbai – Pondicherry (by air)

Fly to Pondicherry and spend rest of the day sightseeing.  Overnight:  Pondicherry.

Pondicherry was a French settlement that comprised Pondy, Yanam, Karaikal and Mahe. There is a strong influence of French culture on Pondicherry town, especially on its architecture, a result of the centuries-old relations this place maintained with France.

On the drive to Pondicherry, stop by at Auroville a universal township conceived by Mirra Alfassa, known as the Mother.

In Pondicherry, Sri Aurobindo Ashram was founded in 1920 when Sri Aurobindo reached Pondicherry, a French colony and put in place his ideas of peaceful community. The ashram was run by his French companion Mirra Alfassa, known as the Mother.

Oct 1:  Pondicherry 

Spend a lazy day sightseeing this quaint town which mixes French patisseries with age-old Hindu Temples. O/n:  Palais De Mahe, Pondicherry.

Oct 2:  Pondicherry – Trichy
Depart for Trichy (3 1/2 hrs). Overnight: Trichy.

Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) situated in center Tamil Nadu, was built by the Nayak rulers of Madurai around a rock fort, on the banks of the Kaveri (also Cauvery) river. It was a Chola citadel during the Sangam Age and was also briefly ruled by the Pallavas and the Pandyas. Today, Trichy is a blend of history, a pilgrim center and a thriving commercial city.

Trichy was and is famous for the Ranganatha Temple at Srirangam, 10 km away. The Rock Fort is the center of the city and is a remarkable 83 meter high structure dominating the landscape. The Uchi Pillaiyer Temple dedicated to lord Vinayaka or Ganesha has 344 steps, cut into the rock leading to the temple with the Tyaumanaswami Temple of lord Shiva half way up the hillock. Cave temples in the fort with sculptures date back to the 6^th and 7^th centuries. The Sri Jambukeswara Temple, at Tiruvankkaikaval, Srirangam is an island in the Kaveri river, north of Tiruchirapalli. The Ranganathaswami Temple here, built around 13^th-14^th centuries has 21 towers and stone pillars covered with fine carvings. 

Oct 3:  Trichy – Madurai
Depart for Madurai (3 hrs). Overnight: Madurai.

Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai is more than 2,500 years old and has a rich cultural heritage and history, and even as early as 550 AD, it was an important cultural and commercial centre. Madurai was the capital city for the great Pandya kings.

Visit the Meenakshi Temple & Tirrumalai Nayak Palace and Thirumohur (10 km). This place has its legendary origin in the distant past when Devas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons) churned the ocean to get Amritham (nectar). In the evening visit the Meenakshi temple to attend ceremony every evening where the marriage of Meenakshi (Parvati) and Sundareshwara (Lord Shiva) is solemnized.

Oct 4:  Madurai – Allepey (overnight stop at Periyar)
Spend the morning sightseeing Madurai, and then depart by road for Allepey, stopping for the night at Periyar (3 1/2 hrs). Overnight: Periyar.

If time permits, opportunities of going for a boat ride at Periyar Lake, and a short demonstration of the Kerala Martial Arts, Kalaripayattu. In the evening, a cooking class/demonstration at your hotel.

Oct 5:  Periyar – Allepey
Depart early for Allepey (3 1/2 hrs). Upon arrival, board your house boat and spend rest of day in the backwaters of Kerala. See inner India, schools, places of worship, paddy fields, local village life all on the banks of the water as you slowly chug through. Overnight: On-board your houseboat.

Oct 6:  Allepey – Cochin
After breakfast on board, disembark and drive to Cochin (1 1/2 hrs). In Cochin, spend the day sightseeing this historic city. Overnight: Cochin.

It is believed that spices originated from Cochin were presented to King Solomon by the Queen of Sheba. In 1000 BC Phoenicians, trading with Cochin, supplied the Pharaohs of Egypt with aromatic oils and spices which were used to preserve the embalmed bodies of the Egyptian Kings and Queens. After Rome conquered Egypt, the Roman galleys were carrying goods to imperial Rome where pepper, the most prized import, was worth its weight in gold.

St. Thomas arrived in the first century AD. The Jews arriving here in the wake of the Diaspora were given sanctuary and titles of land and established a flourishing trading community in Cochin.

For the next thousand years the spice trade was controlled by the Arabs who supplied these exotic wares through the Italian City State of Venice. Marco Polo in his travelogue writes about a flourishing trade between Cochin and China when he visited these parts. In order to break the Venetian stranglehold on this lucrative trade, the Catholic Majesties of Spain and Portugal financed independent explorations to discover a direct sea route to Cochin. Christopher Columbus under the patronage of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain began his journey by sea to Cochin; but eventually discovered the continent of the Americas. Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer (1498) directly established, for the first time, a sea route between western Europe and the Orient. The Dutch in their quest for colonial expansion fought the Portuguese in a major sea battle in the Harbor of Cochin and established a Dutch trading port. In the 18th century, Cochin came under the British rule and became an integral part of their empire. Being naturally blessed with an all weather harbor it soon became the premier port and commercial hub of South India.

In Cochin we will visit the Jew Town and the paradesi Synagogue which was built in 1568. This is the first Synagogue that came into existence in the British Commonwealth and is also one of the oldest in the world. This Synagogue was built by Samuel Castiel, David Belila, Ephrahim Sala and Joseph Levi. It stands on the grounds of Maharaja of Cochin’s residence overlooking the Hindu Shrine demonstrating cordial relations of the Jews with the people of Kerala. In addition, we will visit some important Hindu religious sites. Jewish Synagogue (visit from outside as its closed-on Saturday. Visit the Mattancherry Dutch Palace, built by the Portuguese in 1555 and renovated by the Dutch in 1663. In the ancient rooms are 17th century murals that relate in vibrant color the story of the epic Ramayana. See streets of picture-postcard houses out of another age, in 17th century Dutch and traditional Kerala styles. Visit St. Francis Church, the oldest European Church in India. It has several antiquities including a wealth of records. These include a palm-leaf title deed the local Raja gave the Portuguese in 1503. See the Chinese Fishing Nets, unique to this part of Kerala and living symbols of a centuries-old Chinese influence on this coast

Oct 7:  Cochin
Continue sightseeing in this historic town.  Overnight:  Cochin.

Oct 8:  Cochin – Departure
Day at leisure with no planned activities. Depart this evening for your onward journey. Overnight: On board your aircraft.

* * *  End of Services offered by Spiritual Journeys, LLC  * * *

COSTS: US $ 7,880.00 per person 2-people sharing one twin share room or US$ 10,735.00 per person in a single room, with minimum of fifteen paying guests all arriving, traveling and departing together.

HOTELS ENVISAGED, or Similar:

IMPORTANT:

1. For confirmation to these hotels, we need full payment by 3 July 2026. We do NOT guarantee accommodation in these hotels if funds are received on or after 4 July 2026.
2. Hotels mentioned above only indicate that our rates have been based on usage of these hotels and it is not to be construed that accommodation is confirmed at these hotels until and unless we convey such confirmation to you. In the event of accommodation not becoming available at  any of the above mentioned hotels  we shall book  alternate accommodation  at a similar or next best available hotel and shall pass on the difference of rates (supplement/reduction) to you.
3. Offer is based on usage of base category rooms at mentioned hotels (unless specified otherwise). If this category of rooms is not available we shall try to confirm accommodation in next available higher category, and shall advise supplementary cost involved.

COST INCLUDES: 

• Hotel accommodation as above on double/twin-sharing room,
• Daily buffet breakfast at hotels, and lunches at local restaurants,
• Domestic flights for sectors:  Jaipur/Aurangabad, Aurangabad/Mumbai and Mumbai/Pondicherry,
• Morning Boat Ride on River Ganges,
• Cycle Rickshaw Ride in Old Delhi,
• Spanish speaking accompanying guide for sightseeing in all places as per program,
• All applicable taxes including mandatory government service tax,
• Entrances fee for entry into monuments as per the itinerary,
• All transfers and sightseeing/excursion in an air-conditioned Volvo type bus (Delhi/Jaipur), and (Chennai/Cochin).  We will use a deluxe A/C buses in Mumbai and Aurangabad,
• The services of a SJI representative at all airport and hotel transfers,

• One way Elephant failing jeep ride at Amber Fort in Jaipur (Subject to availability of elephant),
• Tuk-Tuk ride at Madurai during the sightseeing,
• Plantation walk + Boat ride + Kalaripayattu/ Martial arts Performance at Periyar, and,
• Dance show in Cochin.

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Beverages, mineral water, alcohol, laundry, telephone calls; or other items of personal nature,
• Any tips and gratuities,
• Increases in Airfares or Government imposed taxes or entrance fees,
• Still camera or video camera fees at the various monuments and museums,
• Services not specifically stated in the itinerary,
• Personal or travel insurance, departure Taxes or Visa Handling Fees,
• Any changes you may choose to make during your tour,
• International Air,

• Any international air fare,
• Visa fee for India,
• Travel & health insurance,

• Airport taxes and fuel surcharges, which are subject to change without notice. Any meals (other than breakfast), drinks, tips, expenses of personal nature, and,

• Anything not mentioned in the “Cost Includes” column.

NOTES:

• Check-in and check-out times for all hotels is at 12 Noon.
• Visas are required for travel to India.
• All rates are valid till 3 July 2026.
• The detail program are subject to change without prior notice.
• Air & train fare/schedule is subject to change without notice. If in case because of the change in schedule if there is a deviation in the original itinerary due to which there is change is cost, supplement will be charged accordingly.

DOMESTIC AIRLINE BAGGAGE POLICY:

Current airline baggage policy allows one hand bag and check-in baggage limited to 15 Kgs in Economy on sectors within India. Excess baggage will be chargeable at INR 250 (or US$ 5 per Kg) per sector (Subject to revision).

GENERAL:

• Vouchers will be given to you on arrival to your country of arrival by your SJI representative. SJI will present you with a detailed itinerary and confirmation of all arrangements. As flight reservations and confirmations on the domestic carriers within specific countries are not within our control, we cannot guarantee the operation of these flights.  We will do our best to ensure that passengers booked and ticketed by us travel as scheduled.  If any of the domestic flights are canceled, the best alternate arrangements will be made.
• SJI gives notice that all tickets, vouchers and documents issued by them and all arrangements for hotels, transportation and special items are made by them upon the condition that they shall not be held liable to injury, delay, loss, damage or irregularities however caused.
• Entry Visas ARE required. SJI does not make any visa arrangements and will not be held liable for any irregularities caused due to wrong / faulty documentation or visas.

DEPOSITS AND CANCELLATIONS: 

• All services must be pre paid to Spiritual Journeys Inc., (SJI) 75 days before arrival into the first city on this itinerary, or on confirmation of all services, by personal or company check only.
• An initial payment of USD 1,000.00 per person is necessary in order to process reservations. This deposit will be non-refundable in case of cancellation, and will be adjustable to the final billing.
• The following cancellation charges, as a percentage of total price apply, subject to a minimum cancellation amount of $ 1,000.00:
• 60+ days before departure       $ 1,000
• 21-59 days before departure 50 %
• 08-20 days before departure     75 %
• 0-07 days before departure       100 %
• Once a tour begins, any refunds applicable due to unused air, hotel, or car rental components or changes in reservations sought by the tour participant will be issued at the sole discretion of Spiritual Journeys Inc. Airline tickets have restrictions calling for a change fee to be paid to the airline for alteration of departure and return dates.

RESPONSIBILITY:

SJI gives notice that it is acting in the capacity of agent in all matters regarding travel, whether by railroad, motor car, motor boat, boat or airplane, including all matters of reservations, transportation and tour operation, and assumes no liability for injury, damage, loss, delay or irregularities which may be caused either by reason of defect in any vehicle or through the act or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger, or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour or otherwise. We can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services due to sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine or other causes or acts of God. Although SJI anticipates no changes in the itineraries or accommodations, etc. the right is reserved to make any changes with or without notice that might become necessary in the best interest of the tour including the substitution of hotels booked if this becomes necessary.  In such cases any additional expenses must be borne by the passenger.  SJI reserves the right to decline / accept or retain any person as a member of the tour at any time.