Mandara Cromwell

Get your air ticket, passport and visa now! If you want to travel as a group, please be in Atlanta no later than 1pm on January 15.

Passport and Visa info

http://cibtvisas.com/   this is a company that processes visa applications and get passports
they have pricing based on how quick of a turn around you need it by and it gives you all the forms/links to follow very easily.

This is the consulate in Atlanta for India –

http://www.indianconsulateatlanta.org/page/display/11
If you do not live in Atlanta, then google India Consulate for your state
Visa application maybe a bit cheaper at the consulate, and sometimes can be turned around in 24 hours

Exchange of money –

the airport usually has banks inside for exchanging money.
http://www.xe.com/ – this is a site that I have used to see what the exchange rate is

January 15 Depart Atlanta

Depart no later than January 15.   We will all meet in Delhi on the night of the 16th at a hotel near the International airport.  Someone will meet your flight. You must be in Delhi by morning of January 17.  We will begin with early morning temple visit at 6am!

January 16 Arrive New Delhi

We will all meet in Delhi on the night of the 16th at a hotel near the International airport.  Someone will meet your flight. You must be in Delhi by morning of January 17.  We will begin with early morning temple visit at 6am

Lord Ganesh removes all your obstacles

Goddess of Knowledge, Medicine, Music and Learning Welcomes You!

Delhi hotel January 16

Saturday, January 17 

Akshardan

Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi epitomizes 10,000 years of Indian culture in all its breathtaking grandeur, beauty, wisdom an d bliss. It brilliantly showcases the essence of India’s ancient architecture, traditions and timeless spiritual messages. The Akshardham experience is an enlightening journey through India’s glorious art, values and contributions for the progress, happiness and harmony of mankind.

Visit the Hall of Virtues

Musical Fountains, Garden of India

Ayurveda massage session

Evening Cultural event at Kamani

Sunday, Jan 18

Jagarnatha (Lord of the Universe) temple in Delhi. With special guide-Reela.

The magnificent temple of Lord Jagannath located in the heart of capital city of New Delhi. The temple was constructed by the Paramparik Vastukar from the holy city of Lord Jagannath, Puri. This being the oldest Jagannath Temple in the NCR, attracts devotees from every corner of the city and outside. The holy place not only will take you to the heights of spiritual alignment but will give you an opportunity to bless yourself with Anna-Bhog Prasad. Without tasting the Mouth-Watering SWEETS of Odisha, you will feel incomplete, once you will visit here.

Jantar Mantar Architectural Astronomical wonder

The name is derived from jantar (“instrument”), and mantar (“formula”, or in this context “calculation”). Therefore jantar mantar means literally ‘calculation instrument’. This observatory has religious significance, since ancient Indian astronomers were also Jyotisa masters.

Jantar Mantar (Yantra – instruments, mantra – formulae) was constructed in 1724 by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur The Jantar Mantar is located in the modern city of New Delhi. It consists of 13 architectural astronomy instruments.

Kumhaargram potter’s village

Special opportunity to visit! From a recent visitor:

I had to choose between Taj Mahal and the Pottery Tour. I ended up with the Pottery Tour because of time constraints. And I was not the least disappointed. I can recommend this to anybody who is interested to see more than the usual guide-book stuff about India. Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting a bit dirty and sturdy shoes. You can make pottery yourself and will learn about the village life. Expect children who are as curious about you as you are about them. You will have a chance to buy pottery made in the village, but you don’t have to if you don’t feel like it.

Monday  Jan 19

Mathura—The Birthplace of Lord Krishna and Balarama.

Prophecy foretold to King Kamsa that the eighth son of his sister would become far more famous and a beneficent Lord of the Universe, and would result in the death of King Kamsa. Each time his sister Devaki would become pregnant, Kamsa would imprison Devaki and her husband, Vasudeva.

In Mathura we visit the birthplace (prison cell) of Lord Krishna. Switched at birth with Yogamaya (who became the eight – armed goddess) while Krishna was taken in secret across the Yamuna River to a small village and raised by King Nanda and Queen Yashoda. Later, Kamsa realized his destiny.

Mathura—The whole text of the Gita engraved in its stones.

Vrindavan

Vrindavan has an ancient past, associated with Hindu history, and is an important Hindu pilgrimage site. One of its oldest surviving temples is the Govinda Dev temple, built in 1590, with the town founded earlier in the same century.

It is believed that the essence of Vrindavan was lost over time until the 16th century, when it was rediscovered by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In the year 1515, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Vrindavana, with purpose of locating the lost holy places associated with Lord Sri Krishna’s transcendent pastimes. Chaitanya wandered through the different sacred forests of Vrindavana in a spiritual trance of divine love. It was believed that by His divine spiritual power, He was able locate all the important places of Krishna’s pastimes in and around Vrindavana.

In the last 250 years, the extensive forests of Vrindavan have been subjected to urbanization, first by local Rajas and in recent decades by apartment developers. The forest cover has been whittled away to only a few remaining spots, and the local wildlife, including peacocks, cows, monkeys and a variety of bird species has been eliminated or are close to it. A few peacocks are left in the city but monkeys and cows can be seen almost everywhere.

Shahji Temple

Exquisitely fashioned Belgian glass chandeliers and fine paintings

Tuesday, January 20 Agra

Taj Mahal

Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”.^[6]

Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic,Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles. This “Wonder of the World.” known as a monument of “true love,” is a “must see.”

 

Fatehpur Sikri Palace of King Akbar

Influences from Hindu and Jain architecture are seen hand in hand with Islamic elements. The building material used in all the buildings at Fatehpur Sikri, palace-city complex, is the locally quarried red sandstone, known as ‘Sikri sandstone’.

 

 

 

Shopping in Agra—marble, glass and metal singing bowls.

 

 

 

 

Fatehpur Akbar’s Secret Room