Namaste! Welcome to India! Our representative will meet you in the arrival area of the airport after you clear all immigration and custom formalities. Depart for your hotel where you will check in for your stay. Delhi stands as the capital of modern India. Here you can see the mingling of the old and new India, the ancient and the modern. Delhi is made up of seven ancient cities, spanning the period from the 11th to 20th centuries. Delhi has seen the rise and fall of many emperors who have left behind a plethora of monuments that commemorate the grandeur and glory of bygone ages. Very few cities in the world can express such a profusion of architectural styles. Meals included: Dinner Overnight at Novotel Aero city (Deluxe room)

Morning assisted departure transfer to the airport to board flight for Varanasi. Experience a deep dive into Hindu mythology, philosophy and spirituality in the city of light, “Kashi,” now known as Varanasi, an ancient seat of learning with a legacy that goes back more than 3,000 years on the banks of the holy Ganga, India’s most venerated river. Upon arrival at Varanasi, met and transfer to the hotel. Late afternoon orientation meeting with your professor who will be helping you learn the basic concepts of the Sanskrit language over next couple of days. Dinner will be at the hotel. Learning Experience: •Late afternoon orientation meeting with your Professor Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Overnight at Om Vilas, (Luxury Tent)

Today wake up with the music of birds, cowbells mixing sweetness in the cold morning air. You open the doors of the tent and the fresh aroma of the Indian soil will flood your being. A fresh breeze of air rustles your hair, and you step outside. Breakfast will be at the hotel. Next two hours are reserved for your class in Sanskrit language. Lunch will be at the hotel. In the late afternoon, proceed to the interesting Bengali Tola Walk, where you will have an opportunity to get a glimpse of the symbiotic life of the riverside people of Varanasi. Eventually, as you tour through the city you will end up on Bengali Tola, the street of the Bengalis, where you will be visiting the hidden Mother Goddess Kali shrines, and the vistas of life along the riverside. The tour continues to the historic ritual bathing site called Dashaswamedh, or the ten-horse sacrifice Ghat, the perfect way to conclude this walking city tour. From here you will board a boat to witness the evening illuminated aarti ceremony that is performed at Dasahwamedh Ghat. The presiding priests stand on a wooden Chauki in the water. To the chant of Sanskrit mantras, and the clash of cymbals and drums, the river is worshipped with flowers, incense, sandalwood, milk and vermilion. First the blazing camphor lamp and then the many flamed aarti lamps are raised high and then arched back to the water, the dark river reflecting the golden flames as Ganges accepts the worship. It is the Ganges that gives Varanasi its spiritual resonance. Dinner will be at the hotel. Learning Experience: • Two-hour Sanskrit Class • Afternoon experience the full of life alleys on this Bengali Tola Walk • Evening witness the spectacular Ganga Aarti at Dasashwamedha Ghat Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Overnight at Om Vilas, (Luxury Tent)

Breakfast will be at the hotel. Next two hours are reserved for your class in Sanskrit language. Lunch will be at the hotel. In the afternoon, visit Sarnath. After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, the Buddha went to Sarnath. It was here that he preached his first discourse in the deer park to set in motion the ‘Wheel of the Dharma’. The museum at Sarnath contains carvings representing a whole range of styles: archaic, the Mathura School, Gupta, past Gupta and Medieval, covering work of sculptors from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D. Spend quality time with an expert in Buddhism, who will disuss how and when it was formed, the main principles of the religion, and how it spread its wings across India and abroad. Early dinner will be at the hotel. After dinner walk, with an expert through the city of learning and burning and see Banaras when it is known as ‘Mahashamshana,’ the great cremation ground of Shiva. It is here you will traverse from the land of the living to the houses of the dying. Perhaps an encounter with a black-clothed flesh-eating sadhu of the Aghor Ashram will give you will a taste of death and rebirth. Visit the cremation grounds of Hindus and understand why people want to spend their last days in Varanasi. Visit the Sankata Devi Temple (the goddess of sorrows and a demon slayer). See the traditional houses where the Dome community (people who execute the cremation) live. Walk through the narrow alleys of Vishwanath. Learning Experience: • Two- hour Sanskrit Class • Afternoon visit to Sarnath – One of the holiest Buddhist sites in the world • Evening Walk through the city of learning & burning on this – Death & Re-birth Overview Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Overnight at Om Vilas, (Luxury Tent)

In the morning, take a boat ride on the River Ganges to view the sunrise. The best way to experience Varanasi is to take an early morning boat ride. Witness the activities at the ghats where the living flock to pray with the belief that bathing in the waters of the sacred river will result in the remission of their sins, while the ashes of the dead are scattered in the water to break the cycle of reincarnation and let the soul rise to enlightenment. After this enriching experience, return to the hotel for breakfast. The next two hours are reserved for your class in Sanskrit language. Lunch will be at the hotel. Following lunch, visit some of the other important sites in the city with your guide. Dotted with temples, the city’s principal shrine is the Vishwanath temple, dedicated to Shiva. The temple was destroyed repeatedly during various invasions but was finally rebuilt in 1776 A.D. by Rani Ahilyabai of Indore. Also visit the famous Banaras Hindu University which was established in 1916 as a way to achieve the national awakening by spreading education all over the country. At present it is the largest residential university in Asia with large number of students from more than 34 nations. Dinner will at the hotel. Learning Experience: • Early morning boat ride • Two-hour Sanskrit Class • Sightseeing tour of the city Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Overnight at Om Vilas, (Luxury Tent)

Today early morning, enjoy an interesting yoga session with an expert for about 30 to 45 minutes. Learn the basics of yoga and its benefits at the Yoga Center. Post breakfast, two-hour session on Sanskrit language. After lunch you will visit the NGO, KIRAN. The word “KIRAN” means “ray of light” and KIRAN society strives to be just that in the lives of children with different abilities and of marginalized communities. Through their rehabilitation, education, and vocational skills training programs, they bring holistic empowerment to the children in the greater Varanasi area. Founded in 1990 by a small group of people from various social, cultural, and religious backgrounds, their commitment to inclusivity started at the roots. This mission emphasizes individualized rehabilitation plans, small classrooms, family involvement, and sustainability with continuous opportunities for students to expand their independence. Spend quality time here to understand the aims and mission of the NGO which is to enable differently abled and marginalized children and youth to receive rehabilitation, education and vocational training, so that they are able to take care of their social, physical and spiritual needs and thereby become fully integrated into society. Dinner will at the hotel. Learning Experience: • Early morning Yoga session • Two-hour Sanskrit Class • Visit NGO – KIRAN Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Overnight at Om Vilas, (Luxury Tent)

Today you will hit the streets, which are free from any vehicular traffic. We will visit the cremation grounds of Hindus, and understand why people want to spend their last days in Varanasi. This will be one of the highlights of the tour. The total duration of this walking tour is 3 hours, starting at 9 a.m. We will witness a step-well for female fertility. Located near the confluence of the Ganga and Asi rivers, the Lolark Kund is dedicated to Surya, the Hindu sun god. Lolark has “one of the most distinctive water structures… combining the classic deep-funnel kund form with wide flights of steep steps.” It is widely believed that taking a dip in the water contained within the Lolark Kund aids fertility in women. It is still common for women to travel to this step-well in the hopes of getting pregnant with a son. Here you see how the women struggle down the dizzying steps, trying to reach the sacred water. After bathing, they leave their wet clothing behind, along with a piece of fruit or a vegetable that they pledge never to eat again. Next, meet the traditional 'Benarasi' Saree makers. Here you will witness how the finest sarees in India are known for their gold and silver brocade or zari, fine silk and opulent embroidery. These are made of finely woven silk and are decorated with intricate designs, and, because of these engravings, are relatively heavy. See how bio-degradable statues are made by the Bengali community and learn about the life of the boatmen and their lovely boats in the “Mallah Community.” Mallah is a generic term for a group of people, whose lives revolve around boating and fishing. Fishing and transporting people on their boats are the primary traditional occupations. Agriculture and laboring in farms are a secondary occupation. Many urban Mallah work in factories, pull rickshaws, or are low paid office workers and watchmen. Where the Mallah sit, there a fire is always, is a local saying in their dialect. This refers to their custom of lighting a fire on the riverbank to keep warm. Also visit the place where the famous Indian epic "Ramcharitmanas" was written. A 400-year-old house where the book was written is in Tulsi Ghat, one of the famed ghats of Varanasi. Tulsi Ghat is slightly higher than the rest and a steep staircase, three Shiva shrines, an old peepal tree, and a white color tree with a large balcony mark Tulsi Ghat. You will also visit the guesthouse of the Sankatmochan Foundation and the laboratory of the Swachh Ganga Foundation, which spearheads the clean-up of the river Ganga in Varanasi. You will have the opportunity of understanding the main reasons for pollution in the holy river. At the Tulisidas Ashram, a tunnel-like staircase leads to the first floor, where Tulsidas lived and worked. On the first floor, the entire Ramcharitmanas prefaced with the Hanuman Chalisa, two of the saint's most well-known and highly revered works are inscribed on the walls. "Tulsidasji lived in this house around 400 years ago. Though this is just one of the many houses he lived in, this is where he lived the longest. Once you visit you will realize the Ramayana and Rama are civilizational threads which bind India together. For many in Varanasi, Tulsidas, Rama and Hanuman are living Gods. See the Indian version of gymnasium and wrestling in ‘Tulsi Akhara.’ For wrestlers, the Akhara serves as a training school and an arena in which to compete against each other. The Akhara used by wrestlers still have dirt floors to which water, red ochre, buttermilk and oil are added. Aside from wrestling, other fighting systems are also taught and practiced in akhara, which are commonly named after their founder. Next, visit the place where Sadhus (Ascetics) live ‘Juna Akhara.’ This Akhada has a rich tradition of warrior ascetics (Naga Sadhus) who are ordained to this post only during the Kumbh and Mahakumbh Mela. The Juna Akhada also comprises the Astradhari (weapon-bearers) seers and Shastradhari (scripture-bearers) seers. Return to hotel in time for lunch. Afternoon time for your Sanskrit class. Evening is at leisure. Dinner will be at the hotel. Learning Experience: Discover Hidden Gems of the City • Afternoon Sanskrit Class Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Overnight at Om Vilas, (Luxury tent)

Slow down and take a half-day to experience rural life in a Varanasi village. Escape the hustle and bustle of Varanasi and get a glimpse of rural life in India. On this tour, you will visit the Rameshwar village, which is close to Varanasi and located on the banks of river Varuna. This village has many things to offer and you will get a chance to learn how the social cooperative system works in India, which has a general objective of benefiting the community as well as social integration. All activities in this village are aimed at sustainable livelihood and community empowerment; ensuring economic growth of the under privileged; and creation of physical assets, to improve the quality of life. We invite you on this soulful journey to enhance your knowledge and have a better understanding of village life in India. Here the main highlights will be: •Visit the Sanskrit school located in the village where Sanskrit (one of the oldest languages in the world) is still the medium of teaching. You can see the scholars learning about the Vedas, Upnishads, and doing Vedic recitals. •On the way to Rameshwar village, visit Navsadhana Kala Kendra which trains students professionally in Bharatnatyam and Hindustani vocal. This is an unparalleled institution which aims at the multidimensional development of a person through Indian classical art, dance, and music. •You will also be visiting “Shanti dham Ashram,” a Catholic prayer centre for the Christian society living in Varanasi. Return to hotel in time for lunch. Early evening time for your Sanskrit class. Dinner will at the hotel. Learning Experience: • Visit Rameshwar Village • Afternoon Sanskrit Class Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Overnight at Om Vilas, (Luxury Tent)

Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world and Hindu philosophy/mythology has been a topic of interest among various scholars/ philosophers all around the world. Today, experience living life like a Hindu, where you will be taken by a boat on the banks of the river, feel the calmness of the river while having 30 minutes of guided meditation and breathing exercises to rejuvenate your senses with spirituality. This will be followed by 1-hour lecture and discussion on various aspects of Hinduism. Practice Surya Namaskar, along with learning the benefits of doing it, while witnessing the beautiful sunrise across the river. Breakfast will be at the hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Post lunch time for your Sanskrit class. Visit the Weavers Colony. Famous worldwide for its magnificent quality and beauty, the textiles of Varanasi have been recognized among the royalty and nobles through ancient times to the present. These talented weavers received the secret of weaving as a form of art passed from generation to generation. In a city as old as time, weaving has been so deeply embedded in its culture and conscience that for many practitioners it is a matter of pride and prestige to sustain the tradition. Visiting the weavers district is like stepping back in time. The weavers use various techniques that are very specific and traditional, being in their culture for centuries. The clapping sound of the old-fashioned weaving looms echoes in and around the narrow lanes of the tightly packed houses. Get an insight into the intricate weaving process and a chance to purchase some of the colorful silks that the area produces. Dinner will be at the hotel. Learning Experience: • Life like a local experience • Afternoon Sanskrit Class • Visit Weavers Colony Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Overnight at Om Vilas, (Luxury Tent)

Post breakfast, two-hour session on Sanskrit language. Gharana is a traditional style and way of teaching and performing Indian classical music. This style is many hundreds of years old and has been passed from master to student, from generation to generation. Today Gharana are mentioned, discussed and proclaimed as indicators of certain musical ideas as well as allegiances. In 2015, UNESCO recognized Varanasi as also the “City of Music” famous for its classical “Benaras Gharana.” Spend quality time with artists from the Benaras Gharana. It will be interactive session and clients will learn about the history of classical music and instruments they play. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. After lunch, make your way through the bazaars in the northern streets of the old city. You will find hidden alleys leading directly through the sacred zone of Banaras to the oldest buildings of the city. As you enter the lanes of the northern part of the city you will get to peep inside the shops, temples, and lives of people who have never left their street for years. Eventually we find ourselves in the least traversed part of the city and riverside where the great mystic Kabir himself wrote poetry. This bazaar has so many twists and turns that even the expert gets confused sometimes. Learning Experience: • Morning Sanskrit Class • Visit Benras Gharana – Centre for Indian Classical Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Overnight at Om Vilas, (Luxury Tent)

Today after breakfast meet your professor to bid final goodbyes and clear any doubts left while learning the Sanskrit Language. Post lunch at the hotel you will be transferred to the airport to board flight back to Delhi. Upon arrival at Delhi, met and transfer to the airport hotel for final overnight. Dinner will be at the hotel. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Overnight at Novotel Aero city (Deluxe room)

Don't leave just yet! Extend your journey on one of our numerous photography, art and culture programs. Need to head back? We look forward to welcoming you on another Learning Journeys immersion. Choose to journey back to India or consider one of our journeys abroad in Ireland, Italy, Nepal and more. Meals included: Breakfast