Braj Holi Festival Tour Package 2024

11 Days

Start and end in New Delhi, New Delhi

Location Covered
New Delhi Bharatpur Agra Fatehpur Sikri Vrindavan
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Price on Request

Itinerary

On the day of arrival at New Delhi airport, our Holidays At representative will assist you and later transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day free for your own leisure activities. Overnight at Hotel.

Today morning after breakfast, later check out from hotel and drive to Vrindavan. Upon arrival at Vrindavan check-in to your hotel for night stay. After lunch and refresh yourself, later afternoon leave for Barsana to witness the most vibrant festival of Color. Thousands of people from all corners of India visit Mathura and Vrindavan especially on this occasion. The festivities begin with Lathmar Holi played in Barsana, a small village in Mathura. Lathmar Holi usually begins around a week before the main Holi day. During the celebrations, women from Barsana village gather with wooden sticks in their hands to welcome men from Nandgaon, with lath (stick) and beat them. This is part of the tradition as Hindu Mythology says that Lord Krishna along with his friends visited Barsana, Radha’s village (Radha was Lord Krishna’s girlfriend), to tease her and other gopis (girls) by throwing colored water on them. In retaliation, Radha and gopis chased Krishna and his friends to beat them up with sticks. Even today, people from Nandgoan and Barsana follow the ritual. Men soaked in colored water arrive in Barsana and tease women by singing provocative songs. The women then beat them with sticks (lathis) and men use shields to protect themselves. Later evening drive back to your hotel for night stay. Overnight at Hotel.

Today morning after breakfast at the hotel, later leave for Nandgaon as celebrations in Barsana is followed by similar celebrations in Nandgaon (Krishna’s village) on the very next day. It was at Nandgaon that Krishna spent his childhood. As the legend goes, Radha with her friends called gopis would come to Nandgaon on this day to take revenge on Krishna and his friends by splashing color on them. Since the women do not go, men and trans-genders dressed as women representing women from Barsana go to Nandgaon to celebrate Holi with the men there. They are welcomed with water and colour in the village. This is very unique as the menfolk play Holi with women in a way which is not sexual in its approach but it has the rustic element of wooing and teasing. The main celebrations are held in the courtyard of the temple at Nandgaon as soon the courtyard transforms itself into a visual delight of beautiful colour-explosion. People from both the villages sit across each other singing and dancing here. Overnight at Hotel.

Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later proceed to “Banke-Bihari Temple” hosts a week long celebrations during Holi here. During the festivities, Bihariji (Krishna’s popular name in Braj area) is dressed up in white clothes. Goswamis (priests in the temple) sprinkle colours on everyone The whole atmosphere is made even more lively with music (bhajans) in the background and people dance to the tunes. But on this day of Ekadashi before Holi, there are special celebrations at famous Banke Bihari Temple at Vrindavan in the afternoon after the Temple gate opens at about 4 pm and holi is not celebrated with colours, but with flowers. That is why it is called Phoolonwaliholi meaning Holi with flowers. Overnight at Hotel.

Today morning after breakfast at hotel later drive to Agra “City of Love”. To visit . later proceed for guided tour to Agra, visit Today morning after breakfast at hotel, proceed for day trip to Agra visit Taj Mahal and Mehtab Bagh also visit Agra Fort (Moti Masjid, Octagonal Tower, Jahangir Palace, Diwan-I-Aam, Diwan-I-Khas), Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb, Jama Masjid, Chini ka Rauza and Sikandra Fort (Akbar's Tomb). Later evening drive back to Vrindavan for night stay. Overnight at Hotel.

Today is the day to celebrate Holi festival with emotions as you will witness a special celebration with poor widows. Widows in India always had a difficult life. They were often banished from their homes and were compelled to live in far off ashrams in places like Varanasi and Vrindavan. They could wear only white clothes and never could use colours or played with colours. It is only couple of years ago that the widows of Pagal Baba Widow Ashram, Vrindavan decided to do away with this ritual and play with colours. It will be really be very encouraging if you support this noble cause by playing holi with them and bring some cheer and colour to their life. Overnight at Hotel.

Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later drive to Bharatpur National Park to experience something different and get away from Holi for a day. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary provides a totally unique experience as it is a host to many rare species of migratory birds. The park is a combination of marshland, scrubland and grassland. You will explore the park in a rickshaw or by walk and capture rarest species that have migrated from China, Tibet, Afghanistan, Siberia, Europe, and central Asia. Later also visit Fatehpur Sikri which served as short term capital city of the Mughal Empire under the supremacy of Akbar the Great. The city was a perfect presentation of Indo Islamic style. Later evening drive back to Vrindavan for night stay. Overnight at Hotel.

Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later will shift to Banke Bihari temple in the morning as the temple opens its doors to all visitors to come and play Holi with the lord Krishna himself. The priests throw colours and holy water and the crowd chants madly in unison. It’s an unbelievable experience to be a part of this event until the doors of the temple are shut at lunch time. In the afternoon, leave for Mathura to participate in the colourful Holi procession which starts at Vishram Ghat. In the procession, there are about ten vehicles which are decorated with flowers, and some even have kids dressed up as Radha-Krishna, participate in it. Later in the evening, it is time for HolikaDahan which means burning of effigy of Holika, the devil. There are women who come and pray at various events. Overnight at Hotel.

Today is big Holi day, the biggest event takes place at the historical Dwarkadheesh Temple in Mathura. On this day, there is tradition of making and drinking bhang which is an edible preparation of cannabis. We shall come to Vishramghat to catch the process of making Bhang by the priests. You may also try a glass yourself. The temple opens at 10 in the morning and there is a big crowd outside the gates by then playing Holi and throwing color on anyone who comes there.The atmosphere inside the temple is really great. Priest play Dhols and everyone there is singing and dancing. You can also join and enjoy the celebration by taking part.Later return to hotel and it is time to relax after all these fun frolic activities. Overnight at Hotel.

Today morning after breakfast, later check out from hotel and drive back to New Delhi. Upon arrival at New Delhi check-in to your hotel for night stay. Rest of the day free for your own leisure activities. Overnight at Hotel.

Today morning after breakfast and check out from hotel later transfer to New Delhi airport to board the flight for your home.

What's Included

  • 11 Nights accommodation based on double / twin sharing basis.
  • Assistance during arrival and departure by Holidays At.
  • 10 Breakfast & 10 Dinner at Hotel.
  • All transfers including airport transfers by an AC vehicle.
  • Local English Speaking guide at New Delhi, Vrindavan, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri.
  • Cycle Rickshaw ride at Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi.
  • Day Trip to Taj Mahal in Agra.
  • Visit to Bharatpur National Park to watch the various Birds with Professional Naturalist.
  • Battery car ride at Fatehpur Sikri.
  • One mineral water bottle per person per day.
  • All currently applicable taxes including GST.
  • Monument entry fees.
  • Visas Fee (if applicable).
  • International/Internal flights to/from the start/finish of the trip.
  • Beverages other than drinking water & any costs of a personal nature.
  • Tips (always optional, but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information pack you’ll receive after booking).

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes

Yes

Yes, All language local guides are available as per request.

Yes

Yes, although you will have to make your own way to where the group is heading to out of your own expense.

Yes

Absolutely. Every traveler is required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their tour. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

Only for foreign national traveler.

Most of the places you will get free Wi-FI.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Currency always depend on the country.

You will receive all the booking pack with all the pick up times.

100% departure if there is single traveler.

Please speak to our sales team as soon as possible to see how we can help.

10

3 Star

Tips always optional.

Yes

Yes

 

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