Hemkund Sahib Tour 2012 with Valley of Flowers

Hemkund Sahib Tour with  Valley of Flowers  
for June 2012 to Sep 2012


Contact Sikh tourism at
Mobile + 91 9910000857 or 
http://www.sikhtourism.com/valley-of-flowers.htm 

Delhi - Hemkund Sahib - Valley of Flowers -  Delhi (6 Nights 7 Days)

Day 1 : Drive Delhi to Rishikesh visiting Gurudwara of Rishikesh, night at Rishikesh Hotel.
Day 2 : Drive Rishikesh to Joshimath enroute visiting Gurudwara Srinagar Sahib, night at Joshimath hotel.
Day 3 : Drive from Joshimath to Govind Ghat and Car will be parked here. Start Trekking (13 kms) for Govind Dham, night at Govind Dham hotel.
Day 4 : Start Trekking from Govind Dham to Hemkund Sahib and return back to Govind Dham after Darshans of Hemkund Sahib (Trek 6 x 2 =12 km), night at Govind Dham hotel.
Day 5 : Start Trekking from Govind Dham to Valley of Flowers and return back to Govind Dham after visit (Trek 3 x 2 = 6 km), night at Govind Dham hotel.
Day 6 : Start Trekking down from Govind Dham to Govind Ghat (Trek 13 km) and then Drive for Rudraprayag, night at Rudraprayag hotel.
Day 7 : Start early morning (at 7AM) from Rudraprayag for Rishikesh, after a break at Rishikesh, continue drive for Delhi and reach Delhi late evening.

Cost Per Person :
For 2 persons   : Rs 22500 Per Person on Double sharing Room.
For 4 persons   : Rs 16250 Per Person on Double sharing Room.
For 6 persons   : Rs 13750 Per Person on Double sharing Room.
For 8 persons   : Rs 13500 Per Person on Double sharing Room.
For 10 persons : Rs 13100 Per Person on Double sharing Room.
For 12 persons : Rs 12500 Per Person on Double sharing Room.

Cost Includes :
- Travel by Car/Coach.
- Family Hotel Accommodation at Rishikesh, Joshimath and Rudraprayag for 3 Nights.
- Basic Accomodation at Govind Dham for 3 nights.
- Only Breakfast in the itinerary.
- All transfers, sightseeing as per the itinerary.
- All taxes, driver allowances, parking etc.

Price does not Include : 
- Entrance fee to monuments.
- Any meals except specified in the itinerary.
- Tips, Beverages, Laundry, Telephone Calls, etc.
- Medical and Insurance.
- Tourist Guide

Delhi Hazur Sahib Flight Tour Packages

Delhi - Hazur Sahib by Flight
( Departure from Delhi every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday only)

Day 1 : Early morning Flight for Hazur Sahib from New Delhi. Reach Hazur Sahib. Pickup from Airport and drop at Hotel. Afternoon visit Gurudwara Hazur Sahib and attend evening Aarti. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2 : Breakfast, Day tour of Gurudwara Nanak Jheera, Bidar and Gurudwaras enroute, evening back at Nanded. Overnight at hotel.
Day 3 : Breakfast, Day tour of all local historical Gurudwaras around Nanded - Gurudwara Banda Ghat Sahib, Gurudwara Shikar Ghat Sahib, Gurudwara Nagina Ghat Sahib, Gurudwara Sangat Sahib, Gurudwara Mal Tekdi Sahib, Gurudwara Hira Ghat Sahib and Mata Sahib Devaan Ji. Evening drop at Hazur Sahib Airport for Flight for Delhi. Reach Delhi late evening.

Package Cost Per Person : From Rs 11000 to 16500 inclusive of Air Tickets, Hotel Accommodation and all Gurudwara tours by Car.
(Cost depends on Air Fares which are not fixed and change as per date of travel)

For more details, visit our website at http://www.sikhtourism.com/hazur-sahib.htm

Hola Mahalla at Anandpur Sahib

Hola Mohalla or Hola Mahalla or simply Hola is a Sikh festival that takes place on the first of the lunar month of Chet which usually falls in March. This, by a tradition estabished by Guru Gobind Singh, follows the Hindu festival of Holi by one day; Hola is the masculine form of the feminine sounding Holi. The word "Mohalla" is a Punjabi word that implies an organized procession in the form of an army column. But unlike Holi, when people playfully sprinkle color, dry or mixed in water, on each other, the Guru made Hola Mohalla an occasion for the Sikhs to demonstrate their martial skills in simulated battles.

Together the words "Hola Mohalla" stands for "mock fight". During this festival, processions are organised in the form of army type columns accompanied by war-drums and standard-bearers and proceeding to a given spot or moving in state from one gurdwara to another. The custom originated in the time of Guru Gobind Singh who held the first such mock fight event at Anandpur in February 1701.

The foothills of the Shivaliks in Ropar district of Punjab's north-eastern region, especially around the historic townships of Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib, have, since 1701 been playing host to Hola Mohalla. Recently, the Indian government accorded it the status of a national festival. The military exercise, which was personally supervised by the guru, was carried out on the bed of the River Charan Ganga with the famous Hindu temple of Mata Naina Devi in the Shivaliks as the backdrop.

This annual festival held at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab and now replicated at other Gurdwaras worldwide was started by the tenth Sikh Guru, as a gathering of Sikhs for military exercises and mock battles on the day following the festival of Holi at Anandpur Sahib. It reminds the people of valour and defence preparedness, concepts dear to the Tenth Guru who was at that time battling the Mughal empire and the hill kings. On this three-day grand festival, mock battles, exhibitions, display of weapons, etc., are held followed by kirtan, music and poetry competitions. The participants perform daring feats, such as Gatka (mock encounters with real weapons), tent pegging, bareback horse-riding, standing erect on two speeding horses and various other feats of bravery.

There are also a number of Darbars where the Sri Guru Granth Sahib is present and kirtan and religious lectures take place. On the last day a long procession, led by Panj Pyaras, starts from Takhat Keshgarh Sahib, one of the five Sikh religious seats, and passes through various important Gurdwaras like Qila Anandgarh, Lohgarh Sahib, Mata Jitoji and terminates at the Takhat (Keshgarh).

For people visiting Anandpur Sahib, langars (voluntary community kitchens) are organized by the local people as a part of sewa (community service). Raw materials like wheat flour, rice, vegetables, milk and sugar are provided by the villagers living nearby. Women volunteer to cook and others take part in cleaning utensils and other manual tasks that need to be carried out. Traditional cuisine is served to the pilgrims who eat while sitting in rows on the ground. (Pangat)

The popularity of this festival may be judged from the fact that out of five Sikh public holidays requested by the Khalsa Diwan, Lahore in 1889, the Government approved only two - Holla Mahalla and the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. Hola Mahalla is presently the biggest festival at Anandpur.

Gurudwara Kotha Sahib near Amritsar

In Sikhism, the places visited by Sikh gurus during their lifetimes, have been developed into pilgrimage spots. One such place happens to be Village Vallah located near Amritsar. This place was visited by the ninth Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur.

And, about four miles from the holy city in village Vallah stands a magnificent edifice - Gurudwara Guru ka Kotha meaning Guru’s house.It is said Guru Tegh Bahadur, while leaving Amritsar, visited this village.

Legend has it that when Guru Tegh Bahadur visited the Golden Temple after becoming Guru, priests denied him entry. The Guru thereafter went to Vallah and was entertained by Mai Haro. Her house is where the gurudwara ‘Guru ka Kotha’ now stands. "When people of Amritsar came to know that Guru Teg Bahadurji was not allowed to enter the Golden Temple and he came to this place, they came here to take the Guru back. Guruji refused to go, but blessed the people saying that if people of Amritsar visited this Gurudwara during the fair on full moon day, they would remain happy.

Today, the holy place is visited not only by people from Punjab, but from all across the country," said Baldev Singh, the head priest of Gurudwara Kotha Sahib.

Every year, a large number of devotees throng the holy spot to celebrate the annual fair, held on the full moon day. The month-long fair that starts on February 6 is a unique example of ardent faith and devotion.

Born in Amritsar, Guru Tegh Bahadur was the youngest of the five sons of Guru Har Gobind. His father gave the name Tegh Bahadur meaning mighty of the sword to him for showing valour during a battle with the Mughals. During his young years Tegh Bahadur fought along his fathers’ side but after Guru Hargobind’s fierce and bloody battle in 1634 at Kartarpur, he turned to the path of renunciation and meditation.

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s 17-day stay at village Valla proved to be a blessing for the villagers.

"We come here every year to make wishes and all our wishes are fulfilled. People from all parts of the world come here to visit this gurudwara," said Baljinder Singh, one devotee. People visit this holy place irrespective of their caste or creed and set an example of brotherhood and unity. At the gurudwara, they enjoy the Langar or, community meal upholding the principle of equality.

Gurudwara Angitha Sahib, Dehradun cremates old volumes of Guru Granth Sahib

Gurudwara Angitha Sahib in Sahaspur near Dehradun in Uttarakhand holds a unique significance for the Sikh community. For, at this gurudwara, the personification of Shri Guru Granth Sahib is performed in an ultimate manner. At Angitha Sahib, the old copies of Guru Granth Sahib from all over the world are put to flames as part of funeral rites. The whole procedure is a way of bidding farewell to the scriputre with utmost reverence. This is the only Gurudwara, which performs this ritual. The belief is that just like humans age even the scriptures also become old over a long period of time due to constant handling like flipping of pages. Hence, the revered scripture deserves respect even at the time of their farewell.

Thus, such copies of Guru Granth Sahib are sent to Gurudwara Angitha Sahib where these are cremated with due respect.

The caretaker of Angitha Sahib does this cremation ritual as a sort of charity work. The entire procedure is performed in due privacy. "Scriptures from all across the world like England, America, Canada and Pakistan have come to Angitha Sahib in Sahaspur for getting cremated. With full respect, these holy epics are first given bath, and then they are wrapped in new clothes. Then these scriptures are treated like living beings. This service is done in privacy," said Harsharan Singh, Mukhya Sewadaar (chief helper), Angitha Sahib Gurudwara.

When old and worn out scripture reach Angitha Sahib in Sahaspur, first of all they are given bath after which every page is cleansed and later these scriptures are wrapped in white cloth and then the funeral takes place. The cremation lasts over six days and on the seventh day, the ashes are collected.

Caretakers and helpers (called Sewadars) carry these scriptures on their heads according them full respect before placing them on the pyre.

"From the last 20 years all the worn out scriptures are coming to our Gurudwara and we perform the last funeral rites of these scriptures. All this work is done without any vested interest and in a confidential way. And apart from Guru Granth Sahib we also cremate Holy Bible, Bhagwad Gita, Ramayana and Quran," added Harsharan Singh, the chief Sewadaar at Angitha Sahib Gurudwara.

There are 28 hearths at Angitha Sahib Gurudwara. With 2.5-quintals of wood are used for the funeral and 13 scriptures are kept on the hearth at one time.

This year about 2,000 scriptures have come from all over the world to Gurudwara Angitha Sahib for cremation, of which around 470 worn out scriptures were flown in from the Great Britain by a chartered flight.

Gurudwara Saragarhi memorial, a tribute to the gallantry of 21 Sikh soldiers

Every year Sikhs in Punjab's Ferozepur district mark Saragarhi Day to remember the unparalleled valour, demonstrated by 21 Sikh soldiers on September 12, 1897 while participating in the battle of Saragarhi against a 10,000 strong enemy force.The Sikh soldiers of the 4th Battalion (then 36th Sikhs) of the Sikh Regiment of British India were sent to defend Fort Lockhart at Saragarhi post, in North West Frontier Province (now in Pakistan). Some 10,000 tribesmen had attacked the Saragarhi post. The battle lasted over six hours and one by one the defenders kept falling while trying to protect their post. But they did not surrender. The day of battle is observed each year as `Saragarhi Day' to mark the event.

The Gurudwara, named Saragarhi memorial, in Ferozepur today stands as a protected monument and is a tribute to those Sikh soldiers who sacrificed their lives. The memorial gurudwara, surrounded by half-a-dozen small and big cannons with names of the 21 brave soldiers inscribed on its walls, was built by the army with stones from the Saragarhi post. It was declared open in 1904 by Sir Charles Revz. Saragarhi memorial is an inspiration to many a symbol of courage and bravery.

Captain Sadhu Singh of the Sikh Regiment, said:" About 110-years-ago, on 12th of September, 1897 a war was fought, in which 21 brave soldiers were martyred while fighting under the leadership of Hawaldar Ishwar Singh at Saragarhi Post. In memory of those martyrs, we celebrate this day every year. Whatever our ancestors have given us in legacy is for the making of our nation and community proud. "

On the occasion of 110th anniversary of the Saragarhi Day a cross-country run was held in which hundreds of civilians as well as army personnel participated. After covering a distance of nine miles on the Faridkot-Ferozepur Road, the run culminated at the Saragarhi Memorial Gurudwara. The Sikh Regiment organized cross-country and cycle rally with the support of the state government to inspire youth and instill a spirit of sacrifice for the motherland in them.

Ferozepur city in South-west Punjab is on the sensitive border with Pakistan that has witnessed three wars. The border village lacks medical facilities and to make the Saragarhi Day a memorable one the army also organized a free medical camp .

Each year by observing the Saragarhi Day, the spirit and inspiration is kept alive from generation to generation.

Aman Umeed Tourist Complex at Wagah Border Inaugurated

The Minister of Tourism and Culture has inaugurated a tourist resort, Aman Umeed Bhawan, earlier popularly known as Neem Chameli at Attari - Wagha border in Amritsar in the presence of the Chief Minister of Punjab. The complex has the built up area of about 10,000 sq. ft. and is spread over 1.75 acres of land, with the facilities of restaurants, bar, shops, rooms and toilet facilities for the domestic as well as foreign tourists, and in particular from Pakistan. It also has facilities like reception, lobby, bar and restaurant. The Minister after inaugurating the complex said the flow of tourists from across the border will help in further promoting peace between the two countries. She said, punjab tourism has vast potential for employment generation and Institute of Hotel Management set up in the area will provide opportunities for youth to work in the sector. She said Punjab has potential to develop MICE tourism in a big way and the Centre will provide all help to establish a Convention Centre in the State.

Amritsar has also been provided the financial support from the Ministry of Tourism for other projects like the integrated development of Amritsar which consists of the components of environmental upgradation of Ghanta Ghar Chowk, Tourist facilities at Rambagh, Punjab Freedom Struggle Interpretation Centre at Govindgarh etc.

The city has also been sanctioned a mega project which comprises the major components on composite cultural heritage walk, darshan five sarovar path, conservation and revitalization of Town Hall, rural art, craft and architectural interpretation center, conservation of samadhis, visitor facilitation centre at the bus terminus, Lahori Gate site development, landscaping and horticulture etc. Amritsar has thus been identified as one of the mega destinations/circuits out of the twenty two identified by the Ministry of Tourism in the country for integrated development.

Sikh guru in Heroes of Environment list

Heaping praises on environmentalist Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal for launching a campaign to clean up the polluted 'Kali Bein' in Punjab, Time magazine has profiled the Sikh sect leader as one of the 30 'Heroes of Environment' selected from across the globe. Describing Seechewal as the man 'who set out to clean up this mess', the magazine lauded him for mobilising people to launch a movement that taught the people why they should clean the 'Kali Bein'.

'We have proved that it is possible to restore our rivers to a pristine condition if we all come together,' Seechewal told the Time magazine.

'It is time to do that on a bigger scale,' he said.

'Kali Bein', the 160-km-long river in Hoshiarpur district in Punjab, was reduced to a filthy drain into which people from more than six towns and 40 villages emptied their waste, leaving neighbouring farmlands parched. The river was revived a couple of years back after Seechewal and his followers took up the cause and raised funds to clean the river, which is now a favourite picnic spot.

Sikhs believe that Guru Nanak Dev attained enlightenment after taking a dip in 'Kali Bein' 500 years back before founding Sikhism.

'In 2000, Seechawal, a Sikh holy man, set out to clean up the mess in the river. The scale of the task was gigantic-volunteers cleared the entire riverbed of water hyacinth and silt, and built riverbanks and roads alongside the river,' the magazine wrote.

Seechawal launched a public-awareness campaign asking the villagers to dispose of their sewage elsewhere and some people revived traditional methods of waste disposal and treatment.

'A government order to divert water from a nearby canal was eventually obtained. As the riverbed was cleared, natural springs revived and the river began to fill up. Since then trees have been planted along its banks and fishing has been preserve biodiversity,' the magazine said.

Nanded, Hazur Sahib Airport to be operational from Oct 4, 2008

Sikh religious town of Nanded will come on the country’s civil aviation map from Oct 4, 2008 with an inaugural flight from Mumbai, an official said here Friday. The flight to Nanded, around 625 km from Mumbai, will immensely benefit thousands of Sikhs from India and around the world who are planning to visit there this month on the occasion of the 300th anniversary celebrations of Gurta Gaddi Guru Granth Sahib of Khalsa Sikh Panth.

Keeping in view the sentiments of the predominantly Sikh population of Nanded, the airport has been named “Shri Guru Gobind Singhji Airport”.

The town also has a monument “Shri Huzur Abchalanager Sachkhand Gurudwara”, dedicated to the 10th Sikh Guru, which is visited by millions of devotees throughout the year, the official said.

Nanded, with a population of 500,000, had a small airstrip constructed 50 years ago and was upgraded in 1974 to handle Vayudoot and other small and private aircraft flights. However, all commercial operations ceased from the airport in 1990.

Now, the airport has been upgraded at a cost of Rs.940 million and the facilities available include a huge terminal building to handle 300 passengers and a runway to handle big aircraft like Boeing 737s and Airbus 319-320.

It also now has three parking bays for large aircraft, six check-in counters, and all other passenger and flight operations facilities, including night operations.

Kingfisher Airlines will operate a regular service on the new Mumbai-Nanded-Latur sector, departing here at 6 a.m., halting at Nanded and reaching Latur at 8.20 a.m. The flight will depart from Latur at 8.45 a.m. and after a halt at Nanded, arrive in Mumbai at 10.10 a.m. The flights will operate Monday, Wednesday and Friday.