| Fly to Srinagar in Kashmir | ||||||||||
Photo above: Harwan Valley, Srinagar, Kashmir, India... Arrive in Srinagar Flights from Delhi Pre Arrange for airport pickup from your hotel reservation in advance. Kashmir advice: it is imperative for women to dress very modestly when visiting Srinagar. Srinagar has pleasant weather during the monsoon season Check with your embassy about unrest in area. Visit the Harwan valley area and the Buddhist Monastery Ruins, great views of nearby mountains. Jesus was buried on a mountainside in the Harwan Valley. His tomb is in a cave. It says 'Jesu the Good Shepard' (Yuz) but has been covered by a landslide and is not identified, hill can be seen from the fishery: Have lunch, do a little shopping at some of the famous Kashmiri embroidry shops as well as wood carvings. Jesus tomb on this hillIn 1933 Meher Baba took his women disciples to the village of Harvan to a place near the fishery. Pointing to a hill, Baba revealed, "There is the place where two of Christ's apostles, Bartholomew and Thaddeus, buried his body; they had accompanied him from Palestine."
The stories of the 5 Avatar Advents in India Baba showed them where he had sat in seclusion in 1929. Pointing to a place in the mountainous area, Meher Baba made the sign of the cross and remarked: "That is where Jesus' body is buried." Baba stated that Jesus did not die on the cross but came to India, where he spent many years wandering from place to place doing his Universal work until he dropped his body in Kashmir.
Meher Baba in Harvan. Norina Matchiabeli behind him. On their way to see the area of Jesus' Tomb. (he also took then all to the Shalimar and Nishat Garden) . ---------------------------------------- HOTEL ELEVEN BOULEVARD This hotel is new and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. They serve a great breakfast in the room. A great location. The view was over Dal lake which was nice, night and day. No restaurant but a nice foodcourt at the second level which is super convenient. More expensive hotel listings below.
------------------------------------------------ Buddhist KashmirIn the centuries following the Buddha’s lifetime (circa 6th–5th century BCE), Buddhism spread north and westward from the Gangetic plains. By the 3rd century BCE, under the reign of Emperor Ashoka, Kashmir had become a significant Buddhist stronghold. Monasteries flourished here, and the region attracted monks and scholars from across Central and South Asia. Hindu Revival and Shaivism’s RiseBy the 8th to 9th centuries CE, Hinduism saw a renaissance in Kashmir. Shaivite theology " Shiva being the creator, preserver, and destroyer to being the same as the Atman within oneself and every living being". A highly sophisticated spiritual system, arose during this period, led by sages like Vasugupta and later Abhinavagupta, whose works became cornerstones of Indian spiritual philosophy. This era saw a deep blending of philosophy, aesthetics, and devotion—refining Kashmir’s spiritual culture into one of the most luminous in India. The Arrival of Islam and the Sufi InfluenceIn the 14th century the arrival of Muslim saints, particularly the revered Sufi mystic Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, who came from Persia. He and his disciples preached Islam not through conquest, but through compassion, humility, and deep spiritual insight. More Muslim families, traders, and artisans migrated to Srinagar and surrounding areas. Mosques and khanqahs (Sufi lodges) were built alongside ancient temples.
By the 15th and 16th centuries, Islam had become the dominant faith in Kashmir, particularly in the capital city of Srinagar. Yet, the region retained its unique flavor—infused with centuries of Buddhist compassion, Hindu mysticism, and Islamic love of God. The exodus of Kashmiri Hindus, particularly from Srinagar, stands as a profound and tragic chapter in the region's modern history. In early 1990, amid escalating insurgency and sectarian violence, an estimated 90,000 Kashmiri Pandits—members of the Hindu Brahmin community—fled the Kashmir Valley, leaving behind their ancestral homes and cultural heritage. The displaced Pandits resettled in various parts of India, notably in Jammu and Delhi, often living in refugee camps under challenging conditions. ---------------------------------------------
Afternoon ride on shikara on Dal Lake is a popular boat ride. Back to your hotel for easy food court dinner. Car and Driver. Scenic drive up around Wular lake, or perhaps to Yuzmarg. the opposite direction from Harwan. Return to Harwan visit shops. Drive up to the Vivanta Dal View for their scenic early sunset view and dinner in the 'Jade Dragon' restaurant. Back to your hotel. Car and Driver... Morning drive to Gulmarg and take the Gondola ride up the mountain. First leg is fine. Second leg is too high for most people (14,000 ft.) You can pre-arrange tickets at the tourist office in Srinagar or stand in line once you get there ( could be a long wait). Stay in Gulmarg or drive back to Srinagar hotel.
..... around Srinagar. shopping, shikara, local sights OR morning drive to Yuzmarg (Yousmarg) meadow and back to Srinagar .
Kashmiri hand embroidery on wool shawls INDIA WOOL Suggest you search for hotels with an elevator and central Heat! AC in the room in summer. Ahdoos Hotel has an Excellent Restaurant with nice hotel rooms upstairs, w/elevator. . Another consideration is air pollution in central Srinagar (worst month is November). Out of the pollution, East of Dal Lake: Vivanta Dal View Resort on a hill with a wonderful view. Moderate would be the 'Grand Mahal' with elevator and central heat, Almus Resort (7 lovely rooms). If it's summertime, there are many nice budget hotels to consider and the many luxury houseboats. Budget Hotels: Dar-Es-Salam by Lake. Clarks Inn, Hotel Dar Rehman. In the city, most highly rated with heat and elevator: The Kabo, CH2, Four Points by Sheraton and The Downtown. .. There are also countless budget lodgings, most have only stairs and no central heat. Check! FLY to Shimla In the middle of May or June to begin a Himalaya Adventure after the monsoon ends in Kinnaur you can visit Sangla in September. --------------------- The stories of the 5 Avatar Advents in India ------------------------------------------- BACK TO DELHI..... IN THE COOL WINTER MONTHS : ------------------------------------------- You can take a train from Delhi to Jansi (4 1/2 hours) and then cab to nearby Orchha. Or a train from Agra to Jansi / Orchha. One of the most unique aspects of Orchha is the story of how Lord Ram came to be worshipped here as a king. According to legend, the devout queen Maharani Ganesh Kunwari brought an idol of Ram from Ayodhya
Founded in 1531 by Rudra Pratap Singh, a Bundela Rajput chief. ORCHHA is known for its stunning architectural heritage, including palaces and cenotaphs dedicated to Bundela kings. Jahangir Mahal and Sawan Bhadon Mahal exemplify the fusion of Mughal and Rajput architectural styles. Orchha's historical significance as a center of power, culture, and architecture in central India, reflected in its evolution through various political challenges and cultural developments over centuries.
Ram Raja Temple in Orchha, The temple was originally built as a palace for Queen Ganesh Kunwari, the wife of King Madhukar Shah. A unique and historically significant temple dedicated to Lord Rama, where he is worshipped as a king, a distinction that sets it apart from other temples in India. Queen Ganesh Bai had a deep desire to bring an image of Lord Rama to Orchha and wanted to build a temple in his honor. She had a divine vision in which Lord Rama instructed her to travel to Ayodhya and bring back his idol under the condition that the first place where the idol is set down would become his permanent abode. The temple has become the center of religious and cultural life in Orchha. Festivals like Ram Navami and Diwali are celebrated with grand processions and ceremonies. Rafting on the Betwa River in Orchha offers a unique blend of adventure and culture. The river's gentle rapids make it suitable for families, while providing scenic views of Orchha's historic landmarks like the cenotaphs and temples. The Holy River Betwa, a place of Pilgrimage, runs along Orchha. The Betwa River's mention in the Mahabharata underscores its importance not only as a physical entity but also as a symbol of life, sustenance, and cultural identity for the ancient kingdoms that flourished along its banks.
Avatar Meher Baba sanctified the Betwa River by bathing with its water. In Hamirpur (He also drank some of the water.) At Ichhuara in Hamirpur) The river flows down here from up in Hamirpur. Hamirpur is such a remote area that at places there are only narrow footpaths. ---------------------------------------- From Orchha you can take a train to Agra, hire a car and driver and wander to Delhi via Bharatpur, Vrindavan and Mathura. --------------------------------------------
Keoladeo National Park. You can drive to Bharatpur from Mathura. Spend a night in Bharatpur and visit the Keoladeo Bird Reserve in the morning or late afternoon. Visit the Reserve in an open bIcycle rickshaw. Richshaw drivers are experienced guides and can be hired by the main entrance of Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary. 2 persons max. Open throughout the year. A few hours to see the city center is good as well. Drive Bharatpur to Mathura. (2 hours) -------------------------------------
Vishram Ghat. Painting by Lord Weeks. ARRIVE IN MATHURA Lord Krishna was born in Mathura. His earliest years were in Gokul and childhood in Vrindavan.. Krishna later moved to Dwarka. Kunj Residency Hotel near bus stand. Itsy Hotel near railway station. Hotel Vedant Inn AC, restaurant. Hotel Aryavilas, nice Rooftop restaurant. Vrindavan area more relaxed. VRINDAVAN The ghats of Vrindavan and Mathura were built by Raja Himmat Bahadur 600 years ago on the Yamuna river front. On the banks of the Yamuna river, few kilometers from each other, are the towns of Mathura and Vrindavan. Both sacred for devotees of Krishna Among the two, Mathura is the biggest: a city of 600.000 people, Mathura is also one of the seven sacred cities of Hinduism, and the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Main attraction and core of the city is the amazing Vishram Ghat. Try these hotels: Triptam Hotel. Hotel Shri Radha Nikunj, Best Western TC, MVT Guest House & Restaurant. There are many luxury hotels as well. Nidhivan Sarovar Portico TC, Hotel Idhayan Palace. TC Vrindavan, with only 60,000 inhabitants, is 11 kms North of Mathura. Despite its size, Vrindavan is home to around 5,000 Hindu temples. Vrindavan is also famous as a shelter for Indian widows, who, after their husband’s death, can be kicked out of their house by their relatives and end up living in the streets. Vrindavan was Krishna's childhood home, where he played the flute for his Radha and gopis, until he left Vrindavan.
Vishram Ghat Main ghat of Mathura is on the banks of the River Yamuna, and is central to 25 other ghats. The traditional parikrama starts and ends at Vishram Ghat. This is the place Lord Krishna bathed in order to celebrate his killing of the demon Kansa. People bathe, rest and worship. Krishna Janma Boomi Mander. Mathura. Constructed where Krishna was born. It was a prison cell that belonged to Kansa, Krishna’s maternal uncle. The prison cell is a stone walled cell that reminds people of King Kans’s cruelty in those days. Beautiful and well-maintained temple. limited hours. -------------------------------------
Govardhan Hill place of Hindu Pilgrimage the place where Lord Krishna grew up. The Govardhan Parvat is mentioned in a number of religious and sacred texts, a number of tales about Lord Krishna. It is said that Lord Krishna lifted the mountain to protect the villagers of Mathura from a raging thunderstorm. In addition to this, a number of 16th century monuments are situated on the hill, and the view of the surrounding villages is breathtaking from the top. Kusum Sarovar. Govardhan is believed to be the place where Radha along with gopis used to collect flowers and meet Lord Krishna. Kadamba trees are found all over. A simple earthen pond till 1675, it was properly built by ruler of Orchha, Veer Singh. Later surrounded by magnificent structures constructed by the king of Bharatpur in the middle of 18th century, The main tomb has beautiful paintings on its ceiling depicting the pastimes of Krishna and the lotus feet of Krishna engraved on the floor. The interior of these buildings is breathtaking. Radha Kund Govardhan, Mansi Ganga Lake. Considered to be one of the holiest temples. The legend goes that Radha and her friends used their bangles to dig out a kunda and filled it with water from ‘Manasi-Ganga’. Pilgrims take a dip in this holy body of water throughout the year. The fresh and cool water of this kunda is kept quite clean.
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Keshi Ghat. Vrindavan is an embankment of the River Yamuna, and is one of the most beautiful spots in the whole of Vrindavan. Idyllic for watching sunrises and sunsets. Evening Aarti 4:30pm is something. Perfect to just sit in peace, as the serenity of this place is comparable to none other. Banke Bihari Temple, built in 1862 Radha Raman temple Vrindavan is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha, the love of his life. Constructed in 1542, this is one of the most exquisitely crafted Krishna temples. The original deity of Krishna with Radharani is in this temple. The aarti is loud chanting of Lord Krishna’s name. Radha Damodar Temple. Vrindavan. One of the oldest temples in Vrindavan, is a reflection of the glory of architecture in ancient India. Built in the year 1524 Iskcon Temple. Vrindavan. Built by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness or ISKCON. One of the major temples of the organization. The temple is dedicated to the divine brothers Krishna and Balaram, and was built in 1975. The aarti is something that should not be missed it is quite a sight to see. Prem Mandir is maintained by Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, an international non-profit, educational, spiritual, charitable trust. Completed in 2012. The complex is on a 55-acre site on the outskirts of Vrindavan. It is dedicated to Radha Krishna and Sita Ram.
Whether your hotel is in Mathura or Vrindavan, does not matter, they are equal distance from Govardhan. There are more hotels in Vrindavan. After Krishna moved his disciples to Dwarka in Gujarat, he married Rukmini. Krishna was king and Rukmini was queen DRIVE ACK TO DELHI - FLY TO PUNE --------------------------------------------- Fly Delhi to JamnagarJAMNAGAR, GUJURAT AIRPORT is the domestic airport closest to Dwarka. It is situated at a distance of 137 km from this holy city. One can get frequent flights for different destinations from here. Drive from Jamnagar to Dwarka is 2.5 hrs. JAMNAGAR See the making of the finest Bandhani fabric, loosely woven silk called Georgette or cotton known as Maimal. The Bandhani-making art in Jamnagar has been able to provide a livelihood for at least 50,000 people. Bandhani is a traditional art form used in making tie dye fabricl. It has given worldwide recognition to the city. The men here dye the cloth and women tie them, the most difficult and fine job of handwork done. Bandhani making is as old as 5,000 years and has been in function since the Mahabharata era. Bandhani was made by both the Muslims and Hindus in the city. Done by hand with no involvement of machines. "Most of the actors in TV serials wear Bandhani," There are two Jain temples, the Shantinath and Adinath temple, entirely covered with mirror, gold leaf, murals and mosaics. Chandi Bazaar, in the Old City, is a market known for Bandhani sarees and silver jewellery. FROM JAMNAGAR .... TRAIN OR DRIVE
Lord Krishna was King in Dwarka, on the coast of the Arabian Sea, western Gujarat. Lord Krishna moved with his companions to ancient Dwarka after he killed the evil Kansa. Krishna felt it was no longer safe around the Mathura area. The wars of the Mahabarata were fought from there. The legendary Dwarka of Krishna's reign is now 120 feet under the Arabian sea. A STORY OF KRISHNA IN ANCIENT DWARKA ANOTHER TOUR: MUMBAI TO VERAVAL. LIONS. DWARKA To visit Meher Baba's Samadhi, fly from Delhi to Pune -----------------------------------------
Avatar Meher Baba Samadhi - Tomb Shrine. ARRIVE IN MEHERABAD To visit: Avatar Meher Baba Samadhi Tomb Shrine. Fly from Delhi to Pune. There are many hotels in Pune, which is a 2 hour drive from Meherabad (Ahmednagar). There are a few new hotels in Ahmednagar with restaurants. The car ride from town to Meherabad is 15 minutes. There is a pilgrim guest house in Meherabad available for people genuinly interested in Meher Baba, only with prior reservations through the Trust Office. The Samadhi can be visited directly from either Pune or Ahmednagar. You need to hire a car with a driver who knows how to drive to the parking up the hill, near the Samadhi. Open to everyone from 7 am to 7 pm. Information about Meher Baba: https://avatarmeherbabatrust.org/ The stories of the 5 Avatar Advents in India ------DISCLAIMER: This is not a commercial site. We offer nothing but the opportunity for you to see a way to make this trip work. Information only. No gaurantee the info is correct. Have tried my best, but I'm no expert. ---------------- I have not taken the *photos on this page-------
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