The Spirit of India
February 9 to March 2, 2017

Join Paulist Fr. Thomas Kane for a special study-pilgrimage as we explore the spiritual traditions of India.  We will visit temples, learn of various spiritual traditions, and experience the integration of Christianity in cultural contexts where it is a minority among different world religions. This pilgrimage has been specially designed for both seekers who are interested in learning more about different spiritual practices, and the religiously committed who are interested in the potential for mutual enrichment in the interreligious encounter. 

We begin in Delhi as we explore the magnificent Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque and enjoy a rickshaw tour through the bustling Chandni Chowk bazaar, and the Red Fort. 

We then travel to Varanasi on the Ganges, a sacred site of India. We visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the most revered of Shiva temples. This evening, we will witness the thousand-year-old Aarti Ceremony during which worshippers pray near the water by the light of candles and lanterns. At sunrise, we take a boat ride on the Ganges, as pilgrims perform their morning water rituals in the river. We pass the most important Ghats and continue on foot to explore the narrow lanes of the Bengali Tola area, one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on earth. We also visit Sarnath, where Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon after he attained enlightenment. 

After breakfast, we travel to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur and visit the Amber Fort on elephant and visit many Hindu temples. We then head east to the former royal city of Fatehpur Sikri, one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture, on the way to Agra with an early morning visit to Taj Mahal, one of the world’s most famous buildings. 

Our next visit is to the seaside of Goa, the Museum of Christian Art and the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa’s most famous church, revered by Christians worldwide. The Church, partially in ruins, is still a model of simplicity, a classic example of Jesuit architecture.

On to Chennai, where we celebrate the liturgy at Saint Thomas Cathedral, a Roman Catholic basilica built in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers over the tomb of St Thomas. After-wards, we drive to Kanchipuram, the town of temples and silk, built in the 3rd Century BC. There are over 125 shrines, centuries old with magnificent temples, completely intact and rendered with exquisite detail, reflecting the town’s rich cultural past.  

We relax in the backwaters of Kerala in Kumarakom with its idyllic setting, known for its healing center and ayurvedic treatments. We conclude our journey in Cochin, a trading port since Roman times, the oldest European settlement in India and centre of the huge spice trade. In the morning we visit the Jewish Synagogue, St Francis Church, Mattancherry Palace, and Chinese fishing nets.  From Cochin, we return home.

 
Pricing
  • $3,599 (land only)
  • $125 tips
  • Regional airfare: Approx. $400
  • International airfare: Approx. $1,000

 

Recommended Flights

We recommend the following flights for your trip from the United States to India. The airfare for the below-listed flights, as of June 23, 2016, is $990.

All flights operated by Qatar Airlines.

Flight no. Date of travel Sector Departure Arrival
QR 708 February 9, 2017 Washington-Doha 8:40 PM 5:10 PM (Feb. 10)
QR 578 February 10, 2017 Doha-Deli 7:50 PM 1:45 AM (Feb. 11)
QR 515 March 2, 2017 Cochin-Doha 3:30 AM 5:40 AM
QR 707 March 2, 2017 Doha-Washington 8:20 AM 2:50 PM

 

Visas – required for all travelers!

The easiest way to get an Indian visa is to use the indiaonlinevisa.org online service.

Before going on the site, use your smartphone and take a photo of yourself with white background and a photo of your passport page and have them ready to upload. If you have a scanner, you can scan the documents.

You fill out the forms online, upload the 2 documents and pay the visa fee. You will then be contacted about the next step.