Our journey to the East starts in Calcutta (now Kolkata), a city, founded by the British on the banks of the River Ganges, which is home to more than ten million people. It is a city of teeming contrasts where fading eighteenth century mansions and grandiose buildings of the Raj stand next to bustling bazaars and modern high-rise malls. A city of many faiths, cultures and trades, Calcutta makes room for all. During its history, Calcutta has welcomed many diverse peoples such as Chinese, Armenians and Jews, all of whom have left their imprints in pockets of the city. The poverty of this city is well documented. Less known are the people who strive daily to make a difference. We will get a chance to meet some of these people and visit their work in this amazing city.
Bengal is feminine, infused with the culture of the goddess in worship and agriculture. We visit temples of Kali and Durga, the mother and daughter, celebrate Annapurna, the goddess of plenty, and follow the cycle of the earth goddess from planting to harvesting through festivals, music and dance.
We then turn to the heartland of the East and go to the villages near the university town of Santiniketan. This 'abode of peace' was founded in 1901 by the famous poet and Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore, who founded a unique rural educational institution which emphasizes the relationship of human beings with nature and art.
The Journey to the East developed as a response to people who travelled on the Buddhapath pilgrimage and wanted to go deeper into Indian culture to understand the wisdom of sustainable indigenous systems and practices. The non-profit Ahimsa Trust, which is partly supported by proceeds of the Buddhapath pilgrimage, works in nine ethnically-diverse villages in the vicinity of Santiniketan. Farmers, women and youth are focusing on activities and areas like organic farming, kitchen garden seed funds, medicinal plants, craft training, product improvement, and the barter of essential goods and services. The project also works towards cultural strengthening and functional literacy. The Journey to the East is a way for this work to be self-sustaining. Youth groups are being trained to be knowledgeable guides for this lifestyle-tourism where visitors will be encouraged to participate in community work such as cooking and food processing as well as craft-making and the various stages of the cycle of growing rice.
For futher information & registration please contact us at info@elevendirections.com
Extensions that may added before and after the Journey to the East:
In the Footsteps of the Buddha - Peepal Pilgrimage 2019: 10th to 23rd February 2019
The Taj Mahal at Agra: 23rd to 24th February 2019
The Exquisite Caves: 25th February to 27th February 2019
Itinerary
Open dates... (7 days)
Price: US$ 2450 (US$ 750* single room supplement)
Day 1: Arrive in Kokata
Day 2: Kolkata
Day 3: Kolkata - Santiniketan
Day 4: Santiniketan
Day 5: Santiniketan
Day 6: Santiniketan
Day 7: Santiniketan - Kolkata - Delhi. Departure from Kolkata/Delhi |
