Gaj Retreat, located on the border of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, Offers a unique location to answer your “spiritual call”. One can plan day trips to Naina Devi Jee, Chintpurni, Jawala Jee and Baglamukhi or have Darshans at a more leisurely pace.
Day 1: Arrive Delhi early morning. Transfer to a 5-star hotel.After check in and breakfast, we embark on our firsthand experience of “Incredible India” for a guided tour to the most interesting and intriguing sights of the capital City of Delhi.A thrilling Rickshaw ride while negotiating the labyrinths of OLD WORLD CHARM, will take you to famous Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandini Chowk and Parathe Wali Gali(Fried Indian Bread Lane), where YOU may be tempted by the aroma of different varieties of Parathas being cooked, to taste some. In the Evening enjoy a sumptuous Dinner at One of the ethnic eateries of the town. Overnight at Hotel. (Breakfast/ Hygienic Street Food Lunch, Dinner).
Day 2: (GAJ RETREAT)
Early Morning transfer to New Delhi station to board the morning train to Chandigarh. Transfer by coach / car to the retreat. Day at leisure to relax or enjoy the in-house activities and facilities. Overnight at resort.
Day 3: (Naina Devi)
After breakfast we drive to the abode of MAA. Shri Naina Devi Temple is located on an altitude of 1177 meters in Distt. Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.According to a legend, Goddess Sati burnt herself alive in Yagna, which distressed Lord Shiva. He picked the corpse of Sati on her shoulder and started his Taandav dance. This horrified all deities in the heaven as this could lead to holocaust. This urged Lord Vishnu to unleash his Chakra that cut the Sati’s body into 51 pieces. Shri Naina Devi Temple is the place where eyes of Sati fell down.One more story is associated with Sikh Guru Gobind Singh Ji. When he left for his military campaign against Mughals in 1756, he went to Shri Naina Devi and performed a Sacrificial Yagna to seek blessings of the Goddess. After getting the blessings, he successfully defeated the Mughals. After the Darshan, on way back visit, famous Shri Anandpur Sahib.Overnight at the Retreat.
Day 4: (Chintapurni Maa / Jwala jee)
Mata Chintpurni Devi is one of the many manifestations of the Supreme Goddess Durga. In this form She is also called Maa Chinnamasta or Maa Chinnamastika – the one with detached head. The Divine Mother relieves Her devotees from worries (chinta) by fulfilling all their desires. That’s why, appropriately called MATA CHINTPURNI. Just like any mother, our Divine Mother Maa Chintpurni Ji cannot see Her children suffering. She banishes all our sufferings and endows us with joy. All those who come to Mata Chintpurni with wishes, do not go empty handed. According to one of the sacred books of , Shri Markandeye Puran, after killing of all the Asuras and upon victory in the big war, Maa Bhagwati’s 2 ‘sahyoginis’, Jaya and Vijaya who had killed the various Asuras and drank their blood, were still thirst for more blood. So Maa cut her own head and quenched the thirst of her sahyoginis with her own blood. Since then, Maa Bhagwati’s this roop was called as Maa Chinnamastika or Mata Chinnamasta (Chinna is without and Masta is Head). After darshan of Maa Chintapurni, we drive down further to Jwala Jee. Jawala Ji or Jwala devi temple is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths of India and Jawala Ji Temple is one of the highly venerated Shakti Temples in India. This is believed to be the first ever temple built by the Pandavas. Jwala Ji is a Devi Temple Dedicated to the “GODDESS OF LIGHT”, Sati’s tongue is believed to have fallen at the very place where Jwala devi Temple is now situated. The Tongue of sati is represented by Holy Flames or Jwala that is perpetually burning. Jwala devi temple as a center of faith is unparallel and unique. Over night halt at Jawala Jee. (Comfortable and hygienic hotel)
Day 5 : (Palampur)
Maa Baglamukhi Temple is the most ancient Siddha Peeth located in Bankhandi close to both Jawalamukhi Devi and Chintpurni Devi Temple. Baglamukhi is one of the 10 Mahavidyas and believed to be the destroyer of all evils. Yellow colour is the most favourite colour of the Goddess. That is why the temple is painted in yellow colour. The devotees do wear yellow attire and yellow desserts (besan ki laddoo) are offered to the deity. People worship the deity to win the legal confrontations, to defeat their enemy, to prosper in business and to win the heart of beloved. After Darshan of Maa Baglamukhi, we proceed to have darshan of Maa Vajreshwari/Kangra Mata. Shree Vajreshwari Mata Mandir also known as Kangra Devi Mandir .The original temple was built by the Pandavas at the time of Mahabharatha. Legend says that one day Pandavas saw Goddess Durga in their dream in which she told them that she is situated in the Nagarkot village and if they want themselves to be secure they should make a temple for her in that area otherwise they will be destroyed. That same night they made a magnificent temple for her in the Nagarkot village. This temple was looted a number of time by the Muslim invaders. Md Gaznavi looted this temple at least 5 times, in the past it used to contain tonnes of gold and many ghantas made of pure silver. In 1905 the temple was destroyed by a powerful earthquake and was subsequently rebuilt by the government. Over night at Palampur.
Day 6: (Chamunda Devi)
Chamunda Devi temple is one of the earliest temples of India built in 16th century. The temple is located at a distance of 10Km from Palampur, 24Km from Kangra and 15Km from Dharamshala in the kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The temple is dedicated to Chamunda Devi who is a form of Goddess Kali. Chamunda Devi temple is also known as Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham. It is believed that Shiva and Shakti reside in this temple. Lord Shiva resides near this temple in the form of Nandikeshwar. The temple is situated on the banks of river BanGanga (Baner). It is said that around 400 years back, a king and a priest asked for permission from the Devi to shift the temple to a better place. The Goddess then appeared in the dreams of the priest and asked him to start digging the land at some particular place. The priest found an ancient idol of Chamunda devi at that site. The idol was the established at the same place and the Goddess is worshipped there since then. After the Darshan, the guests can visit nearby towns of Dharamshala, Macloadganj( seat Of Dalai Lama’s Govt in exile), Enjoy Breathtaking beauty of famous Kangra Tea Gardens. The guests can continue their Yatra further to Dharamshala ,Mata Vaishno Devi Darshan or plan a trip to Amritsar, Dalhousie etc.(optional)