Our trip to Rishikesh will INCLUDE:

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• Lakshman Jhula –the famous hanging bridge across Ganga

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• Visit Parmarth Niketan “a true spiritual haven” – the largest local Ashram

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• Ganga Aarti – the devotional ritual offered to the Holy Ganges: a play of Kirtan, prayers, flowers and fire as a thank you to the Divine

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• Triveni Ghat – the pilgrimage site where the water is believed to have the power to wash away the sins and purify the soul

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• Shopping – great deals on the finest meditation shawls, malas, icons of deities, mandalas, and more

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• Ayurvedic Treatments – Receive amazing abhyanga or shirodhara massages

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• Meditation at Chaurasi Kutia – a famous ashram of the Beatles which is one of the best kept secrets of Rishikesh

Amritsar

The Golden Temple and the Heart of Kundalini Yoga

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2 nights

Amristar or the “holy pool of nectar” is the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh tradition with the Golden Temple as the soul – a place of devotion for all irrespective of cast, creed or race.

The temple’s construction was initiated by Guru Ram Das in 1578 and it is now one of the most tangibly spiritual places in the world.

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The holy shrine is a symbol of human brotherhood and equality where all can seek spiritual solace and religious fulfillment without any hindrance. The Golden Temple is elegant and humbling with people from all walks of life and all religions to come and worship God equally.

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The temple is overlaid in the center of a sarovar or pool. People believe that the water has healing properties that can cure many diseases so pilgrims bathe in the pool, also a symbolic cleansing of the soul.

While in AMRISTAR we will have the opportunity to:

• Visit the opulent and humbling complex of Golden Temple

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• Har Ki Pauri – “the steps of Almighty God” the place where devotees can have a hand full of Amrit (Nectar) from the Sarovar.

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• Ath Sath Tirath: taking a dip here with devotion one is blessed with the benefit of holy bathing of sixty-eight holy rivers

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• Enjoy the Langar – the free meal served to over 75,000 pilgrims a day

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• Be part of daily prayers, kirtan & ceremonies. Opportunity to do Seva and serve others

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• The 84 Steps at Goindwal Baoli – it is believed that performing prayers on the 84 steps cleanses the karma of 8.4 million incarnations so the soul may be liberated

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• Tahli Sahib Baba Sri Chand Ji Gurdwara Sri Barth Sahib – the place where Baba Shri Chand lived and meditated for many years

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• Durgiana Temple – also known as the Lakshmi Narayan Silver Temple dedicated to Goddess Durga the destroyer of evil

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• Wagah Border Ceremony – experience the ceremony of Beating Retreat and Change of Guard at the border between India and Pakistan

What are

Volunteer Duties?

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As a volunteer you will spend five days working with the bears and elephants at Agra. Duties include building hammocks for Sloth Bears to rest in, constructing enrichment structures for play and assisting keepers on daily afternoon feedings. In addition you will also enjoy the opportunity to visit our elephants and help with their feeding.

Your first day at the Centre will consist of an orientation session and a full campus tour. The orientation will cover both logistical information regarding how the Centre is run and educational material detailing the fundamentals of animal welfare and environmental basics. You will be trained and supervised by the experienced animal keepers at the Centre as well as the volunteer coordinator. For your safety and the safety of the bears, please note that direct physical contact is not a part of the programme experience.

Each day

is a little bit different at Wildlife SOS and Volunteer activities may include the following:

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• Food Prep for Bears/Elephants Including: Assisting Keepers in Cutting Fruits / Loading / Making Enrichment Treats.

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• Distribution of Food to the Bears/Elephants

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• Maintenance of the Enclosures and Facilities.

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• Bear & Elephant observations.

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• Enrichment Structure Construction.

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• Gardening / Plantation /Nursery Maintenance & Development.

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• Knitting of Coil Rope for Hiding Enrichments.

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• Organization of Facility Resources.

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• Facility-wide Mechanical Assistance

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• Painting Maintenance Work & Plumbing Maintenance Work.

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• Removal of Weeds.

Wildlife SOS

Elephant and Bear Sanctuary

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5 nights

By volunteering at the Wildlife SOS Rescue Facilities, you will make a major contribution to the welfare of bears and elephants in India. A portion of your fee goes to support the sanctuary.

Oyou will have the unique opportunity to work alongside some incredible animals and gain the satisfaction that comes from helping to make a positive impact on their lives (and yours!).

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Working with the local community and the inspiring people who run Wildlife SOS is an opportunity of a lifetime.

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No previous experience is required but you will need to be willing and enthusiastic. A strong interest in conservation and wildlife is recommended. You will need to be physically fit, able to tolerate high temperatures and humidity (depending on the time of year), work well within a team and be adaptable to living and working in a group.