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Thomas Cook (India) Limited and its group company SOTC Travel have announced an expansion of their spiritual pilgrimage offerings across India and the broader subcontinent. Their new portfolio caters to both group travellers and customised tours, focusing on major pilgrimage sites.
Historically, Indian spiritual journeys have been seen as demanding and less comfortable, often involving lengthy travel, poor connectivity, and infrastructural limitations. To address this, Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel have launched tours designed to improve accessibility and comfort through aerial darshans, guided tours, and VIP access to sacred sites. Rooted in the belief that “India is a Pilgrimage,” these experiences aim to cater to a diverse range of travellers—inclusive of seniors who cherish traditional rituals, multi-generational families, as well as millennials and Gen Z enthusiasts exploring spirituality as a pathway to mindfulness, wellness, and cultural discovery. The tours blend sacred rituals with local encounters, offering a holistic spiritual experience.
Their curated portfolio features eleven renowned pilgrimage destinations across India and the subcontinent, including temples, shrines, and holy rivers. Expert local guides provide detailed insights into each site’s history and spiritual significance, while facilitating seamless access and VIP or escorted darshans. Special aartis, pujas, and spiritual ceremonies conducted by pandits add personalised touches. Vegetarian and Jain meal options are available to suit religious and dietary needs. Additionally, premium helicopter services are offered at certain sites to ensure quicker, more comfortable access to remote or high-altitude locations.
Highlights include major pilgrimage circuits such as the Char Dham Yatra (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath), Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, Kashi, Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Bodh Gaya, Dwarka, Somnath, Tirupati to Trivandrum route, Haridwar and Rishikesh, Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Bhimashankar, and Grishneshwar. They also cover the Kashi to Kathmandu route, Muktinath and Janakpur in Nepal, the Puri Jagannath Yatra in Odisha, Ramayan tours across India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, as well as shorter trips to Vaishno Devi, Amritsar, Shirdi, and other spiritual centres. A range of customised tours is also available to suit individual preferences.
