For those flying to India in an easterly direction,
such as from Europe or North America, it will be
convenient to make a stopover to visit Haifa and
‘Akká. On several past tours we have made similar
arrangements.
A three-day visit to Haifa and ‘Akká is conditional
upon approval from the Bahá’í World Centre for
each individual. We will compile the names of the
Voices of Bahá who plan to make the stopover and
make a group request once the names are known.
Please bear in mind that a three-day visit is not a
pilgrimage. That lasts nine days and requires a
different application and longer period of waiting.
The World Centre allows for three day visits purely
to visit the Holy Shrines. On the official website of
the Office of Pilgrimage, it states:
“Bahá’ís who wish to come to Israel purely to visit the Holy Shrines are generally permitted
to come for a three-day visit to the Bahá’í World Centre. They may spend only three nights
in the ‘Akká/Haifa region. If they arrive in the ‘Akká/Haifa area after 9:00 p.m., this night’s
stay will not count as one of the three nights they are permitted to stay.”
There will be a package price,
supplementary to the tour price, for those
who want to make this stopover. The
package will include the extra air flights,
hotels, breakfasts, and buses to and from
the airport in Tel Aviv. The cost of this
supplementary package will be announced
when we know the number of those
interested in making the stopover. The date
of departure will either be June 7 or June 8,
depending on where you come from and the
timing of the flights. After visiting the Holy
Land the flight from Tel Aviv will connect with the rest of the choir flying directly to Mumbai for the start of the
tour.
If you are interested in this stopover package, please
indicate so in the application form on this website, and we
will advise you of the flight schedule and cost.
“Holy places are undoubtedly centres of
the outpouring of Diving grace, because
on entering the illumined sites associated
with martyrs and holy souls, and by
observing reverence, both physical and
spiritual, one’s heart is moved with great
tenderness.”
- Abdu’l-Bahá
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