Duration: 20 Nights / 21 Days
Destination Covered: Delhi – Rishikesh – Nahan – Shimla – Manali – Dharamshala – Amritsar – Chandigarh – Delhi
Day To Day Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive Delhi
Traditional welcome by our executive on your arrival at Delhi’s airport followed by transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi
Breakfast at the hotel.
Today morning explore and experience the capital of Muslim India between the 12th and 20th centuries, the Old Delhi. We shall stop at the Red Fort for a photo shoot and then take a Rickshaw ride through the narrow streets of the Old Delhi up to the nearby Jama Masjid Mosque, the largest in India, has a courtyard that can hold 25,000 worshippers. The pay a poignant visit to Rajghat, the site of Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation and a memorial to this humble man who so changed the world.
In the afternoon we explore India’s bustling capital city the New Delhi visiting the Vijay Chowk, “Victory Square”, stopover at the Presidential Palace with its intriguing combination of classical and Indian design elements and the India Gate memorializing Indian soldiers who died in World War I. Then travel far back in time at Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from 1570 AD and the first garden-tomb on the Indian sub-continent and lastly visit the Qutab Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world.
Overnight at hotel in Delhi.
Day 03: Delhi – Rishikesh
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning after breakfast check out and drive to Rishikesh en-route visiting Haridwar. On arrival check in at hotel. Evening at leisure.
Overnight at hotel in Rishikesh.
Day 09: Rishikesh
After breakfast tour of Rishikesh visiting the Temples and holy river Ganges. Evening visit to the ghats for the Ganga Aarti.
Overnight at hotel in Rishikesh.
Day 10: Rishikesh – Nahan
Morning after breakfast drive to Nahan. On reaching Nahan check in to your hotel. Balance of the day free to relax.
Overnight at hotel in Nahan.
Day 11: Nahan – Shimla
After breakfast proceed your drive further ahead to Shimla. On reaching Shimla check in to your hotel. You will be free for independent activities and to enjoy the scroll on the Mall Road.
Overnight at hotel in Shimla.
Day 12: Shimla
After breakfast full day at leisure to explore this town. The places of interest include Christ Church where the original chancel window was designed by Lockwood Kipling, Rudyard’s father, as well as the nearby Gaiety Theatre and Town Hall, both built at the turn of the 20th Century, and which are reminiscent of the ‘Arts and Crafts’ style. Also visit the Tibetan Bazar and the Viceregal Lodge, now the Rashtrapati Niwas, that was built in 1888 for Lord Dufferin in the Elizabethan style. You may also wish to take the short stiff climb that leads to Jakhu Hill to visit the temple dedicated to Hanuman and to take in the excellent views. Evening scroll through the famous Mall Road.
Overnight at hotel in Shimla.
Day 13: Shimla – Manali
Morning after breakfast check out and drive to Manali. On reaching Manali check in to your hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Manali.
Day 14: Manali
Today after breakfast full day explore the area in and around Manali. Places of interest include the Dungri Temple, also known as the Hadimba Temple, believed to be 1000 years old. Old Manali, Nagar castle, village walking, fish farm. Afternoon excursion to Solang Vally, Set in tranquil surroundings, the temple is four-tiered with a pagoda shaped roof. The Solang Valley, 13km from Manali, offers fabulous views of snow-capped mountain peaks.
Overnight at hotel in Manali.
Day 15: Manali – Dharamshala (Surface: 275 kms / 6-7 hrs)
Today after breakfast check out and start your drive to Dharamsala which occupies a stunning setting along a spur of the Dhauladhar Range and is the home of the Dalai Lama. The principle town of the region, Dharamsala is surrounded by forests of chir pine, rhododendron and Himalayan Oak, is spectacularly located against a backdrop of high peaks on three sides and offers superb views over the Kangra Valley that winds below. On arrival check into the hotel. Balance of the day free for independent activities.
Overnight at hotel in Dharamshala.
Day 16: Dharamshala
Morning after breakfast visit the Namgyal Monastery at McLeodganj which is opposite the residence of the Dalai Lama. This ‘Tsuglagkhang’, or Cathedral, resembles the original in Lhasa and houses large gilded bronzes of the Buddha, Avalokitesvara and Padmasambhava. Near to the Tsuglagkhang is the Kalachakra Temple with its interesting murals as well as the main bazaar with its antique and curio shops. Afterwards drive out to the Norbulingka Institute a major centre for Buddhist teaching and practical work. Named after the original summer residence of the Seventh Dalai Lama the Norbulingka Institute was set up to safeguard the survival of Tibetan Buddhism’s cultural heritage. The 100 students and 300 Tibetan employees continue this heritage and produce a variety of crafts in silk, metal, wood and thangka painting that are of exceptional quality.
Overnight at hotel in Dharamshala.
Day 17: Dharamshala – Amritsar
Today after breakfast we start with drive to Amritsar. Amritsar, founded in the late 16th Century by Ram Das, the fourth guru of the Sikhs is both the centre of the Sikh religion and the major city of the Punjab – a region closely associated with Sikhism. Famed for its Golden Temple, Amritsar, or ‘Pool of the Nectar of Immortality’, is named after the sacred pool at the centre of the Temple complex and grew in religious importance after Ram Das heard that a cripple had been cured while bathing in these waters in 1577. The pool was soon enlarged and Ram Das’s son and successor Arjan Dev subsequently enlarged the tank further still and built the original temple. Despite the desecration of the temple in 1757 the temple was rebuilt by 1764 and in 1830 the main benefactor, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, donated 100kg of gold which was applied to the roof and the exterior of the building thus giving the temple its ‘Golden’ prefix.
By afternoon reach Amritsar and check in to your. You will be free till evening. After dinner proceed to for a night visit and the Palki ceremony (closing) at the Golden Temple.
Overnight at hotel in Amritsar.
Day 18: Amritsar
After breakfast start your day with the visit of the Golden Temple amidst the serene magnificence followed by visit to the 16th Century Durgiana Temple, a small Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Durga, as well as the Jallianwala Bagh, a garden and monument commemorating the site of the 1919 massacre of 300 unarmed Indians by the British under the command of General Dyer.
Later in the afternoon we drive out 30 kms to the India-Pakistan border at Wagah to view the ceremonial changing of the guard at dusk. The contrived nightly parade of closing the border and lowering of the flags is witnessed by crowds of up to 10,000 strong!.
Overnight at hotel in Amritsar.
Day 19: Amritsar – Chandigarh
Morning after breakfast check out and drive to Chandigarh. On reaching Chandigarh check in your hotel.
Later in afternoon visit some of the prominent sites of Chandigarh including The Rock Garden, Lake and Pinjore Gardens.
Overnight at hotel in Chandigarh.
Day 20: Chandigarh – Delhi
After breakfast check out and start your drive back to Delhi. On reaching Delhi check in to your hotel. Balance of the day free for independent activities.
Overnight at hotel in Delhi.
Day 21: Delhi [Depart]
In time transfer to the airport board your flight back home.