Overview
Highlighting
India’s diverse religions, culture and landscape, this adventurous tour takes
you north from New Delhi to the Pakistan border at Amritsar, then east to the
Dalai Lama's current refuge in Dharamshala in the Himalaya foothills and on to
the ancient Hindu pilgrimage towns and British hill stations of Shimla,
Rishikesh, and Haridwar on the Ganges River.
This tour
involves a couple of train rides from and to New Delhi and spends much of the
time in the Himalaya foothills, which makes it an excellent option for
experiencing India in the summer months from April through September.
Highlights
- Amritsar and the Sikh Golden Temple.
- The pomp and circumstance of the Pakistan Wagah Border Ceremony.
- Dharamshala, the home of the Dalai Lama.
- Rishikesh, the yoga capital of the world, once visited by the Beatles.
- The ghats on the Ganges River at Haridwar.
Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive New Delhi
Day 02: New Delhi
Day 03: New Delhi to Amritsar
Day 04: Amritsar
Day 05: Amritsar to Dharamshala
Day 06: Dharamshala
Day 07: Dharamshala to Shimla
Day 08: Shimla
Day 09: Shimla to Rishikesh
Day 10: Rishikesh
Day 11: Rishikesh to Delhi, Via Haridwar
Day 12: New Delhi Departure
DAY 01: ARRIVE NEW DELHI
Arrive in New Delhi where you’ll be welcomed by
our airport representative and transferred to your hotel for check in.
Overnight in New Delhi.
DAY 02: NEW DELHI
Your guide and driver will meet you at your
hotel and take you on a tour of the best sites of New Delhi. Start in the
southern end of the city with a visit to the Qutab Minar, the tallest stone
tower in India, followed by Humayun’s Tomb, a grand example of Indo-Persian
style architecture similar to the Taj Mahal. After lunch, take a short walk
through the bustling Chandi Chowk shopping area in Old Delhi, and visit the
adjacent Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Continue to the serene park
setting of Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. Finally, visit the
Laxmi Narayan Hindu Temple near Connaught Place, the heart of Delhi where you
can shop or have dinner. Overnight in New Delhi.
DAY 03: NEW DELHI TO AMRITSAR
After an early breakfast & checkout from the
hotel, enjoy scenic drive to Amritsar, total drive will take approx 09 hours
including halt in between.
On arrival in the 'City of the Golden Temple', check-in at the hotel and freshen up. After taking rest for some time, enjoy Golden Temple ‘putting to bed’ ceremony. The holiest temple in Sikhism, it’s home to the Guru Granth Sahib (the central religious scripture), which is a focus of devotion during the day before being ‘put to bed’ each evening. On this evening visit with a local guide, you can watch the nightly ceremony unfold.
The temple is arguably at its best at night, when it’s illuminated and the central promenade leading to the inner sanctum is lit with strings of lights. Chanting begins as the book is placed upon an embroidered pillow and carried to the Akal Takht, a five-tiered marble building, to rest for the night. Your guide will explain the ritual as you watch the procession pass by.
We recommend returning to the temple the next morning to see the complex in a different light. Many pilgrims bathe in the sacred waters, and up to 100,000 people are fed in the temple kitchen each day. As a visitor, you can help prepare the food, wash up or serve. In keeping with the Sikh belief that all faiths are welcome, anyone can volunteer to help, or sit down to enjoy a freshly cooked meal of rice and dhal. Night stay at hotel.
DAY 04: AMRITSAR TOUR
This day Tour will take you to the world of
peace and spirituality. Start the day by visiting the Golden Temple. The serene
ambiance of the holy shrine energizes and motivates people towards a positive
approach. After exploring the biggest shrine of Sikhs, head to the Jallianwala
Bagh, the historic site where British General Michael Dyer fired bullets on the
peaceful gathering of unarmed people. Visit the memorial house built in honor
of the massacre victims. You can still observe the bullet marks on the wall of
the garden. In the evening, visit the Wagah Border to witness the blustering
parade by the soldiers from both India and Pakistan. The parade lasts for 45
minutes and ends up with lowering the flags of both the countries which is
termed as 'Flag Retreat'. After the day's excursion, return to your hotel for a
night stay.
DAY 05: AMRITSAR TO DHARAMSHALA
After breakfast, drive east about 5 hours to
Dharamshala. Set against the backdrop of the stunning Dhauladhar Mountains,
Dharamshala is sometimes referred to as “Little Tibet” because it is now home
to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile. After checking into your
hotel, the evening is free to explore Dharamshala. Overnight in Dharamshala.
DAY 06: DHARAMSHALA
Enjoy breakfast and views of the sunrise over
the Himalayas at your hotel. Today visit the Norbulingka Institute, an
educational and historical institute dedicated to preserving Tibetan culture
and providing employment for Tibetan refugees living in India. See the world's
finest thangka painters, copper sculptors, wood carvers and appliqué artists as
they create traditional art work and handicrafts in their workshops. Here you
will learn about Tibetan culture and witness the merging of new lifestyles with
ancient traditions for many young Tibetans who call India their home. Later
visit St. John's Church and enjoy a nature walk in local tea gardens. Overnight
in Dharamshala.
DAY 07: DHARAMSHALA TO SHIMLA
After breakfast, drive 6-7 hours to
Shimla. Situated in the northwest Himalayas, Shimla is the Capital of the
Himachal Pradesh and was the summer capital of the British Raj. The drive is
incredibly scenic through dense forests of oak, pine, fur and rhododendron and
offers an opportunity to see the daily life of Indians in Himalayan villages.
Check into your hotel and enjoy a free evening in Shimla. We suggest taking a
walk through the city's mall street, which is Shimla's social and economic hub
and comes alive in the evenings. Overnight in Shimla.
DAY 08: SHIMLA
This morning, drive 25 minutes to visit a
lookout point in the nearby village of Fagu with 360-degree panoramic views of
the Himalayas. Tour the former capitol building, now the Indian Institute
of Advanced Studies, the Gaiety Theatre, the Mall, and the Christ Church.
Overnight in Shimla.
DAY 09: SHIMLA TO RISHIKESH
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, then drive about
seven hours through beautiful forested villages to Rishikesh, a pilgrimage city
and destination for Hindu and Yoga devotees from all over the world. The
evening is free. Overnight in Rishikesh.
DAY 10: RISHIKESH
Today tour Rishikesh. Visit the Shivananda
Ashram, the Nikantha Mahadev Temple, the Shri Tryambakeshwar Temple and the
Triveni Ghat. Enjoy a rest in the afternoon and then return to the main ghat at
sunset to witness the chanting and prayers at the Aarti Ceremony on the river.
Overnight in Rishikesh.
DAY 11: RISHIKESH TO NEW DELHI VIA HARIDWAR
This morning, after breakfast and checkout,
drive 30 minutes to Haridwar to visit the colorful temples for which city is
known, then continue to Har Ki Pauri, the main ghat on the Ganges and the
religious and social focal point of the city. Later in the afternoon drive to Delhi.
Upon arrival, check-in at hotel. Rest of the evening free at your own.
Overnight at hotel.
DAY 12: DEPARTURE
Day free at your own. Later in time transfer to airport
for your flight home.
Note: This is just a suggested itinerary
indicative of what could be possible. We tailor holidays for your specific
needs. Contact us if you want modifications so that we could tailor a holiday
to suit your need for an unforgettable India tour.
Inclusions/Exclusions
COST INCLUDES:
- 11 Nights air-condition accommodation on Double / Twin share room at proposed hotels.
- Daily breakfast at hotel as per detail itinerary from Day 02.
- Meeting and assistance services on arrival / departure.
- Air – conditioned chauffeur driven Vehicle (as per above) for city sightseeing, tour, excursion etc. as per above program.
- Excursion tour to Wagah (IndoPak) Border, Amritsar.
- Excursion tour to Kufri while staying in Shimla.
- All parking, road taxes, government taxes and driver allowances.
- Tour assistance throughout the tour.
- All presently applicable Government taxes.
COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Any international and domestic airfare if it is not mention in cost inclusion.
- High season supplement from (20 Dec till 05 Jan)
- Transport during free days / any optional tour / Entrance & Camera Fees at the monuments.
- Personal nature Expenses i.e. Telephone calls, Laundry, soft / hard drinks, lunch, tipping etc.
- Any Porterage services at Airport/Railway Station.
- Any other expenses not mentioned in the cost includes.
Add-ons
Taj Mahal
Extension: If you have more time in India, please
consider adding a day trip from New Delhi to Agra to see the Taj
Mahal. Contact us for details.