NORTH INDIA HIMALAYA AND AMRITSAR

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.