◉
Day 1: Fly to Amritsar via Delhi
Overnight flight from London (regional connections available)
to Amritsar via Delhi with Jet Airways. (N)
◉
Day 2: Amritsar
On arrival, transfer to the Hyatt Amritsar (or similar) for a
2-night stay. Evening visit to the Golden Temple for the auspicious
Palki Sahib night ceremony to witness the evening
kirtan (devotional prayers). The temple is profusely lit up
and the lights are beautifully reflected in large water tanks
surrounding the sanctum. (N)
◉
Day 3: Amritsar • Wagah
Morning visit to the Golden Temple and the community
kitchen called Langar. Take a guided heritage walk
passing the Gurudwara Saragarhi, dedicated to the heroism
of the 21 soldiers of the 36 Sikhs Battalion who lost their
lives in 1897 as they defended their posts against Afghan
soldiers. Weave your way through Qila Ahluwalia, a fort replete
with colonial architectural features, before arriving at
the Jalebiwala Chowk with its jalebi shop selling delicious
sticky sweets. Late afternoon visit to Wagah, situated on the
border with Pakistan, for the unmissable Changing of the
Guard ceremony. (B)
◉
Day 4: McLeod Ganj
Travel by road to McLeod Ganj in Dharamsala.
McLeod Ganj is home to the Dalai Lama and is the centre of
Little Tibet. This afternoon visit His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s
monastery, Tsuglag Khang. Continue with a tour of
McLeod Ganj, visiting the handicrafts centre and a local family
house to see the regional Gaddi dress. The evening is free
to explore McLeod Ganj market. Spend 2 nights at the Pride
Surya Resort (or similar). (B)
◉
Day 5: Dharamsala
After breakfast, visit the Norbulingka Institute, dedicated
to the preservation of Tibetan culture. Later, take a
gentle walk through traditional Gaddi settlements to Naddi
village, enjoying spectacular views of the Dhauladhar mountain
range as the sun sets. (B)
◉
Day 6: Masroor • Palampur
Travel by road to Palampur for an overnight stay at
Taragarh Palace. En route, visit the rock-cut temples at
Masroor and enjoy a visit to a working tea plantation
where you can wander through beautifully manicured tea
gardens, interact with the estate workers and see how tea
is processed in the small factory before sampling some
of their finest infusions. (B, D)
◉
Day 7: Pragpur via Kangra Mountain Railway
Today drive to Baijnath to board the Kangra Mountain
Railway for the 1.5-hour scenic ride to Nagrota.
Afterwards drive to Kangra to visit the impressive fort and
on to Pragpur. Stay 2 nights at The Judge’s Court,
a delightful old manor house that has been converted
into a hotel. (B, D)
◉
Day 8: Pragpur
At leisure, with opportunities for leisurely walks in the
surrounding villages, including Garli, or visit the
temples at Jwalamukhi and Chintpurni. (B, L, D)
◉
Days 9: Shimla
Full-day drive through the Himalayan foothills to the
former British hill station of Shimla. On arrival, check in
for 2 nights at the Oberoi Cecil or upgrade to the Oberoi
Wildflower Hall (Deluxe Garden View room) from $300. (B)
◉
Days 10: Shimla
Full-day tour of Shimla, including the Viceregal Lodge,
Himachal State Museum and the Gaiety theatre.
Later in the day, enjoy some time at leisure to stroll along the
Mall and the Ridge. (B)
◉
Days 11: Chandigarh via toy train
Take the Himalayan Queen toy train from
Shimla to Kandaghat (2 hours and 15 minutes) to enjoy the beautiful
Himalayan scenery. This narrow gauge railway
is considered one of the finest engineering feats in India.
Continue by road to Chandigarh (2 hours) for an overnight
stay at the LaLiT Chandigarh. (B)
◉
Days 12: Delhi
Morning train to Delhi (4 hours). Spend the afternoon at leisure
and overnight at the Oberoi Maidens (or similar). (B)
◉
Days 13: Fly to London
Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)