Duration: 09 nights & 10 days
 

Best season: October June
Delhi Amritsar McLeodGanj Shimla Delhi

Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive Delhi

Meals: on own
Arrival in New Delhi before or after midnight. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02: Delhi

Meals: on own
Your guide will meet you at the hotel. After breakfast, guided tour of historic city of Delhi. The city where one can experience the influence of the many rulers who ruled this region, a city built and destroyed and rebuilt over seven times. The tour includes the magnificent Red Fort, the Jama Masjid, Asia's largest mosque, Rajghat the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi the "Father of the Nation". Afternoon tour of New Delhi to include Humanyun Tomb, Birla Mandir, Bahai Temple, Qutab Minar, India Gate, President'' House and drive through Connaught Place. Evening, see SonetLumerie at Red Fort (optional). Overnight at hotel.

Day 03: Delhi Amritsar

Meals: on own
Connect morning train to Amritsar, arriving at noon. Amritsar, literally meaning "holy pool of nectar" is the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh Religion. The Golden Temple, also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib was initiated by the fourth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Ramdas and completed in 1601 by his successor Guru Arjan Dev. There is such a spiritual embodiment of the higher being that even the non believer is seduced by the hypnotic melody of the Paath. Listen to it and all your sorrows will be washed away and you will reveal your own inner spirit.
Evening guided tour of Wagah Border (IndoPak) to witness ‘beating the retreat’. Overnight in a hotel.

Day 04: Amritsar McLeodganj

Meals: on own
Morning guided tour of The Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh. Jallianwala Bagh: The Raj's local commander, Brigadier General Reginald Dyer, issued an order requiring all Indians using that street to crawl its length on their hands and knees. He also authorized the indiscriminate, public whipping of natives who came within lathi length of British policemen. On April 13, 1919, a multitude of Punjabis gathered in Amritsar's Jallian wala Bagh as part of the Sikh Festival "Baisakhi fair" and to protest at these extraordinary measures. The throng, penned in a narrow space smaller than Trafalgar Square, had been peacefully listening to the testimony of victims when Dyer appeared at the head of a contingent of British troops. Giving no word of warning, he ordered 50 soldiers to fire into the gathering, and for 10 to 15 minutes 1,650 rounds of ammunition were unloaded into the screaming, terrified crowd, some of whom were trampled by those desperately trying to escape.

Afternoon travel to McLeodganj (56 hours). Overnight in Udechee Huts or similar.

Day 05 & 06: McLeodganj

Meals: on own
Dharamsala lies on a spur of the Dhauladhar range, the Pir Panjal region of the Outer Himalayas and commands majestic views of the mighty Dhauladhar ranges above, and the Kangra Valley below. Dharamsala is divided into two very different parts. Kotwali Bazaar and areas further down the valley (at the average height of 1,250 metres) are called Lower Dharamsala, while McLeodGunj (at the height of nearly 1,800 metres) and surrounding areas are known as Upper Dharamsala. McLeodgunj is nine kilometers by bus route and four kilometres by taxi route up the hill from Kotwali Bazaar.While inhabitants of Lower Dharamsala are almost all Indians, McLeod Gunj is primarily a Tibetan area. McLeod Gunj is surrounded by pine, Himalayan oak, rhododendron and deodar forests. The main crops grown by local Indians in the valleys below McLeod Gunj are rice, wheat and tea. Today, streams of Tibetan refugees from all over the world flock to McLeod Gunj to receive blessings and teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Enjoy walking in town, visit the market and tea stalls, Buddhist culture, Bhagshunath temple etc. Stay in Udechee Huts.

Day 07: McLeodganj Shimla

Meals: on own
Drive to Simla in the morning through the Himalayan terrain (8 hours). Overnight in Hotel Woodville Palace or similar. Woodville Palace has an impressive history dating right back to 1866 when Sir William Mansfield, CommanderinChief of the Imperial Army became the first resident of this charming and picturesque estate. It was later acquired by His Highness Maharaja Bhagvat Sinh of Gondal State in Western Indian as a gift for his daughter, Rani Leila Ba of Jubbal State. Her husband, Raja Rana Sir Bhagat Chand tore down the old structure and constructed a new building in 1938. Hundreds of expert artisans were commissioned to ensure the highest quality of craftsmanship. Rajkumar Uday Singh, grandson of the Raja Sahib opened a part of the mansion as a small hotel in April, 1977. Today, the palace is one of the classiest places to stay in Shimla.

Day 08: Shimla

Meals: on own
Shimla is situated in the northwest Himalayas and is the capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh. British coined the term “Queen of the hills” for Shimla. The town retains a colonial aura, with its grand old buildings.You may visit the Mall, like most hill stations in North India, is the main shopping centre of Shimla. It also has many restaurants, clubs, banks, bars, Post Offices and tourist offices. The other places to visit are Christ Church, Jakhu Hill, Shimla State Museum. Overnight in Hotel Woodville Palace or similar.

Day 09: Chail and Kufri excursion

Meals: on own
Enjoy your fist day visiting a small sleepy town of Chail. One could savour fresh Samosa and chai at a local shop. One may opt for long walks. Visiting Kufri in the afternoon. Kufri commands good views. It also has a Mini zoo amidst dense forest. The other attraction of this zoo are Tibetan wolf, Brown Bear and Barking Deer. There are other popular wild animals species in the Mini zoo such as leopard, Ghoral, Samber, Himalayan Thar, Yak, black bear and number of pheasants varieties. Himalayan Nature Park has been set up at Kufri in 1992 which is spread in 90 hectare area and mini zoo has been set up in this Park.
Overnight in Hotel Woodville Palace or similar.

Day 10: Shimla Delhi return journey

Meals: on own
Drive back to Delhi via Chandigarh (8 hours). Time permitting, you may opt for shopping etc. Transfer to the airport to fly back. Tour Ends.