HIMALAYAN HERITAGE TOUR

13 Days
London – Delhi – Amritsar – Dalhousie – Dharamsala – Pragpur –
Shimla – Nalagarh – Delhi – London

DAY TO DAY ITINERARY

Day 01 – Depart London

Day 02 – Arrive Delhi – City Tour
Early this morning you arrive at Delhi. You are met and transferred to hotel. Later embark on a sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi. The places you visit include the Red Fort, Raj Ghat, Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate and the Qutab Minar Complex. Return to the hotel in the evening. Overnight stay.

Day 03 – Delhi / Amritsar – City Tour
Early this morning you are transferred to the railway station to board express train to Amritsar: Swarna Shatabdi dep. Delhi at 07:20hrs / arr. Amritsar 13:00hrs. On arrival you are met and transferred to the hotel. Later, embark on a sightseeing tour of the City visiting the Golden Temple, the holiest of the holy Sikh shrines, the Akal Takht, the 8-storeyed Baba Atal Tower and the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial. Overnight stay

Day 04 – Amritsar / Dalhousie
This morning drive to the popular hill station of Dalhousie, a town, which is full of old world charm and holds lingering echoes of the British Raj. It is named after Lord Dalhousie, the then Viceroy of India. On arrival check into the hotel/resort. Rest of the day is at leisure to explore this town – its colonial architecture, churches and the splendid views of the surrounding mountains. Overnight stay

Day 05 – In Dalhousie – Khajjiar & Chamba Visit
This morning visit Khajjiar and the nearby town of Chamba. Khajjiar is a lush green meadow surrounded by pine and cedar forests. Famous as the "Mini Switzerland" of India, it is a picturesque place with a lake and a temple and is a photographer’s delight.

Chamba on the other hand is an erstwhile princely state, now a serene town located on the bank of River Ravi. It is famous for its ancient temples and marvelous architecture and is often compared to a medieval Italian village. Return to Dalhousie for overnight stay.

Day 06 – Dalhousie / Dharamsala
This morning drive to Dharamsala, a charming town with elegant bungalows nestling in thick conifer forests. Today Dharamsala has become synonymous to the Tibetan government in exile. On arrival check into the hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure Overnight stay.

Day 07 – In Dharamsala
Day is at leisure to explore the surrounding environs. You can visit the War Memorial, the Kangra Art Museum, St. John’s Church, local bazaars and McLeodganj (often called Little Lhasa) a former British garrison and now the headquarters of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Overnight stay.

Day 08 – Dharamsala / Jwalamukhi / Pragpur
This morning drive to the heritage village of Pragpur en route visiting the famous Jwalamukhi temple. The temple has no idol of any kind but an eternally burning flame emanating from the rock sanctum is considered a manifestation of the Goddess of Light.

Drive on to Pragpur and check into the Country Manor. Rest of the day is at leisure to relax and explore the surroundings. You can walk around the village which has held onto the essence of an earlier era of three centuries ago – unchanged shops, cobbled streets, ornamental village tank, mud-plastered and slate roofed houses. Or you can visit the nearby temple of Dada Siba, which is known for its Kangra murals and impressive ruins or go angling on the banks of River Beas at Chamba-Pattan. Overnight stay.

Day 09 – Pragpur / Shimla
This morning drive to Shimla the capital of the State of Himachal Pradesh and the erstwhile summer capital of the British Empire in India. On arrival check into hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure to explore the town that still echoes of its colonial past with neo-Gothic Churches and imperial buildings. There are viewpoints like Jakhoo Hill and the Ridge from where you can witness the panoramic view of the mountains and then there is the Lakkar Bazaar, the popular local market. Overnight stay.

Day 10 – In Shimla
Day is at leisure to explore the surrounding area like the village of Mashobra and its Wild Flower Hall, which was the erstwhile residence of the then British commander-in-chief Lord Kitchener. Naldhera, which is known for the 9-hole golf course designed by the British viceroy, Lord Curzon and Kufri, which is famous for its wide views and ski slopes. Overnight stay.

Day 11 – Shimla / Chail / Nalagarh
This morning drive to Nalagarh en route visiting Chail, one of the smallest Himalayan hills resorts and the world’s highest cricket pitch and polo ground! Drive on to Nalagarh and check into the Fort-turned-heritage hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy nature walks around the Fort and its Orchards. The Fort offers splendid views of the Shivalik Hills beyond the Sirsa River. Overnight stay

Day 12 – Nalagarh / Chandigarh / Delhi - Outbound
This morning you will drive down to Chandigarh, modern India’s first "planned" city en route visiting the Pinjore known for the Yadavindra Gardens laid out in the Mughal style with historic palaces. Drive on to Chandigarh for a short halt. Here you can visit the famous Rock Garden, a unique sculpture garden with animal and humanoid figures made of discarded materials. The garden with its rocky grottos, walkways and landscaped waterfalls is a maze of paths, chambers and canyons, each presenting a glimpse of a fantasy world.

Continue drive to Delhi. On arrival you are transferred straight to the airport to board your midnight flight back home.

Day 13 – Arrive London