In the Foothills of the Himalaya - Solo

Arrive in Delhi, with some time at leisure.

We fly to Amritsar, and transfer to our hotel for some time to relax. This evening, we experience one of the great traditions of the city, the ‘putting to bed’ (Palki) ceremony. Twice a day, the holy book of the Sikh faith, the Granth Sahib, is moved in a grand procession from a dedicated chamber in the Sikh Parliament to the Golden Temple, and back again. This daily ritual is really something to behold, hinting at the tremendous spirituality of Amritsar.

Excursions & visits:

Attend the ‘putting to bed’ ceremony at the Golden Temple (evening)

We return to the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of Sikhism. At its heart, set within a sacred pool, is the Hari Mandir (Divine Temple). This gold-plated architectural jewel is topped with intricate spires and cupolas, and decorated inside and out with verses from the Granth Sahib. We’ll explore the vast temple complex, including community kitchens which provide free meals to 10,000 pilgrims and the poor every day. Afterwards, we head out to walk the busy bazaars of the city and visit the historic Jallianwala Bagh. We also take some time to admire the Durgiana Hindu temple, which takes its inspiration from the Golden Temple. An afternoon excursion to the India/Pakistan border town of Wagah showcases the pomp and pageantry of the Lowering of the Flag ceremony. Since 1959, armies flaunt their might from each side of the border with a stern display of battle call, foot stomping, marching and national anthems, before the national flags are lowered and the gates are slammed shut for the night.

Excursions & visits:

Sightseeing tour of Amritsar (morning)
Excursion to Wagah for 'Change of Guard' ceremony (afternoon)

From Amritsar, we drive the 130-odd miles to Dharamshala, a small hill station surrounded on three sides by snow-capped peaks. This delightful town owes its fame (and its nickname, the ‘little Lhasa of India’) to one particular resident, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who chose it as a place of spiritual exile in 1960.

A morning sightseeing tour of Dharamshala includes the residence of the Dalai Lama and the Norbulingka Institute, a registered trust dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan culture in art and literature. We also visit the nearby Tibetan Children’s Village, a boarding school at which orphans are provided with a Tibetan education, clothes, food and healthcare.

Excursions & visits:

Sightseeing tour of Dharamshala (morning)

A morning’s drive takes us to the ornamental heritage village of Pragpur by way of a tea plantation and tea factory, where we learn about the plucking and processing of Kangra tea. In the afternoon, a walking tour of Pragpur’s cobbled streets, lined with richly decorated buildings, offers a glimpse of the village’s regal past. Our hotel, a splendid country mansion surrounded by orchards, is also a delight to explore.

Excursions & visits:

Visit a tea plantation and factory (morning)
Walking tour of Pragpur (afternoon)

The next destination on our Himalayan holidays is Shimla, ‘Queen of the Hills’ and the summer capital during British rule in India. In this idyllic retreat, 2,200m above sea level, temperatures averaged 15 to 20 degrees cooler than Delhi and the baking hot plains. It’s an idyllic retreat, surrounded by pine, deodar, oak and rhododendron forests and criss-crossed by mountain streams - and all set against a backdrop of the snow-capped Himalaya.

A scenic rail journey aboard the Himalayan ‘Toy Train’ transports us from Shimla to Taradevi. Later, we’ll visit the Jakhu Temple dedicated to Hanuman, the heroic Hindu monkey god, before a walking tour of Shimla. Echoes of empire still abound in its churches, libraries and grand colonial edifices. We’ll visit the Elizabethan style Viceregal Lodge, built in 1888 for Lord Dufferin and Christ Church built in 1844, before a stroll around the colourful mall.

Excursions & visits:

Himalayan ‘Toy Train’ from Shimla to Taradevi (morning)
Walking tour of Shimla (afternoon)

A day at leisure to relax in the beautiful surroundings of Shimla.

We head to Chandigarh, stopping for lunch en route. At Chandigarh station, we’ll board the Vande Bharat Express, bound for Delhi.

Excursions & visits:

Vande Bharat Express from Chandigarh to Delhi (afternoon)

We’ll take in the best of Delhi, ‘Old’ and ‘New’, from the hand-carved 12th-century Qutab Minar minaret and the garden-tomb of Emperor Humayun, to the grand avenues and government buildings of Lutyens’ New Delhi. We also visit Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, and the 17th-century Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India.

Excursions & visits:

Sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi (all day)

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.