The Himalayan Foothills Tour India

Itinerary Highlights

See some of the highlights of Amritsar including the Golden Temple
Enjoy a guided tour of Dharamsala, home of his holiness the Dalai Lama
Take one of the most scenic train rides in India aboard a toy train in Shimla

What's Included

Accommodation Throughout
International Flights

12 nights from £3,625 per person

Lucy

Travel Specialist

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Travel through the Indian foothills of the Himalayas where you will witness the region’s stunning scenery, rich heritage and diverse culture. Enjoy breathtaking views of the snow-capped Himalayas, marvel at the Golden temple in Amritsar, the holy city of the Sikhs. Visit the present day home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and round off your journey in Shimla, the hill station which became the summer capital of the British Raj.

Itinerary

Day 1 Depart the UK for Amritsar

Amritsar

Fly overnight from home to Amritsar.

Day 2 Amritsar

Amritsar

Arrive in Amritsar, where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel and assisted with check in. Today you can relax or enjoy a visit to the Golden Temple (or Harmandir Sahib). Amritsar is the holiest city for theSikhs and it is a perfect start to a lovely spiritual experience of India.

Day 3 Amritsar

Amritsar

After breakfast, start a full day private, guided tour of Amritsar. Begin with a visit to the Harmandir Sahib, informally known as the Golden Temple, the temple is a Sikh gurdwara (place of worship) of great significance and is effectively the spiritual centre of the Sikh faith, built from white marble and copper gilt with the dome covered with gold leaf, over 100,000 people visit the shrine each day to worship.

Day 4 Drive to Pragpur

After breakfast depart Amritsar and drive up into the Kangra valley amidst the foothills to Pragpur which will take approximately 4 hours. The remainder of the day is free to relax and enjoy the spectacular surroundings or enjoy a walk around the village, which was designated a heritage village in 1997.

Day 5 Drive to Dharamsala

After breakfast depart Pragpur and enjoy the short, scenic drive to Dharamsala which will take approximately 1.5 hours. Dharamsala, the current home of his holiness the Dalai Lama is located in the Kangra valley, in the Dhauladhars Mountains. Dharamsala has been connected with Buddhism for a long time, with many monasteries having been established in the past. However in the 8th century these monasteries declined, with Hinduism experiencing a revival. The local Gaddi people are now almost all Hi

Day 6 Dharamsala

Today enjoy a guided tour of Dharamsala visiting Gompas, the Tibet Museum and the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives. During the afternoon visit the Norbulingka Institute where Tibetan arts and crafts including wood and metal craft, silk weaving and thangka paintings are kept alive. The evening is free to explore Mc Leodganj, originally home of the semi-nomadic Gaddi tribe; McLeodganj is today the residence of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetan refugees.

Day 7 Drive to Taragarh

Today you will head to Taragarh, a drive of approximately 2 hours, and check in to the Taragarh Palace. Situated by a forested estate and surrounded with the tea gardens of the Kangra valley, one of the most scenic and unexplored areas of Himachal Pradesh. Located at a height of 1000 metres, Taragarh Palace is at the foot of the Dhauladhar Mountains with splendid views of surrounding snow-capped peaks.

Day 8 Drive to Shimla

Early morning drive to Shimla, approximately 8 hours. Sit back and admire the spectacular scenery stopping en route at Mandi, renowned for its 81 old stone temples and their enormous range of fine carving, as well as its old palaces and notable examples of 'colonial' architecture; before continuing on to Shimla. Shimla which was formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India.

Day 9 Shimla

Today spend the morning on a sightseeing tour of Shimla you will begin with a visit to the Viceregal Lodge, designed by British architect Henry Irwin and constructed in the Jacobethan style between 1880 and 1888.Formally the residence of the British Viceroy of India the lodge today houses some of the most ancient articles and photographs dating back to British rule in India. Continue on to visit the Hindu Temple containing shrines to the many and various Hindi gods. After a stop for lunch take a

Day 10 Shimla

Today will be a real highlight as you enjoy a short ride from Shimla to Taradevi on the “Himalayan Queen’, the narrow gauge or ‘toy’ train that runs between Shimla and the railhead at Kalka. The journey is one of the most scenic train rides in India, constructed between 1898 and 1903 with 864 bridges and currently utilising 102 tunnels it was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2008. On arrival in Taradevi you will be met and driven back up to Shimla to spend the remainder of the day relaxi

Day 11 Train to Delhi

Today you will travel to India’s capital Delhi, after checking out of the hotel drive approximately 3 hours down to Kalka to board the late afternoon train to Delhi. On arrival you will be met by an Inspiring Travel company representative and transferred to your hotel.