India's Far North: Amritsar, Dharamsala & Shimla

Itinerary in brief:

• 1 night Delhi
• 2 nights Amritsar
• 2 nights Dharamsala
• 2 nights Shimla
• 1 night Delhi

Day 1: Arrive Delhi

On arrival in Delhi, you'll be met at the airport and driven to your hotel, checking in for one night. The rest of the day is yours to relax at the hotel and get ready for your adventure north. 

Day 2: Fly to Amritsar

After breakfast, you'll be taken to the airport for the short flight to Amritsar. The city has long been famous as a centre for the Sikh religion – according to legend, when the fourth Guru of the Sikhs Guru Ram Das heard about the healing powers of the pool, he ordered his son Guru Arjan Dev to erect a temple at the site. In 1588, the foundations of a city were laid which later became an emblem of Sikh culture and history. 

Day 3: Amritsar

This morning you’ll start the day with a visit to the Golden Temple. You’ll walk through the old city and the bazaars, visiting the Jallianwala Bagh and the site of the 1919 civilian massacre, before arriving at Sri Harminder Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple. With gold leaf covering the entire structure, this is the Mecca of the Sikh religion. Unlike any religious structures, it is open from all sides and all religions are welcome to enter, meditate or just listen to the scriptures. Soaking up the atmosphere of such a special place is sure to be a highlight of your trip. 

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Wagah Border, the only crossing between India and Pakistan. The army outpost is around 30km from Amritsar and is a complex of buildings, roads and barriers separating the two countries. Here you’ll witness the ‘Beating the Retreat’ ceremony performed by the soldiers each evening. Soldiers from both India and Pakistan perform a flag march – the flags from both countries are brought down before the gates are opened and drills are performed. 

Day 4: Travel to Dharamshala

This morning you'll be driven to Dharamshala, across the fertile riverbeds of Punjab and into the rocky Himalayan foothills. Dharamshala is a hill station lying on the spur of the Dhauladhar range, surrounded by oak and conifer trees with snow-capped mountains enclosing three sides of the town and the Kangra valley stretching in front. The town is divided into two distinct areas – Lower Dharamshala and Upper Dharamshala is famous as the ‘Little Lhasa in India’ after Mcleodganj became the temporary headquarter of the Dalai Lama. 

Day 5: Dharamshala

Today you’ll head off to explore Dharamshala. You’ll start at McLeod Ganj – the home of the Dalai Lama since 1959 when he fled Tibet with thousands of other refugees. As Dharamshala became the headquarter of the Tibetan Government in exile, headed by Dalai Lama, it gained prominence all over the world & prominent personalities started arriving here. Mcleodganj emerged as a major Buddhist centre. 

Afterwards you’ll visit the War Memorial, situated in Dharamshala town. The memorial is situated near the entry point to Dharamshala and commemorates the memory of those who fought valiantly in the war. The place is in a peaceful location in the pine forest and offers a very enjoyable walk-through the trees to get there. The rest of your day is yours to explore the town and enjoy the spectacular views of the Himalayas.

Day 5: Travel to Shimla 

After breakfast, you'll be driven out to Shimla. Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh, discovered by the British in 1819 when it was part of the Nepalese Kingdom. The cool hills, snow-capped peaks and green pastures lead to it being declared the summer capital of India, with natural beauty and colonial heritage aplenty. 

Day 6: Shimla 

This morning you’ll head out on a morning tour of Shimla to explore the town. Start on Mall Road, the heart of Shimla, where the streets are lined with shops, and you’ll find the Christ Church, one of the oldest in northern India. You’ll also visit Tara Devi Temple, where the goddess Tara is known as a prominent deity of Tibetan Buddhism. The history of this temple dates to more than 250 years. It is believed that Goddess Tara was brought here from eastern state of Bengal by a king from the Sen Dynasty and to honour this in later years Raja Bhupendra Sen established this temple with a wooden idol of Tara Devi in Vaishnav style and traditions.

A pleasant walk further west will lead you to the most imposing edifice of Shimla – the Vice Regal Lodge. Located on the Observatory Hill, it is a majestic, sprawling, grey-tinted structure surrounded by tall pines. Now called Rashtrapati Niwas, the Lodge houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study and is the only building in Shimla that occupies a hill by itself.

The afternoon is yours to relax in the hotel or enjoy exploring more at your own leisure. 

Day 7: Train to Delhi

After breakfast, you'll be driven to Shimla Station, ready to catch the Toy Train to Kalka, enjoying spectacular views as you travel. From Kalka, you'll board the train to Delhi, before being driven to your hotel in the city for your final night in India. 

Day 8: Depart Delhi

Today you'll be driven back to the airport for your onwards flight.