From the magnificent and serene Golden Temple of Amritsar, epicentre of the Sikh religion, to the quintessentially British hill station of Shimla, this itinerary aims to incorporate the very best of India's beautiful and the evocative Himalayan foothills.
Commencing with a full day in Delhi, travel by rail or air to Amritsar where you will witness the nightly Palki ceremony, undertake a guided heritage walk through Amritsar’s old city and attend the boisterous border closing ceremony at the Indo-Pakistan border. From Amritsar head to Palampur with its beautiful setting in the Kangra Valley, spending your time walking, birdwatching and making a day visit to the colourful Tibetan enclave of Dharamsala, home of the exiled Dalai Lama. Drive from Palampur to Shimla where ample time is included to enjoy the town and surrounding countryside. Conclude your journey either returning by train from Chandigarh back to Delhi or by road from Patiala, an important Punjabi centre of Sikh history and culture.
Delhi – Amritsar – Palampur – Shimla – Patiala - Delhi
Trip Highlights
- The extraordinary Golden Temple at Amritsar is one of Sikhism’s holiest sites
- Dharamsala is the residence of the Dalai Lama and renowned Norbulingka Institute
- Summer capital of British India, enjoy Shimla and the surrounding region
- Ride the famous Kalka-Shimla Railway as it winds it way through spectacular scenery
- Attend the raucous border closing ceremony at the Indo-Pakistan Wagah Border
- Hike walking trails and enjoy excellent birdwatching in the Kangra Valley
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart the UK
Today depart the UK and fly to Delhi.
Day 2
Arrive Delhi
On arrival in Delhi, you will be met and transferred to your hotel where the remainder of the day will be at leisure to relax and acclimatise. Should you wish to see a little of the city, take a short walk to Lodhi Garden, setting for the tombs of the Lodhi rulers which provide a fascinating insight into pre-Mughal Delhi.
The Claridges New Delhi
The Imperial
The Leela Palace, New Delhi
Day 3
Delhi
Today explore both halves of this fascinating city with your local guide. The morning will be spent in Old Delhi, starting with a walk through the area's dense network of bustling alleyways, homes, bazaars and mosques. Visits will be made to the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk markets and Rajghat where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. In the afternoon return to New Delhi with visits to Humayun’s Tomb, the Qutb Minar complex, India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India.
- Breakfast
The Claridges New Delhi
The Imperial
The Leela Palace, New Delhi
Day 4
Delhi to Amritsar – by air or train
Today travel to Amritsar either on a morning flight or by rail. Capital of the Punjab, Amritsar was founded in the late 16th century, is the centre of the Sikh religion and best known for being the location for the spectacular Golden Temple complex. Acquiring its distinctive golden exterior in 1830 after Maharaja Ranjit Singh donated 100kg of gold to be applied to the roof and walls of the temple, the complex has changed little over the last two centuries. In the evening visit the Golden Temple to witness the nightly Palki ceremony.
- Breakfast
Ranjit's Svaasa
Taj Swarna, Amritsar
Day 5
Amritsar
After breakfast head into the atmospheric old city and take a guided heritage walk through the narrow lanes where crafts and trades are still practiced as they have been for centuries. The Golden Temple is a highlight of any visit to Amritsar and following your heritage walk return to visit this magnificent and serene complex which will also include both the kitchens and Guru-ka-Langar, a dining hall where 35,000 people a day are fed for free by temple volunteers.
- Breakfast
Ranjit's Svaasa
Taj Swarna, Amritsar
Day 6
Amritsar – visit Wagah border
This morning visit the 16th century Durgiana Temple dedicated to the goddess Durga and Jallianwala Bagh – a garden and memorial which commemorates the site of the 1919 massacre. Following lunch leave the city and drive to the Indo-Pakistan Wagah Border to experience the colourful and chaotic border closing ceremony. Return to your hotel in the early evening.
- Breakfast
Ranjit's Svaasa
Taj Swarna, Amritsar
Day 7
Amritsar to Palampur– 250kms
After breakfast leave Amritsar and drive to The Lodge at Wah where you will stay for the next three nights. Set on the outskirts of the historic town of Palampur in the heart of the Kangra Valley, the lodge occupies a spectacular position and is surrounded by the 160-year-old Wah Tea Estate.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
The Lodge at Wah
Day 8
Palampur
A perfect base from which to enjoy the Kangra Valley, there are a number of walking trails close to the property and excellent birdwatching on the estate. For those interested in exploring the local area, visit the village and artist colony of Andretta with its art gallery, pottery and craft centre.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
The Lodge at Wah
Day 9
Palampur - visit Dharamsala
Today explore Dharamsala. With its picturesque settings framed by mountain peaks on three sides, Dharamsala and McLeod Ganj, home of the exiled Dalai Lama, is popularly known as ‘Little Lhasa’. Highlights includes the Tsuglagkhang Complex, a monastic village where the Dalai Lama lives, the Namgyal Monastery which resembles the original in Lhasa and the Kalachakra Temple with its interesting murals. Time can be spent browsing the surrounding antique and curio shops before an afternoon visit to the fascinating Norbulingka Institute, a major centre for Buddhist teaching opened to safeguard the survival of Tibetan Buddhism's cultural heritage.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
The Lodge at Wah
Day 10
Palampur to Shimla – 220kms
Leave Palampur this morning and drive through the beautiful scenery to the charming hill station of Shimla. Once the summer capital of the British Raj, with its wooden bungalows, gardens of gladioli and hydrangea and stone churches, this quaint town has retained much of its bygone atmosphere.
- Breakfast
Sunnymead Estate
The Cecil Hotel
Wildflower Hall
Day 11 & 12
Shimla
Over the next two days explore the town and surrounding area. Places of interest include Christ Church where the original chancel window was designed by Lockwood Kipling, Rudyard's father, nearby Gaiety Theatre and Town Hall which were both built at the turn of the 20th century in the ‘arts and crafts’ style. Visit the Tibetan Bazar and grand Viceregal Lodge, ride the famous ‘toy train’ or undertake one of the many walks in and around the town including the climb up Jakhu Hill from where there are excellent mountain views.
- Breakfast
Sunnymead Estate
The Cecil Hotel
Wildflower Hall
Day 13
Shimla to Chandigarh - 111kms / Chandigarh to Delhi – by train
Today leave Shimla and drive to Chandigarh, India's first planned city. Time permitting, visit the extraordinary Rock Garden which comprises of a collection of stones and domestic rubbish sculpted into models of people and animals as well as the Capitol Complex designed by famed architect Le Corbusier in the 1950s. Later transfer to the railway station in good time to catch the express to Delhi.
- Breakfast
Andaz Delhi
JW Marriott Aerocity
Day 14
Delhi to the UK
Today transfer to Delhi Airport to catch your return flight to the UK.
- Breakfast
Day 13 - Alternatively....
Shimla to Patiala via Chandigarh - 165kms
Leave Shimla after breakfast and drive to Patiala stopping en-route in Chandigarh to visit Nek Chand's Rock Garden and Le Corbusier's UNESCO-listed Capitol Complex. Later continue south by road to Patiala, once the capital of Patiala State, one of the wealthiest of India's princely kingdoms.
- Breakfast
Ran Baas The Palace
Day 14
Patiala
Today explore the city with your guide. Patiala was built around the Qila Mubarak fortress and is a significant Punjabi centre of Sikh history and culture.
- Breakfast
Ran Baas The Palace
Day 15
Patiala to Delhi - 270kms
This morning leave Patiala and drive south to Delhi where you will stay overnight in a hotel close to the international airport.
- Breakfast
Andaz Delhi
JW Marriott Aerocity
Day 16
Delhi to the UK
You will be met and transferred to Delhi Airport in good time to catch your return flight to the UK.
- Breakfast
Extending your stay…
Include an overnight stay in Chandigarh, famous for its post-war modernist buildings designed by architect Le Corbusier. UNESCO protected, visit the acclaimed Capitol Complex which includes the Secretariat, Legislative Assembly, High Court and Open Hand Monument.
Haridwar is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre and serves as one of the four Kumbh Mela locations. Discover the town’s ashrams, temples and shrines, visit the holy town of Rishikesh and attend a religious service. Haridwar is a morning’s drive from Chandigarh.
Experience wildlife by including Corbett National Park which can be reached by road from both Haridwar and Delhi. India’s oldest wildlife reserve, Corbett not only supports tiger, leopard and elephant but also has excellent birdwatching with over 600 bird species recorded.
Discover Manali in northern Himachal Pradesh. Nestled within a region renowned for it scenery, during your stay here visit a number of historic villages with their carved homes and mountain temples. Reach Manali by road from Palampur or Shimla.
Guide to Price
14 days from £4550 per person
What's Included
- International and domestic flights
- Train travel as specified
- Private car with English speaking driver
- Sightseeing with local English speaking guides
- Hotel accommodation and taxes
What's Not Included
- Cost of visas
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
from £4550
Travel Information
Getting There
British Airways fly direct from London Heathrow to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. Virgin Atlantic have daily flights to Delhi and Vistara fly direct to Delhi. Emirates, Oman Air, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways also have excellent connections via their respected hubs to Kolkata, Kochi, Trivandrum, Kozhikode, Goa, Jaipur and Lucknow and fly from airports all over the UK.
Flying Times From UK
Direct flights from the UK take between 8 and 10 hours depending on the destination. Flights with stops en-route take between 12 and 14 hours.
Time Zone
India is +5½ hours ahead of GMT.
Visa Requirements
Holders of British Citizen passports are able to apply for an e-Tourist Visa (eTV). There are three different eTVs - a one month eTV (valid for 30 days), a one year eTV (valid for 365 days) and a five year eTV (valid for 5 years). Applications for the one month eTV can only be made within 30 days of travel to India. Applications for the one year eTV and five year eTV can only be made within 120 days of travel to India.
Please note that the very latest an Indian eTV application can be made is 4 days prior to travel to India. The eTV becomes active from the date of entry into India. It is not valid for Protected or Restricted areas.
All international passengers arriving in India are required to complete an e-Arrival Card up to 72 hours prior to arrival India. This applies to all nationalities and must be submitted online via the official portal https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival
Do’s & Don’ts
Smoking and drinking in public places is prohibited in India – with smoking this includes public areas in hotels, restaurants and bars.
E-cigarettes and related products are banned in India. You will be unable to buy e-cigarettes or bring them into the country.
Always ask permission before entering a temple and remember to remove your shoes and any leather objects such as bags, belts or wallets. It is fine to wear socks.
When in a Buddhist temple you should always walk in a clockwise direction with the main building to your right.
Modest, loose-fitting clothing is preferable and is essential when visiting religious places. When visiting a Sikh Gurudwara the head needs to be covered.
Permission should always be asked before taking a person’s picture.
When eating, only the right hand should be used. Indian culture considers the left hand to be unclean.
Money
The currency of India is the Indian Rupee (INR) and comes in notes and coins. Exchanging money is easy and can be done at international airports, most hotels or banks and it is always a good idea to ask for some small denomination Rupee notes. ATMs are now common and reliable in all main cities and credit cards are widely accepted by most hotels, shops and restaurants. In rural areas or wildlife reserves ATMs and money exchange facilities are limited so having cash is essential.
Please note that there are restrictions on bringing Indian rupees into India. Visitors, including tourists, are not permitted to bring any amount of Indian currency into the country. Pounds sterling and other foreign currencies are allowed to be brought into India. For more information please visit the FCO’s Foreign Travel Advice for India.
Tipping
This is left to your discretion, however, tipping for good service in India is part of everyday life. In restaurants and for room service a 10% tip is appreciated and at smaller hotels and homestays a communal ‘tip box’ is common.
For drivers and guides, hotel staff and at national parks, the following amounts should act as a guideline. Please note that these figures are based on two people travelling together:
Tour driver: INR1000 to INR1200 per day (not per person)
Tour guide: INR1000 to INR1200 per day (not per person)
Naturalist (national parks): INR1000 to INR1200 per day (not per person)
Jeep Driver (national parks): INR 500 per day & per safari (not per person)
Hotels (communal tip for all staff): INR 1000 to INR 1500 per day (not per person)
Food & Drink
India is known the world over for its food and especially its vegetarian cuisine. Spice plays an important role in dishes throughout the country as do breads, rice, pickles and chutneys. Although nearly every region has its own speciality, there is a divide between the cuisine of northern India and southern India – the north with its meat dishes influenced by the Mughals and the lighter, fruitier, coconut based dishes of the south. Desserts are common in India with kulfi ice cream and gulab jamun two of the best known and most popular. Nearly all tend to be very sweet, milk based or fried.
The most common drink in India is chai tea which can be bought on nearly every street corner. The yoghurt drink lassi – whether sweet, salty or fruity – is also easy to find. The popularity of coffee has spread from the south whilst Indian beer is well-respected. There is also a fledgling wine industry centred on Nashik in Maharashtra.
Accommodation
There is a huge breadth of accommodation in India with styles varying across the country. India is famed for its heritage properties, the majority of which tend to be found in the north of India. These come in all shapes and sizes from beautifully restored buildings and luxury palaces operated by distinguished hotel groups to small privately owned forts and ancestral homes.
Homestays are also very popular and found throughout the country. Whether a grand and luxurious family residence, heritage property or simple abode, they offer a high level of service and a unique glimpse into everyday Indian life. Please let us know if you would like to include a homestay into your itinerary. In more remote regions, hotels are likely to be clean and simple whilst wildlife accommodation is generally either in jungle lodges or comfortable tented camps. For those looking to relax there are many excellent beachside hotels and an increasing number of retreats specialising in both Ayurveda and yoga.
Shopping
With wholesale markets and bazaars, innumerable shops and stores, India is a shopper’s paradise. The country is best known for carpets and dhurries with Rajasthan, Kashmir and Leh best for these. There is also a bewildering range of clothing, fabric and leatherwear found not only in the smallest of villages but also the largest cities. Gems, silver and jewellery (valuable or costume) are popular throughout the country but especially in Jaipur and Hyderabad whilst Kochi is noted for its antiques. Spices can be bought all over India but purchased straight from plantations in the south. Darjeeling, Assam and the Western Ghats in south India are all known for tea.
Suggested Reading
For India travel advice, Footprint, Rough Guides, Lonely Planet and Bradt have excellent guide books whilst Nelles Maps have comprehensive and up to date maps of the Indian subcontinent. There is also a wide range of literature including from famed authors such as RK Narayan, Vikram Seth, Paul Scott, VS Naipaul, Arundhati Roy and Salman Rushdie. Vivek Shanbhag's more recently translated book 'Ghachar Ghochar' also comes highly recommended. Other good books on India include:
‘India: A History’ by John Keay
‘The Great Arc’ by John Keay
‘No Full Stops in India’ by Mark Tully
‘India in Slow Motion’ by Mark Tully and Gillian Wright
‘City of Djinns’ by William Dalrymple
‘White Mughals’ by William Dalrymple
‘Chasing the Monsoon’ by Alexander Frater
‘The Tears of the Rajas’ by Ferdinand Mount
‘Plain Tales from the Raj’ by Charles Allen
‘Mughal Architecture and Gardens’ by George Michell
'Tea, Love and War: Searching for English Roots in Assam' by David Mitchell
Health
Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad but current recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Diphtheria. Yellow Fever is compulsory, but only if you have visited an affected Yellow Fever area within 5 days prior to your arrival. In some instances anti-malarial tablets may also be needed. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.
Travel Advice
For current information on India the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly. We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (safertourism.org.uk) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
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Our Reviews
What our clients say
We truly had the holiday of a lifetime
CM - India - March 2024
We truly had the holiday of a lifetime thanks to the exceptional guides and drivers we met along our trip in Northern India. The itinerary had the perfect balance of tours, travel days and rest days for us and was meticulously planned and executed. We'd love to use Pettitts Travel again in the future and will absolutely be returning to India.
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