Amritsar, Dharamsala & the Desert Cities of Rajasthan - Overland Trip
3 weeks: Delhi to Delhi (IMT-HAAM)
Intro
Our trip to the heart of India starts with a visit to the laid-back oasis of Pushkar and the remote fortress city of Jaisalmer. We then travel from the deserts of Rajasthan to the lush green valleys of the Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. We stay in the hill-stations of Shimla and Manali and in Dharamsala, the present home of the Dalai Lama, where you can savour the atmosphere of Tibetan Buddhism. Our journey across India ends with a visit to the Golden Temple of Amritsar, the most holy shrine of the Sikh religion.Staffing
as shown in the \'Factfinder\'Accommodation, meals, transportation, and sightseeing excursions
as per itinerary.AMENDED ITINERARY:
An amended itinerary will operate for the Pushkar Fair departure. Please see the trip dossier for detailsPlease note that owing to the liklihood of train delays, we recommend that passengers do not book departure flights within 6 hours of the arrival time at the tour end point for day trains, and within 8 hours for overnight trains
Itineraries
Day 1,DELHIArrive in Delhi.
Day 2,AGRAEarly morning express train to Agra. Afternoon guided tour of the Taj Mahal.
Day 3,JAIPUR:Drive to Jaipur via the former Moghul capital of Fatehpur Sikri.
Day 4,JAIPURMorning orientation tour of the Pink City of Jaipur. Afternoon visit to the Amber Fort.
Day 5,PACHEWARMorning at leisure in Jaipur. Afternoon drive to the small village of Pachewar where we stay in the lovely 300-year-old fort, with its massive ramparts and large gardens.
Day 6,PUSHKARA short drive to the laid back desert oasis of Pushkar. There is plenty of time to explore the lakeside with its many holy men, pilgrims and temples.
Day 7,JODHPURContinue to Jodhpur. Afternoon visit to the impressive Meherangarh Fort.
Day 8,CAMEL SAFARIWe drive into a remote part of the Thar Desert to start our camel safari. We spend the night in a beautiful tented camp.
Day 9,JAISALMERCross the desert to the fortress city of Jaisalmer. Within the fortress walls the cobbled streets are strewn with palaces, mansions of rich merchants (havelis), and Jain temples that were built between the 12th and 15th centuries.
Day 10,JAISALMERA free day to explore this amazing city with its medieval atmosphere.
Day 11,BIKANERDrive to Bikaner, a desert outpost which was a major trading centre on the old caravan route from Central Asia. The old city of Bikaner has a maze of narrow lanes and some beautifully carved havelis in red sandstone.
Day 12,BIKANER – TRAINVisit the fabulous Junagadh Fort. Later board the sleeper train to Chandigarh.
Day 13,SHIMLAWe travel by bus to Shimla, the most famous of the hill-stations.
Day 14,SHIMLAFree day to enjoy the many beautiful walks in the pine-clad hills that surround Shimla.
Day 15,DHARAMSALAWe travel to the hill-station of Dharamsala in a spectacular mountain setting.
Day 16,DHARAMSALAPerched on the slopes of the Kangra Valley, Dharamsala is home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in exile. Their settlement at Mcleod Ganj is a colourful example of Tibetan culture with many brightly coloured prayer flags and temples. We have a full day to explore the town.
Day 17,DHARAMSALAOptional walk through the mixed forest of oak, rhododendron and deodar trees to Triund, an alpine meadow situated atop a flat ridge with fine views of peaks of Dhauladhars and Kangra valley.
Day 18,AMRITSARTravel to Amritsar, the capital of Punjab.
Day 19,DELHIMorning visit to the Golden Temple. Evening express train to Delhi.
Day 20,DELHITour ends.
Last updated: 22nd October 2009
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