In Brief
| Flight - 1 night. Delhi - 1 night. Agra - 2 nights. Ranthambore N.P. - 2 nights. Jaipur - 2 nights. Delhi - 1 night. Amritsar - 2 nights. Dharamsala - 2 nights. Shimla - 2 nights. Delhi - 1 night.. |
16 night Itinerary (2012)
Note
From Jan 2013 a night in Mumbai is added.
Day 1 Fly overnight from London Heathrow to Delhi.
Day 2 Transfer to the central Hotel Royal Plaza. Afternoon orientation tour of New Delhi including India Gate, Raj Ghat and Gandhi’s home.
Day 3 Visit Jama Mosque in Old Delhi and drive past the Red Fort. Visit Akbar’s mausoleum at Sikandra en route to Agra (5 hrs). Two nights at Clarks Shiraz Hotel.
Day 4 Early morning visit to the Taj Mahal, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his queen Mumtaz. Visit to Agra Fort, built by Akbar in 1565. Optional visit to Itmad-Daula (the ‘Baby Taj’) and the Mughal garden with views across the river to the Taj Mahal.
Day 5 Travel to Ranthambore National Park (6 hrs) visiting Fatehpur Sikri en route. Stay two nights at the Ranthambore Regency Hotel.
Day 6 Morning and evening game viewing drives.
Day 7 Optional early morning game drive before driving to Jaipur (4 hrs) and the heritage Hotel SMS for two nights.
Day 8 Optional early morning Balloon ride in the area of Amber Fort. Visit the Amber Fort, City Palace and Observatory, viewing the ‘Palace of the Winds’. Optional Sound & Light show at Amber Fort.
Day 9 Drive from Jaipur to Delhi (6 hrs). Overnight at Hotel Royal Plaza.
Day 10 Transfer to station to board the early morning Shatabdi Express train (air-conditioned Chair Class) to Amritsar (6 hrs). Evening Palki ceremony at the Golden Temple. Two nights at Hotel Ranjit Savasa.
Day 11 Visit the Golden Temple, volunteer kitchens and Jallianwala Bagh. Optional early evening Wagah Border ‘Changing of the Guard’ ceremony.
Day 12 Drive to Pongdam lake and nature reserve for lunch (3 hrs). Continue to Dharamsala (3 hrs / 1,700m). Two nights at the unpretentious but scenically located Cloud’s End Villa. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 13 Morning visit to the Tibetan monastery, museum and library in McLeod Ganj, also known as Upper Dharamsala. Afternoon/evening free to re-visit McLeod Ganj.
Day 14 Visit Kangra Fort and Museum. Drive to Shimla (8 hrs / 2,000m) for two nights at the Clarkes Hotel on The Mall.
Day 15 Morning tour of Shimla including a visit to the Vice Regal Lodge Museum and a stroll along the Mall. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 16 Travel on the ‘Toy Train’ from Shimla to Solan (5 ½ hrs), and continue to Kalka by road to join the Shatabdi Express to Delhi (4 hrs). Dinner served on board. Transfer to Hotel Royal Plaza for overnight.
Day 17 Early afternoon flight to London arriving later the same day.
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