Amritsar & Dharamsala
Our tour to the north of India visits the Sikh religion’s Golden Temple in Amritsar and explores the Himalayan hill station of Dharamshala where the Dalai Lama has made his home since fleeing from Tibet in 1959. As with all out tours to India a concluding visit to the Taj Mahal should not be missed.
School Religious Studies Trip to Northern India
Our tour to the north of India visits the Sikh religion’s Golden Temple in Amritsar and explores the Himalayan hill station of Dharamshala where the Dalai Lama has made his home since fleeing from Tibet in 1959. Like our other tours to India we begin in Delhi where we are introduced to the exotic sights and sounds of the capital, with visits to Hindu and Muslim temples and shrines. A train journey then takes us north to Amritsar in the Punjab and the incredible sight of the Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple, the most holy gurdwara of the Sikh religion. To the north lie the Himalaya and our next destination which nestles in the verdant foothills. Dharamshala has been the home of Tibetan Buddhism in exile for six decades and today numerous monasteries and institutes are dedicated to keeping alive traditional practises and skills. As with all out tours to India a concluding visit to the Taj Mahal should not be missed.
Suggested Itinerary
The itinerary featured here is intended to give you inspiration and an idea of what you could do on your tour. Your trip will be created individually by one of our travel advisors to match your requirements and budget.
Day 1
Flight to Delhi
Flight to Delhi: You depart today on your overnight flight to Delhi, India’s capital city.
Day 2
Arrival in Delhi and sightseeing including the Red Fort and Jama Masjid Mosque
Arrival in Delhi: You will meet your tour guide who will remain with you throughout your stay in India. After checking in at your hotel you see some of the sights of Old Delhi including the crowded bazaar of Chandni Chowk and the dramatic Red Fort. You visit the Jama Masjid Mosque, the largest in India, and the Chattarpur Hindu temple. Dinner this evening is at your hotel.
Day 3
Exploring Delhi followed by the day train to Amritsar
Exploring Delhi: This morning you explore more of the sights of Delhi. You drive past India Gate and the Parliament House, both designed by Lutyens, before continuing to the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, one of the most prominent Sikh temples Delhi and instantly recognisable by its golden dome.
Train to Amritsar: This afternoon you travel by train from Delhi to Amritsar, arriving in Amritsar later this evening. Amritsar is home to Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh religion. This important Sikh shrine attracts more visitors than the Taj Mahal and is the number one destination for tourists in the whole of India.
Day 4
The Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and the Wagah Border Ceremony
Golden Temple: This morning you visit the Golden Temple, so called because the entire upper half is inlaid with copper, covered over by gold plate. The temple is Sikh’s holiest shrine and is a blend of both Hindu and Muslim influences.
Jallianwala Bagh: You continue with a visit to the Jallianwala Bagh. Today this is the location for a beautiful garden and memorial which commemorates those who died in a notorious massacre which occurred in 1919 during British rule. A memorial plaque at the entrance recounts the history of the massacre while the bullet-ridden walls remain testimony to the brutality of the massacre.
The Wagah Border Ceremony: This afternoon you take your positions for the ceremonial ‘Retreat’ at the border crossing between India and Pakistan. The ceremony is neatly choreographed and carried out with great pomp and not a little rivalry as the soldiers from each side vie to see who can be the most ostentatious. Dinner this evening will be at your hotel in Amritsar.
Day 5
Travel by road to Dharamshala
Travel to Dharamshala: Today you travel to Dharamshala, a beautiful town in the foothills of the Himalaya and synonymous with the Tibetan government in exile. The road is not suited to a large coach so the journey is made in 4×4 vehicles. The upper part of the town is known as McLeod Ganj and is the home of the Dalai Lama and known as Little Lhasa because of the large population of Tibetans. The journey is scenic but takes much of the day so on arrival you have time to relax and explore the town on your own before dinner at your hotel accommodation.
Day 6
Full day Exploring Dharamshala and its Buddhist Temples
Dalai Lama Temple: This is also the home of the Dalai Lama, there are many prayer wheels and statues of Buddha. You can also see the monks performing their daily rituals and the complex also houses the Tibetan Museum.
Namgyal Monastery: Adjacent to the Dalai Lama Complex is the Namgyal Monastery, also known as the Dalai Lama’s Monastery. There are almost 200 monks living here and it is the largest Tibetan temple outside of Tibet.
Norbulingka Institute: This afternoon you visit the Norbulingka Institute which is dedicated to preserving Tibetan culture. Young Tibetans are being taught traditional ways of producing handicrafts including art and woodwork to preserve the centuries-old traditions. You can see the people at work and these beautiful handmade items are on sale to visitors. There is also an excellent café at the end of your tour.
Day 7
Bhagsunag hindu temple, Bhagsu Himalayan Village and overnight train to Delhi
Bhagsunag temple: Not all of Dharamshala is Buddhist and at Bhagsunag there is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Pilgrims make the journey from all over India to bathe in the sacred waters.
Bhagsu Village: You will be able to explore Bhangsu Village and trek to its impressive waterfall.
Overnight Train to Delhi: This afternoon you travel by road to Pathankot where you have dinner in a local restaurant. In the evening you board the overnight sleeper train to Delhi arriving early the following morning.
Day 8
Full day at Agra and the Taj Mahal
Travel to Agra: You arrive in Delhi early this morning and will transfer to a hotel where you can freshen up and breakfast will be provided. After breakfast you depart by private coach and drive to Agra.
Taj Mahal: This afternoon there will be a tour of the world-famous Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the modern world. Completed in 1652, skilled craftsmen and some 20,000 labourers worked for 17 years to build this edifice, constructed by emperor Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his beloved Queen Mumtaz Mahal.
Magic Show: This evening there will be a traditional magic show at your hotel.
Day 9
Agra Fort and return to Delhi
Agra Fort: This morning you visit the red sandstone Agra Fort which stands on the banks of the Jamuna River. Three successive Mughal Emperors, Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jehan helped create this massive fortress which contains both Hindu and Muslim architectural influences.
Return to Delhi: This afternoon you return to Delhi by private coach and dinner this evening will be at your hotel.
Day 10
Flight back home, arriving the same day
Flight Home: After breakfast you travel to the airport for your flight home, arriving later the same day.
Gallery
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