Amritsar, Dharamsala & Rajasthan

From desert cities to to alpine hills

Itinerary
Price Guide
Places you'll visit
Accommodation
How to Book

You travel from the deserts of Rajasthan to the lush green valleys of the Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. You stay in the hill-station of Dharamsala, the present home of the Dalai Lama, where you can savour the atmosphere of Tibetan Buddhism. Your journey ends with a visit to the Golden Temple of Amritsar, the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion.

Day 1 - Delhi
Arrive in Delhi where you are met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 - Agra
Early morning express train to Agra. Guided tour of the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.

Day 3 - Jaipur
Drive to the `Pink City' of Jaipur via the deserted former Moghul capital of Fatehpur Sikri.

Day 4 - Jaipur
Tour this beautiful pink sandstone city followed by a visiting to the imposing Amber Fort.

Day 5 - Pushkar
A 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 6 - Chandelao
Drive to the small heritage hotel of Chandelao Garh. Here, with no other tourists around, you can interact with the local community and learn about the art, culture and heritage of Rajasthan. Afternoon jeep safari to the surrounding villages.

Day 7 - Jodhpur
Continue to the `Blue City' of Jodhpur. Afternoon visit to the impressive Meherangarh Fort.

Day 8 - Jaisalmer
Cross the desert to the `Golden City' of Jaisalmer, looming magically out of the horizon. Within the fortress walls the cobbled streets are strewn with stunning palaces, beautiful mansions of rich merchants (havelis), and Jain temples that were built between the 12th and 15th centuries.

Day 9 - Jaisalmer
Enjoy a guided walking tour of Jaisalmer. In the afternoon there is time at leisure to further explore this amazing city with its medieval atmosphere.

Day 10 - Osian
Travel to Osian, an ancient town in the Thar desert. You spend the night in a beautiful tented camp in the sand dunes. Evening camel ride in the desert.

Day 11 - Bikaner
Drive to Bikaner, a desert outpost that 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 - Overnight Train
Today you visit the fabulous Junagadh Fort. In the evening you board the air-conditioned sleeper train to Chandigarh.

Day 13 - Shimla
You travel by car to Shimla, the most famous of the hill-stations.

Day 14 - Shimla
A full day at leisure to enjoy the many beautiful walks in the pine-clad hills that surround this picturesque town.

Day 15 - Dharamsala
Travel to the hill-station of Dharamsala in a spectacular mountain setting perched on the slopes of the Kangra Valley.

Day 16 - Dharamsala
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. You have day at leisure to explore the town.

Day 17 - Amritsar
Continue to Amritsar, the sacred capital of Punjab.

Day 18 - Delhi
Morning visit to the exquisite Golden Temple, one of the most impressive temples in India and the holiest site for Sikhs. Evening express train back to Delhi.

Day 19 - Delhi
Tour ends. Transfer to Delhi airport to connect with your onward travel.

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Price Guide

From EUR 1,756 per person based on two people sharing.

Inclusions

Accommodation on twin share basis at selected hotels.
Stay on bed & breakfast basis; full board at Osian.
Day train by air-conditioned `chair car' from Delhi to Agra and Amritsar to Delhi.
Overnight air-conditioned train (3-tier) from Bikaner to Chandigarh.
Transport by private chauffeur-driven airconditioned car.
English-speaking local guide for tour of Agra, Jaipur & Amber Fort, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Amritsar.
Jeep safari at Chandelao.
Camel safari at Osian.
All transfers as per the itinerary.

Tour price excludes

Tips and gratuities.
Services, Meals and Drinks other than those mentioned in the itinerary.
Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature.
Entrance fees (unless specifically mentioned in the inclusions) and extra charges for camera and video.

Make an enquiry

Tweakable Holidays

This is just one of our holiday suggestions for you. If it's perfect as it is, great! If not, let us tweak it for you, or we could tailor-make your ideal trip including:

Where you would like to stay
Dates that best suit you
Experiences or activities that you fancy
As long as you want in each place

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Delhi The capital of India is full of historical landmarks

The chief attraction of Old Delhi is the Red Fort that contains within it opulent palaces and impressive public buildings. Nearby is the magnificent Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. In New Delhi you can also find the India Gate -- a war memorial arch, the impressive Parliament Building and the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India. Towards the South can be found the Qutab Minar and Humayun's Tomb, both World Heritage Sites.

Agra City of the Taj Mahal

Agra is home to possibly the most famous and beautiful building in the world: the Taj Mahal, built in the 17th century by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb and memorial for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Along the river Yamuna is the impressive Red Fort from where there are fantastic views of the Taj. The Red Fort was the capital of the Moghul Empire and thus of India during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Jaipur The Pink City

Jaipur is one of the most interesting cities in India with exuberant 18th and 19th century palaces and an exotic street life. Just outside town is the impressive Amber Fort. It is worthwhile spending any leisure time wandering through the bazaars. Jaipur is well known for its beautiful carpets, enameled ornaments, precious and semi-precious stones, brass ornaments and many other arts and crafts.

Pushkar A delightful little desert oasis

The town of Pushkar clings to the side of the beautiful Pushkar Lake, considered by Hindus to be extremely holy. Hundreds of small temples are built on the periphery of the lake with wide stone steps or `ghats' leading down to the lake. A magical quality of light hovers over the lake, bouncing off the surrounding white-washed temples and bathing ghats. At sunset Pushkar turns into one of the most exotic places on earth.

Chandelao A great chance to see village life

Just an hour's drive away from the bustling city of Jodhpur is the small village of Chandelao with its 300-year-old fort. Here you can interact with the local community and learn about the art, culture and heritage of Rajasthan, and this is one of the best places to witness traditional village life - an unforgettable experience which invariably proves to be a highlight of a visit to India.

Jodhpur The Blue City

Standing at the edge of the Thar desert, Jodhpur is dominated by the massive Meherangarh Fort. The fort houses an excellent museum and affords captivating views of the blue Brahmin houses of the old city. The clock tower is a popular landmark in the old city. Narrow alleys lead from here to bazaars for textiles, silver and handicrafts. It's a fascinating jumble of winding streets of great interest to wander around.

Jaisalmer A fairy tale city straight out of the Arabian Nights

The massive, turreted Golden Fort dominates Jaisalmer's skyline and the vast surrounding desert. Founded in the 12th century, the fort stands on a high hill, enclosed by a thick wall and reinforced with bastions. Within these bastions is a complete township of cobbled streets strewn with palaces, havelis or mansions of rich merchants, and temples. Walking through the narrow lanes provides visitors with an extraordinarily medieval feel which is unique in modern India.

Osian Explore the Thar desert on camel back

This ancient town northwest of Jodhpur in the Thar Desert contains the largest group of 8th to 10th-century Hindu and Jain temples in Rajasthan. The temples are grouped in several sites around the town and the oldest exhibit extensive carvings. Not too far away from the temples are some of the most impressive sand dunes of Rajasthan, stretching mile after smooth mile all the way to the horizon. The landscape is a perfect place to go on a camel safari.

Bikaner A trading center on the old caravan route

Bikaner grew up around the fabulous Junagarh Fort, a large 5-storeyed structure, the surrounding wall of which is more than one kilometer in length! Its sumptuously decorated interiors are much better preserved than any other fort in Rajasthan. The old city of Bikaner retains a medieval air with its maze of narrow lanes and some beautifully carved havelis in red sandstone, while outside the walls, many palaces and mansions survive.

Shimla A hill station from the British Raj

This most famous of the hill stations was developed by the British in the 19th century as the summer capital of India. Now the capital of Himachal Pradesh, the town has continued to grow and now covers a much larger area, but at its heart remains the Mall, lined with colonial era buildings. There are many beautiful walks in the pine clad hills that surround Shimla, such as to the Jakhu temple with its resident population of monkeys, or to the former Viceregal Lodge with its botanical gardens.

Dharamsala "Little Lhasa" in India

Dharamsala is a hill station that was established by the British in the mid-19th century. It stands on a spur of the Dhauladhar range amidst magnificent deodar and pine forests, tea gardens and beautiful hills. Today Dharamsala is the home of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. It is therefore the best base to explore Tibetan Buddhism, history and culture.

Amritsar Site of the Golden Temple

Situated on the north western borders of India, in Punjab, the 400 year old city of the Golden Temple is the paramount seat of Sikh history and culture. This strikingly beautiful temple is astonishingly peaceful given the huge numbers of Sikh pilgrims who come to pray and bathe in the holy water. A visit to this serene complex is a profound and unique experience.

Delhi The capital of India is full of historical landmarks

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Tweakable Holidays

This is just one of our holiday suggestions for you. If it's perfect as it is, great! If not, let us tweak it for you, or we could tailor-make your ideal trip including:

Where you would like to stay
Dates that best suit you
Experiences or activities that you fancy
As long as you want in each place

Just get in touch and we will start advising and planning with you.

Email us at info@travellers-palm.com or use our online form to get in touch.

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