Punjab and Himachal tour from Amritsar

The Himachal Tour Package from Amritsar starts from this holy city. Once you arrive in this city, you will be transferred to your hotel. The meaning of the name ‘Amritsar’ is ‘pool of nectar’. The city got its name from Amrit Sarovar, the holy tank that surrounds the Golden Temple, which is the most sacred and prominent place of worship for the Sikhs. At this temple, you can notice the amalgamation of millions of people belonging to different religions, coming from all over the world. The district of Amritsar is known to be the holy abode of saints and sages, who lived here during the Vedic ages. Around 1577, Guru Ram Das built this city and thus, it was named Ram Das Pura. At the beginning of the 16th century, the inhabitants of this city were greatly influenced by Guru Nanak. This city, where many fairs, festivals, and folk dances are organized, is adorned with several Gurudwaras, temples, mosques, churches, galleries, gardens, forts, libraries, museums and memorials.

Your overnight stay will be arranged at the hotel.

In the morning of the second day, you will go for a sightseeing of the city, which includes the Golden Temple and other top attractions. The spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion, the city was previously called Ramdaspur. In the 16th century, the fifth SikhGuru built the holy Golden Temple, also known as Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib. The 4 doors that lead you towards the threshold of the temple signify the acceptance of ‘all religion and culture’ by the Sikh brothers. The holy book of the Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib is worshipfully placed in the heart of this temple. Located close to the Golden Temple is the famous JallianwallaBagh, where General Dyer killed hundreds of innocent Indians on 13thApril 1919.

Your next destination in the evening will be the Wagah Border. The closing of the Wagah Border and the lowering of the flags ceremony or the Beating Retreat Ceremony is a military practice that takes place between the Indian and Pakistani soldiers on a daily basis. Every day, this ceremony begins with a parade done by the soldiers from both the sides and with the setting of the sun, the border gates are opened and the two national flags are lowered and folded. Before closing the gates again, the soldiers from both the sides shake hands.

Night-stay at the hotel in Amritsar.

Dharamsala is your next destination, where you will reach via road on the third day of the Himachal Travel Package from Amritsar. Previously named Bhagsu, Dharamsala serves as the headquarters of Central Tibetan Administration – the Tibetan Government in exile. The residing place of Dalai Lama is in McLeodGanj. Dharamshala is located in the beautiful Kangra Valley and the dense forest of Deodar cedar trees surrounding the area adds to its scenic beauty. The locales of McLeodGanj, Dharamkot, Bhagsunath, Forsyth Ganj, Naddi, Dari, Ramnagar, Kotwali Bazaar, Sidhbari, Sidhpur, etc. comprise of the suburbs. Dharamshala has become a notable tourist attraction due to the presence of DalaiLama and the huge Tibetan population, who have now settled here and constructed many monasteries, temples, and schools. McLeodGanj is also called ‘Little Lhasa’. The Triund Hill, which is about a day trek at the higher altitudes of McLeodGanj, is a very popular tourist spot in Dharamshala.

You will spend the whole day at leisure.

This day, you will be touring Dharamshala or Dhamsala. During the monsoon season, the Bhagsu Waterfall that is situated at the back of the 18th century Bhagsunag Shiva Temple, changes into a marvelous 30 feet cascade. The paintings and exhibitions at the Naam Art Gallery are worth witnessing. Various precious artifacts of the Tibetan and Buddhist cultures, some of which date back to the 5th century, are displayed in the Kangra Art Museum.The temple of Kunal Pathri is devoted to Goddess Kalpeshwari. According to the legend of the Chamunda Temple, Goddess Kali killed the demons Chand and Mund in this place. There is an optional tour for you to Masrur, which has fifteen 8th century monolithic rock temples embellished with intricate carvings resembling the Kailash Temple at Ellora. The shrine of the main temple is adorned with the images of Lord Ram, and the Goddesses Sita and Lakshmi.

You will spend the night at the hotel in Dharamshala.

You will reach Manali by road today. Known as the Valley of Gods, Manali in the ancient days served as the trade route to Ladakh. As per the legend, Manali was the abode of Manu, the first ruler of the earth, who saved humanity from the great flood, and thus, the town was named “Manu-Alaya”. This name was later changed to Manali. An ancient temple, dedicated to Manu, is situated in the town. According to the legend, the Matsya Avatar of Lord Vishnu asked Manu to build a gigantic boat to rescue humanity from the great floods. Being a very honest man, Manu was also called Satyabrata – “The one with the oath of truth”. The apple trees were introduced here by the British and still today, this region exports apples, plums, and pears worldwide.

You will enjoy leisure time in the afternoon.

Visit the top tourist attractions of Manali this day. A visit to the ancient Hidimba Temple of Hidimba Devi, situated inside a forest, will soothe your soul. Next, you will visit Maa Sharvari Temple, dedicated to a form of Goddess Durga, worshipped by the Kullu Kings as ‘Kuldevi’. Kalath and Vashist Hot Water Springs are famous for their natural sulfur water. Your next destination is Vashista Temple, decorated with intricate woodcarvings. The temple is dedicated to a saint. Explore the beautiful orchards of Old Manali. Visit the ancient ruined fort – Manaligarh, and Manu Maharishi Temple, devoted to Manu.

This stunning resort town acts as a gateway to other tourist destinations like Lahaul and Spiti District in Himachal Pradesh and Leh. Its proximity to the mighty Beas River makes it even more beautiful and it is a popular backpacking center.

You will spend the full day at leisure in Manali.

You will be taken from Manali to Shimla via a road drive. Shimla, or sometimes known as Simla, is the summer capital of British India. This city derives its name from the goddess Shyamala Devi, who is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Kali. Right from the time of the British rule, Shimla is famous for its share of parties, balls, and other festive celebrations. According to Rudyard Kipling’s words, Shimla is known for its share of “frivolity, gossip, and intrigue”. The railway line, which connects Kalka and Shimla, established in 1906, has more than 103 tunnels and 806 bridges. This railway line, known as the “British Jewel of the Orient”, is a popular UNESCO World Heritage Site, owing to its extraordinary engineering structure. The terrain of Shimla hosts mountain bike races, such as the MTB Himalaya.

After you reach Shimla, you can use the afternoon for leisure.

The excursion of Shimla covers the top tourist attractions. Shimla, which is famous for its Tudorbethan and neo-Gothic architecture of the colonial era, is the place where you can find many palaces and temples, which draw many devotees. Some of the famous temples are the Kali Bari Temple, dedicated to the Goddess Kali and the Jakhoo Temple, located at the highest point, is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The popular items of Shimla are embroidered shawls/garments, wooden boxes and fruit bowls, leather made articles, and other image products. You can visit the Mall, the main street of Shimla, which has shops, bars, and restaurants.

Day 10 of the Himachal Tour package from Amritsar start with aroad drive that will take you from Shimla to Chandigarh. After you arrive, you will be taken to the hotel.

Chandigarh means “the Fort of Chandi”. There is a deity of Goddess Chandi in an ancient temple, Chandi Mandir, near the city, from which Chandigarh gets its name. During India’s partition in 1947, Punjab was divided into two parts- East Punjab in India and West Punjab in Pakistan. Chandigarh was created to replace Lahore as the new capital of the Indian Punjab. Architects Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanerette, Jane Drew, and Maxwell Fry designed the project and Chandigarh was formed as the first planned city of independent India. It is famous for its architecture and urban designs, all over the world.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Secretariat, High Court, State Library, Rose Gardens, the University, and the Botanical Gardenin Chandigarh. The Secretariat building is made of six eight-storied blocks, which resemble the Marseilles apartment block, Corbusier’s another project. The High Court, also designed by Le Corbusier, is an architectural wonder. Students from all over the world visit this monument and study its facets and design. In the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, there are over 50,000 rose-bushes of 1600 different species. There are more than 55 species of medicinal shrubs and 75 species of medicinal trees in the Botanical Garden.

You will be transferred to Delhi via road. Once you reach the city, you will be taken to your hotel. Delhi, inhabited since the 6th century BC, has been destroyed and rebuilt a number of times and hence, it is called the “city of cities”. Different rulers have made Delhi the capital of their kingdoms and these rulers have influenced this city’s culture. The famous Mughlai cuisine originated here and the way the Mughals have influenced Delhi’s food culture is still evident. The capital of India and the hub of politics, this city has many beautiful monuments. Because of its proximity to a number of states, many festivals are celebrated here. If you find yourself surrounded by small lanes and old buildings, you are in Old Delhi, while New Delhi has wider roads with huge buildings on both sides.

The morning of day 12 will start with a visit to Old Delhi, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1639 A.D. Next stops are the Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation, was cremated and the museum that was built to commemorate him. During the drive, you will pass across the Red Fort and Chandni Chowk, a busy and popular Old Delhi market. You can also take a rickshaw ride (optional) in Chandni Chowk and enjoy the humdrum of this crowded place cluttered with shops selling clothes, jewels, household goods, and mouth-watering food. Next is the visit to Jama Masjid, which is one of the most iconic and largest mosques in India. This historic mosque was built by Shah Jahan.

The afternoon is reserved for a visit to the Qutub Minar, which is considered as India’s largest Minaret. Turk ruler Qutub-Ud-Din Aibak built it in 1192 and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Next stop of the trip is the Humayun’s tomb, which is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Next is the visit to the India Gate, a war memorial built to pay respect to the Unknown Soldiers. On your way, you can seethe Parliament House, the President’s House, and other Government Secretarial Buildings. The final stop is the Lakshminarayan Temple, which is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Narayana.

You will be transferred to Delhi airport.