Hill Stations

Wild Frontiers

Day 1 ARRIVE DELHI On arrival in Delhi you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day will be free to relax or explore the city independently. The Clarages I would ask for another hotel, This lot write their own TripAdviser reviews as do Imperial , and Haveli Dharampura and this one does not appear to have a single genuine review. Looking at arival times from Valencia, we could skip this and take a flight straight on that day

Day 2 DELHI – HARIDWAR This morning you’ll transfer back to Delhi airport for your flight to Dehradun. From here you drive along beautiful mountain roads to Haridwar, where you can check into your hotel and unwind. Just upstream from Haridwar on the banks of the River Ganges is the holy town of Rishikesh. This small town is the point where the holy Ganges crashes down in full glory onto huge boulders and creates long stretches of white sandy beaches. The banks are lined with ashrams, where saints and holy men rest before beginning their arduous pilgrimage up into the snow-covered land of the gods. The town acquired prominence in the west when the Beatles visited to meet Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and begin their quest for spiritual salvation. Even today, foreign travellers visit the ashrams to study Hindu philosophy, yoga and Ayurvedic medicine. This afternoon can be enjoyed at leisure or with a gentle walk along the ghats to watch a bit of daily life in this fascinating region.

Day 3 RISHIKESH You will spend today exploring Rishikesh, also known as the 'place of sages'. Its many ashrams – some clearly humbly ascetic, with others verging on opulent - continue to draw devotees and followers from around the world. The whole place is considered to be sacred, as it is believed that meditation here leads to attainment of salvation. Visit Laxman Jhula, a hanging bridge on the river Ganga, and Bharat Mandir, the oldest temple in Rishikesh. Take a stroll around the market, where you can end at Parmarth Ashram, before returning to Haridwar in time for an evening aarti ceremony. The Ganga Aarti is an unforgettable spiritual experience, generally beginning at sunset, with sacred chants and a 'Yagna' or fire ceremony. The sounds and smells of this stunning performance, framed by the ripples of the setting sun in the flowing river, make it a real highlight, and a wonderful introduction to your journey.

Day 4 HARIDWAR – DEHRADUN You return north today and head for the tranquil setting of Shaheen Bagh, located just outside of Dehradun. Here you can relax in the gardens, or if there’s time explore a little of the area, but overall this is the perfect stopover on your way to Shimla where you can enjoy a quiet setting and some downtime in between the longer drives.

Day 5 DEHRADUN – SHIMLA Today is a long but beautiful journey, as you travel through some stunning Himalayan countryside, to the hill station of Shimla, the former summer capital of the British Raj. Along the way, you will have the chance to stop for a cup of tea and to take photographs in order to break up the journey, which usually takes around 8 hours. Chapslee House

Day 6 SHIMLA Begin the day by boarding the UNESCO World Heritage Himalayan Queen ‘Toy Train’ which will carry you on a picturesque journey through the forested foothills of the Himalayas. You then will have the rest of the day to explore Shimla. Often described as ‘Epsom in the hills’, the quaint hill station is today a surreal place, with a mall lined by mock Tudor cottages, the Viceroy’s neo-Gothic palace at one end and Christ Church at the other. Halfway along is the Gaiety Theatre, a charming miniature Drury Lane. But today Shimla, like Darjeeling, is a very mixed town, on the one hand buzzing with modern Indian life while on the other echoing that of its colonial past. All in all, a fascinating place to spend a couple of nights. Chapslee House

Day 7 SHIMLA Today you’ll explore the surrounding area on foot as the Britishers of old would have once done, taking in the colonial buildings of the Raj period. The forested foothills around Shimla offer some excellent opportunities for walking and later today there will be the opportunity to stretch your legs and take in some more of the stunning scenery. Chapslee House

Day 8 SHIMLA - PRAGPUR Today you have a full day’s drive north to the Heritage Village of Pragpur, located in the beautiful Kangra Valley on the edge of the Himalaya Mountains. On arrival you’ll check in to your hotel where you have a chance to relax before dinner. The Judge's Court

Day 9 PRAGPUR Today you can enjoy some rest time or explore the area further. Pragpur offers a fascinating insight into the history of the area, and visitors can enjoy exploring the local market where they will see silversmiths and weavers at work. Kanga Valley is also has a lot to offer, with the fort and rock temples of Masur, as well as multiple walking options and some birdwatching. The Judge's Court

Day 10 PRAGPUR – DHARAMSALA & MCLEOD GANJ This morning you’ll drive to visit Tashijong Monastery, built by Buddhists who fled from the Kham region of eastern Tibet in the 1950s. You’ll also pay a visit to a tea garden, from where you’ll continue your journey to Dharamsala and McLeod Ganj. Established in the mid-1850s as a British garrison, McLeod Ganj sits 4km from Dharamsala (with which it is intrinsically linked) and is situated at a height of 1,770m. It is now the seat of the Tibetan government in exile and as residence to his Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, it is also a place to view Tibetan culture outside of Tibet, and is considered a ‘little Lhasa’. Chonor House might look for a different hotel Audley say

Day 11 DHARAMSALA & MCLEOD GANJ You will have the whole day to enjoy this legendary hill station and take a walk in the surrounding area. You’ll start with a visit to the Tibetan Children’s Village in McLeod Ganj. If the Dalai Lama is in residence there may even be the chance to attend one of his audiences. You will then drive up through the forest to Dharamkot where you’ll reach Naddi Village, visiting a Buddhist stupa and some meditation caves en route where Tibetan Buddhist monks live and meditate for many months during the year. From Naddi village you’ll enjoy beautiful views of the peaks of Dhauladhar before descending back down to the town and wandering through the fascinating bazaar. Those preferring not to walk can easily pass their time soaking up the fascinating interplay between Tibetan and Himachali cultures. Chonor House

Day 12 DHARAMSALA – AMRITSAR Descending from the foothills back to the plains you enter the Punjab and travel to the famed city of Amritsar. This evening you will have a look around the most holy of Sikh sites – the Golden Temple, which is at its most evocative at night. The stunning setting of this temple is a spiritual masterpiece, and reflected in the lake, the temple glistens in the sun and is spectacularly lit up at night. Visitors can also witness Palki Sahib, also known as the ‘putting to bed’ ceremony. The temple is home to the Guru Granth Sahib, the principle scripture of Sikhism, which is placed on a pillow and carried to its resting place for the night, accompanied by chanting. Ranjit's Svaasa bit dubious on the sources of their reviews

Day 13 AMRITSAR This morning you can pay another visit to the iconic Golden Temple. From here you’ll visit Jallianwala Barg, the scene of the British massacre in 1919. Time permitting, you can also visit the important landmark of Baba Atal Rai Tower, located just outside of town. Climbing to the top of this nine-storied building gives you a panoramic view of the entire area. In the late afternoon you’ll head out to the famous Wagah border ceremony, which involves a colourful parade by soldiers from both India and Pakistan, culminating in the perfectly coordinated lowering of the two nations' flags!Ranjit's Svaasa

Day 14 Amritsr – Lahore via Wagha Gate

Indian Hill Stations & Pakistan