Golden Temple of Amritsar and the Himalayas: A Journey through Many Moods

 Once you arrive at the Amritsar Airport, our driver will pick you up.

We will visit Wagah Border – This place marks the boundaries between India and Pakistan. Every evening before sunset, the soldiers from India and Pakistan perform the flag ceremony where they lower the flags at this international border. The ceremony ends with a kind gesture where the soldiers of both the countries shake hands and then it is followed by the closing of the gates.

After coming back from Wagah Border we will go on a street food walk:

Some places famous for its non vegetarian food are Chand Dhaba situated in the bylanes near Golden Temple. All its dishes are really tasty. Another place is Chajju da Dhaba situated on Lawrence Road famous for its mutton tikkas. For fried fish lovers there is Makhan Fish Wala famous since time immorial for its fish taste and quality. Another famous place for a variety of sizzlers in Amritsar is Astoria.

Moving onto sweet food, there are plethora of options for people in Amritsar. There is Kanha Sweets famous for its puri aloo and an assortment of Indian sweets. Then there is Sharma Sweets a small shop which sees huge queue of people clamoring for its Gulab Jamun and Jalebi. Then there is Labhayaram another small shop famous for Aam Papad and other Indian candies. For the softy lovers there is Novelty Sweets which used to be a small shop initially but now has grown and infact the intersection infront of it is called now Novelty Chowk. Another famous shop is called Sukharam which is famous for its fruit cream. One more famous place in Old city behind Golden Temple famous for its puri aloo and gud halva is called Baba Borh (Borh- means Banyan Tree)

In the evening you may visit the gorgeous Golden Temple and witness the night view as the lights are all lit up. You may witness the Palki (palanquin) Sahib Ceremony in the temple, where the holy book Guru Granth Sahib is carried to a room for night stay.

Overnight at Hotel.

Golden Temple, also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib, is the holiest shrine of the Sikhs. It is located in the heart of the city of Amritsar. It was bulit in the 16th century. Since then millions of Sikhs and people of all religions have visited this place. At the centre of the shrine is the man made lake, which is surrounded by a collection of buildings around the sanctum and the pool.

The additional buildings include a clock tower, the offices of Gurdwara Committee, a Museum and a langar.

Langar is unique to the Sikh religion. It is a free Sikh community run kitchen that serves a simple vegetarian meal to all visitors without discrimination. So, when you are in Amritsar, you can try the langar. Over 100,000 people visit the holy shrine daily for worship.

After this we travel to Dalhousie from Amritsar. The distance from Amritsar to Dalhousie is about 200 km or 125 miles. It is usually covered in 5 to 6 hours.

Today after breakfast we will visit the following places:

Chamera Lake -Located at a distance of 25 km from Dalhousie, the exquisite Chamera Lake lies enclosed by the grand Himalayan mountains. The water is crystal clear and serene. You can enjoy a boat ride in the placid waters of the lake. The drive to the Lake is also scenic with the Dhauladhar mountain range alongside..

Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary – Take the beautiful road to reach Kalatop, a beautiful Wildlife Sanctuary full of greenery. The short 4 KM road itself is scenic and worth the trip. This region is less explored compared to other area of Dalhousie.  So, you can feel the serenity of the Himalayan forest and hearing twittering of the Himalayan birds on your way to Kalatop. If you are lucky you can catch sight of a wide variety of animal species like bear, leopard, jackal, and langur and bird species like Eurasian Jay, Black Headed Jay, and the Black Bird. What you can surely spot are the colourful Himalayan birds!

Khajjiar – It is a stunning meadow. One side of the meadow has roads, shops, restaurants. While another side is skirted with rows of green pine trees, where you can kind sheep grazing. There is a small artificial pond in the middle of the meadow. In the evening it is full of activities. Khajjiar is also known for its nine-hole golf-course which is nestled in the midst of lush greenery and a breathtaking landscape. This region also attracts adventure seekers and has a lot of options in adventure sports like paragliding, horse riding, zorbing, trekking etc.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, checkout and we proceed to Dharmashala.

The distance from Dalhousie to Dharamshala is about 120 km or 75 miles. It is usually covered in 4 to 5  hours.

Overnight at hotel.

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Today after breakfast we will see the various places in Dharmashala:

Naddi View Point and Village Walk -This walk through hamlets of the Himalayas is the best way to enjoy the serenity of the place. As you take the nature trail, you can also view the massive Dhauladhar Range at such a close distance. Naddi is a village which is situated away from the hustle and bustle of Mcleodganj and provides complete peace of mind. A walk through the village is a must as it takes you through fields, houses made of stone & mud. One can experience the lifestyle of local people with a view of mountains. Rejuvinate yourself through this guided tour.

St John’s Church – This magnificent church is built amid the picturesque valley of Mcleodganj and is located about 8 kms away from Dharamshala. The church lies in a dense jungle between Mcleodganj and Forsythganj and is a monument dedicated to Lord Elgin, one of the viceroys of India, who died at Chauntra (Mandi district) and was buried here in 1863 A.D. This classic church, which has a Christian cemetery surrounding it, has lovely glass windows and boost amazing architectural design. It is ideally situated in the majestic ‘Deodar’ forest in the wilderness.

Dal Lake – This beautiful, calm and serene lake is set amidst lush green Deodar forests and rugged mountains. It is filled with greenish water and offers peaceful surroundings. This is a perfect place where you can feel the magical spirit of the Himalayas.

Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast checkout and we travel from Dharamshala to Palampur. The Distance from  Dharamshala to Palampur is about 40 km or 25 miles. It is usually covered in approx 2 hours.

The tea gardens of Palampur are a major draw for tourists. Vast areas of green foliage resulting out of a variety of tea plants are peppered throughout the town. They are a treat to the eyes of the visitors. Here, you can also go through the details of tea processing. Strolling through the gardens and enjoying the sight of tea plants and the piece of nature beyond the garden is a mood-uplifting experience for anybody. It is a heaven for photographers. For the curious, the gardens also provide a detailed view of the tea making process.

Overnight at hotel in Palampur.

“Today after breakfast you checkout and proceed from Palampur to Dharamshala.

The distance from Palampur to Dharamshala is about 40 km or 25 miles. It is usually covered in approx 2 hours.

After a memorable trip, our driver will drop you at the Dharamshala Airport.