Mountains & Mystics

This morning you board a train out of Delhi and head across the state of Punjab to Kalka (approx. 4.5hrs). You’ll arrive at about midday and will board the Himlayan Toy train, the ‘Himalayan Queen’, for a scenic journey which will take you through the Shivalik ranges to Shimla (approx. 6hrs). You should arrive in Shimla late in the afternoon and will transfer to your hotel. Shimla – Queen of Hills – used to be the summer capital during British rule in India. At a height of 2200m above sea level, it was the perfect place for the British viceroys and their government to go to escape the stifling summer heat. As a result, Shimla was the country's focus for the better part of every year and is now the state capital of Himachal Pradesh.

Today, it has well developed facilities, easy accessibility and numerous attractions making it one of India's most popular hill resorts. Situated in the lower ranges of the Himalayan mountains, it is surrounded by pine deodar, oak and rhododendron forests. Towards the north lie the snow-covered high-ranges, while the valleys breathe whispering streams and swaying fields. Within the town are host of splendid colonial edifices, quaint cottages and charming walks. Shimla offers a variety of shopping, sport and entertainment activities. You’ll take a guided tour visiting the Viceregal Lodge, which was originally the residence of the British Viceroy Lord Dufferin, to see where the partition agreement that separated India from Pakistan and Bangladesh was drawn up. You'll also have some free time to stroll in the famous Mall Road – great for sourcing pottery items, jewellery and handicraft products & ‘The Ridge’, a wide open space used for summer festivals which leads to Lakkar Baazar, a wooden crafts market. Hotel – 2 nights

Another long drive is necessary today – the journey to Dharmshala will take about 6rs and you'll be travelling by public bus, an adventure in itself! Once you have completed your journey, you arrive in Dharmshala where you’ll check in to your hotel. Dharamshala is a small hill station lying on the spur of the Dhauladhar range about 18 kms north east of Kangra town. The surrounding area is wooded with oak and conifer trees and snow capped mountains enfold three sides of the town while the valley stretches in front. The town of Dharmshala is divided into two distinct parts. Lower Dharamshala has civil offices and business establishments with courts and Kotwali Bazar. Upper Dharamshala is composed of places with names that bear witness to its history, like McLeod Ganj and Forsythe Ganj. Since 1960, when it became a temporary headquarter of His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Dharamshala has risen to international fame as "The Little Lhasa in India".

You'll be able to spend time wandering around discovering the many facets of Tibetan Buddhism, learning about the spiritual beliefs of this peaceful region, as well as soaking up the beautiful mountain views. You'll visit the fascinating Norbulingka Institute, which was developed to train Tibetan refugees the skills needed to preserve the traditional arts and crafts of Tibet. It's peaceful grounds feature a stunning temple with some amazing spiritual iconography, as well as some ornate statues. The surrounding area is dotted with workshops where wood carving, metalwork and needlework are done, as well as an interesting thangka painting school where you can watch interesting pieces being created. In your free time you might like to visit the Losel doll Museum (additional charge), which features an exhibit of intricately detailed dolls that depict the traditional clothing and daily life of the people in each region of Tibet, as well as displays of religious events and festivals. Alternatively, you could take part in a cooking demonstration by a local man who has been conducting these classes for years (additional charge). Learn to make the popular 'momos', a speciality in Tibetan cuisine. Hotel – 3 nights

You’ll start today with a morning drive to Pathankot, and from there a train to Amritsar, the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh religion (210kms & approximately 6hrs). On arrival, you’ll check at your hotel. The rest of the day will be at leisure to relax after your journey. The following morning you’ll be taken sightseeing around some of the famous sites in Amritsar. One of which is the Golden Temple - the sacred Sikh sanctuary spread out in a vast complex around a huge water tank in the midst of which stands a marble sanctum where the holy book of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth is reverently placed. The roof of the sanctum is gold-leafed. The community kitchen provides free meals to up to 10,000 pilgrims or visitors in a day.

You’ll walk by the busy bazaars of the city, visit the historic Jallianwalah Bagh where General Dyer’s bullets killed hundreds of innocent Indians and later visit the Durgiana Hindu temple which looks like a replica of the Golden Temple. Later on in the afternoon, you’ll visit the border town of Wagah to see the change of guard ceremony. It is a spectacle comparable to the 'Changing of the Guards' in London. The pomp and pageantry of the Beating Retreat and the Change of Guard within handshaking distance of the Indian and Pakistani forces makes for a most charming spectacle.

In the evening of the second day you return to the train station to hop on a train back to Delhi (approx. 9hrs). Sleeper trains are clean and air conditioned and are a great way to travel long distances and still get the maximum amount of time in each place. Beds are pull-down bunks and a sheet, blanket and pillow are provided, although some people prefer to take their own sleeping sheet. Please be aware that although every effort is made to ensure the group is kept together, you may find yourself sharing a compartment with locals and people of different genders. Hotel – 1 night, overnight train - 1 night