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15
days - Spiritual India
Day 1 Delhi
Arrive in Delhi at any time.
Day 2 Chandigarh
Head north out into Punjab, stopping at the provincial
capital of Chandigarh. Sitting on the fringes of the
Shivalik range of the Himalayas, Chandigarh is an anomaly
in India - an entirely modern, planned city.
Days 3-4 Shimla
Travel down the Kalka-Shimla Railway, the greatest narrow
gauge engineering feat in India, en route to the Himalayan
hill town of Shimla, the former summer capital to the
British Raj.
Day 5 Mandi
This is a very spiritual town: Mandi has a total of
81 temples, many devoted to Shiva; only Varanasi has
more. Work your mountain legs into shape and visit the
best known of these, dedicated to Kali, perched high
above the town on Tarna Hill (also a great place for
sunsets). Of course, if you want to cheat you can always
take an auto rickshaw.
Days 6-8 Dharamsala
Wind your way through Himalayan mountain roads towards
Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile.
Sometimes known as "Little Lhasa", after the Tibetan
capital city, Dharamsala is home to generations of Buddhist
monasteries.
Days 9-10 Mcleod
Ganj
McLeod Ganj, or Upper Dharamsala, is the residence of
Tenzin Gyatso, the current Dalai Lama. Dharamsala pulsates
with the sights and sounds of old Tibet, and although
certainly more modern, life here is sweetly simple.
Shops strung out along the narrow streets sell traditional
Tibetan arts and handicrafts and the aroma of delicious
Tibetan dishes lingers in the air.
Day 11 Dalhousie
Hold on tight as your transport traverses narrow mountain
roads to another mountain retreat, Dalhousie. Thankfully
your sitting in the back seat, both so you can watch
the mountains and valleys stream by and so you can’t
see what happens on the road!
Days 12-13 Amritsar
Descend from the cool mountain air and return to the
familiar heat of lowland India. Amritsar is both the
spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh Religion,
as well as home to many of its most holy shrines and
temples, as well as being the closest point to the India/Pakistan
border, making for an interesting flag ceremony at the
end of each day.
Day 14 Delhi
Return to Delhi for any last minute sightseeing or shopping
as well as a final farewell dinner with your group.
Day 15 Depart Delhi
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