Tour 12. Magnetic Himalayas. Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla, Naggar, Vashisht, Manali, Rewalsar, Dharamsala. 2 weeks.

In this tour: Himalayan mountains. Places magnetically attractive for people all over the world. Beautiful nature, unique culture and hospitable people. We will see great mountain views, waterfalls, pine-forests, old villages, wooden temples, Buddhism monasteries, British churches and hot spring bathes. We will have trekking and just relax on the fresh air. We will taste unique food and meet unique Himalayan animals. We will pass one of the world heritage ways by toy-train.

In addition: the best places of the capital of India, city of contrast – incredible Delhi and the Smart-city of India – Chandigarh.

Program.

Day 0-1. Delhi.

Pick-up from airport. Depends on time of your flight you can sleep in Delhi hotel or start program straightly from the airport.

Today we will visit the best places in Delhi:

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib – beautiful temple of Sikh people with holy lake and canteen where everyone can have free food.

Colonial center with government buildings (Parliament, President Palace) and Indian Gate.

Qutub Minar – historical place with first mosque of India made from the pieces of 27^th hindu temples and highest minaret.

Lotus temple – famous futuristic temple for meditation and pray for all religions followers.

Akchardham –white temple, one of the biggest and most beautiful temples with numerous amount of sculptures

Cycle-rickshaw tour by the streets of one of the most interesting bazars in Delhi – Chandi-chowk, where you can see the real Indian life. Or we will have a walk by alive streets of Delhi.

Night in Delhi hotel.

Day 2. Delhi-Chandigarh.

After breakfast, we move to Chandigarh (4-5 hours drive).

Indian people call this city as the Smart-city of India. It is really one pf the cleanest, best-organised, modern city with good road, limited traffic-problems and mess.

We will visit the famous Rock-garden – the Secret World of talented artist Nek Chand built of industrial and home waste and thrown-away items.

Then we will walk and rest near the Sukhna Lake and visit one more of numerous Chandigarh gardens.

Night in Chandigarh hotel.

Day 3. Chandigarh-Kalka (toy-train)-Shimla.

Today we have to wake-up very early in the morning to be in time on the Kalka train-station. Here we will take a toy-train.  We will have the wonderful trip by old British narrow-gauge railway (built in 1898) which traverses a mountainous route. It is known for the great views of the hills and surrounding villages.

After rest in Shimla hotel and lunch, we will have a walking tour by Shimla center. Ex-summer capital of Brittish government, Shimla loved by travelers for beautiful colonial architecture surrounded by big himalayan’s trees, history and special atmosphere – mix of Europe, Tibetan and Himachal kingdoms culture.

Night in Shimla hotel.

Day 4. Shimla.

Today we will visit the Himachal museum of Shimla, Hanuman statue and temple on the hill.

Then we will drive outside of the city to see the beautiful hills-nature around.

Night in Shimla hotel.

Day 5. Shimla-Naggar.

After breakfast and last walk around beautiful Shimla center, we will move to Rewalsar. It is 230 km only, but can take 7 hours because of mountain roads.

After rest in hotel, we will walk around cozy and quiet Naggar village. This place is very good for resting, watching Himalayan nature and village way of life.

In the evening, we will visit evening pooja – ceremony in one of the Himalayan-style old wooden temples look like Russian traditional tower-room (terem).

Night in Naggar hotel.

Day 6. Naggar-Vashisht.

Today we will visit the house, homestead and museum of famous Russian artist Nikolay Roerich (Rerikh) who lived and worked here. We will visit the castle where Himalayan noble used to live.

Then we will walk up by the old pine-forest to Krishna temple. On the way, we will get great views to surrounding mountains.

By the wish, we can spend more time in Naggar and then we have to move to the next destination – Vashisht village.

Here we will check-in to mountain hotel with beautiful view to the mountains, river and apple-gardens.

Night in Vashisht hotel.

Day 7. Vashisht.

After breakfast, we will visit Vashisht’s interesting sights: 2 old wooden temples – Ram god temple and Swami Vashisht temple and traditional Himachal village-houses with traditionally-dressed people and cute cows.

Then we will have a walk to the riverside, near apple-gardens and tracking to the waterfall through the pine-forest.

In the evening, we will visit public baths in hot holy springs inside of temple.

In one the days in Vashisht we will make trip to Manali-city, crossing the river by beautiful bridge decorated by colorful flags. To have a walk by the main alive street. To visit famous Kali temple (Hadimba temple) surrounded by huge pines and rocks. To visit Manu temple – the temple of first man in the world.

Night in Vashisht hotel.

Day 8. Vashisht.

Today we have 2 options to choose:

Those who prefer active and sport time can choose tracking with guide to mountains for all day with lunch on the nature.

Those who prefer time that is more relaxing can choose a car-trip to Soland valley – Himalayan Alps. On the way and there we will have great views and landscapes. To the hills we will come up in cable by the ropeway.

Night in Vashisht hotel.

Day 9. Vashisht.

Today is the free day for rest in mountains, walk around, see and feel Himalayan culture and nature.

Night in Vashisht hotel.

Day 10. Vashinsh-Rewalsar.

In the morning, we will move to Rewalsar with some stops in interesting places on the way. Total way will take 5-7 hours.

In the Rewalsar, we will stay in Buddhism monastery guesthouse.

The small city Rewalsar is important piligrimage site for Buddhists, Tibetans, Hindu and Sikhs. Around the holy lake Rewalsar (also known as Tso Pema lake) there are several temples, monasteries and just places for thinking and meditations. We will walk around the lake (make Kora– the praying circle around holy places in Buddhism) together with Tibetans and other Buddhists.

Here people go sleep very early, and after sunset we will have quiet evening and rest.

Night in Rewalsar guesthouse.

Day 11. Rewalsar–Dharamsala.

In the morning, we will visit the most interesting temples and monasteries, walk more around the city, drink chai in the Monastery’s café. We will go up to the mountains and make small trekking to holy Padmasambhava Cave where Tibetan Guru Rinpoche used to meditate.

Then we will move To Dharamsala (5 hours way). Depends on time we will make some stops for sightseeing on the way.

Check-in to Dharamsala hotel and rest.

Night in Dharamsala hotel.

Day 12. Dharamsala.

Dharamsala is the city of Dalai-Lama. The capital of Tibetan government in exile. A lot of Tibetans, Buddhists and just people interested in Dalai-Lama teaching live here or come for a short time. It is a city with especial atmosphere of Small Tibet.

Today we will visit the most interesting places here. Central streets with Tibetan life and best and chipest mo-mos you can find in India! Buddhism temples. The Residence of Dalai-Lama. Tibetan museum. Old Catholic Church with atmospheric cemetery around. If we are lucky, and these days there are Dalai-Lama teaching, we will have chance to see and listen it.

Night in Dharamsala hotel.

Day 13. Dharamsala.

Today we will go outside of city to see one of the outside Buddhism monasteries.

After lunch, we will visit small villages nearby loved by travelers: Dharamkot and Bagsu. Here we will see beautiful waterfall, old temple with hot spring bath and just atmosphere of holidays, rest and relax.

Night in Dharamsala hotel.

Day 14. Dharamsala-way back (overnight on the way).

The morning we will spend walking by Dharamsala streets and then will have a long way back to Delhi.

The direct way can take around 12 hours, that’s why we recommend to make a stop on the way for the rest and sleep and the next morning continue to drive.

Night in the hotel on the way Dharamsala-Delhi or can be direct 12 hours’ drive on your choice.

Day 15. Delhi.

Arriving before lunch or previous late evening.

After lunch and rest, we can visit more Delhi interesting sights: beautiful white temple Birla-mandir, Humayun tomb – the heritage of Moghuls, beautiful Lody gardens.

Then you will have time for the last shopping or rest before flight.

Transfer to airport.

Night in flight or in hotel.