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DAY 01 :
ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive
Delhi in the evening. Upon arrival, you shall met & assisted
with your baggages at the airport by our executive and transferred
to prebooked hotel.
Delhi
: India’s capital & a major gateway to the country, contemporary
Delhi is a bustling metropolis which successfully combines in its
fold the ancient & the modern. Its strategic location was one
of the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their
seat of power. New Delhi also reflects the legacy the British left
behind . The division between New & Old Delhi is the distinction
between the capitals of the British & the Moghuls respectively.
So, wherever the visitor goes, he will invariably confront the citys’
past
DAY 02
: DELHI
After
breakfast, half day city tour of Old Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid,
the largest mosque in India. Built by Shah Jahan, the
construction was started in 1844 and was not completed until 1658;
Red Fort, which was also built by Shah Jehan. This massive
fort was built from 1638 to 1648; Chandni Chowk and Rajghat
- the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.
Afternoon, city tour of New Delhi. Visit Humayuns Tomb :
built in mid 16th century this is an early example of Mughal architecture;
Qutab Minar, drive past India Gate, President House, Connaught
Place. The tour ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple.
DAY 03
: DELHI - SHIMLA (TRAIN)
After breakfast, transfer to the railway station to board train
for Shimla - The British called Shimla the "Queen of Hill Stations."
Situated in the north-West Himalayas, Shimla the summer capital
of India before independence is now the capital of Himachal Pradesh.
Shimla derives its name from "Shyamala";- the goddess
Kali, whose temple existed in the dense forest that covered Jakhu
Hill in the early 19th century. The English named it Shimla.
Arrive Shimla, transfer to prebooked
Hotel Woodville Palace - has an impressive history dating
right back to 1866 when Sir William Mansfield, Commander-in-Chief
of the Imperial Army became the first resident of this charming
and picturesque estate. It was later acquired by His Highness Maharaja
Bhagvat Sinh of Gondal State in Western Indian as a gift for his
daughter, Rani Leila Ba of Jubbal State. Her husband, Raja Rana
Sir Bhagat Chand tore down the old structure and constructed a new
building in 1938. Hundreds of expert artisans were commissioned
to ensure the highest quality of craftsmanship. Rajkumar Uday Singh,
grandson of the Raja Sahib opened a part of the mansion as a small
hotel in April, 1977
DAY 04 :
SHIMLA
Excursion to Kufri - 16 kms. from Shimla at a height of 8,600 ft.
Kufri is the winter sports capital. Kufri is a lovely picnic spot
with a beautiful view of the hills around and the snowy peaks
Afternoon, free to explore Shimla – The Mall, Christ Church, Jakhu
Hill, Shimla State Museum
DAY 05 :
SHIMLA
Day at leisure
DAY 06
: SHIMLA - PALAMPUR
After breakfast, leave for
Palampur - is a fascinating spot in the Kangra Valley, surrounded
on all sides by tea gardens and pine forests. The place enjoys a
healthy climate and the pine scented air is said to have curative
properties. The scenery presents a sublime and beautiful contrast-
the plain presents a picture of rural loveliness and repose, while
the hills are majestic. Behind this town stands high ranges of Dhauladhar
mountains, whose tops remain covered for most part of the year.
This place is being developed as large tourist centre. A ropeway
and an amusement park is also on the to be established here. An
Agricultural University is already functioning and some tea factories
are also coming up. There are also some pleasant walks around the
town. A short walk from here takes one to the awe inspiring Bundla
chasm which falls over a 100mts. to the Bundla stream. The stream
is a thin streak running over stony ground far below the cliff.
During the monsoon seasons, it swells and rages - madly over the
entire width of the chasm taking stones and boulders along with
it and makes loud roaring noise like thunder.
Arrive Palampur and check in at Taragarh Palace - Formerly
known as Alhilal (land of the crescent moon) ,Taragarh Palace, was
built in the early 1930s as a summer resort. It was bought by the
royal family of Jammu & Kashmir in 1951 for the dowager Maharani
who lived there for several years. It is now run as a hotel by the
present royal family. In 1931, the 27 year old Nawab of Bahawalpur
built large European-style summer residence for himself up in the
cool Himalayan jungle of Kangra district . He laid out lush gardens,
built a glass pleasure pavilion and a mosque and christened his
country palace Al Hilal (The Crescent Moon).
DAY 07 : PALAMPUR
After breakfast, take
a day return trip to Dharamsala (35 kms) - the high seat of His
Holiness - The Dalai Lama.
Return to Palampur for overnight stay.
DAY 08
: PALAMPUR - PRAGPUR
After breakfast, leave for Pragpur
- The Kangra Valley, where Heritage Village Pragpur is located is
panoramic and replete with history. It is the home of the famous
Kangra school of painting and probably the world's - most certainly
India's - oldest ruling lineage comes from here. The area of Pragpur
was part of the Principality of Jaswan whose chief, in the late
16th or early 17th Century charged a band of learned men, led by
a Kuthiala Sood, to find a suitable place to commemorate Princess
'Prag' of his royal lineage. Prag in Sanskrit translates to pollen.
In a way it aptly describes the area of Pragpur which in spring
is a fire with blossoms. Founded about 3 centuries ago Pragpur has
held onto the essence of an earlier era - unchanged shops, cobbled
streets, ornamental village tank, mud plastered and slate roofed
houses. The core area of Pragpur is notified as a "Heritage
Village", and, along with the nearby village of Garli, the
surrounding area is a Heritage Zone.
Arrive Pragpur and check in at Judge's Court - The large
splendid Country Manor designed in the Indo-European tradition and
built in 1918 for Justice Sir Jai Lal with it's annex. The buildings
stand in a 12-acre orchard consisting of mango, lychee, plum, citrus
and exotic trees like camphor, clove and cardamom. The property
is classified as "Heritage"and this in a way makes it
India's first classified Heritage Country Manor with an ambience
reminiscent of the turn of the 20th Century.
DAY 09 : PRAGPUR
Day free
to explore the area in and around Pragpur.
DAY 10 : PRAGPUR
- NALAGARH
After breakfast, leave
for Nalagarh - Nalagarh is the capital of the Kingdom of Hindur
founded by Raja Ajai Chand in 1100 A.D.
It was ruled by the Chandela Rajputs who originate from Chanderi
in the Bundelkhand region of Central India. The famous Khajuraho
Temples were built by the Chandela Kings of yore. The Fort was built
during the region of Raja Bikram Chand in 1421. The present Raja
of Nalagarh & his relatives extend a Royal Welcome.
Arrive Nalagarh and check in at Fort Nalagarh - the Nalagarh
Fort lies atop a hillock at the foothills of the mighty Himalayas,
and offers panoramic views of the Shivalik Ranges beyond the Sirsa
River. The fort consists of several structures that are mostly built
in the Mughal style of architecture. Nalagarh Fort has undergone
several renovations, and now functions as a premier heritage hotel
– the ideal place to unwind, away from the heat and dust of the
plains. Nalagarh Fort rises above a 20 acre land comprising
forest and orchard, and is built on five levels, three of which
feature beautiful manicured lawns.
Rest of the day, free for individual activities.
DAY 11
: NALAGARH
After breakfast, excursion to Anandpur Sahib. Return to Nalagarh
for overnight stay.
DAY 12
: NALAGARH - DELHI
After breakfast, leave for Delhi.
Arrive Delhi and check in at prebooked hotel.
DAY
13 : DEPART DELHI
Transfer to the airport to board flight back home/onward
destination.
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