Day 01:Abroad
Delhi Arrive early morning at New Delhi International airport.
On arrival the guest will be met by our representative and transferred to
hotel. Upon arrival at hotel the guests will be provided with the
traditional Indian welcome consisting of aarti-tikka and garlands with
non-alcoholic welcome drink. Overnight at hotel.
Day 02: Delhi
Delhi - is the capital of India, the
center of 'Indo-Islamic' culture. This ancient city is replete with
architectural marvels, such as the Red Fort, the imposing Jama Masjid, (the
largest mosque in India), both built between 1638-1648 by Shah Jahan,
India's most famed Moghul emperor and fervent architect. The Qutab Minar,
234 feet tall minaret dating back to the 13th century and the tomb of
Humayun. We will wander through Chandni Chowk, once the richest street in
India, today a picturesque bazaar teeming with covered arcades, tiny sacred
temples and thronged with novelty stores. Delhi remains distinctly British,
the old imperiousness of the Viceroys now the political gentry of the Indian
ruling class.
Morning sightseeing tour of Old Delhi.
This morning you will be taken to visit Old Delhi - Former centre of Moghul
Power, Old Delhi offers ancient monuments, narrow streets and bustling
bazaars. Visit the vast Red Fort,
built in 1648, the Jama Masjid,
the greatest mosque in India and completed in 1658 by Shah Jahan who also
built the Taj Mahal, and the Raj Ghat,
the simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
Afternoon sightseeing
tour of New Delhi.
New Delhi - drive past the stately government
buildings of the British Era designed by Lutyens, including the India
Gate & the Presidential
Palace. Continue onto the beautiful Humayuns
Tomb of the Mughal era & predecessor of the world famous
Taj Mahal. End the tour at the towering minaret of Qutab
Minar.
Day 03: Delhi - Chandigarh - Nalagarh
Morning transfer to the Railway Station for train to Chandigarh
(0700/1030 hrs.) Sightseeing of Chandigarh.
Nalagarh- the gateway
to Himachal Pradesh in North India. It was ruled by the Chandela Rajputs who
originate from Chanderi in the Bundelkhand region of Central India. This
impressive Fort with its sweeping driveway, was built during the reign of
Raja Bikram Chand in 1421. The present Raja of Nalagarh & his relatives
extend a Royal Welcome.
Arrive & check into Nalagarh Fort
Palace. Afternoon free to explore the Nalagarh Fort which is located on a
hillock at the foot hills of the mighty Himalayas affording a panoramic view
of the Shivalik Hills beyond the Sirsa river, or visit the famous Naina Devi
Temple (60 kms from the fort), is visible from the ramparts on a clear day.
OVERNIGHT AT NALAGARH FORT PALACE Day 04: Nalagarh / Pragpur Morning, drive to Pragpur (2½
hrs).
PRAGPUR - is located at an elevation of about 1800 ft in
the Kangra valley is one of the most panoramic areas in Himachal Pradesh.
Pragpur is a small village with a small population, which nestles below the
majestic Dhauladhars- The white Ranges. It is unbelievably picturesque
having held onto the essence of an earlier era, unchanged shops, cobbled
street, an ornamental village tank, mud plastered & slate roofed houses.
Arrive & check into Judge's Court
JUDGE'S COURT - built in
1918 by justice Sir Jai Lal and was designed by his father Bhandari Ram
Kuthiala. It is set in a orchard on Mangoes, Leeches, Grapes and citrus
amidst exotic trees like Camphor, Clove & Cardamon. Milk is from Judge
Court's own dairy and water exclusively piped to it from its own Mountain.
The Judge's Court offers you the possibility to savor either the authentic
experience of 300 years ago or the ambience of the times of Kipling, Macauly
and Viceroys of the likes of Lord Harding famous for the Great Darbar and a
personal friend of the Judge. The property is famous as "Judge Sahib ki
kothi", and hence it came to be known as The Judge's Court. OVERNIGHT
AT JUDGE'S COURT
Day 05 :
Pragapur AFullday at leisure to walk through Pragpur, which has a
gentle rustic beauty. It has been recently declared as a "Heritage
village" by the government. See the local silversmiths who offer a
variety of hand crafted trinklets. Also visit the Kuthiala suite - 300 year
old ancestral home which has been restored using the original techniques but
with modern plumbing & lighting. It has a very private suite with a
kitchen, sitting room, dressing room & a study with an open terrace
overlooking the Dhauladhar mountains. OVERNIGHT AT JUDGE'S COURT
Day
06: Pragapur / Taragarh
Morning, drive to Taragarh (2½
hrs). TARAGARH PALACE - is situated on a 15 acre forested estate surrounded
by Tea Gardens in the Kangra valley, one of the most scenic and unexplored
areas of Himachal Pradesh. Located at a height of 1000 meters, Taragarh
Palace is at the foot of the Dauladhar mountains with a magnificent view of
the snow capped peaks. Formerly known as Alhilal (land of the crescent
moon), the 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. Afternoon, visit Andretta village (17 kms from
Taragarh) to see Sobha Singh Art gallery & Andretta Pottery Society and
onto the famous & picturesque tea gardens of Kangra valley at Palampur &
the Tibetan village of Bir. For the nature lovers, there are interesting
walks through the tea gardens on the slopes of the surrounding hills where
one can see the cheerful hill people at work. OVERNIGHT AT TARAGARH PALACE
Day 07: Taragarh/Dharamshala/Taragarh Morning, Fullday
excursion to Dharamshala (1 hr).
DHARAMSHALA - the hill resort,
once very popular with the British, is today the residence and headquaters
of His Holiness the 'Dalai Lama' who set up his government in exile at
Mcleodgunj. The town rises in levels up the hill from 1250m to 2000m with
the dramatic peaks of the Dauladhar rising above. In the colourful Tibetan
township are the newly-built Gelugpa monastery and a school for Tibetan
culture with a excellent library. The little shops sell Tibetan crafts and
there are several restaurants that serve Tibetan food. A little higher up
the ridge is the pretty Church of St. John with beautiful stained glass
windows and the grave of a former Viceroy Lord Elgin in its churchyard.
Visit the Tashijong monastery - with a commanding view of the Kangra valley,
this monastery is one of the several built after the Dalai Lama settled
here. Tashijong also promotes arts like carpet weaving, tankha painting &
block printing, and runs a school for young Tibetan children. The young guru
of the monastery is recognized as the reincarnation of his predecessor and
is very popular with his visitors. Return to Taragarh.
Overnight
At Taragarh Palace
DAY 08 :
Taragarh/Pathankot/Delhi After breakfast, visit the Baidnath
temple (5 kms) - this ancient Shiva temple is one of the oldest in the
country and is believed to date back to the epic Mahabharata. It has a tall
shikhara, fine sculpture and carved pillars.
Return to the hotel
& check out Afternoon, drive to Pathankot (3 hrs) to connect train to
Delhi
Depart: Pathankot at: 1820 hrs
by Jammu Tawi Mail OVERNIGHT ON BOARD DAY 09: Arrive Delhi
Arrive: Delhi at: 0520 hrs Upon arrival, make
your own arrangements to the residence.