BEST OF PUNJAB
VISITING: New Delhi / Chandigarh /Amritsar / Ludhiana / Patiala/
DAY 01: DELHI
Arrive New Delhi.
Assistance on arrival and transfer to your hotel. Check-in time is 12 noon.
Delhi as the capital of India Delhi is the seat of administration and the monuments which tell the saga of a bygone era stand there. These icons are testimony to the grandeur of past and also an attraction for the tourists. With an area of 1483 sq. Kms, Delhi is all set to acquire full statehood. The charm of Delhi has attracted Emperors, Conquerors and poor in equally. It is correctly said that Delhi is a land of ‘Dilwalas’ or for people with heart. This phrase acquires a true colour when one goes around the lanes of Delhi. Delhi– a window to the kaleidoscope that is India. From a string of historical monuments to modern commercial centers, Delhi has evolved into an exceptional and dynamic destination offering a wealth of shopping and sightseeing activities. Tourism in Delhi has undergone a sea change in recent times as the city is in the process of a steady makeover.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 02: DELHI SIGHTSEEING
Morning guided city sightseeing tour of Old Delhi visiting – the Red Fort – one of the magnificent places of the East with Divan-I-Aam where once stood the jeweled Peacock Throne, and the graceful Pearl Mosque, Jama Masjid which is considered the biggest in India, Chandni Chowk – a typical Bazaar with narrow lanes and traditional traders Raj Ghat where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated.
Afternoon guided city sightseeing tour of New Delhi visiting War Memorial Arch-India Gate, Parliament House, Qutub Minar-built in 12th century and Humayun’s Tomb.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 03: DELHI – CHANDIGARH BY SURFACE (233 KMS / 4.5 HRS)
Morning drive to Chandigarh enroute visiting countryside and on arrival transfer to your hotel.
Chandigarh– derives its name from a temple Chandi Mandir in the vicinity of the site selected for the city (deity Chandi, goddess of power), and a fort or ‘garh” beyond the temple, called Chandigarh.
Chandigarh has become synonymous with a certain kind architecture, alongwith planned landscaping, not found in other cities of India, and not amenable to being strait jacketed.
Afternoon guided city sightseeing tour visiting Rock Garden, Sukhana Lake and Pinjore Garden.
The Rock Garden: Sprawling over 12 acres of wooded land, the Rock Garden was actually sculpted out of urban debris by a humble road inspector called Nek Chand. Multicoloured fragments of china and waste ceramics, coal and other disposables have been turned into creative patterns and textures.
Sukhna Lake: This is an artificial lake created by building an artificial dam on a seasonal stream. It is a favourite halting place for various migratory birds flying from central Asia to India and vice-versa.
Pinjore Gardens, also called Yadavindra Gardens are 20 km from Chandigarh, 15 km from Panchkula, on the Chandigarh Shimla road. Taxis and buses ply regularly between Pinjore, Kalka, Panchkula and Chandigarh. Pinjore lies on the foothills of the lower Shivalik ranges. The fascinating Mughal Gardens one of the most popular picnic spots. A mini zoo, plants nursery, a Japanese garden, historic palaces and picnic lawns await tourists. Especially at weekends, fountains are switched on and after dusk, lights pick up the beauty of the palaces by night.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 04: CHANDIGARH – AMRITSAR BY SURFACE (235 KMS / 4.5 HRS)
Morning drive to Amritsar enroute visiting countryside and transfer to your hotel.
Amritsar – the holy city of Sikhs, has grown from a sacred village pond into a spiritual temporal centre of Sikh culture. The city gets its name from the pool-Amritsar (Pool of Nectar), which was constructed by the fourth religious preceptor of the Sikh faith. It also lies on the Asian Highway.
It is also the city where Jaliyan-wala-bagh, the garden where scores of innocent Indian men, women, children were massacred by the British. Events of such magnitude catalysed the struggle for Indian independence.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 05: AMRITSAR
Full day guided city sightseeing tour of Golden Temple,Jalian Wala Bagh and Wagah Border.
Golden Temple – A symbol of the magnificence and strength of the Sikh people all over the world, the Golden temple is the most visited tourist attraction of Amritsar. The temple was gilded with 165 kg of gold by the Great Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh, hence the name Golden Temple. Another remarkable feature of this holy shrine is the presence of its four entrance doors (deoris) in all four directions, which is a symbol of the spirit of tolerance and acceptance which is characteristic of the Sikh faith. The stunning sanctum, shimmering in the water of the holy tank, flanked by spotlessly clean marble walkways and pavements make it breathtakingly beautiful.
Jallianwalah Bagh -This stands reminder to the dark, gloomy past of Punjab on that fateful day of April 1919. The Martyrs’ Memorial built in the shape of eternal flame of liberty is situated on the outskirts of Golden Temple in Amritsar, India.
One of the many nearby places to visit from Amritsar is the Wagah Border. Located on the Indo-Pakistan border, Wagah is 28 kilometres from the Amritsar main town. A good number of visitors come to this place to see the change of guards ceremony and the flag hoisting and lowering activities which are done with great skill and precision by the border security forces of both the countries. At Wagah you can recharge your patriotic feelings with rousing hurrahs for India during the elaborate ceremonial change of guard held on both sides of the border, at sunset everyday.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 06: AMRITSAR – LUDHIANA BY SURFACE (124 KMS / 03 HRS)
Morning drive to Ludhiana enroute visiting countryside and transfer to your hotel.
Ludhiana city was founded in the time of Lodhi dynasty which ruled in Delhi from 1451-1526 A.D. The legend goes that two Lodhi Chief Yusaf Khan and Nihand Khan were deputed by Sikandar Lodhi (1489-1517 A.D.) to restore order in this region. The new town was originally known as Lodhi-ana, which means the town of Lodi’s. The name later changed to the present name Ludhiana.
Afternoon half day guided city sightseeing tour visiting Lodhi Fort and Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 07: LUDHIANA – PATIALA BY SURFACE (83 KMS / 02 HRS)
Morning drive to Patiala enroute visiting countryside and transfer to your hotel.
Patiala is a unique place where History and Legend inextricably intermingle. The land of Patiala and its residents feel a sense of honour to be a part of this old-young ambience. Situated in the well-demarcated Malwa region of the state of Punjab , Patiala became and continues to be the heart-throb of the Malwa belt.
Afternoon guided city sightseeing tour visiting Qila Mubarak Complex, Baradari Gardens and Mall Road.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 08: PATIALA – DELHI BY SURFACE (315 KMS / 6.5 HRS)
Morning proceed to Delhi enroute visiting countryside and on arrival transfer to hotel.
Evening free for independent activities.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 09: DELHI – OUT
Transfer to airport in time to board flight for onward destination. Check-out time is 12 noon.
Bon Voyage |
Note: all the above arrangements are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. |