DELHI-CHANDIGARH-NALAGARH-PRAGPUR-TARAGARH-DHARAMSHALA-TARAGARH-PATHANKOT-DELHI
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. Sightseeing
of Chandigarh.
Depart :
Delhi at : 0700 hrs by Shatabdi Express
Arrive : Chandigarh at : 1030
hrs
On
arrival, drive to Nalagarh.
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.
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
A fullday
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.
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.
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.
