Experience Golden Temple & Queen of the Hills

On arrival at Amritsar Airport, meet and greet with our representative. Please look for him in the Arrivals hall, he will be holding a placard with Holxo Holidays logo and your name on it. He will escort you to your vehicle with the driver and accompany you to your hotel for immediate check-in.

Deriving its name from five full-bodied rivers - Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Jhelum, and Chenab, which flow through its vast plains, Punjab is representative of abundant things. Located on the north-western edge of India, it is one of the smaller albeit prosperous states of the nation, and home to lively, hospitable and dynamic people. Widely acknowledged as the cradle of civilization, it is a land of ethnic and religious diversity, having borne and shaped a number of religious movements that include Sikhism, Buddhism and Sufism. The Punjabi language, too, finds its origin in the Indo-European linguistic family that includes Persian and Latin. Naturally replete with fertile soils and rich water sources, it is primarily an agricultural state, and has continually and infinitely contributed towards the food security of the Indian Republic. Punjab’s many festivals - Teej, Lohri, Basant, and Baisakhi, to name some, are celebrations that mirror the farming ethos. Indeed, Bhangra, the traditional dance of Punjab revolves around, and replicates a farmer’s daily life. Historically, Punjab has played host to a number of ethnicities, including the Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Afghans and Mongols, thus bestowed with a rich tangible heritage. Reflecting this history are the countless sites that dot the state: impressive forts and palaces, ancient monuments, architectural marvels and many battlefields.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Amritsar is the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh Religion. Baisakhi festival brings out Amritsar's resplendent face with its finest food, clothes and merry making. This place is also famous for its Jallianwala Bagh massacre and its proximity to Wagah Border. The satiating food and generous dollops of legendary Punjabi hospitality further connive to cast a spell upon the visitor.

Morning experience the visit to the awe inspiring Harmandir Sahib, or Golden Temple. This is Sikhism’s holiest shrine, and people of all religions are welcome here. The temple was originally constructed in 1574 CE, and in 1577 the fourth Guru of Sikhism had a massive tank excavated around the temple and this was subsequently filled with water. The latter came to be called Amritsar, which means Pool of The Nectar of Immortality, and this name was later adopted by the city that began to grow around the temple. The complete temple complex was originally completed in 1604 and the Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhism’s holy book and the eternal Guru of all Sikhs, was installed in the main temple in that year. About two hundred years later, the Lion of Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, had the higher floors of the temple painted with real gold. The temple is not only gorgeous; it is kept spotlessly clean in contrast with the teeming city around it. The colour, pomp, and ceremony that are an integral part of this temple have to be experienced to be believed.

You will observe the langar (community meal) being prepared, served, and cleared up during lunchtime. Although you may have witnessed this in the Gurudwara at Delhi, the scale here dwarfs what you have seen. Hundreds of thousands of meals are prepared daily and served to all visitors, regardless of race, religion or other status. There is custom European built equipment that produces 10,000 Roti’s an hour, massive cauldrons with curries that are being stirred by utensils equal to small oars and a lot more. The food is prepared by the religious leaders who are assisted by scores of local volunteers. You will witness the fascinating processes of cooking, serving and clean up for these countless meals. Only vegetarian food is served, so that no religion’s dietary restrictions are violated.
Visit Jallianwala Bagh, a memorial to the martyrs that were mowed down by the British during the early stages of India's Independence struggle.

Afternoon (Optional) – Excursion to Wagah Border. The Wagah border closing 'lowering of the flags' ceremony is a daily military practice that the security forces of India (Border Security Force) and Pakistan (Pakistan Rangers) have jointly followed since 1959. We do not feel that this ceremony is quite the attraction that most travel companies make it out to be, especially since tourists cannot get the close-up seats that really offer you a good view of all that goes on, but it is an interesting socio-cultural experience. The ceremony takes place every evening before sunset at the Wagah border. The ceremony starts with a blustering parade by the soldiers from both the sides and ends up in the perfectly coordinated lowering of the two nation’s flags; it is called the beating retreat border ceremony on the international level.

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Afternoon at leisure / free time to visit local markets of Amritsar.

After breakfast drive to Chandigarh, a union territory that is the capital of both Punjab as well as Haryana, an ideal definition of the word 'city'. With a culture that includes instances of both traditional Punjab as well as modernity, Chandigarh's food and gedi culture (a leisure drive or ride the city) is something that everyone knows of!

Afternoon visit Rock Garden, a massive open-air exhibition hall that displays sculptures made from urban and industrial wastes that have been designed and executed by Nek Chand, a former Road Inspector in Chandigarh. It is located between the famous Sukhna Lake and the Capitol Building and is a spectacle that is must-visit! Also known as Nek Chand's Rock Garden, this massive 40-acre garden is a colourful mosaic of art pieces and sculptures. The Rock garden was built in 1957 by officer Nek Chand single-handedly in his spare time and has become a long-standing symbol of imagination and novelty in the city. Having a total of about 5,000 statues within its bounds, the Rock Garden in Chandigarh is a true example of 'Best from Waste'.

After a relaxed breakfast, drive to Shimla (4-5 hrs).

Rest of the day at leisure.

Proceed for a city tour of Queen of the Hills – Shimla. It is characterized by the stunning hills; lush green valley’s; garrulous rivers, dense forest and a pleasant climate make a feel of the tranquillity. It is dotted with a number of colonial buildings, churches and temples that is enough to admire this small town. Visit to The Mall – local shopping center with restaurants and government offices. The place becomes breathtakingly romantic in the evening offering wonderful views of the lit-up city. Also visit The Ridge - this place is an open space in the heart of town and offers outstanding views of the distant mountain ranges.

Full day excursion to Chail, a quiet hill station close to Shimla, known for the world's highest cricket ground and the heritage hotel, Chail Palace, in the midst of pine and deodar trees. Surrounded by lush greenery and mesmerizing views from such a great height, known as a hiker's paradise, Chail is bound to give a tourist a memorable travelling experience to a tourist. This place is famous for having the world's highest cricket and polo grounds and has a luxurious resort situated on three hilltops. Once the summer capital of the Patiala Kings, the palace has now been converted into a hotel and a tourist destination. This is the quintessential destination for tourists looking for a calm and relaxed vacation away from the more bustling and crowded tourist destinations in this state. Being the summer capital of the majestic kings of Patiala, the most famous place to visit in Chail is their palace which has now been converted into a heritage hotel. One must also visit the Chail Wildlife Sanctuary and the famous cricket ground.

Breakfast at the hotel and on time transfer to Shimla Railway Station to connect to the Toy Train to Kalka. On arrival in Kalka, change to the Shatabdi train to Delhi. On arrival, transfer from the railway station to the hotel.

After breakfast, the thrill of discovery awaits as you explore New Delhi with the guide: see the war memorial, India Gate, the impressive palatial sized buildings of Rajpath and President’s House, designed and built by the British in the 1920’s. Watch or participate in Kar Sewa at the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the most prominent Sikh house of worship, in Delhi built in 1783. Kar sewa, a form of selfless service, is considered a privilege and high honour for every Sikh. The Langar (think soup kitchen) prepared by gursikhs who work there and by hundreds of volunteers, is offered to everyone, regardless of race or religion. Humayun’s Tomb, a magnificent structure in red sandstone and white marble is one of the finest examples of a garden tomb and is a precursor to the Taj Mahal. Don’t miss Isa Khan’s garden tomb nearby, within an enclosed octagonal garden, considered the earliest example of a sunken garden in India – a concept later developed at Akbar’s Tomb and at the Taj Mahal. The Red Fort, (only from the outside) is a beautiful red sandstone monument built in 1648. Visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Take a rickshaw ride through the narrow alleys of Chandni Chowk, a colourful and bustling market of Old Delhi. A Jain Temple, a Hindu Temple, a Church, and a Sikh Gurudwara Sis Ganj all within a short walk from each other. Climb to the rooftop of one of the ancient buildings in the heart of the spice markets. From here you get an amazing view of Old Delhi and a peek into the architecture and lifestyle of locals, many of whom have lived here for generations.