DAY 1 : TRAVEL TO SHIMLA & SHIMLA SIGHTSEEING
Historical & Heritage
Duration of visit: 30 Mins - 1 Hr
Timings: 6 AM to 9 PM
Entry Fee: FREE
At a distance of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 1.2 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, The Ridge is a large open space located in the heart of Shimla. It is among the most visited Shimla tourist places and among the prime place to visit on a Shimla tour. The Ridge is situated along the Mall Road which is the famous shopping center of Shimla.
Several major places of Shimla like Lakkar Bazaar, Mall, Scandal Point, Jakhu Hill, etc. are connected through the Ridge. The movement of vehicles is strictly prohibited here. The Ridge in Shimla always remains crowded with hundreds of people. Tourists from all over the country visit this awesome place for the view of the sunset.
The Ridge at Shimla also provides the tourists a view of the age old Christ Church built in the Neo-Gothic style of architecture as well as the new Tudor library. The statue of YS Parmar .....
Shopping
Duration of visit: 1 Hour
Timings: 9 AM to 9 PM
Entry Fee: FREE
At a distance of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 2 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, Mall Road is the main street and the busiest commercial areas of Shimla. The Mall extends from Barnes court on the eastern side to Vice Regal Lodge on the western side. Shopping in Mall Road is one of the top things to do in Shimla.
Built by the British during the colonial rule in India, the Mall Road was constructed keeping in mind the traffic on this route. Entry of vehicles was banned though cycle rickshaws were allowed. It has been built in a very strategic and planned way. The Mall Road has located a level below the ridge. The offices of the Municipal Corporation, fire service, and police headquarters are located here.
The Mall Road also has all major hotels, restaurants, and recreation centers of Shimla. The Mall Road is full of shops that sell woolen clothes, branded clothes, handicraft items, pottery items, .....
DAY 2 : SHIMLA & KUFRI SIGHTSEEING
Historical & Heritage
Duration of visit: 30 Mins
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM on all days except Monday
Entry Fee: Rs. 20 for Indians, Rs 50 for Foreigners
At a distance of 2 km from Shimla Railway Station and 3 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, Vice Regal Lodge also known as Rashtrapati Niwas is located on the Observatory Hills of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. The lodge is one the best places to visit in Shimla city. It was formerly the residence of the British Viceroy of India Lord Dufferin.
The Vice Regal Lodge was designed by British architect Henry Irwin and built in the Jacobethan style during the regime of Lord Dufferin. Its construction was started in 1880 and completed in 1888. Only the local woods like pine and cedar were used to construct this marvel. Vice Regal Lodge is the only building of Shimla that occupies an entire hill by itself. The building now serves as the center for the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS).
The entrance opening to South leads one to the reception hall which stands adorned by a splendid fireplace and a grand spiraling staircase. The building .....
Museum & Gallery
Duration of visit: 1 Hour
Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM on all days except Mondays and Public Holidays.
Entry Fee: NA
At a distance of 1 km from Shimla Railway Station and 2 km from Shimla Old Bus Stand, Shimla State Museum is situated at the top of Mount Pleasant. Also known as Himachal State Museum and Library, it was built in the year 1974. The Himachal State Museum is a colonial building that was built with the aim of preserving the state's rich cultural and archaeological artifacts. The colonial style building amidst marvelous lawns in itself is an inspiring sight. It is one of popular Shimla tourist places. It gives you an in depth view of the city's glorious past.
Himachal State Museum has a rich display of the cultural, artistic and archaeological heritage of Himachal Pradesh. The various galleries in the museum are Pre-Historic Gallery, Wood-Carving Gallery Archaeology Gallery, Wall Painting Gallery, Coin Gallery, Pahari Painting Gallery, etc.
The lifestyle and culture of the people of the Himalayas are reflected in the paintings. Rajasthani and Mughal paintings are awe-inspiring. .....
Pilgrimage
Duration of visit: 2 Hours
Timings: 8 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: FREE
At a distance of 7 km from Shimla Railway Station, Jakhu Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated on Jakhu Hill in Shimla. It is one of the famous religious Shimla places to visit.
Jakhu Temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Hanuman, and is located at an altitude of 2455m on Jakhu Hill, the highest point in Shimla. According to mythology, a deadly arrow injured Lord Rama's brother Lakshmana when he was fighting the battle with the demon king Ravana. To save his life, Lord Hanuman came to the Himalayas to get the Sanjeevani herb. Upon reaching the Himalayas, Hanuman couldn't make out as to which herb was the Sanjeevani. So he dug up the entire mountain and flew back to where Lakshmana was lying injured. After Lakshmana was cured, Hanuman went back to place the mountain in its original site. He rested on top of the Jakhu hill for some time. It is said that the top of the hill got flattened due to Hanuman's .....
DAY 3 : VISIT NAGGAR & TRAVEL TO MANALI
Historical & Heritage
Duration of visit: 1-2 Hours
Timings: 10 AM - 5 PM
Entry Fee: Rs. 20 per person
At a distance of 20 km from Manali, and 22 km from the Kullu, the Naggar Castle is a famous castle located in Naggar. It is one of the best heritage places in Himachal, and among the not to miss in during your Manali tour.
Naggar Castle is a magnificent historical structure that overlooks the Kullu valley. The castle was built by Raja Sidhi Singh in 1460 AD. The Castle was used as a Royal residence and state headquarters until the British took over the whole Kangra and Kullu from Sikh's in 1846. Raja Gyan Singh sold it to the first assistant commissioner, Major Hay for a Gun. The northern wing of the castle was later converted to the European way of living by putting in staircase, fire place and chimneys. He later sold it to the Government when it was used as a courthouse. In 1947, with the departure of the British the court-activity ceased.
The castle was built in an impressive .....
DAY 4 : MANALI SIGHTSEEING
Park
Duration of visit: 1 Hour
Timings: 8 AM - 7 PM in Summer & 8 AM - 5 PM in Winter
Entry Fee: Entry: Rs. 5, Boating: R. 30 per person.
At a distance of 750 m from Manali Bus Stand, The Van Vihar is a municipal garden situated in front of the Tibetan market on the Mall Road, Manali.
The Van Vihar Park is beautifully adorned by deodar trees and is a perfect place to spend memorable time with loved ones. A number of locals and tourists visit the park to relax and get the fresh breeze of the Deodar trees.
The main attraction of the park is the beautiful man-made lake situated in the middle of the woods. Tourists can enjoy boating in the lake. There are also lot of swings for the children as well as couples in the park. The River Beas runs nearby the park. Visit the park in the evening and you will get a chance to enjoy the stunningly beautiful view of sun setting against the glorious backdrop of the majestic mountains.
Timings: 8 am - 7 pm in summer and 8 am - 5 pm in winter.
Entry Fee: Rs 5 per person, Boating Charge - Rs 30/ Person for 15 mins.
DAY 5 : SOLANG VALLEY - GULABA SIGHTSEEING
Nature & Scenic
Duration of visit: 1 Hour
Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM
Entry Fee: FREE
At a distance of 13.5 km from Manali Bus Stand, 8 km from Gulaba Village, The Kothi Village is located along the route to Rohtang Pass from Manali on Leh - Manali Highway.
Kothi is situated at the foothills of Rohtang pass and lies at an altitude of 2500 m. This splendid village offers a magnificent view of snow capped mountains and glaciers and of the Beas River that flows through a very deep and narrow gorge at this point.
Kothi village is one of the most scenic places to be visited in Manali. The beautiful valley view is worth watching. A number of movies have been shot at this location. Kothi is an ideal site for nature lovers, poets and painters. Kothi is also known as Koshtampi and has a temple of Goddess Shuwang Chandika, a local deity. Kothi used to be a camping site when Rohtang pass had to be climbed on foot. In recent times, the place can be accessed through jeep, bus and pony rides.
Though the village can be visited throughout the year, the most appropriate .....
Waterfall
Duration of visit: 30 Mins - 1 Hr
Timings: 6 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: FREE
At a distance of 29 km from Manali Bus Stand, 23 km from Rohtang Pass and 15.5 km from Kothi Village, Rahala Falls is a waterfall located on the way to Rohtang Pass from Manali. It is one of the best waterfalls in Himachal state.
Rahala Waterfall is a magnificent waterfall located on Leh - Manali Highway. This fall is situated at an altitude of 2501 m. It is generally believed to be the outcome of melting of glaciers and so the water of this fall is extremely cold.
Rahala Waterfalls is situated in a very pristine area surrounded with dense growth of silver birch and deodar. The area around the Rahala Waterfalls is absolutely marvelous and the location also allows a picture perfect view of the snowcapped Himalayas.
The best time to visit this gorgeous fall is from March to October when maximum water gorges down the rocks. Owing to its mesmerizing beauty, this waterfall has emerged as one of the most frequented tourist attractions .....
DAY 6 : VISIT KULLU & TRAVEL TO DHARAMSHALA
Pilgrimage
Duration of visit: 1 Hour
Timings: 6 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: FREE
At a distance of 10 km from Kullu Bus stand, 12 km from Naggar and 31 km from Manali, Dhakpo Shedrupling Monastery is located in Kais village of Kullu District. It is also known as Kais Monastery.
This monastery was inaugurated during the month of May in the year 2005 by the great Noble laureate and his Holiness Dalai Lama. This Monastery is located near the left bank of Beas River. The picturesque view of the valleys which are surrounding the place make it an appealing destination.
The monastery gives a magical look and it has been strongly dedicated to Dalai Lama. The Dhakpo Monastery systemized with the traditional reasoning and scriptures of the master and disciple, the great pioneers of Buddha Dharma. The monastery serves as a boarding school and university for the study of Buddhist philosophy. This monastery houses several Tibetan monks. This Monastery has a huge prayer hall with a huge Buddha statue.
Every year in the month of August His Highness Dhakpo Rinpochhe .....
DAY 7 : DHARAMSHALA SIGHTSEEING & TRAVEL TO DALHOUSIE
Historical & Heritage
Duration of visit: 30 Mins
Timings: 6 AM to 6 PM in winter (Nov - Mar) & 5 AM to 7 PM in summer (Apr - Oct)
Entry Fee: Free Entry
At a distance of 3 km from Dharamshala and 6 km from McLeod Ganj, Namgyalma Stupa is an old Buddhist structure situated at Uparli Barol. It is one of the famous places to visit as part of Dharamshala Tour.
Namgyalma Stupa is a dome-shaped construction that contains the remains of Buddha, which the Tibetans consider to be a sacred place of worship. It holds a huge shrine of Sakyamuni Buddha. The Namgyalma Stupa was constructed in the remembrance of the Tibetan soldiers who fought for the freedom of Tibet. This structure is similar in design to the structure built during the 3rd century BC by King Ashoka.
Among the most prominent places of sightseeing in Dharamshala, the Namgyalma Stupa is carved from sandstone and is made with a vision of being long-lasting. It is a belief among Tibetans that anything that falls on the Namgyalma Stupa gets .....
Historical & Heritage
Duration of visit: 30 Mins
Timings: 7 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: Free Entry
At a distance of 1 km from McLeod Ganj and 8 km from Dharamshala, St. John Church, also known as St. John In The Wilderness, is an Anglican church situated at Forsyth Ganj on the way to McLeod Ganj amidst beautiful deodar trees.
The church was dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and was constructed in 1852. The Church is a historic monument and one of the oldest churches in the region. It is built in Neo-Gothic architectural style and features Belgian stained-glass windows that were donated by Lady Elgin, wife of Lord Elgin.
The church was built with grey stone and is one of the few buildings still in existence in the town from the British era. The British style of architecture is extremely evident in the edifice of the church, with elegant wood of the altar and the brass handles of the oil lamps. These lamps have now been replaced with electric lamps. In 1905 an earthquake destroyed the bell tower of this church. A new bell was built in 1915, which was brought from England. .....
Pilgrimage
Duration of visit: 30 Mins - 1 Hr
Timings: 6 AM to 7 PM
Entry Fee: Free Entry
At a distance of 2 km from McLeod Ganj Bus Stand & 6 km from Dharamshala, Bhagsu Nag Temple also known as Bhagsunath Temple is one of the popular ancient temples located in McLeod Ganj. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the local deity Bhagsu Nag.
Bhagsu Nag Mandir is an ancient temple believed to have been built by King Bhagsu from Rajasthan. The present Bhagsu Nag temple was constructed by 1st Gurkha Rifles in early 19th century and worshipped majorly by 14 Gurkha platoon villages in Dharamshala. Adjacent to the temple building are a series of pools where Buddhist monks and visitors enjoy baths. An annual fair is conducted in the month of September at this temple which attracts tourist from the entire region.
This temple is situated on the way to Bhagsunag Waterfall.
Waterfall
Duration of visit: 1 Hour
Timings: 7 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: Free Entry
At a distance of 3 km from McLeod Ganj & 7 km from Dharamshala, Bhagsunag Falls, also known as Bhagsu Falls, is a beautiful waterfall situated at Bhagsu village behind Bhagsunath Temple near McLeod Ganj in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the popular
McLeodganj places to visit, and among the best waterfalls in Himachal.
Cascading down from a height of 20 m, this is a mid-size waterfall. During monsoon, this waterfall turns beautiful alongside a mountain that features slate graffiti. This area is covered with snowfall during winters. Tourists love to swim across the cold water which gives a pleasant and refreshing experience as part of McLeodganj sightseeing packages. Trekking is also a good and much enjoyable option here.
The Bhagsu village is a popular picnic spot and .....
DAY 8 : DALHOUSIE SIGHTSEEING & TRAVEL TO AMRITSAR
Nature & Scenic
Duration of visit: 30 Mins - 1 Hr
Timings: 7 AM to 7 PM
Entry Fee: Free Entry
At a distance of 4 km from Dalhousie Bus Stand, Panchpula is one of the famous picturesque spots of Dalhousie situated on Pathankot Road. Panchpula is surrounded by picturesque mountains and green valleys.
The word Panchpula means five bridges and it is the place where a descending stream flows and feeds several pools. Panchpula is the main stream that supplies water to cities of Dalhousie and Balloon. The stream originates from Dain Kund and falls down into a quaint abyss and then finally reaches the waterworks of Panchpula.
A monument has been built where several streams meet at Panchpula in the memory of Sardar Ajit Singh, who was a freedom fighter and uncle of Bhagat Singh. On the way to Panchpula is Satdhara, a union of seven tiny springs. It is believed that the fresh waters of Satdhara contain healing medical properties. Thus, while travelling to Panchpula, most of the tourists halt at this spring fall and collect the .....
Nature & Scenic
Duration of visit: 2 Hours
Timings: 6 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: Free Entry
At a distance of 5 km from Dalhousie Bus Stand, Ganji Pahari is a small hill on Pathankot road in Dalhousie. The name Ganji Pahari literally means bald hill. It is so called because the hill has no trees at the peak of the hill and it looks like a bald-headed patch at the top. This is one of the most popular nature walks in Dalhousie and the place offers mesmerizing views of the surrounding snowcapped hills and valleys.
A well-marked paved path starts from Panchpula and leads all the way to the top. The trek is an easy to moderate one. The trek distance from Panchpula is about 1 km and takes about 20 - 30 minutes. Trekking enthusiasts start trekking from Dalhousie city and it takes almost an hour from the city center to trek through the hilly terrain to reach the summit of this hill.
Ganji Pahari can be visited throughout the year. Summers have a pleasant weather but winters have an extraordinary feel with the snow covered walk. .....
DAY 9 : AMRITSAR SIGHTSEEING & TRAVEL TO CHANDIGARH
Pilgrimage
Duration of visit: 2 Hours
Timings: 4 AM - 10 PM & Museum: 8 AM - 7 AM
Entry Fee: Free Entry
At a distance of 2 km from Amritsar Junction, Golden Temple is most sacred Sikh pilgrimage site situated in Amritsar town of Punjab state. Popularly known as Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib, Golden Temple is acclaimed as one of the most visited pilgrimage centers in India.
Sri Guru Ram Das Ji, 4th Sikh Guru, started the digging of Amrit Sarovar in 1577 AD on the orders of 3rd Sikh guru Sri Guru Amar Das Ji. Which was later on brick-lined by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the 5th Sikh Guru, in 1588 and he also started the construction of Sri Harmandir Sahib. Sri Guru Granth Sahib was first installed at Harmandir Sahib in 1604 AD. The temple had to be substantially rebuilt after it was destroyed in fire accident in the 1760s. In the early 19th century, 100 kg of gold were applied to the inverted lotus-shaped dome and decorative marble work took place under the patronage of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Fondly known as Swarn Mandir, Sri Harmandir Sahib is built on 67 feet square platform in .....
Historical & Heritage
Duration of visit: 1 Hour
Timings: 6 AM - 7 PM in summer & 7 AM - 6 PM in winter, Gallery: 9 AM - 5 PM in summer & 10 AM - 4 PM in wint
Entry Fee: Free Entry
At a distance of 3 km from Amritsar Junction and 1 km from Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh is a memorial garden located in Amritsar town of Punjab. Situated near Harmandir Sahib, it is one of the top places to visit in Amritsar.
Jallianwala Bagh is the unfortunate site where thousands of innocents were brutally killed by British troops on 13th April 1919, which was the day of Baisakhi festival for the people of Sikh religion. In order to celebrate this festival, a big crowd of many villagers had gathered in the Jallianwala Bagh to celebrate the day that Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth in 1699, and also known as the 'Birth of Khalsa.' On hearing that a meeting had assembled, Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer with his army of 150 troops ordered open fire at the crowd. According to British Raj sources, around 379 people were dead and 1500 wounded people were left to die in the well within the garden.
Today, this public garden houses a memorial, which was established in .....
Pilgrimage
Duration of visit: 30 Mins - 1 Hr
Timings: 6 AM - 10 PM
Entry Fee: Free Entry
At a distance of 1.5 km from Amritsar Junction, Durgiana Temple is Hindu temple situated near Lohgarh gate of Amritsar, Punjab. It is a Hindu version of the Amritsar Golden Temple and also one of the top pilgrimage places to visit in Amritsar.
Durgiana Temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga. It is also known as Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Durga Tirath and Sitla Mandir. The original temple was built in 16th century and was rebuilt by Guru Harsai Mal Kapoor in the architectural style of the Sikh Golden Temple in 1921 CE. The newly built temple was inaugurated by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. The temple is also called the Silver Temple due to its carved silver doors.
The temple stands on middle of the sacred lake known as Durgiana and a bridge connects easily to the temple. The dome of the temple is gilded and marble is extensively used in the temple's features. Its dome and canopies are similar to that of the Golden temple of Amritsar. There is a huge collection of Hindu scriptures .....
Historical & Heritage
Duration of visit: 30 Mins - 1 Hr
Timings: 10 AM - 10 PM
Entry Fee: Rs. 30 per Person
At a distance of 1.5 km from Amritsar Junction and 2 km from Harmandir Sahib, Gobindgarh Fort is a historical fort located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab. Initially known as 'Bhangian Da Qila', Gobindgarh Fort is one of the famous places to visit in Amritsar.
Gobindgarh Fort was built by the army of Gujjar Singh Bhangi of Sikh Misls in 1760 CE. This fort was reconstructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh between 1805 and 1809 CE. The British authorities occupied it in 1849 CE and it was in the army's possession for nearly 150 years. The Darbar Hall, Hawa Mahal and the Phansi Ghar were added to the fort during British rule only. After the Indian Independence, Indian army took control over the fort and was used to provide temporary shelter to a large number of refugees from Pakistan during India-Pakistan partition.
Gobindgarh Fort was constructed with brick and lime on a square pattern with a parameter of 1500 square meter with two strong gates, four large bastions and well-defined .....