::: Saffron Travels - The Golden Triangle & Himalaya :::

A Suggested Itinerary

THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE & HIMALAYA

12 Days & 11 Nights

The Golden Temple, Taj Mahal and Amber Fort are just three of the must-see sights on this comprehensive tour of the Himalayas and renowned Golden Triangle. Travel from the beauty of the hill station at Shimla to the bazaars of Jaipur and the peaceful surrounds of the Patan Mahal heritage hotel.

AMRITSAR

Home of the Golden Temple | Sunset Retreat Ceremony

Amritsar, in north-west India, is a vibrant and friendly city. It is most famous for the spectacular Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion. Sacked by the Afghans in 1761, the shrine was rebuilt by the Sikhs’ greatest secular leader, Maharajah Ranjit Singh. He donated the gold top, believed to be gilded with 100kg of pure gold, which gave it the name Swarn Mandir, or Golden Temple. On average 75,000 people a day eat for free from the temple’s kitchen, which is open 24 hours and serves simple but wholesome vegetarian food including traditional dal.

A short walk from the temple is the Jallianwala Bagh memorial, which commemorates the events of the 1919 massacre by the British. The carefully choreographed Sunset Retreat ceremony at the Wagah border, which separates India and Pakistan, is a quirky experience worth including.

Saffron Recommends...

Palki Sahib Ceremony, Amritsar

The auspicious Palki Sahib ceremony is performed twice a day at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. To the accompaniment of drums and hymns, a gold and silver gilded palanquin (palki) decorated with silk brocades is prepared by the devotees to carry the Guru Granth Sahib (the Holy Book) from the main shrine to the inner sanctum. It rests here for the night until the ceremony is performed again the next morning to return it to the main shrine.

SHIMLA

Summer Capital of The British Raj | Colonial Legacy

Situated in the north-western Himalaya and set amid evergreen forests and snow-capped peaks, the Indian hill station of Shimla was the summer capital of the British Raj. The Mall is Shimla’s main promenade. Here, stately colonial buildings rub shoulders with half-timbered houses, churches and other historic landmarks, as well as the city’s colourful market, Lakkar bazaar and the restored Gaiety theatre, once frequented by Rudyard Kipling. Shimla’s ornate Viceregal Lodge, built in 1888 by the British viceroy Lord Dufferin, houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies as well as a museum and beautifully laid out gardens.

At an altitude of 2,500 metres, our recommended hotel, located a picturesque 45-minute drive from Shimla and overlooking a magnificent vista of rugged mountains, snow-clad peaks, verdant meadows and cedar forests.

Saffron Recommends...

Toy Train Journeys

Travel on the toy train from Kalka to Shimla. Completed in 1903, this railway line is considered one of the finest engineering feats in India and offers stupendous views of the Himalayan scenery. Less well known is the charming narrow gauge railway that links Pathankot with Jogindernagar near Dharamsala. The views of the Kangra valley are simply spellbinding as the train chugs along at a sedate pace. The magnificent views more than compensate for the hard seats.

Colonial Heritage Tour of Shimla

Journey across the heart of Shimla town, passing Christ Church, The Ridge, the restored gothic Gaiety theatre, Scandal Point, the Post Office and Gorton's Castle, before proceeding to the Viceregal Lodge, with its magnificently kept lawns and botanical gardens. This was the former residence of the British viceroy Lord Dufferin and remained the seat of power in colonial India during the summer months until the 1940s.

DAY - 1
Fly to Amritsar via Delhi (N)

DAY - 2
AMRITSAR :
Transfer to the Hotel for 2 nights. Evening Palki ceremony. (N)

DAY - 3
AMRITSAR :
Morning visit to the Golden Temple. Late afternoon witness the Wagah border-closing ceremony. (B)

DAY - 4
SHIMLA :
Travel by train to Chandigarh before taking the renowned toy train for the picturesque ride to the summer capital of the British Raj. Spend 2 nights at the Hotel. (B)

DAYS - 5
SHIMLA :
Visit the Gaiety theatre where Rudyard Kipling trod the boards, the historic Mall and the Viceregal Lodge. (B)

DAYS - 6
TRAIN TO DELHI :
Drive to Chandigarh and visit the Rock Garden before boarding the train to Delhi. Spend 2 nights at the Hotel. (B)

DAYS - 7
DELHI :
Sightseeing in Old and New Delhi. (B)

DAYS - 8
AGRA :
Train to Agra for an overnight stay in the Hotel. Visit Agra fort and see the sunset at the Taj Mahal. (B)

DAYS - 9
JAIPUR :
Travel to Jaipur visiting Fatehpur Sikri en route. Spend 2 nights at Hotel. (B)

DAYS - 10
JAIPUR :
Explore Amber fort, the City Palace and Jantar Mantar observatory. (B)

DAYS - 11
PATAN :
Travel to the heritage hotel for an overnight stay. Explore the local village, nearby stepwell or Badal Mahal palace, and relax by the pool. (B)

DAYS - 12
DELHI :
Morning at leisure. In the afternoon, drive to Delhi for an overnight stay at the Hotel. (B)

DAYS - 13
FLY HOME (B)

1. Indulge in advance planning for the trip, for early booking of transportation and accommodation.
2. Create a checklist for things to pack.
3. Carry comfortable clothes and shoes appropriate for long walking distances.
4. Get assured about health conditions, considering the various high altitudes of the Char Dham.
5. Stay updated with the weather conditions.
6. Get knowledge about the local traditions and customs.
7. Be mindful of the environment and avoid dropping litters anywhere.
8. Carry enough cash, medicines (if any), and other essential items.
9. Take note of emergency contents in case of any unplanned situations.
10. Take note of emergency contents in case of any unplanned situations.Avoid putting stress on health with an over-stuffed itinerary. Make sure to have enough time to cover the pilgrim sites comfortably.

1. PLANE
2. TRAIN
3. PERSONAL VEHICLE
4. CAB
5. BUS
6. HELICOPTER

AMRITSAR

-	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
A	19	22	26	34	39	40	35	34	35	32	27	21
B	4	6	11	17	22	25	26	25	22	16	9	5
C	27	28	37	18	18	51	199	183	97	19	6	15

SHIMLA

-	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
A	11	12	17	22	25	26	23	22	22	21	17	13
B	2	3	7	12	15	17	16	16	14	17	7	4
C	78	70	74	50	66	170	410	334	190	38	16	41

Further Information :

-	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
A	19	22	26	34	39	40	35	34	35	32	27	21
B	4	6	11	17	22	25	26	25	22	16	9	5
C	27	28	37	18	18	51	199	183	97	19	6	15

-	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
A	11	12	17	22	25	26	23	22	22	21	17	13
B	2	3	7	12	15	17	16	16	14	17	7	4
C	78	70	74	50	66	170	410	334	190	38	16	41

-	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
A	19	22	26	34	39	40	35	34	35	32	27	21
B	4	6	11	17	22	25	26	25	22	16	9	5
C	27	28	37	18	18	51	199	183	97	19	6	15

-	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
A	11	12	17	22	25	26	23	22	22	21	17	13
B	2	3	7	12	15	17	16	16	14	17	7	4
C	78	70	74	50	66	170	410	334	190	38	16	41

-	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
A	19	22	26	34	39	40	35	34	35	32	27	21
B	4	6	11	17	22	25	26	25	22	16	9	5
C	27	28	37	18	18	51	199	183	97	19	6	15

-	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
A	11	12	17	22	25	26	23	22	22	21	17	13
B	2	3	7	12	15	17	16	16	14	17	7	4
C	78	70	74	50	66	170	410	334	190	38	16	41