Northern India: Delhi, Dharamsala & Amritsar — 10 Days
Hindu temples, Tibetan Buddhism, and Sikh pilgrimage across the Himalayan foothills and Punjab plains
This ten-day journey connects four historically significant locations across Northern India, moving from the layered history of Delhi through the Himalayan foothills to the border regions of Punjab. The itinerary traces three of India's principal religious traditions—Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Sikhism—through their most important centres of worship and cultural life. Beginning in Delhi, where Mughal, Persian, and British colonial architecture still defines the cityscape, the route proceeds northward to Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, where the Dalai Lama has maintained the Tibetan Government in Exile since 1959. From there, a descent across the open plains leads to Amritsar, founded in 1577 as the spiritual heart of Sikhism. The physical geography shifts markedly across these stages—from urban density to mountain foothills to flat agricultural land—allowing the religious and cultural character of each region to emerge alongside the terrain. Accommodation is positioned in locally oriented hotels and eco-lodges; meals emphasize regional cuisine prepared by local cooks. The itinerary includes the Kangra Mountain Railway, visits to active temples and monasteries, and the nightly border ceremony at Wagah.
Highlights
- Evening and morning visits to the Golden Temple, Amritsar—the principal shrine of Sikhism, in the centre of the Pool of Nectar
- Dalai Lama Temple and McCleod Ganj bazaar in Dharamsala—seat of the Tibetan Government in Exile, set against the Dhaula Dhar range
- Narrow-gauge 'toy train' journey on the Kangra Mountain Railway—one of five remaining narrow-gauge lines in India
- Kangra Fort and Temple Complex, perched on a cliff above the confluence of the Ban Ganga and Manjhi rivers
- Norbulinka Institute in Dharamsala—dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan literary and artistic traditions, including the Losel Doll Museum
- Walking circuit from Naddi village (2,000m) through cedar forests to a Buddhist stupa and meditation huts, with Himalayan views and lunch on the ridge
- Tea estate tour and tasting at the Wah Tea Estate—a 500-acre property commanding views of snow-capped peaks
- Mughal and pre-Mughal monuments in Delhi—including the Qutab Minar, Humayun's Tomb, and the Red Fort
- Wagah Border changing of the guard ceremony—the nightly ritual at the India-Pakistan road crossing
Day by day
1Arrival in Delhi—Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Evening CeremonyDelhi · Gurudwara Bangla Sahib · a local restaurant
Arrival at Delhi and transfer to the group hotel. The afternoon is free for rest and orientation. In the late afternoon, a transfer via the Metro reaches Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, a Sikh temple in central Delhi, in time for the evening aarti ceremony—a ritual of worship performed with lights and chanting. A local guide accompanies the group and provides an informal introduction to the days ahead. Dinner follows at a local restaurant before return to the hotel.
2Delhi—Mughal and British Colonial ArchitectureQutab Minar · tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun · India Gate · President's Palace · Red Fort · Jama Masjid · Raj Ghat
A full day exploring Delhi's layered history. The morning tour covers New Delhi's Raj-era monuments—the Qutab Minar, a pre-Mughal tower; the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun; India Gate; and the President's Palace. After lunch, the afternoon moves to Old Delhi, where the Red Fort, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, rises above the older city, and the Jama Masjid, one of India's largest mosques, commands the skyline. A visit to Raj Ghat, the site of Mahatma Gandhi's cremation, concludes the day. A second night is spent at the Delhi hotel.
3Flight to Dharamsala—McCleod Ganj and the Dalai Lama TempleDalai Lama Temple · Kangra Airport · McCleod Ganj bazaar
An early flight northward to Kangra Airport delivers the group to Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, a hill station popularised by the British Raj. Following the Chinese annexation of Tibet in 1959, the Dalai Lama and his followers arrived in the town's northern suburb of McCleod Ganj, which has since developed a distinctly Tibetan character. After arrival and lunch at the hotel, the afternoon includes a visit to the Dalai Lama Temple, a Tibetan monastery set amongst pine forests with the Dhaula Dhar range as backdrop, and time to wander the local bazaar. Overnight in McCleod Ganj.
4Dharamsala—Norbulinka Institute, Kangra Fort, and Art MuseumsNorbulinka Institute · Seat of Happiness Temple · Losel Doll Museum · Kangra Fort and Temple Complex · Tibetan Children's Village · Kangra Art Museum
The day begins at the Norbulinka Institute, a registered trust dedicated to preserving Tibetan literary and artistic forms. The Seat of Happiness Temple and the Losel Doll Museum, which holds numerous depictions of traditional Tibetan costumes, are visited in sequence. The route then moves to Kangra Fort and Temple Complex, positioned on a steep cliff above the Ban Ganga and Manjhi rivers, where intricate stone carvings and inscriptions mark the entrance to the temple. After lunch, visits include the Tibetan Children's Village and the Kangra Art Museum, which holds examples of local arts and crafts. A second night is spent in McCleod Ganj.
5Walking Circuit from Naddi to Bagsu Nag—Himalayan FoothillsNaddi · cedar forests toward a Buddhist stupa · open ridge · Bagsu Nag village
A short transfer brings the group to Naddi, a village at 2,000 metres inhabited by the Gaddi people, traditionally shepherds of the Dhaula Dhar. The walk begins with tea at a local house, then proceeds through cedar forests toward a Buddhist stupa and a cluster of meditation huts used by Tibetan monks in solitary retreat. The route ascends to an open ridge where Himalayan views extend across the valleys, and lunch—served on low Tibetan tables—is taken in this setting. After lunch, the walk continues downward to Bagsu Nag village, where the group stops for chai before returning to the hotel by transfer. The day involves approximately three hours of walking across five kilometres, with an ascent of 300 metres and a descent of 100 metres.
6Transfer to the Wah Tea Estate—Tea Tasting and Factory TourWah tea estate · Shaktipeeth Mata Jawala Ji Temple · Lodge at Wah
After breakfast, a three-hour transfer eastward passes through the town of Palampur and includes a stop at the Shaktipeeth Mata Jawala Ji Temple, dedicated to the Hindu Goddess of Light. The temple features a sacred eternal flame housed beneath a gold-domed shrine and commands panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The group then arrives at the Lodge at Wah, an eco-lodge positioned within a 500-acre tea estate on the slopes of the Dhaula Dhar, offering views of snow-capped peaks across the valleys. In the afternoon, a guided tour of the estate's tea gardens and factory concludes with a tasting session of the estate's teas. Overnight at the lodge.
7Kangra Mountain Railway and Baijnath TempleKangra Mountain Railway · Baijnath Temple · the grounds of the lodge · Patti Railway Crossing · tea estate
An early-morning birdwatching session takes place in the grounds of the lodge before breakfast. Afterward, a walk crosses to the Patti Railway Crossing, where the narrow-gauge Kangra Mountain Railway departs for the forty-five-minute journey to Paprola—one of only five or six remaining narrow-gauge railways in India. The journey moves through tea gardens and valley settlements at a measured pace. At Paprola, a short transfer leads to Baijnath Temple, a 13th-century Hindu shrine dedicated to Shiva, built by two local merchants and overlooked by the Dhaula Dhar range. The temple's stone carvings and inscriptions are notable examples of regional craftsmanship. After the visit, the return to the lodge allows for an optional afternoon walk along a marked nature trail through the tea estate, which passes a small waterfall and offers extended views of the surrounding peaks. Overnight at the lodge.
8Drive to Amritsar—Golden Temple Evening VisitGolden Temple · Pathankot and Gurdaspur
After breakfast, a five-hour drive southward traverses the towns of Pathankot and Gurdaspur, descending from the foothills into the plains of Punjab. A lunch stop breaks the journey. The group arrives at the hotel in Amritsar in the early afternoon, with free time available for rest or optional Ayurvedic treatments (massage, spa services). In the evening, the group departs for the Golden Temple, the principal shrine of Sikhism, in the centre of the Pool of Nectar (Amritsar). The evening visit allows the temple, clad entirely in gold leaf, to be seen illuminated and reflected in the surrounding pool—one of the most sacred manifestations in the Sikh faith. Overnight in Amritsar.
9Golden Temple at Sunrise, Wagah Border CeremonyGolden Temple · Wagah Border · old city · Amritsar Airport
A return to the Golden Temple at sunrise offers a different visual experience of the shrine, with morning light and worshippers engaged in ritual bathing and prayer around the pool. Breakfast follows at the hotel, after which free time permits a self-guided walking tour of the old city, visiting Hindu and Sikh temples and the local bazaar. After lunch, an afternoon excursion travels to the Wagah Border, fifteen kilometres from Amritsar, where the India-Pakistan border crossing takes place each evening. The changing of the guard ceremony—a stylized ritual of salutes, marching, and gate-closing performed by soldiers from both nations—draws crowds of spectators on either side. The group returns to the hotel in the evening for dinner before departing for Amritsar Airport around midnight for the overnight flight home.
10DepartureAmritsar · United Kingdom
The group departs Amritsar in the early hours of the morning, arriving in the United Kingdom later the same day.
Where you go
- 1Delhi
- 2Red Fort
Included
- A professional English-speaking local leader
- Delhi and Amritsar group airport transfers on arrival and departure days
- The internal flight from Delhi to Dharamsala on Day 3
- All land transport involved in the itinerary
- Accommodation as described
- All meals
- Park and monument entrance fees
- Lunch with local family on Day 5
- Tea estate tour and tea tasting on Day 6
- 'Toy Train' ride on Day 7
Not included
- Travel insurance
- Airport transfers (other than the group transfers)
- Indian Visa
- Tips for local staff
- Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc.
Activities: Culture