Discover the vibrant cities of Delhi and Amritsar on this 6-day tour.  Arrive in Delhi and explore the bustling streets and historical  monuments. Then travel to Amritsar, known for its Golden Temple and  vibrant culture. Finish the tour with a final day in Delhi before  departing. 

Arrive into India!  Our representative will greet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. 

Welcome to Delhi, the intriguing cultural and historical centre of India’s past and future, built over 450 years by a succession of empires - first the Hindu and Muslim dynasties, followed by the powerful Mughal dynasty who ruled until the British took over. Delhi offers its visitors glimpses of the stupendous power and wealth of its past. Where even the most modern parts of the city retain their distinctly Indian identity, here you will find a model of the latest car cruising through the streets and at the busiest intersection you will find a herd of doe-eyed cows oblivious to the traffic! It is in Delhi that a Mercedes Benz and a cycle rickshaw co-exist in the same neighborhood. In keeping with this Old and New Delhi are so different from each other but yet one compliments the other! 

Arrive and proceed to your hotel. 

Delhi is divided into two distinct parts - Old Delhi which was the capital of Muslim India between the 17th and 19th centuries. Once a walled city, it still contains its fabled, colorful bazaars and a myriad of narrow streets, of which Chandni Chowk, with its never-ending but ever fascinating chaos remains the most famous. Your morning exploration of Old Delhi begins with a drive past the Red Fort, a symbol of Shah Jehan's Mughal power and elegance, also known as the greatest wonder of all the cities of Delhi. India's history has been closely linked with this fort. It was from here that the British deposed the last Mughal ruler - Bhadur Shah Zafar, marking the end of a three - century long Mughal rule.  

It was also from its ramparts that the first prime. Minister of India, Pandit Jawharlal Nehru, announced to the nation that India was free from colonial rule. The Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, after ruling from Agra for eleven years, decided to shift to Delhi and laid the foundation stone of the Red Fort in 1618. For its inauguration in 1647, the main halls of the palace were draped in rich tapestry and covered with silk from china and velvet from Turkey. With a circumference of almost one and a half miles, the fort is an irregular octagon and has two entrances, the Lahore and Delhi Gates. 

Your tour continues with a visit to India’s largest mosque Jama Masjid, originally known as ‘Masjid-I-Jahan-Numa’, meaning ‘The mosque with a commanding view of the world’. This mosque was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan and was completed in 1656.  

For your next escapade, special mode of transportation has been arranged – brightly colored cycle rickshaws, the best way to navigate the narrow, bustling alleyways. Your ride takes you through the fabled “Chandni Chowk,” literally translated as “Silver Square”, which was designed by Jahanara Begum, Shah Jehan's favorite daughter. It was commercial hub of the Mughal era and at that time inhabited by the well-to-do families of the city.  

Continue onto Raj Ghat, a simple square platform of black marble found on the banks of the Yamuna, at the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated following his assassination on 31st January 1948. The memorial has the epitaph Hē Ram, (literally translated as 'O' Ram’, but also translated to 'O God'), believed to be the last words uttered by Mahatma Gandhi. 

This afternoon you will enjoy a panoramic tour of ‘Lutyens’ Delhi or New Delhi , named after the leading British architect Edward Lutyens who was responsible for most of the architectural design and building when India was part of the British Empire in the 1920s and 1930s. Designed in the 1920’s by the British architects Lutyens and Baker, all the main buildings of this imperial capital remain today. The architecture is a combination of British and Indian styles and this whole area of Delhi is magnificently planned. New Delhi, with its orderly, spacious, tree-lined avenues, exhibits a unique blend of monumental British and Indian styles.   

Drive through the city viewing the government buildings, President's House and Parliament House.  At one end of the avenue known as the Rajpath (literally translated as the “King’s Way”) is the War Memorial Arch, better known as India Gate, a memorial to the 90,000 Indians who gave their lives in World War I. The foundation stone of India Gate was laid by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and it was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin. Another memorial, Amar Jawan Jyoti was added much later, after India got its independence. The eternal flame burns day and night under the arch to remind the nation of soldiers who laid down their lives in the Indo-Pakistan War of October 1971.  

As you drive along  the  majestic  Rajpath  -  the  broadest  avenue  of  Delhi  -  our  first  views encompass the enormous Secretariat buildings with their 1,000 rooms and miles of corridors, and the Parliament House, a huge circular building in red and grey sandstone with an open colonnade extending around its circumference. At the other end stands the Rashtrapati Bhavan, one of the largest and most grandiose of the Raj constructions, built originally for the British Viceroy and now the official residence of the President of India.

You will visit the Laxmi Narayan Temple, also known as Birla Mandir. Built by the industrialist Sh. J.K. Birla in 1939, this beautiful temple is dedicated to Laxmi (the goddess of prosperity) and Narayana (The preserver). The temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi on the condition that people of all castes will be allowed to enter the temple. The highest tower in the temple reaches a height of 165 feet while the ancillary towers reach 116 feet. The Geeta Bhavan, a hall is adorned with beautiful paintings depicting scenes from Indian mythology. There is also a temple dedicated to Buddha in this complex with fresco paintings describing his life and work. The entire complex, especially the walls and the upper gallery are full of paintings carried out by artists from Jaipur in Rajasthan. The rear of the temple has been developed as an artificial mountainous landscape with fountains and waterfalls. 

Your tour ends with a visit to Qutab Minar, India's tallest stone tower. At a height of 234 feet, the "Tower of Victory" is considered by some to be the world's most perfect specimen of tower architecture. A mathematical marvel, this building has remained standing for eight centuries. Another important monument within the complex is the Quwwat ul-Islam Mosque, literally translated as ‘The Might of Islam’. Though today the mosque is in ruins, it is believed that twenty-seven Jain temples were destroyed and their materials reused to construct the monuments of the complex.

Today you will board your train to Amritsar, literally means "Holy pool of nectar". Home to the Golden Temple Amritsar is the spiritual and cultural centre of the Sikh Religion. It is an important seat of Sikh history and culture. The Golden Temple was founded by the fourth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Ramdas and completed by his successor Guru Arjan Dev. Harmandir Sahib also known as the Golden Temple is the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion. This important Sikh shrine attracts more visitors than the Taj Mahal in Agra as it has more than 100,000 visitors on week days alone! 

Arrive and proceed to your hotel. 

A visit to the spectacular Golden Temple is a lifetime travel highlight. This evening you will visit Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib also referred to as the Golden Temple. The Golden temple at night is certainly a treat for the eyes & soul and is a magical sight!

The construction of the gurdwara was begun by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, and completed by his successor, Guru Arjan. In the early nineteenth century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh covered the upper floors of the gurdwara with gold, which gives it its distinctive appearance and English name of "Golden Temple". The Golden Temple is considered holy by Sikhs because the eternal guru of Sikhism, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, is always present inside it and its construction was mainly intended to build a place of worship for men and women from all walks of life and all religion to come and worship God equally. 

The temple’s architecture is a blend of both Hindu and Muslim styles. During the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), Hari Mandir was decorated with marble sculptures, golden gilding and precious stones. The Adi Grantha is placed within the sanctuary on a jewel studded platform. This holy- scripture is a collection of devotional poems, prayers and hymns composed by the ten Sikh gurus and various Muslim and Hindu saints. The chanting of these hymns begins early in the morning and continues long past sunset, these hymns are changed to the exquisite accompaniment of flutes, drums and stringed instruments. An underground spring feeds the sacred lake.  

The Shri Harmandir Sahib is open all night, and the holy Guru Granth Sahib is brought in to the inner sanctum in a ceremonial procession at dawn.

Today you will visit the Golden Temple once again. The main building is three floors high and is crowned with a dome shaped like an inverted lotus. The lower floor is in white marble, whilst the two upper floors are gold plated. The temple has four entrances instead of the usual single entry, symbolic of the openness of Sikhism and the fact that followers of all faiths are welcome here. 

The Adi Granth, compiled by Guru Arjan Dev, rests on a throne beneath a jewel-encrusted canopy. Priests continuously recite verses from the holy book in 3-hour shifts. A complete reading of the text takes 48 hours. Jallianwala Bagh. The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, also known as the Amritsar Massacre, was named after the Jallianwala Bagh (Garden) in Amritsar, where, on April 13 1919, British Indian Army soldiers under the command of Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer opened fire on an unarmed gathering of men, women and children.

You will also visit the holy abode of goddess Durga in Amritsar, Durgiana temple resemblance the golden temple in its structural design. It is considered as one among the holiest temples in the city and it dates back to the 16th century. Intricately carved paintings of goddess Durga in her various incarnations are the significant feature of this marvelous shrine. One among the peculiarity of this temple is that it does not follow the typical temple architecture of ancient times. Though various other deities found their place in the interior of the temple, mother goddess is the prevalent deity of the temple. Erected in the midst of a tank the temple holds awnings and a middle arena in the style of the Sikh temple. A renowned depository of Hindu scriptures, this temple displays an unusual grandeur and elegance of its own.  It is sometimes also called the Silver Temple for its carved silver doors.

This afternoon you will depart for a visit to the Wagah Border to watch Border Retreat Ceremony. Wagah is the only land border open between Pakistan and India. This ritual of the beating of the retreat and the change of guard within handshaking distance of the Indian and Pakistani forces is an interesting sight. Witnessing the Border Retreat Ceremony at the Wagah Border is popular.   

Early morning proceed to the railway station for your train back to Delhi.

Arrive and proceed to your hotel. 

Proceed to the airport for your onwards flight!