Days 10 Nights /11 Days

Routing Chandigarh - Dalhousie - Dharamshala - Manali - Shimla

Description

Day 01: Delhi - Chandigarh (250kms/ 6hr)
After your early morning arrival in Delhi, embark on a leisurely drive to Chandigarh and check-in at your hotel. In the afternoon, visit the Rock garden and other sightseeing spots in Chandigarh. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02: Chandigarh - Dalhousie (318 kms/8hr)
After breakfast, drive to Dalhousie and check in at your hotel. Dalhousie was established in 1854 by the British Governor General Lord Dalhousie. Built around five hills, Dalhousie is covered in stately groves of deodar and oak. Its marvelous forest trails overlook vistas of wooded hills, waterfalls, spring and rivulets. Dalhousie still has a touch of the “British Raj” and its colonial style building and houses bring back the flavors of the bygone era. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03: Dalhousie - Khajjiar - Chamba - Dalhousie (52kms one way)
This morning embark on a day excursion to Chamba, enroute visiting Khajjiar.

Often called 'India's Switzerland' the exquisite glade of Khajjiar (1,960m) has a circumference of about 5 km. Khajjiar was probably a glacial bowl formed during the last Himalayan ice age and left with a lake that gradually withered away. Khajjiar is part of the notified Kalatop -Khajjiar sanctuary. The Monal Pheasant, a bird near extinction, can be sighted here. At Khajjiar, there is a 12th century temple, within which lie life-sized wooden images of the five Pandav Brothers (from the great Indian epic 'Mahabharata').

After a brief stop at Khajjiar, continue your drive to Chamba, a town that stands on the right bank of the river Ravi. As a former princely State, it is one of the oldest in the country and dates back to the sixth century. Chamaba is well known for its splendid architecture and forms the base for numerous excursions.

Day 04: Dalhousie - Dharamshala (150kms / 5 hrs)
After breakfast, proceed for local sightseeing tour. Mcleodganj is a famous little town of Dharamshala also known as “Little Tibet”, H. H. The Dalai Lama resides here. At the start of Mcleodganj is a small bazaar filled with variety of Tibetan handicrafts and artifacts; towards the end of town, lies the Namgyal Monastery. The external wall of the monastery is surrounded by rows of prayer wheels. Within the monastery are large idols of Lord Buddha, Avalokteshwara and Padamsambhava and walls lined with Thankas. The charming church of St. John in the wilderness is situated here and this is the final resting place of Lord Elgin, a British Viceroy of India during the 19th century. Numerous ancient temples like Jwalamukhi, Brijeshwari and Chamunda lie on the plains below Dharamshala. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05: Dharamshala
Day at leisure in Dharamshala. Overnight stay at hotel

Day 06: Dharamshala - Manali (235kms/7hr)
After breakfast, drive to Manali and check-in at your hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 07: Manali
After breakfast, you may take a walking tour of Manali, visiting the 450 years old temple dedicated to Hadimba Devi, which has some excellent woodcarving. Also visit the Vashisht Bath, Jagat Sukh Tibetan Monastery and the handicraft center. The rest of the day is at leisure or walk to the nearby picturesque village of Vashisht known for its hot sulphur springs. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 08: Manali
This morning you visit the Solang Valley and the not to be missed Rohtang Pass, 51 km from Manali at an altitude of 3,978 meters (subject to weather conditions). Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 09: Manali - Shimla (270kms / 8 hr)
After breakfast, drive to Shimla and check-in at your hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 10: Shimla
Today enjoy a day excursion to the beautiful hill towns of Kufri, Fagu, Naldhera, Mashobra and back to Shimla. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 11: Shimla - Delhi (370kms / 8 hr)

After breakfast, drive back to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.