15 days tour

Colonial Escapades

Colonial Escapades

This tour includes:

Accommodation

Delhi : Hotel Park or similar. Lansedown : Local Hotel / Homestay / Guest House. Mussoorie : Jaypee Residency or similar / The Sevoy /Mosaic Hall. Shimla : Hotel Oak Tree House or Similar. Dharamsala : Chonr House / Serkong House. Dalhousie : Hotel Grand View or Similar. Amritsar : Hotel RAdisson Blue / Best Western or Similar.

Guide

English Speaking Guide for througout the Tour wiill escort you from your arrival in Delhi till departure. All our Guides and Tour Leaders are very knowledgeable about their area and know the palces very well where needed we use local guides also but the Tour Manager / Guide provded to you remains with you till the departure. Language : We do not have Other Language Speaking Guides other than English. Speaking Guide with very good knowledge of the area. http://shimlawalks.com/tour-leaders.html

Meals

In most of the hotels meals are provided on table or buffet. Breakfast : The menu remains North Indian, South Indian, Continental and others. Porridge / Corn Flakes with milk (hot / Cold) are the essential part of the breakfast, added with toast, butter, jam, honey, marmalade, fruit, a variety of Indian breads such as pranthas and poori with freshly cooked vegetables and pickles, sausages, tea / coffee, all depending upon the quality of the hotel. Lunch : In most of the cases we prefer to have lunch outside, in some local restaurant / dhaba. Most o the places, now a days have reasonably okay type restaurants that offer a variety of menu of meals. Dinner : Depending from place to place we prefer to have dinner. For Example Shimla and Dharamsala has a variety of restaurants so we dine out where as at other places we prefer to have dinner in the hotel. After a long days drive it is recommended to have dinner in the hotel and sleep. Delhi : Room + Breakfast. Lansdowne : Room + Dinner. Mussoorrie : Room + Breakfast + Dinner. Shimla : Room + Breakfast + Dinner. Dharamsala : Room + Breakfast + Dinner. Amritsar : Room + Breakfast + Dinner.

Not included:

Flights

Insurance

As per the norms of Indian Government all travellers traveling to India must have holiday insurence with them.

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Colonial Escapades

  • Day 1 Day 1: Arrival Delhi
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Arrival Delhi

      Welcome to India. We meet you at the Indira Gandhi International airport, New Delhi, and after the immigration formalities drive to your hotel. Check-in on arrival and stay overnight.

  • Day 2 Day 2: Delhi
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Delhi

      Delhi stands as the capital of Modern India. Here you can see the mingling of the Old and New India, the ancient and the modern. Delhi is made up of seven ancient cities, spanning the period from the 11th to 20th centuries. Delhi has seen the rise and fall of many emperors, which has left behind a plethora of monuments that commemorate the grandeur and glory of bygone ages. Very few cities in the world can express such a profusion of architectural styles.

      Today we proceed for a full day Sightseeing of Delhi visiting Red Fort, Rajghat - the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi, Presidential Palace, and Connaught Place.

  • Day 3 Day 3: Delhi - Lansdown
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Delhi - Lansdown

      Distance:  250 km

      Driving Time: 7 hours

      Today our drive is towards the Colonial Hills of the Raj.

      Lansdowne is a tiny, hidden, isolated in its own way hill station from the Raj era. Originally known as Kalu Danda โ€“ the Black Forest, it was named after Lord Lansdowne in 1888, the Viceroy of India at that time. Surrounded by the forests of towering pine trees it offers lovely picnic spots which were actually used by the British. 

      On arrival check into the hotel. Evening we shall stroll along the Mall.

  • Day 4 Day 4: Lansdown
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Lansdown

      A day to visit the local sites and walk along the forest.

  • Day 5 Day 5: Lansdown - Mussoorie
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Lansdown - Mussoorie

      Distance:  190 km

      Driving Time: 5 hours

      The Queen of Hills as it is called - Mussoorie is one of the most famous ill stations of India, developed by the British. Originally, found by Lt. Fredrick Young during his hunting expeditions Mussoriee is named after a plant called Masoor that grows on its slopes. Lt Young built a hunting lodge on its Camelโ€™s Back Road and later the place was developed as a hill station for summer. 

      Today Mussoories is also the home of a much-admired Eurasian writer Ruskin Bond who has spent all of his life writing for the kids. 

      On arrival check into the hotel.  Evening free to stroll at the Mall.

  • Day 6 Day 6: Mussoorie
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Mussoorie

      We shall do a short walking tour of Mussoorie visiting the colonial buildings. There are lovely stories of the town penned by Ruskin Bond. He can be met at Cambridge Book Shop every Saturday โ€“ subject to his presence in town.

  • Day 7 Day 7: Mussoorie - Shimla
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Mussoorie - Shimla

      Distance: 265 km

      Driving Time: 8 hours

      Shimla was the most famous Hill Station of the Raj as it was also the Summer Capital of British India. They developed it as a resort and then as a sanatorium and then it became the Summer Capital. It is known for its Victorian architecture, traffic-less roads, and Cedar forests. The old part of Shimla is well maintained by the Government and holds its old colonial impressions. 

      On arrival check into the hotel.

  • Day 8 Day 8: Shimla - Heritage Walk
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Shimla - Heritage Walk

      This is the best way to know Shimla better. We walk through the Heritage Zone of Shimla and learn about its history, past & present. Shimla - the former Summer Capital of India has been the seat of the Eat of the Supreme Government. Every year in the month of March the British families moved up to the hills for nearly six months, to escape the heat of the plains and returned in the month of October. The influence of the British lifestyle can still be seen here in the form of traffic-less roads, old bungalows, monkeys, and cedars forests.

  • Day 9 Day 9: Shimla - Dharamsala
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: Shimla - Dharamsala

      Distance: 265 km

      Driving Time: 8 hours

      The morning after the breakfast drive to Dharamsala.

      Dharamsala was set up for the British soldiers In the nineteenth century. Some of the old houses from the British era are still there. In 1958 an area called MacLeod Gunj was given to his Holiness Dalai Lama to run his government in exile. The area has developed a lot ever since. On arrival check into the hotel.

      Evening we shall visit the Dalai Lama Monastery.

  • Day 10 Day 10: Dharamsala
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 10: Dharamsala

      Full-day Sightseeing of Dharamsala visiting Bhagsunag temple, Naddi Lake, St. Johnโ€™s Church, and Norbulingka Institute.

  • Day 11 Day 11: Dharamsala - Dalhousie
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 11: Dharamsala - Dalhousie

      Distance:125 km

      Driving Time: 4 hours.

      Dalhousie was named after Lord Dalhousie the Governor-General of India in (1850 - 1857). Surrounded by towering cedar forests at the elevation of 2200 meters Dalhousie offers lovely forest walks and forested roads spotted with Victorian bungalows and Churches. Although it gained not much popularity among the British, perhaps due to its remote location from Kolkata, still attracted some of the Officers to build their Summer Houses.

      Afternoon we go for a walk.

  • Day 12 Day 12: Dalhousie
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 12: Dalhousie

      Full day sightseeing of the area. A visit to Kala Top is worth it. This is a three km forest walk through the forest that ends at a Forest Rest House. The courtyard of the Rest House offers a stunning view of the Himalayan Peaks.

  • Day 13 Day 13: Dalhousie - Amritsar
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 13: Dalhousie - Amritsar

      Distance: 265 km

      Driving Time: 8 hours

      After breakfast, we drive to Amritsar, in the state of Punjab, in the Himalayan foothills called the Shivaliks. Amritsar, home of the Golden Temple, is one of the most ancient and fascinating cities in India. It is an important seat of Sikh history and culture. Being the gateway for travelers coming to India on the overland route from Central Asia, it soon became the center of various commercial activities. The Golden Temple was founded by the fourth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Ramdas, and completed by his successor Guru Arjan Dev. It is famous for its full golden dome, one of the most sacred pilgrim sites for Sikhs. The Mandir is built on a 67-foot square of marble and is a two-storied structure. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had the upper half of the building built with approximately 400 kg of gold leaf. The Golden Temple is surrounded by a number of other temples, such as the Durgiana Temple. After lunch we visit the Golden Temple of the Sikhs. We will circumambulate the temple, stopping periodically for moments of quiet reflection. The temple complex is like a small community, filled with many different activities. We will visit the kitchen where free meals are prepared by volunteers throughout the day; the temple where the holy book, Aad Guru Sahib, is read aloud from 4 am to 10 pm daily; and observe devotional rituals.  

      On arrival check into your hotel. Afteroon travel to the border town Wagah to see flag ceremony at dusk.

  • Day 14 Day 14: Amritsar
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 14: Amritsar

      The morning after breakfast we shall visit the Golden Temple of the Sikhs. We will circumambulate the temple, stopping periodically for moments of quiet reflection. The temple complex is like a small community, filled with many different activities. We will visit the kitchen where free meals are prepared by volunteers throughout the day; the temple where the holy book, Aad Guru Sahib, is read aloud from 4 am to 10 pm daily; and observe devotional rituals. 

      Later visit Jalianwala Bagh where the famous massacre on 13th April 1919 took place, resulting in the killing of several Hindus and Sikhs. 

      Travel to the border town Wagah to see flag ceremony at dusk.

  • Day 15 Day 15: Amritsar - Delhi
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 15: Amritsar - Delhi

      Early morning transfer to railway station to board Shatabadi Express to Delhi. Transfer to hotel shared rooms for wash, change.   Dinner and late-night transfer to the airport for the flight home.

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Personal

Youโ€™ll be just with your guide or pilot. Examples of these activities are paragliding, sky diving, personal mountain climbing, etc.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Basic

Almost everyone is fit for these activities. Every hike or physical exercise last less than 30 minutes, such as paragliding and horseback riding. Please ask about specific conditions.

Age range

Age range

Min: 20 / Max: 90

Age range allowed for this experience.

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