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Home , Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, Hola Mohalla

CELEBRATING

HOLA MOHALLA FESTIVAL

Delhi – Chandigarh - – Amritsar -

10 Nights/11 Days

The journey of a lifetime, every time

TOUR OVERVIEW We, at Join crowds of friendly cheerful faces as they break into a spontaneous dance to the beat of dhols (drums); get seduced by the colours of bright new clothes adorning children, women, and men; be lured by blaring loudspeakers, vying for attention, as they issue invitations to partake in a (free community meal) – welcome to Holla Mohalla!

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

DELHI: Take a tour of the Gurudwaras in Delhi and visit the and Qutab Minar. CHANDIGARH: Explore the Rose Garden, which is considered to be one of the greatest of its kind in Asia. ANANDPUR SAHIB: Join the devotees and celebrate the colourful and vibrant festival of . AMRITSAR: Visit the , a fascinating blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles.

DAY BY DAY DAY 01: ARRIVE DELHI Welcome to ! On arrival at Delhi Airport, you will be greeted by our guide in the arrival hall, who will escort you to your hotel and assist you in check-in.

Start your tour with a visit to in . This is the site where the ninth Sikh was executed for refusing to convert to Islam. After your visit to the Gurudwara, drive to Red Fort. This was the residence of the for nearly two hundred years until 1857. Next visit the world’s tallest brick minaret – Qutab Minar.

Finally end your day at , the most famous Gurudwara of Delhi. You will time your arrival with the evening food service.

Overnight, stay at hotel.

DAY 02: DELHI – CHANDIGARH Board a flight to Chandigarh from Delhi airport. On arrival in Chandigarh, check-in at hotel and later proceed for a sightseeing tour.

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Renowned worldwide for its urban design and architecture, Chandigarh has a variety of tourist attractions including theme gardens. Rock Garden or Nek Chand Rock Garden is an incredible sculpture garden complex which is comprised of interlinked courtyards dotted with sculptures made of residential and industrial waste. Walk around the garden that sprawls over 40 acres of land.

Also, explore the Rose Garden, which is considered to be one of the greatest of its kind in Asia. The garden spreads over 30 acres of land and houses around 825 types of roses along with a huge variety of other medicinal plants.

Later, visit Sukhna Lake, a beautiful artificial lake that has the Garden of Silence within it.

Overnight, stay at hotel.

DAY 03: CHANDIGARH – ANANDPUR SAHIB Enjoy an early breakfast before departing to a Maasai village followed by a morning game drive. The Maasai Mara National Reserve is home to millions of wild animals, including the fabled Big Five of lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and black rhinos as well as antelopes, gazelles and wildebeest among others. Return to the lodge for lunch and perhaps a siesta before setting off for an afternoon game drive, then returning to the lodge as the sun sets. An optional early morning hot air balloon safari is available today. Pick-up is at about 04:30 hours and drop off is at about 10:00 hours. Flight time is approximately one hour and champagne breakfast and return transfers are included.

Overnight in Maasai Mara on a full board basis.

DAY 04: ANANDPUR SAHIB Witness the morning prayer ceremony at a Gurudwara. The soothing recital of the at the Durbar followed by (hymns), and accompanied religious ceremonies, culminate with the Langar food service for breakfast. There is a timelessness to this morning experience that is extraordinary.

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You are welcome to join the devotees for breakfast, which is a simple wholesome and freshly prepared meal in the kitchen by volunteers who believe that doing “Saver” (service) is part of their duty. Return to your hotel after breakfast and spend the rest of the day exploring the town, the other Gurudwaras and historical sights, each of which has a historical tale to be discovered. At every Gurudwara, there is recitation of beautiful folk poetry from the region, mock demonstrations by the showing their martial skills, and Langar stalls everywhere serving food. Overnight, stay in tent.

DAY 05: ANANDPUR SAHIB Today also take part in the revelries. Join crowds of friendly, cheerful faces as they break into spontaneous dance to the beat of drums, enjoy the colours of bright new clothes worn by children, women and men, photograph the Sikhs warriors in their oversized head gear and blue attire, or participate at one of the kitchens cooking food with the other volunteers.

The teaching of the Sikhs saints have always emphasized the spirit of participating in and giving back to the community. This tenant is central to their beliefs and manifests itself most prominently in the Langar food service. Today, you can pick from the many activities available and tailor your day to suit your tastes. Regardless of which activity you choose, we guarantee you will create memories for a lifetime.

Overnight, stay in tent.

DAY 06: ANANDPUR SAHIB – AMRITSAR After breakfast, drive to Amritsar, situated around 190 km (approximately three hours) from Anandpur Sahib. The city of Amritsar is built around the famous Golden Temple, i.e., Gurudwara Harmandir Sahib and owes its name to sarovar (holy lake) of the temple called Amritsar, “Pool of the Nectar of Immortality”. On arrival in Amritsar, check-in at hotel and later visit the Golden Temple.

Sri Harmandir Sahib, commonly called the “Golden Temple” is considered to be the holiest of all Sikh temples. Founded in 1574 by Singh (the fourth Sikh Guru), Harmandir Sahib has four entrances representing 4

the four directions that symbolize its openness for all. The Muslim Sufi Saint, Sai Mirwas was invited to lay its foundation stone.

Stay at the temple until dark when the complex is illuminated by a thousand fairy lights and the mesmerizing evening ceremony is completed.

Overnight, stay at hotel.

DAY 07: AMRITSAR Begin today with a visit to Jallianwala Bagh, where the historical event of Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on April 13, 1919. Discover the Martyr’s Well into which many people jumped to save themselves from bullets. Later, visit Durgiana Temple – a Hindu temple with an architecture similar to the Golden Temple.

In the afternoon, drive to Wagah village at India – Pakistan border. Wagah border, often referred to as the “Berlin Wall” of Asia, is located in vicinity of Amritsar. Beating Retreat ceremony conducted daily by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers (PR) makes a fabulous spectacle. People from both the sides gather in large numbers to witness the ceremony that involves parades and cultural shows. The ceremony symbolizes both the rivalry and the friendship and cooperation between India and Pakistan.

Overnight, stay at hotel.

DAY 08: AMRITSAR - DELHI This morning you have the option of a morning visit to the Golden Temple. Later, fly back to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi, check-in at hotel.

The rest of the day is at leisure and you can enjoy some last minute shopping in the local markets or just relax in your hotel enjoying its facilities.

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Another option is to visit Kingdom of Dreams in the evening. It is India’s first live entertainment leisure destination. Sprawling over six acres of land, Kingdom of Dreams is a miniature of India that brings Indian culture and its artistic and culinary heritages under a single roof. Its palatial structure has been stupendously constructed with spectacular designs and architecture. The kingdom encompasses a “Cultural Gully” (a cultural boulevard), and two theatres, Nautanki Mahal and Showshaa Theater as major attractions.

Overnight, stay at hotel.

DAY 09: DEPART DELHI Today your India travel comes to an end. We arrange your drop to Delhi Airport, from where you will board your flight back home. If required, our representative will be at hand to assist you with a smooth check-out from the hotel and escort you to the airport.

We advise you to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure and keep your passport and printout of airline ticket handy to avoid last minute hassles.

This itinerary is only a slice of the wonderful diversity and beauty that India has to offer and we hope that you will return soon to discover more.

Namaste!

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EXTENSIONS

. Include a tour of the classic Golden Triangle . Relax on the beach in Kovalam or Goa

OVERALL HIGHLIGHTS . Celebrate the Hola Mohalla Festival in Anandpur Sahib . Visit the Gurudwaras of Anandpur Sahib . Explore Chandigarh and its attractions . Visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar . Attend the evening parade at Wagah Border near Amritsar

INCLUSIONS

. Accommodation . Transport . Guide . Entrances . Not included is travel insurance, tips and any expense of personal nature

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Contact Us

B - 128, Sector 5, Noida 201301, India. Tel: +91 120 3300555, Fax: +91 120 3823501 E-mail: [email protected] | Website: www.lpti.in