Holi With Golden Triangle and Holla Mohalla Nights: 11 nights Tour Sketch
Day Program Meals Overnight Day 1 Arrive Delhi (-,-,-) Delhi Day 2 Delhi (B,-,-) Delhi Day 3 Delhi – Amritsar (B,-,-) Amritsar Day 4 Amritsar – Anandpur Sahib (B,L,D) Anandpur Sahib Day 5 Anandpur Sahib (B,L,D) Anandpur Sahib Day 6 Anandpur Sahib – Chandigarh (B,L,D) Chandigarh Day 7 Chandigarh - Delhi (B,-,-) Delhi Day 8 Delhi – Jaipur (B,-,-) Jaipur Day 9 Jaipur (B,-,-) Jaipur Day 10 Jaipur - Agra (B,-,-) Agra Day 11 Agra - Delhi (B,-,-) Delhi Day 12 Departure (B,-,-)
Tour overview:
A 11-night tour of North India during the time Holi which covers the state of Punjab, Chandigarh & Golden Triangle. Very well curated and balanced program which focuses on culture, religions, traditions, contemporary India & heritage of India. While visiting the world famous Golden Triangle & Amritsar, this tour’s USP is Hola Mohalla, an annual festival of Sikhs which co-incide with Holi makes it a double advantage of being in India while on Holi.
Highlights of this tour: • Experience the contrast of India’s capital with a visit to New Delhi & Old Delhi • Visit Wagah Border, a unique ceremony at Indo-Pak border for lowering the flag each evening • Visit the Golden Temple, arguably world’s most famous & visited temple • Enjoy the process of Golden Temple’s Kitchen, usually known as a Mega Kitchen serving to hundreds of thousands of people a day • Experience ‘Hola Mohalla’, annual festival for Sikh which starts with Holi. Enjoy both together and witness the horse riding and war skills of sikh Religion • Visit the magnificent Taj Mahal & Agra Fort in Agra • Multiple UNESCO Heritage sites in 01 tour. • Visit to Jaipur & its romantically beautiful monuments.
7 Mezher Street-Antelias - Beirut – Lebanon T: +961 4 712 037 Fax: +961 4 715 196 P.O. Box: 60-233 Zip Code: 1241 2020 R.C. 1035 Baabda VAT No 8721-601 http://www.ventnouveau.com [email protected]
Detailed Program
Day 1 Arrive Delhi (-,-,-) Delhi
Arrive at New Delhi’s ‘IGI International Airport’. Meet with our company representative, warm welcome with fresh flower garlands & then transfer to hotel in your private car.
On arrival, check-in at hotel. Later in the second half proceed for sightseeing of Delhi.
Start the tour by visiting memorial of Mahatma Gandhi ‘Raj Ghat’ & then visit Jama Masjid (one of India’s biggest mosque). A rickshaw-ride through the narrowest lanes of Chandni Chowk (Old Delhi) will entice you, surprise you & might intimidate you, but for sure, these chaotic streets will give you an experience of a lifetime.
Cruise on your rickshaw through many small lanes, such as silver market, book market, wedding market etc. Your rickshaw will come at a halt in ‘Khari Baoli’ – spice market, and then have a walk around in the area. Return to your vehicle by rickshaw-ride & then drive past the majestic Red Fort- where Indian PM unfurls the flag every 15th August (Independence Day) & addresses the nation.
Transfer to your hotel at the end of the tour & overnight.
Day 2 Delhi (B,-,-) Delhi
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for Old Delhi’s tour before leaving for Agra.
Start the tour with visit to a Sikh Temple ‘Bangla Sahib’ & then drive past major govt buildings such as Presidents Palace, Parliament House, India Gate circle. Later stop at Laxmi Narayan Temple, also known as Birla Temple.
Continuing with the tour visit Humayun’s Tomb – The tomb that inspired Taj Mahal, Lotus Temple (exterior photography stop only) & then visit a local co-operative society showcasing Kashmiri Arts & Crafts. Late afternoon, visit Qutub Minar – tallest stone minaret in India.
Return to the hotel for overnight stay
7 Mezher Street-Antelias - Beirut – Lebanon T: +961 4 712 037 Fax: +961 4 715 196 P.O. Box: 60-233 Zip Code: 1241 2020 R.C. 1035 Baabda VAT No 8721-601 http://www.ventnouveau.com [email protected]
Day 3 Delhi – Amritsar (B,-,-) Amritsar
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Airport/Railway Station for Flight/train to Amritsar. On arrival transfer to hotel.
Afternoon proceed to attend evening retreat ceremony at Wagah border, The Wagah Border is the only international road border crossing between India and Pakistan and lies on the historic G.T.Road between the cities of Amritsar (India) and Lahore (Pakistan). It is famous for the daily evening retreat ceremony also known as “Lowering of the Flags”.
Late evening visit Golden Temple for Palki Sahib Ceremony - prepared by the devotees to carry the Guru Granth Sahib (the Holy Book) from the main shrine in Hari Mandir to Darshani Deorhi (gateway leading to the inner sanctum). Performed every evening, several devout followers and visitors participate in the ceremony, which offers each individual at least a few seconds to help carry the palanquin
Return to hotel, overnight.
Day 4 Amritsar – Anandpur Sahib (B,L,D) Anandpur Sahib
After breakfast, you will be driven around Amritsar to enjoy a city sightseeing tour. The first destination is the Golden Temple, which is also called the Darbar Sahib or Harmandir Sahib. This is an important holy destination for Sikhs and is a delightful architecture to explore. The temple gets its name from the gold plating that covers the structure. visit the mega kitchen and learn from the guide on how the contribution and donation are put entirely to the service of humanity.
From here proceed to the legendary site of Jalliawala Bagh, an exact spot where thousands of innocent Sikh people were killed on the orders of General Reginald Dyer in 1919 on the day of the major Sikh festival in Baisakhi. Walk through the local market and learn the historic significance of these serpentine lanes connecting the city with history.
Later drive to Anandpur Sahib(190kms/4hours). On arrival check-in at your camp for overnight stay. Lunch & Dinner in the camp.
Day 5 Anandpur Sahib (B,L,D) Anandpur Sahib
Post breakfast proceed to witness Hola Mohalla in Anandpur sahib visit local Festival Fair, walk around of Nihangs. Witnness Nihangs horse performance, follow them to Gurudwara. During all this enjoy holi with locals and devotees in the Gurudwara.
7 Mezher Street-Antelias - Beirut – Lebanon T: +961 4 712 037 Fax: +961 4 715 196 P.O. Box: 60-233 Zip Code: 1241 2020 R.C. 1035 Baabda VAT No 8721-601 http://www.ventnouveau.com [email protected]
Anandpur Sahib is also famous for celebrating holi with perfume, you would see some Gurudwara sevaks spraying perfume all over.
Holi is a Hindu spring festival, originating from India, celebrated predominantly in India but has also spread to Nepal and many other Western countries, also known as the "festival of colours" or the "festival of love".The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. It is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest
(tuk-tuk if needed to travel within Anandpur Sahib)
Lunch, Dinner & Overnight at camp site.
Day 6 Anandpur Sahib – Chandigarh (B,L,-) Chandigarh
Breakfast at camp.
Continue to enjoy the proceedings of the Hola Mohalla festival. You will witness Sikh groups, Nihangs and other folk groups performing and enjoying the festival.
Return to the camp for check out & lunch. Proceed to visit Virasat – E – Khalsa.
Virasat-E-Khalsa -begun in 1999 to commemorate the third centenary of the founding of the Khalsa Panth (Sikh nation) by Guru Gobind Singh. Spread across a generous 6,500 sq m, the recently opened Viraasat-e-Khalsa museum tells a memorable story of both Punjab and Sikhism, using hand-crafted artefacts and the latest technology.
Post visit, drive to Chandigarh. Upon arrival check-in at hotel, overnight.
Day 7 Chandigarh - Delhi (B,-,-) Delhi
After breakfast proceed for Chandigarh sightseeing.
Rock Garden-Nek Chand’s Rock Garden is unique: the surreal fantasy of a local transport official who, starting in 1957, spent almost 20 years personally creating more than 2000 sculptures using stones, debris and other discarded junk that was left over from the 50-odd villages that were destroyed in order to build the city of Chandigarh.
Rose Garden-Chandigarh is dotted with pleasant public parks. Perhaps most pleasant is this Rose Garden, which contains over 1500 rose varieties.
7 Mezher Street-Antelias - Beirut – Lebanon T: +961 4 712 037 Fax: +961 4 715 196 P.O. Box: 60-233 Zip Code: 1241 2020 R.C. 1035 Baabda VAT No 8721-601 http://www.ventnouveau.com [email protected]
Sukhna Lake-Fulfilling the leisure objective of Le Corbusier’s masterplan, this landmark artificial lake is a popular rest and recreation stop for Chandigarh . It has or namental gardens, a children’s fairground, places to eat and drink, and pedalos for rent.
Some free time in Sector 17 market, famous for Chandigarh’s young residents, this markets and amazing restaurants, showrooms & pubs.
Later drive to Delhi (260kms/6-7hours) , upon arrival transfer to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 8 Delhi – Jaipur (B,-,-) Jaipur
Breakfast at hotel. After checkout from hotel drive to Jaipur (275kms,5-6 hours). On arrival proceed for sightseeing of Jaipur.
Visit Jantar Mantar, a large grassy enclosure containing eighteen huge stone astronomical measuring devices constructed between 1728 and 1734. City Palace, originally built by Jai Singh in the 1720s and having lost none of its original pomp and splendour. Jaipur has long been known for Carpets & its artists, visit a local carpet workshop to witness the art and the artists. Before you start exploring the local markets, stop for photography at the one world’s most famous façade Hawa Mahal.
Later check-in at hotel.
Day 9 Jaipur (B,-,-) Jaipur
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for sightseeing of Jaipur
We start with Amber Fort. Jeep ride uphill & downhill at the fort. Nostalgic Amber Fort, near Jaipur in Rajasthan, is one of the most well-known and most-visited forts in India. During downhill, visit a very heritage structure – Panna-Meena ka kund, which is a square-shaped stepwell, with adjoining stairs on all four sides and a room on the northern wall.
We will make our way back to the city, en-route we will stop at Jal Mahal, Possibly the most serene sight amidst the chaos of Jaipur is the beautiful Jal Mahal Jaipur, the Water Palace. Short stop at the Jewel Workshops in Jaipur are must to witness how the local artisans create marvels from raw materials.
Second half of the day is free for leisure and self-exploration in markets.
7 Mezher Street-Antelias - Beirut – Lebanon T: +961 4 712 037 Fax: +961 4 715 196 P.O. Box: 60-233 Zip Code: 1241 2020 R.C. 1035 Baabda VAT No 8721-601 http://www.ventnouveau.com [email protected]
Optional: • Lunch in Jal Mahal view restaurant • Evening Hot Air Ballon ride • Same day excursion to Pushkar
Return to hotel & overnight in Jaipur.
Day 10 Jaipur-Agra (B,-,-) Agra
Post breakfast drive to Fatehpur Sikri(200kms,4-4.5 hours), best example of the culmination of Hindu and Muslim architecture. And said to be a copy of the mosque in Mecca and has designs, derived from the Persian & Hindu architecture. Highly popular amongst them is Buland Darwaza, which is titled as the largest gateway in the world.
Continue your drive toward Agra(50kms,1-1.5 hours). On arrival, check-in & overnight at hotel.
Day 11 Agra - Delhi (B,-,-) Jaipur
Early morning visit Taj Mahal a UNESCO world heritage site constructed by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal that has left tourist spellbound by its beauty for years. Then return to the hotel for your breakfast.
Post breakfast head for the sightseeing for Agra covering places like Agra Fort an exemplary example of Mughal architecture, Itimad-Ud-Daulah’s Tomb (also knows as baby Taj) and Marble workshop, a place to witness the unusual Marble Inlay work done on Taj Mahal.
Later drive to Delhi (232kms/4-5hours), upon arrival check-in at hotel, overnight.
Day 12 Departure (B,-,-)
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport for flight to your onward destination.
7 Mezher Street-Antelias - Beirut – Lebanon T: +961 4 712 037 Fax: +961 4 715 196 P.O. Box: 60-233 Zip Code: 1241 2020 R.C. 1035 Baabda VAT No 8721-601 http://www.ventnouveau.com [email protected]