THE HILL STATIONS of INDIA 27 March - 10 April 2022
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THE HILL STATIONS OF INDIA 27 March - 10 April 2022 FROM £4,980 PER PERSON Tour Leader: Chris Caldicott ENJOY A MELTING POT OF CULTURES AND CUISINES WHILE EXPLORING THE LEGACY OF THE BRITISH IN THE HILL STATIONS Join Chris Caldicott on this remarkable journey to the British Hill Stations exploring the architectural and artistic legacy of British rule on the subcontinent. Strategic and important places of refuge from the high heat of an Indian summer, especially for the British Raj who were responsible for creating around 50 hill stations across the country, the most iconic and best loved of these are to be found in the foothills of the Himalaya. The journey begins in the dynamic city of Delhi with a stay at the iconic Imperial Hotel designed to be one of the finest masterpieces in Lutyen’s master plan for New Delhi. Continuing to Amritsar, the holy city of the Sikhs and home of the spectacular glittering Golden Temple, we will also visit the new superlative Partition Museum that subtly and movingly documents the consequences of the end of British rule. From here we drive up into the hills to the British Hill Station of McLeod Ganj which today hosts the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in exile in next door Dharamshala. In the upper reaches of the beautiful Kangra Valley we will stay at the newly opened Lodge At Wah on a working tea estate and take a ‘toy train’ ride on the colonial era Kangra Valley Railway. From the heritage hotel The Judges Court we will explore Pragpur, an ornamental village with unchanged shops, cobblestone streets, old water tanks, mud-plastered walls and slate-roofed houses. The narrow streets, are lined with fort-like houses, havelis and villas. Due to its unique architecture and pristine beauty, it was declared the first Heritage Village in December 1997. Finally, we visit the ‘Queen of the Hill Stations’, Shimla, summer capital of the British Raj and home to the Viceroy of India. We will enjoy a melting pot of cultures and cuisines from Buddhist monasteries to colonial gems, tea tasting, organic produce and a famous ‘toy train’ ride on one of the five heritage lines left in India. The tour also encompasses the very essence of India – colourful spice and vegetable markets, exotic temples, flamboyant palaces, delicious local food, and last but not least its vibrant street life. McCleod Gang, Dharamshala Humayan’s Tomb, Delhi Tea Kangra Valley 15-DAY ITINERARY, DEPARTING 27 MARCH 2022 27 March London / Delhi the greatest architectural triumphs of consequences of the end of British the Mogul period. On to Khan Market rule and the partition of India into Suggested flight (not included in the New Delhi’s trendy and fun mecca two countries. Walk through the cost of the tour) British Airways BA of independent boutiques, cafés old town and a quick stop at the 257 departing London Heathrow at and bars where there will be time Jallianwala Bagh, a historic garden 19.25 hrs. for shopping and optional evening and ‘memorial of national importance’ drinks and snacks at a popular local preserved in the memory of those 28 March Delhi café, Sodawaterbottleopenerwala. who fell in the Jallianwala Bagh Arrive in Delhi at 08.20 hrs and Return to hotel with dinner under own Massacre when acting Brigadier- transfer to the luxury 5-star Imperial arrangements. General Reginald Dyer ordered troops Hotel, Delhi’s landmark hotel, where of the British Indian Army to fire into one night is spent. Conceptualised in 29 March Delhi / Amritsar a crowd of unarmed Indian civilians at the festival of Vaisakhi in April 1919. 1934 by Blomfield and inaugurated Morning transfer (with luggage) to by Lord Willingdon in 1936, it was Delhi airport for a domestic flight to Enjoy a local lunch of kulcha, lassi designed to be one of the finest Amritsar, the spiritual centre of the and firni at Kesar da Dhaba. In the masterpieces in Lutyen’s master Sikh community. On arrival, transfer afternoon travel to the India / Pakistan plan for New Delhi. Rooms are to the 5-star Taj Swarna where two Attari-Wagah border to witness the spacious with high ceilings and nights are spent. Lunch under own lowering of the flag’s ceremony, a sumptuous décor, equipped with arrangements at the airport. daily theatrical military spectacle modern amenities, and the hotel has that India and Pakistan have jointly Afternoon visit to the Golden several award-winning restaurants. followed since 1959. The drill is Temple, also known as Harmandir The public spaces and corridors are characterised by elaborate, colourful Sahib, meaning, ‘abode of God’, hung with an impressive collection of and rapid dance like manoeuvres and the preeminent spiritual site of artwork of Raj subjects. and raising legs as high as possible. Sikhism. Visit the temple kitchens Return to hotel. Dinner under own Enjoy an early buffet lunch on the where legions of daily volunteers arrangements. terrace veranda at The Imperial prepare and serve a free thali lunch before checking into the rooms to thousands of pilgrims. There will (guaranteed check in from 14.00 hrs). be an option to enjoy the spectacular 31 March Amritsar / Dharamshala This afternoon, walk to Janta Manta sunset at the temple. Dinner at a local Morning transfer (with luggage) to which consists of 13 architectural restaurant experiencing local Punjabi Dharamshala and check into Chonor astronomy instruments. The site cuisine. House, designed and built by British is one of five built by Maharaja architect David Porter in a style Jai Singh II of Jaipur, from 1723 30 March Amritsar intended to blend with the natural onwards, revising the calendar and environment of the hills overlooking Morning visit to the Amritsar Partition astronomical tables. Drive through the Kangra Valley, and where two Museum, housed in the historical Lutyen’s Delhi and Rajpath, a nights are spent. Town Hall with its arched verandas, ceremonial boulevard lined grand doors with venetian glass, beautiful Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon walking Raj era administrative buildings with floor tiles and historic belfry. This tour of McLeod Ganj, also known as huge lawns, canals and rows of trees, new superlative museum subtly ‘Little Lhasa’ or ‘Dhasa’ because of and continue to Humayun’s Tomb and movingly documents the its large Tibetan population. During for an afternoon stroll around one of British rule the town was a hill station 020 3411 4595 | [email protected] | THEULTIMATETRAVELCOMPANY.CO.UK Jakhoo Temple, Shimla Narrow Gauge Train Shimla to Kalka Masroor Rock Temple where the British spent hot summers. prayers in a local monastery. Depart into Judge’s Court, a wonderful small Lord Elgin, the British Viceroy of India (with luggage) to Wah, stopping off heritage hotel in the foothills of the (1862-63) liked the area so much that at Gyuto Monastery, a prominent Himalaya, and where two nights are at one point he suggested it be made monastery focused on Tantric spent. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at the summer capital of India. He died meditation and ritual arts along with the hotel. at Dharamshala while on a tour there, Buddhist philosophy. on 20 November 1863, and lies buried Enjoy a traditional MoMo lunch. 5 April Pragpur at the St. John in the Wilderness Check into The Lodge at Wah, an Enjoy a morning walk exploring church at Forsyth Ganj, just below eco-friendly homestay on the largest the heritage village of Pragpur, McLeod Ganj. His summer residence, working tea estate in the Kangra founded in the late 16th century by Mortimer House, became part of the Valley, and where two nights are the Kuthiala Soods in memory of private estate of Lala Basheshar Nath spent. Afternoon jeep safari to the top Princess Prag Dei of the Jaswan of Lahore and was acquired by the of a mountain to enjoy the beautiful Royal Family. With its winding Government of India to house the views. Dinner at the lodge. cobbled lane, mud-plastered walls official residence of the Dalai Lama. and slate roofed houses, this village Visit the Buddhist sites including the 3 April Kangra Valley stands largely unchanged by time. It Dalai Lama Palace. Dinner under own is also home to the famous Kangra arrangements. Morning walking tour of the tea estate to observe and learn how the School of Painting and has a quaint market with silversmiths and village 1 April Dharamshala tea is plucked and processed from withering, rolling and fermenting weavers selling shawls and blankets. Morning walk from Dharamkot to drying and sorting. The tour will Picnic lunch provided by the hotel. Village, to the temple of Gallu Devi continue to the gardens to enjoy a tea Afternoon at leisure. Return to the with spectacular panoramic views. tasting. hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Visit the St. John in the Wilderness Enjoy a Khow Suey lunch at the church, built in 1852, where Lord Elgin lodge. Afternoon ‘toy train’ ride on 6 April Pragpur / Shimla is buried, on the way back to hotel. one of the five heritage lines left in Morning departure (with luggage) Lunch under own arrangements. Visit India. This small single gauge train, for Shimla, which was declared the to Norbulingka Institute, founded in still a local means of transportation summer capital of British India in 1995 by Kelsang and Kim Yeshi at and wonderfully sans frills through 1864. Sidhpur, dedicated to the preservation quaint stations, is a fun ride back in Packed lunch en route to Shimla. of the Tibetan culture in its literary time. Dinner at the lodge. and artistic forms. Also visit the Check into the Oberoi Cecil, a Nechung Monastery, the seat of the landmark Colonial-era hotel dating 4 April Kangra Valley / Pragpur State Oracle of Tibet.