Punjab and Shimla: Hymns and Heights
The Golden Temple, the pine-scented hills of Shimla and the modernist lines of Chandigarh.
9 Nights, 10 Days
Duration
4
Destinations
The spiritual heart of Punjab at the Golden Temple, the cool Himalayan foothills of Shimla and modernist Chandigarh.
Regions on this journeyHimachal Pradesh
Overview
This 10-day journey pairs the spiritual heart of Punjab with the cool, pine-scented air of the Himalayan foothills and the clean modernist lines of Chandigarh, beginning and ending among the sights of Delhi.
After settling in on arrival in Delhi, guests fly north to Amritsar to visit the shimmering Golden Temple, the solemn memorial gardens of Jallianwala Bagh, and the astonishing evening flag ceremony at the Wagah Border, where Indian and Pakistani soldiers compete in a display of synchronised, high-stepping pageantry.
The road then climbs into the hills to Shimla, the former summer capital of British India, for two days among its colonial landmarks and along the pedestrianised Mall Road, before continuing to Chandigarh, famous for its Rock Garden, built entirely from recycled waste and industrial scrap.
The final stretch returns guests to Delhi for a full day of sightseeing, from the towering Qutub Minar and the lotus-shaped Bahá'í House of Worship to a rickshaw ride through the packed lanes of Chandni Chowk and a visit to the mighty Red Fort, before departure.
Guests stay in Five Star hotels throughout, with a chauffeur-driven, air-conditioned vehicle and local English-speaking guides for sightseeing.
Highlights
- The Golden Temple in Amritsar, the holiest shrine of the Sikh faith
- The dramatic evening flag-lowering ceremony at the Wagah Border
- Jallianwala Bagh and the Partition Museum, two of modern India's most moving historic sites
- Shimla, the former summer capital of British India, with a stroll along the Mall Road
- Chandigarh's celebrated Rock Garden, a fantastical sculpture park built from recycled waste
- A rickshaw ride through Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk and a visit to the Red Fort
Itinerary
A suggested journey
This is one way to experience the journey, not a fixed itinerary. Your specialist will adjust the pace, order and stops around you before anything is confirmed.
- Delhi
Day 1A Gracious Welcome to the Capital
Touch down in Delhi, where you will be met at the airport and transferred straight to your hotel. With check-in taken care of, the rest of the day is yours to rest, settle in and prepare for the nine days of temples, hills and history that lie ahead.
- Airport meet and greet with private transfer to your hotel
- Amritsar
Day 2Wings to the Land of the Five Rivers
After breakfast, transfer to Delhi airport for your short flight north to Amritsar, in the heart of Punjab, the land of the five rivers. On arrival, you will be met and driven to your hotel, with the rest of the day free to relax before tomorrow's sightseeing in this historic Punjabi city.
- Transfer to Delhi airport
- Domestic flight, Delhi to AmritsarPriced separately
- Airport meet and greet with private transfer to your hotel in Amritsar
Breakfast
Day 3Golden Prayers and the Pageantry of Wagah
After breakfast, visit the Golden Temple, the spiritual heart of the Sikh faith, where the gilded sanctum seems to float on its sacred pool and the air is filled with continuous devotional music. From there, walk to the quiet, bullet-scarred gardens of Jallianwala Bagh, where in 1919 Brigadier General Reginald Dyer ordered troops to fire on an unarmed, peaceful gathering, one of the great turning points of India's independence movement. Continue to the Partition Museum, which tells the human story of the 1947 Partition of India through first-hand testimony and treasured belongings. In the afternoon, head out to the Wagah Border (arriving before 4pm) for the famous Beating Retreat ceremony, around 45 minutes of high-kicking, synchronised marching by Indian and Pakistani border guards, cheered on by crowds on both sides and ending with the ceremonial lowering of both nations' flags.
- Golden Temple
- Jallianwala Bagh
- Partition Museum
- Wagah Border flag ceremony
Breakfast
- Shimla
Day 4The Winding Road to the Queen of the Hills
After breakfast, settle in for the scenic drive up into the Himalayan foothills to Shimla, approximately 235 kilometers and around 6 hours. On arrival, check in to your hotel and take the rest of the day at a gentle pace, with an early evening stroll along the pedestrianized Mall Road, Shimla's lively colonial-era promenade lined with shops, cafés and Gothic-style architecture, a lovely way to get your bearings in the former summer capital of British India.
- Drive from Amritsar to Shimla (approximately 235 km, 6 hours)
Breakfast
Day 5In the Footsteps of the Viceroys
This morning after breakfast, explore Shimla's Raj-era heritage with visits to Raj Bhawan, also known as Barnes Court, the official residence of the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, and the Viceregal Lodge, the grand former residence of the British Viceroy and now home to the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. Continue up to Jakhu Temple, perched on Shimla's highest hill and dedicated to Lord Hanuman, for sweeping views over the town and the surrounding valleys before returning to your hotel.
- Raj Bhawan (Barnes Court)
- Viceregal Lodge
- Jakhu Temple
Breakfast
- Chandigarh
Day 6Down from the Hills to Le Corbusier's City
After breakfast, check out and begin the descent from the hills to Chandigarh, one of India's first planned cities after independence, laid out by the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier. On arrival, check in to your hotel, with the rest of the day free to relax.
- Drive from Shimla to Chandigarh
Breakfast
Day 7Nek Chand's Garden of Stone and Dreams
After breakfast, spend the day exploring Chandigarh, beginning with the celebrated Rock Garden, an extraordinary sculpture park created almost entirely from recycled industrial waste and household scrap, a labour of love that grew from one man's secret hobby into one of India's most visited gardens. Continue with a tour of the city's wider sights, taking in Chandigarh's distinctive planned layout and modernist architecture, a world away from the older cities visited earlier in the trip.
- Rock Garden
- Chandigarh city sightseeing
Breakfast
- Delhi
Day 8An Unhurried Return to the Capital
After breakfast, check out and enjoy a private drive back to Delhi. On arrival, check in to your hotel and enjoy a relaxed afternoon and evening at leisure, a welcome pause before tomorrow's full day of sightseeing in the capital.
- Drive from Chandigarh to Delhi
Breakfast
Day 9Eight Centuries of Delhi, from Minaret to Mughal Fort
After breakfast, set out on a full-day tour of Delhi's landmarks. Marvel at the soaring Qutub Minar, a fluted sandstone tower begun in the late 12th century, then visit the Lotus Temple, the striking lotus-shaped Bahá'í House of Worship (closed on Mondays). Drive past the presidential Rashtrapati Bhavan and the peaceful memorial of Raj Ghat, dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, before diving into the wonderful bustle of Old Delhi with a rickshaw ride through the packed lanes of Chandni Chowk. Round off the day at the mighty Red Fort, the red sandstone fortress that was once the seat of Mughal power in India.
- Qutub Minar
- Lotus Temple (closed on Mondays)
- Rashtrapati Bhavan and Raj Ghat (photo stops)
- Rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk
- Red Fort
Breakfast
Day 10Rab Rakha (May God Keep You): Farewell to India
All good things must come to an end. After breakfast, check out and transfer to Delhi airport in good time for your flight home, taking with you memories of golden shrines, misty hill stations and the vivid streets of Delhi. Rab Rakha, as they say in Punjab: May God keep you, until we meet again.
- Airport transfer
Breakfast
Accommodation
Where you'll stay
The hotels we recommend for this journey are shown below. Your specialist will confirm the most suitable options and availability when your journey is planned.
Delhi
1 night
Amritsar
2 nights
Shimla
2 nights
Chandigarh
2 nights
Delhi
2 nights
Only one hotel tier, Five Star, is offered on this itinerary. Delhi is used twice, on arrival and before departure, with the same hotel both times. Hotels are as listed or similar, subject to availability at the time of booking.
The detail
What the price covers
Included
- 9 nights' accommodation at the hotels listed, or similar, on a twin sharing basis
- Breakfast daily
- Airport transfers with staff assistance
- All transfers, intercity travel and sightseeing by private, air-conditioned Toyota Innova Crysta
- Services of a local English-speaking guide during sightseeing
- All monument entrance fees
- Two bottles of packaged water per person per day during drives and sightseeing
- All currently applicable taxes, 5% GST at the time of writing and subject to change
Not included
- International flights
- The domestic flight from Delhi to Amritsar (priced separately)
- Travel insurance and visa services
- Personal expenses such as drinks, telephone calls and laundry
- Tips and porter charges
- Any additional costs arising from flight delays or cancellations, weather, political closures or technical faults
When to travel
October to March, when the plains of Delhi, Amritsar and Chandigarh are cool and dry and Shimla is crisp and clear. Delhi, Amritsar and Chandigarh lie on the plains and are hot from April until the summer monsoon, so the cooler months from October to March are far more comfortable for sightseeing. Shimla, at altitude, is pleasantly cool for most of the year and can see snow in winter. This itinerary is not offered between 15 December 2026 and 12 January 2027. Private departures on any date from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, except 15 December 2026 to 12 January 2027 (Christmas and New Year).
9 Nights, 10 DaysPrivate
Delhi, Amritsar, Shimla and Chandigarh
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