Day 1 : Delhi
You are greeted at Delhi airport by a representative of our local agency or your French-speaking guide to welcome you to India. They will assist you with the transfer to the hotel we have reserved for you for the night.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 2 : Delhi / Amritsar (Train -8h)
After breakfast, you set out to explore Delhi.Bathed by the sacred waters of the Yamuna, Delhi was twice the capital of an empire, first with the Mughals and then in 1911 with the British.The city is divided into 2 very contrasting parts: New Delhi, the Victorian city with its wide avenues, business district, and parliament grouped around Connaught Place; and Old Delhi, the old city and capital of Muslim India with its lively bazaars. Old Delhi is home to the Red Fort, a testament to the power of the Mughal emperors, as well as the largest mosque in the country, Jama Masjid.You explore Old Delhi on foot, then visit Raj Ghat, the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi. You then visit the tomb of Humayun, a beautiful example of Mughal architecture said to have inspired the construction of the Taj Mahal.After lunch, you take the train to Amritsar.
Dinner on the train and night at the hotel.
Day 3 : Amritsar
After breakfast, you set out to discover the city of Amritsar.At the heart of the city, the Golden Temple, the most sacred of Sikh temples, is reflected in the waters of the pool. It was the great and tolerant Mughal emperor Akbar who allowed this wonder to be built from 1588 to 160. The Adi Granth, the holy book of Sikhism, was deposited there shortly after. Since then, priests have taken turns reciting its sacred texts continuously.At lunchtime, you participate in the community kitchen service in the temple: several thousand meals consisting of chapati and lentils are served free of charge to 25,000 pilgrims every day.After a stroll through the picturesque city bazaar, you set out to discover Jallianwala Bagh Park, which commemorates the terrible day in 1919 when 2,000 Indians were killed or wounded by the British. After dinner, you return to the Golden Temple to attend, with many worshipers, the solemn ceremony of depositing the sacred book for the night. Music and songs accompany this highlight of temple life.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 4 : Amritsar
You have the morning free.After lunch, you go to witness the closing ceremony of the Pakistan border: Indian and Pakistani soldiers meet every evening in front of their respective supporters for this event. With their chests puffed out, brows furrowed, and fists clenched, the soldiers perform an intimidating parade to the rhythm of the officers' sharp orders. For nearly 40 minutes, they march in uniform with loud boot steps and attention.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 5 : Amritsar / Dharamsala (4h / 210 km)
After breakfast, you hit the road to Dharamsala. The road leading to this station, located in the Kangra Valley, passes through stunning mountain landscapes. In the town of Mcleodganj, the current residence of the Dalai Lama where 10,000 Tibetan refugees live, you take your first walk. Prayer wheels, colorful flags, monks, and momos (Tibetan dumplings) differ from traditional India.Lunch on the road, upon arrival in Dharamsala.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 6 : Dharamsala
After breakfast, your day revolves around visiting the Tsuglagkhang Temple, where the Dalai Lama lives, a beautiful example of Tibetan architecture. It houses magnificent frescoes of Shakyamuni and bodhisattvas, as well as precious manuscripts. You also visit the Norbulingka Institute, which strives to perpetuate Buddhist culture: tangka paintings, wood sculptures (closed on Sundays and the 2nd Saturday of each month and for all Tibetan festivals); then the St. John Church, the Tibetan Medical Institute, and the library.For hikers, very nice walks on well-marked trails are possible from the city.Lunch, then you have the afternoon free to enjoy access to this peaceful place.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 7 : Dharamsala / Baijnath / Mandi (5h / 230 km)
After breakfast, depart for Mandi.A stop is planned to visit the lush tea plantations of Palampur. Then you visit the Baijnath temple dedicated to Shiva.Lunch before hitting the road to Mandi, one of the most important cities in Himachal Pradesh, on the banks of the Beas River. It is the gateway to the Kullu Valley, which retains pretty old Hindu temples.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 8 : Mandi / Manali (4h / 110 km)
After breakfast, you visit the stone temple of Bases har Mahadev, the largest in the Kullu Valley.Lunch before hitting the road for the Manali Valley, "the end of habitable world," has attracted various populations of nomads and Tibetan refugees. They take advantage of the fertile mountain slopes to develop vegetable crops and sheep farming.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 9 : Manali
After breakfast, you visit the Hadimba Devi and Jagatsukh temples, the Tibetan Monastery, and Vashisht Kund. The discovery of Manali includes three distinct parts: the noisy and commercial new city, then Vashisht Kund, and finally old Manali, small preserved havens of peace with houses built of wood. After lunch, you set out to discover the Roerich Art Gallery (closed on Mondays) and the ancient temples.Your late afternoon is free for you to stroll through the city market.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 10 : Manali / Nagar / Kullu (1h30 / 40 km)
After breakfast, your road winds through the valley to reach Kullu. On the way, built on a mountainside at an altitude of 1850 m, stands Nagar, which was the capital of the valley for 1500 years. The old wooden houses with slate roofs nestle against each other below the 500-year-old castle, which you visit.Lunch near Kullu, where you visit the Raghunath temple, built on the cliff overlooking the main street. You also visit the Bashes Har Mahadev temple. A true jewel of the 8th century, it stands in the center of a pretty well-maintained garden.You then visit the palace of the former Raja of Kullu and discover religious rituals, commercial stands, as well as sports and cultural events.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 11 : Kullu / Shimla (5h30 / 220 km)
After breakfast, you head to Shimla, the summer capital of the British Empire located at an altitude of 2130 m.Formerly known as the "queen of hill stations," the city is now the capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh and is dominated by forests of pine, oak, and rhododendron.Lunch on the way to Shimla.A lovely walk allows you to discover the colonial buildings, the mall road, and the church, built in 1857 and famous for its stained glass windows.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 12 : Shimla
After breakfast, your day is devoted to visiting the vice-regal residence (a beautiful historic building located in a large garden), the Jakhu temple (dedicated to the monkey king Hanuman, perched on the heights of the city), as well as the museum and its collection of sculptures (closed on Mondays).Lunch, and your afternoon is free in Shimla.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 13 : Shimla / Chandigarh (4h / 180 km)
After breakfast, depart for Chandigarh, still associated with the name "Le Corbusier." He was appointed architectural advisor to the city in 1950 by the young government of Punjab in the aftermath of independence.Visiting the museum is a good introduction to exploring the city. You also have the opportunity to discover the Secretariat, seat of the Punjab government, the Assembly, and the High Court of Justice (these visits require permits).Lunch, and then one of the most visited sites in India opens its doors to you: the famous Rock Garden, which stretches over 12 hectares and includes no less than 1,400 sculptures.At sunset, enjoy a boat ride on Sukhna Lake.
Dinner and night at the hotel.
Day 14 : Chandigarh / Delhi
After breakfast, depart for Delhi.Upon arrival, visit Qutub Minar, the tallest tower in the country at 72.5m, and then explore New Delhi via Raj Path, the Royal Way, before admiring India Gate, Parliament, and the Presidential Palace.Later, share a moment of fervor with the Sikh community at Bangla Sahib temple.In the evening, transfer to the hotel: a room will be available for you to freshen up and have dinner before departure.
You are then transferred to Delhi airport for your return flight.