Frontier Punjab

Day 01 : Arrive Delhi

On arrival at New Delhi International Airport, warm welcome with fresh flower garlands and meet & assist with company representative or tour guide and transfer to the hotel. On arrival check-in at the hotel. (Standard check-in time in 1400hrs.) 

Mystery, magic, mayhem. Welcome to Delhi, City of Djinns, and 25 million people. Like an eastern Rome, India’s capital is littered with the relics of lost empires. A succession of armies stormed across the Indo-Gangetic plain and imprinted their identity onto the vanquished city, before vanishing into rubble and ruin like the conquerors who preceded them. Modern Delhi is a chaotic tapestry of medieval fortifications, Mughal mausoleums, dusty bazaars, colonial-era town planning, and mega malls.

Afternoon proceed for Old Delhi sightseeing. 

First stop would be Raj Ghat, this peaceful, very well maintained park contains a simple black-marble platform marking the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated following his assassination in 1948.

Next you will be driven to Old Delhi market, just before entering the market you will embark on a ‘Rickshaw’ to steer through tiny lanes of Chandni Chowk.  Ride past the majestic Red Fort & through the main Chandni Chowk street straight to Khari Baoli; Asia’s biggest wholesale spice market selling all kinds of spices, herbs, nuts & food products like rice, tea etc. Hop on to your rickshaws and pass through the tiny lanes of Kinaari Bazaar; lane for Indian attire accessories like borders etc, Dariba Kalan; lane for Silver market. Hop off and bid bye to your Rickshaw Puller at Jama Masjid; A beautiful pocket of calm at the heart of Old Delhi's mayhem, the capital's largest mosque is built on a 10m elevation. It can hold a mind-blowing 25,000 people.

Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib: The ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded here on 11 November 1675 on the order of Aurangzeb. Before his body could be quartered and exposed to public view, it was stolen under the cover of darkness by one of his disciples, Lakhi Shah Vanjara, who then burnt his house to cremate the Guru's body. 

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02 : Delhi – Amritsar (By train)  (B,-,-)

Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed for New Delhi sightseeing.

Qutub Minar: is a soaring, 73 m-high tower of victory, built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak immediately after the defeat of Delhi's last Hindu kingdom. The tower has five distinct storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony and tapers from a 15 m diameter at the base to just 2.5 m at the top. Kashmiri Co-operative, enjoy a Kashmiri Tea ‘Kahwa’ here when you witness the artisians presenting their local arts & products.

Sikh Temple Bangla Sahib: Topped by golden domes, this handsome white-marble Gurdwara was constructed at the site where the eighth Sikh guru, Harkrishan Dev, stayed before his death in 1664. Also tour the mega kitche of this Temple where more than 15000 people are served daily. Visit India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan & Parliament Street: A drive past Lutyen Delhi’s major monuments, a symbol of the colonial development in the capital. 
(Note: This is a high security area & access to roads are many a times restricted. Hence the panoramic ride is subject to all security clearances).

Later Transfer to railway station to take train to Amritsar.Optionally you can opt to take a flight as well. 

Suggested Train:
ASR SHTBDI EXP    New Delhi → Amritsar    16:30 PM – 22:40 PM    Runs daily

On arrival check-in & overnight at the hotel.

Day 03 : Amritsar (B,-,-) 

Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed for Amritsar sightseeing.

Start the tour with Golden Temple Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, is the main attraction in the city of Amritsar. Located in India’s Punjab region, this exquisite temple is one of the most revered and sacred sites in Sikhism. Also a must visit is the large kitchen of Golden Temple, feeding thousands of people each day, this is one of the largest kitchens in India. You may also try the food served to pilgrims in the ‘Guru ka Langar’. 

Jallianwala Bagh - the historic site where British General Michael Dyer fired bullets on the peaceful gathering of unarmed people.Visit the memorial house built in honor of the massacre victims. You can still observe the bullet marks on the wall of the garden. Visit Sri Durgiana Temple dedicated to the goddess Durga, this modern Hindu temple was built in 1921 in the architectural style of the Golden Temple. Surrounded by a holy water tank, it’s often called the Silver Temple because of its exquisitely engraved silver doors.

Located at a distance of 22 km from Lahore, Pakistan and 28 km from Amritsar in India, the Wagah Border marks the boundaries between Indian and Pakistani borders, running along the Grand Trunk Road. The Wagah Border Ceremony or the Beating Retreat Ceremony, held every day, is the prime attraction. Every evening, just before sunset, the soldiers from the Indian and Pakistan military meet at this border post to engage in a 30-minute display of military camaraderie and showmanship. 

Dinner & overnight at the hotel.

Optional Activity

Palki Sahib Ceremony is when the holy book Guru Granth sahib is carried to a room for night stay. This is symbolic gesture. The holy singing is stopped, some of particular hymns are read by the respected priest than book is closed and after performing the prayer the book is placed in a golden palanquin, which is carried by all the devotees who are lined up to take seva, it all happens amidst chanting and reciting of hymns. It’s a spectacle and surrounded by spirituality. 

Day 04 : Amritsar – AnandpurSahib – Chandigarh (B,-,-)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Chandigarh. En-route visit Anandpur Saheb (200kms/ 4-5 hours)

Anandpur Sahib: The second most important pilgrimage site for Sikhs after the Golden Temple, Anandpur Sahib was founded in 1664 by the ninth Sikh guru, Tegh Bahadur, shortly before he was beheaded by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. To resist the persecution of the Sikhs, his son, Guru Gobind Singh, founded the Khalsa (Sikh brotherhood) here in 1699, an event celebrated during the Holla Mohalla festival.

Visit the main Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) of Anandpur Sahib, one of the biggest in India.Virast-E-Khalsa: showcases/embodies the rich heritage of the Khalsa and its influence on the history and culture of Punjab. Visitors are exposed to the vision of the great Gurus and their eternal message towards the man-kind. 

Drive to Chandigarh (90kms, 2hours). On arrival check-in, dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 05 : Chandigarh (B,-,-)

Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed for sightseeing of Chandigarh. 

Nek Chand Rock Garden: Nek Chand 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.

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 ornamental gardens, a children’s fairground, places to eat and drink, and pedalos for rent.

Evening, spend some free time in the Sec 17 market of Chandigarh, a popular spot for youngsters & families to hang out. 

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 06 : Chandigarh – Delhi (B,-,-)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Delhi. (250kms/4-5 hours). On arrival check-in & overnight at the hotel.

Day 07 : Departure (B,-,-)    

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport to take flight to back home.

End of the tour