Amritsar is a city in northwest India in the state of Punjab, close to the border with Pakistan. This is the spiritual home of the Sikh religion, with the magnificent Golden Temple located at the end of a causeway in the centre of the walled Old Town, surrounded by a sacred lake where pilgrims bathe. On holidays to Amritsar you can visit historic sites in the city, as well as drive to the Pakistan border in the late afternoon to watch the daily Wagah flag lowering ceremony, described by Michael Palin as a display of “carefully choreographed contempt”.
Afterwards you can travel to Dharamshala in the foothills of the Himalayas, where the Buddhist Dalai Lama in exile has made his home at McLeod Ganj. Here you can visit the Norburlinka Institute, dedicated to preserving Tibetan culture. This region is also home to the fearsome Gurka soldiers – “the bravest of the brave”.
Further east, also in the foothills of the Himalayas, is Shimla – a tea-producing hill station that became popular as the summer capital of British India when it was ruled from Delhi, when government officials came here to escape the heat. Train tours in the Himalayas can incorporate a 5-hour trip on the narrow gauge Himalayan Queen 'Toy Train' to Kalka, which is an amazing experience. Shimla is a charming place, surrounded by breathtaking scenery.
For expert advice on holidays to Amritsar & Shimla in India, including Golden Temple & train tours to the Himalayas, contact our team on
01582 766122 today. We can tailor make a holiday to your exact requirements.
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We have been arranging holidays to Amritsar & Shimla in India, Golden Temple & train tours in Himalayas for over 20 years.
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