10-Day North India Tour (Delhi to Shimla)

Welcome to India. Meet our representative in the arrival hall of the airport and then he will escort you to your hotel and help you checking in.

Start your Delhi tour with the Red Fort. Explore the magnificent architecture of the Mughal dynasty. Afterward, travel around Chandni Chowk by rickshaw to get a glimpse of the local people's lifestyle in Old Delhi. Chandni Chowk was built in 1650. It used to be the biggest market in India.

In the afternoon, continue your visit to Qutub Minar and Humayun's tomb. Listen to stories about the splendid dynasties that were created by Indian Muslims.

The symbol of victory, Qutub Minar

You will be driven to Agra, the erstwhile capital of the Mughal Empire, in the morning. After lunch, visit Agra Fort, which is also called Red Fort. It is a magnificent 16th-century fortress made of red sandstone, which is located on the Yamuna River.

Then you will visit Mehtab Bagh for a sunset view of the Taj Mahal.

Agra Fort

Visit the Taj Mahal in the early morning. The closer you walk to this ivory-white marble mausoleum, the more moved you will be by the spectacular architecture and the true love that sparked its creation. Enjoy seeing the morning sunlight as it kisses the pure white building gently.

Taj Mahal

Visit the Itmad-ud-Daula (the baby Taj Mahal). Walk into the quiet rooms with carved windows to touch the broken marble walls with thousands of beautiful inlaid patterns. You will be driven from Agra to Jaipur in the afternoon.

Admire the thousands of beautiful inlaid patterns of Itmad-Ud-Daula

Start your 'Pink City' exploration with the charming Amber Fort. The corridor with elegant pillars, the lovely colors of the patterns on the walls, and the shining mirrors in Sheesh Mahal, any of them can make you feel as though you have stepped back in time to the great dynasty. In the afternoon, continue your visit to Jaipur's City Palace. The abundant exhibits will highlight what life was like for the maharajas of Jaipur. Then visit the Jantar Mantar. Be impressed by the wisdom of the ancient Indians.

The beautiful courtyard of Amber Fort

Visit the less touristy Nahargarh Fort in the morning to get a great view of Jaipur. This fort is located on the top of a mountain in the north of Jaipur. It was originally built to enhance the city defenses and eventually became a summer house for the royal family. You can walk into the living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, washrooms, and cloakrooms of the maharajas and their wives. The beautiful colors on the walls of each room will impress you because of the natural resources they came from. The technique used to make these long-lasting colors is still a mystery.

Enjoy a bird's eyes view of the city from Nahargarh Fort

You can see some animals around the fort, such as monkeys and peacocks. They enjoy peaceful lives there. Don't forget to stop on your way back for the nice view of the water palace in the distance. It is like a fairyland for the maharajas in Jaipur. You will be driven to the airport for your flight to Amritsar after lunch.

The nice view of the water palace from Nahargarh Fort

Visit the most beautiful Sikh temple, Harmandir Sahib, in the morning. It is a great combination of the solemn Islamic style and the colorful Hindu style. Cover your head with a scarf or wear a hat, take off your shoes and socks, and wash your feet in the holy water. Then walk into the temple to enjoy the fantastic decorations, the chanting of the Sikhs, and the pious atmosphere. After visiting the temple, you will walk to Jallianwala Bagh. This is where the Amritsar massacre took place. The bullet holes on the walls of the buildings reflect this sad piece of history.

Admire the most beautiful Sikh temple of India

After lunch in a local restaurant, you will head for the border for the interesting "lowering of the flags" ceremony by both the security forces of India (Border Security Force) and Pakistan (Pakistan Rangers). It features saluting and a show of strength by both armies. It is worth witnessing as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Enjoy an interesting ceremony on Wagah border

You will take an express train from Amritsar to Chandigarh and then have a private transfer to Shimla. On the way from Chandigarh to Shimla, you will stop at the Pinjore Garden for a relaxing walk.

Visit the most famous temple in Shimla, Jakhu Temple. It is located on the top of a mountain and is dedicated to the monkey god of Hinduism, Hanuman. You will also encounter real monkeys there, which are very naughty. The walls of the sacred hall in the middle of the temple are covered with colorful embossments. It is also a great place to get a bird's-eye view of the town.

Visit a red Hindu temple on the mountain

Discover the Victorian style in Shimla's Mall Road in the afternoon. You will visit Christ Church, Scandal Point, Gaiety Theatre, and the Town Hall. They tell the stories of Shimla when it was the summer capital of British India.

Find the Christ Church on the Mall Road

Leave Shimla after breakfast and take a toy train ride to Kandaghat. During the 2-hour train ride, you will enjoy the pretty scenery in the mountains of Himachal. When you arrive in Kandaghat, you will be transferred to Chandigarh Airport to catch your flight back to Delhi.

Enjoy a toy train ride and the scenery along the way