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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Spirit of the Himalayas & Amritsar's Golden Temple

15-day escorted journey through India's Himalayan foothills and Punjab temples

Illustration of Spirit of the Himalayas & Amritsar's Golden Temple

Vacations By Rail's Spirit of the Himalayas and Amritsar's Golden Temple is a 15-day escorted tour beginning in Delhi and ending in Amritsar. Over two weeks, the itinerary takes you from the colonial architecture of the British Raj through Rishikesh on the sacred Ganges River, up into the Himalayan foothills via two heritage toy trains, and finally to the Golden Temple in Punjab. A professional tour manager leads a small group through spiritual sites, tea estates, and mountain villages. Days balance guided sightseeing (Mughal monuments, monasteries, temples, the Wagah border ceremony) with free time to wander or rest. You stay in hotels ranging from 3 to 5 stars, with all meals, transport, and tours included. On Day 6, you board the Himalayan Queen, a narrow-gauge train that climbs 60 miles through 102 tunnels to Shimla. On Day 14, you return to Delhi on the modern Vande Bharat Express. This tour suits travelers new to India, history enthusiasts, and those seeking guided comfort in mountain and spiritual settings.

What to know before you look closer

  • Flights and airport transfers are not included; those are booked separately.
  • Day 1 requires independent transfer to the hotel; the tour manager meets the group at the Taj Palace for dinner.
  • Day 9 onward from Palampur includes optional excursions and activities payable locally (hikes, cultural outings, village walks, Kufri and Wildflower Hall visits).
  • The tour is designed for 2026 and no current departures are listed in the evidence.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Delhi

    Welcome to Delhi and the Taj Palace

    Transfer independently to the Taj Palace hotel, set among gardens with Mughal-inspired architecture. First dinner together this evening.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: Delhi

    Uncovering Delhi's rich colonial history

    Explore British Raj-era architecture from Kashmiri Gate, visiting St. James and St. Mary churches and the Holy Trinity Church, then a drive past India Gate, Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhawan and Humayun's Tomb.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3railovernight: Rishikesh

    The sacred city of Rishikesh

    Board the Shatabdi train to Haridwar, then transfer to Rishikesh. A sightseeing tour of Chaurasi Kutia ('the Beatles Ashram') and a stroll along the Ganges.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Rishikesh

    Relaxing and exploring Rishikesh

    Visits to the ashrams Sivananda, Swarg, Geeta Bhavan and Parmarth Niketan, crossing the Ram Jhula and Janki Setu bridges, a visit to Bharat temple, and the evening Ganga Aarti fire ceremony.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: Chandigarh

    To Chandigarh, city of 'Le Corbusier'

    An optional morning yoga session, then travel by coach to Chandigarh, the planned city designed by Le Corbusier.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6railovernight: Shimla

    To Shimla on the Himalayan Queen Toy Train

    An orientation tour of Chandigarh including the UNESCO-listed Capitol Complex, then board the narrow-gauge Himalayan Queen 'Toy Train' from Kalka to Shimla, with a picnic lunch en route, for a three-night stay.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  7. Day 7overnight: Shimla

    Exploring the British summer capital of Shimla

    A talk by author and historian Raaja Bhasin, then a sightseeing tour by private car taking in the Viceregal Lodge, Sankat Mochan temple and the Gaiety Theatre.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: Shimla

    A free day to explore Shimla

    A free day, with optional excursions to Kufri and Wildflower Hall (payable locally), or a wander down Mall Road, the Ridge, Scandal Point and Lakkar Bazaar.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  9. Day 9overnight: Palampur

    To the beautiful hill station of Palampur

    Drive to Palampur in the Kangra Valley, checking in to a chalet villa hotel with tea garden views. Optional hikes, cultural excursions or an evening village walk (payable locally).

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  10. Day 10overnight: Palampur

    Touring Dharamshala, or 'Little Tibet'

    Visit the Gyuto Monastery, Norbulingka Monastery and Tibetan Museum, then the 16th-century Namgyal Monastery, home of the Dalai Lama, concluding at the Kangra State Museum.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  11. Day 11railovernight: Pragpur

    Exploring India's first heritage village, Pragpur

    Tour the Wah Tea Estate, then a short 'toy train' ride on the Kangra Valley Railway from Palampur to Nagrota, before driving to the heritage village of Pragpur.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  12. Day 12overnight: Amritsar

    Down the mountains to Amritsar

    A walk through the heritage village of Garli, then travel by air-conditioned Jeep-style vehicles to Amritsar, visiting the Partition Museum on arrival. An evening visit to the Golden Temple's Palki ceremony (beginning 10pm, returning around 11:30pm).

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  13. Day 13overnight: Amritsar

    Golden Temple and the Wagah border ceremony

    A guided daytime visit to the Golden Temple and its free kitchen, then Jallianwala Bagh memorial, followed by the 'Changing of the Guard' ceremony at the Indo-Pakistan Wagah border.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  14. Day 14railovernight: Delhi

    Returning to Delhi by rail

    Board the Vande Bharat Express for a roughly 5.5-hour journey in AC Chair Class back to Delhi, with the remainder of the day at leisure and a final group dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  15. Day 15

    Homeward bound

    After a final breakfast, transfer to Delhi airport for your flight home.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Board the Shatabdi Express from Delhi to Haridwar, then transfer to Rishikesh to visit the Beatles Ashram and walk along the Ganges River
  • Day 6Ride the narrow-gauge Himalayan Queen Toy Train from Kalka to Shimla, a 60-mile UNESCO World Heritage route built in 1904 with 102 tunnels
  • Day 11Take a short ride on the Kangra Valley Railway toy train from Palampur to Nagrota, then drive to the heritage village of Pragpur
  • Day 12Arrive in Amritsar and attend the Golden Temple's Palki ceremony, beginning at 10 p.m. and concluding around 11:30 p.m.
  • Day 13Visit the Golden Temple's free kitchen and witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Indo-Pakistan Wagah border

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 14 nights' 3, 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
  • Standard Class and AC Chair Class rail travel
  • All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
  • Breakfast and dinner each day, 3 lunches
  • Group luggage transfers between all hotels
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance
  • Flights and Airport transfers

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed by more than one company. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Vacations By Rail includes all rail travel: the Shatabdi Express (Delhi to Haridwar), the Himalayan Queen Toy Train (Kalka to Shimla), the Kangra Valley Railway toy train (Palampur to Nagrota), and the Vande Bharat Express (Amritsar to Delhi in AC Chair Class). Coach travel between cities is also included.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. A professional tour manager leads the group from start to finish. You travel among like-minded travelers with all guided tours and excursions organized.
What is included in the price?
The from-price of USD 3,299 covers 14 nights in 3, 4, and 5-star hotels, all rail and coach travel, breakfast and dinner each day (plus three lunches), group luggage transfers, and all guided tours and excursions. Flights, airport transfers, travel insurance, and optional activities are not included.
How much walking is involved?
Vacations By Rail rates this tour Mobility Rating 4. The itinerary includes city walking tours, visits to ashrams and temples with stairs, and exploration of heritage villages. Uneven surfaces and steps are part of the experience.
What are the main highlights?
The highlights are stays near the source of the Ganges in Rishikesh, visits to the Golden Temple of Amritsar (including the Palki ceremony), the Wah Tea Estate in the Kangra Valley, and Dharamshala, home of the Dalai Lama. Two UNESCO-listed toy train rides are featured, and you visit sites connected to British colonial history and Sikh and Hindu spiritual traditions.

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