When the mighty peaks of the Himalayas team up with the sublime beauty of the Taj Mahal, the experience is worth witnessing. Enchanting Himalayas with Taj tour takes you to a wonderland with snow-laden peaks, dense forests and serene monasteries. Marvel at the beauty of the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The 15 nights and 16 days tour covers traveling to the magnificent mountains, meeting with the delightful people, breathing pure air, marveling at the inspiring architecture, revering the exciting religion and admiring the superb art. All these things account for a memorable trip.
Note: This is just a suggested itinerary indicative of what could be possible. We tailor holidays for your specific needs. Contact us if you want modifications so that we could tailor a holiday to suit your need for an unforgettable India tour.
ENCHANTING HIMALAYAS WITH TAJ
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Day 1: Delhi
Upon reaching at the Delhi Airport, meet our tour representative who will help you with guided transfer to one of our listed hotels in Delhi. Delhi, the capital of India, is a mix of mouth-watering food, historical legacy and vibrant markets. Get the glimpses of the dynamic union territory while on your short trip to the hotel.
After reaching the hotel, complete the check-in formalities. Rest of the day is for your leisure. Relax for a day or start visiting the bustling markets on your own. Taste some street foods or take a ride in the metro.
Return to the hotel for an overnight stay.
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Day 2: Delhi – Agra – Delhi
The day begins with a hearty breakfast. Thereafter, head towards Agra. Nestled on the banks of River Yamuna, Agra is famed for its Mughal-era monuments.
After reaching Agra, get ready for a sightseeing tour to Agra. The trip starts with the major attraction of Agra, the Taj Mahal. Also counted as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj is a mausoleum made up of white marble. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan commissioned it for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The marvelous monument epitomizes love and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Savor a delectable lunch. Subsequently, proceed towards the magnificent Agra Fort. The historical fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monument is a treasure trove of Mughal architecture tradition.
From there, you will be taken to Fatehpur Sikri to view at the Jodha Bai’s Palace. Built by Emperor Akbar for his wife Jodha, the red sandstone palace is a fine example of two distinctive styles of the Rajputs and the Mughals craftsmanship.
Rest of the afternoon is reserved for visiting the Tomb of I’tim?d-ud-Daulah. Also, known as the ‘Baby Taj Mahal’, the monument portrays delicate architectural beauty. The unique stone inlay that is made out of wine glasses leaves the visitors in a state of awe.
Get transferred to Delhi in the evening.
An overnight stay is planned in the hotel.
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Day 3: Delhi – Bagdogra – Darjeeling
After having breakfast, hit the roads to the Delhi airport to catch a flight to Bagdogra. The place is a paradise for peace lovers and looks beautiful even during monsoon. Teesta River meanders into the town and provides excellent opportunities for river rafting.
Upon reaching the Bagdogra airport, our tour representative will assist you towards the car which will take you to Darjeeling. The scenic hill town is a home to emerald green tea gardens, pines and rhododendrons trees and the Himalayan toy train which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
En route, you will be visiting the Teesta River which adds to the charm of the place.
After arrival at the Darjeeling, you will be taken to your pre-decided hotel. Complete the check-in formalities and unwind for the day.
Go for a walk in the evening and enjoy some leisurely activities. Spare some time for shopping. Admire the natural beauty and superb environ.
An overnight stay is planned in the hotel.
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Day 4: Darjeeling – Mirik – Darjeeling
Satiate your hunger with a delicious breakfast. The day is reserved for a full day excursion to Mirik. Tucked amidst the tranquil hills of Darjeeling is a fascinating tourist spot, known as Mirik. A perfect place for adventure enthusiasts, honeymoon couples and nature lovers, the famous destination spellbinds with magic created by the sparkling reflection of the town in the lake.
The two and a half hour drive passes by the lush tea gardens and orange orchards, making the ride wonderful.
After reaching Mirik, you will be visiting the popular Mirik Lake. Unwind along the banks of the Lake or take a boat ride. An arched bridge over the lake remains the center of attraction. Horse riding is also available here. Cross the bridge and get ready for an adventure to explore the Dhupi forest.
Return to Darjeeling in the evening.
An overnight stay is arranged in the hotel.
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Day 5: Darjeeling
A delectable breakfast is ready for you in the hotel. Post this, the first attraction of the day is the Tiger hill. The hill is famed for offering astounding sunrise views and enthralling views of the Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest. The sun rays illuminating the snow-laden peaks of the third highest mountain in the world, presents a sight to behold.
In the second half of the day, you will be transferred to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Zoo. Foundations of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was laid by Tenzing Norgay, the famous Nepalese Sherpa who was the one of the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Within the complex is the Zoo which keeps excitement level high for the children.
An exciting evening awaits for you as you will be enjoying a joyride in the toy-train, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which will take you to the Ghum Monastery. The vihara is one of the oldest Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries. Belonging to the Yellow Hat sect, the monastery is popular for 15-feet high statue of the Maitreya Buddha.
Return to the hotel for an overnight stay.
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Day 6: Darjeeling – Gangtok
Post breakfast, you will be proceeding towards Gangtok. The town is the center of Tibetan Buddhist culture and learning. Several religious educational institutions and monasteries adorn the attractive town. Gangtok offers awe-inspiring views of Kanchenjunga. The hill resort is also a popular place for pilgrimage for the followers of Buddhism.
There will be a halt en route at the Pemayangste Monastery. The monastery is one of the premier and oldest one. The Buddhist vihara is visited by many visitors.
Upon arrival at Gangtok, settle in the comforts of one of the pre-decided hotels. Relax for a while and later on, get ready for a full daytrip to the Tsomgo Lake. The 836-m long lake is oval in shape and is considered sacred by the natives. The glacial lake cast a spell on the visitors. Come winter and the lake gets frozen. There is a color play with every changing season. On the eve of Guru Purnima, many faith holders gather at the lake to benefit from the healing waters of the Lake. Don’t forget to enjoy a ride on Yaks and mules. Also, pay homage at the Shiva Temple, located on the lakeside.
In the evening, enjoy a leisurely walk to the local market of Gangtok. Shop till you drop. Do buy some souvenirs.
Enjoy a dinner and comfortable overnight stay at the hotel.
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Day 7: Gangtok – Rumtek – Gangtok
Eat a healthy breakfast. Start a full day trip to the Rumtek Monastery. Also known as the Dharmachakra Centre, the three storeyed gompa is truly beautiful. Some of the rarest Buddhist religious artwork in the form of thankas and wall murals are meticulously exhibited at the monastery. Perched over a hill, the vihara offers scenic views of the entire Gangtok. The Rumtek monastery embodies the vision and aspiration of the Sixteenth Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, to establish his seat-in-exile to help spread the teachings of the Buddha throughout the world.
Drive back to Gangtok in the evening for an overnight stay in the hotel.
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Day 8: Gangtok
Day 8 of the Enchanting Himalayas with Taj starts early in the morning. Post breakfast, get ready for the local sightseeing tour. The tour starts with visiting the Ranka Monastery. Also called as the Lingdum Monastery, the vihara is the most wonderful one. Offering scenic views, the gompa is considered as the picture perfect monastery in east Sikkim.
Next in the list is the Saramsa Garden, the park is ideal for recreation, leisure and picnic. Earlier, the place was used for growing a medicinal plant but after the practice was discontinued, the garden became a picnic spot. Now, it is dotted with banana, orange, lychee, guava and pineapple trees.
From there, you will be taken to the Ganesh Tok View Point. Ganesh Tok is a temple which is devoted to Lord Ganesh. One has to bend down to enter the temple. An exciting ritual grabs the attention. The visitors plant a saplings on a ground nearby the temple on behalf of those they love. The place also steals the limelight for beguiling with the panoramic views of the entire Gangtok.
The tour continues towards the Enchey Monastery. Meaning of the Enchey Monastery is the ‘solitary temple’. The attractive vihara is a pilgrimage for the flowers of Buddhism. The mystical wonderland is perched amidst the nature’s bounty. The 200 years old monastery gives devotees a feeling of being present at a blessed and serene destination.
Another most popular place to visit in Gangtok is the Do-Drul Chorten Stupa. The huge stupa features a golden top dome. The dome is visible from various places in Gangtok. 108 prayer wheels with mantras inscribed on them in Tibetan encapsulate the stupa.
Subsequently, hit the roads to Tashi view point. Marvel at the breathtaking views of the Kanchenjunga. Amazing sunrise views cast a spell on the spectators.
An appetizing dinner and a comfortable overnight stay is arranged in the hotel.
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Day 9: Gangtok – Phuentsoling
Savor flavorsome breakfast at the hotel. Later on, leave for Phuentsholing. A gateway to Bhutan, Phuentsholing is a lively city. En route, enjoy awe-inspiring sceneries and emerald green jungles covering the mountains and with clouds hovering above your head.
Upon arrival at the Phuentsholing, check-in at the hotel and relax for the day.
An overnight stay is planned in the hotel.
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Day 10: Pheuntsoling – Thimphu
Proceed towards Thimphu early in the morning. The unique city enjoys an unusual amalgamation of modern development along with ancient culture. Drive through beautiful valleys and passes offering spectacular views.
After reaching, complete the check-in formalities. The whole day is at your leisure. Take pleasure in doing activities that lure you. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon.
Spend the evening by strolling at the nearby places. Go for shopping or get insights about the place.
Enjoy an overnight stay at the hotel.
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Day 11: Thimpu
A full day sightseeing tour of the Thimphu Valley is scheduled for you after breakfast. The valley is a juxtaposition of the old and new.
Post lunch, you will be taken to the National Institute for Zorig Chusum. The institute is usually known as the ‘painting school’ runs 4-6 years courses which make the students learn about the 13 traditional arts of the Bhutan. Students master the art of woodcarving, painting, embroidery and statue making.
Thereafter, you will be travelling to the National Institute of Traditional Medicine. The Institute gathers medicinal plants from the remote corners of Himalayas of Bhutan and then distributes tablets, pills and ointments to regional health-care unit across the country.
The Memorial Chorten is next stopover in the list. The Thimphu Chorten is a stupa built to honor the third Druk Gyalpo. The golden spires and bells make the stupa, an iconic landmark in Bhutan. The stupa doesn’t preserves any human remains. Only a photo of the Druk Gyalpo adorns the hall.
From there, next destination is the National Library of Bhutan. The library was built with a motive of ‘preservation and promotion of the rich cultural and religious heritage’. The library is also a treasure trove of literary works of the several hundred years.
Enjoy a sound sleep at the hotel in Thimphu.
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Day 12: Thimphu – Wangdi – Punakha
Start moving towards Punakha via Wangdi via Niizergang. Situated 70-km to the southeast of Thimphu, Wangdi is a scenic place. An enthralling trek towards Wangdi passes by the ever-changing vegetation which presents a sight to behold.
Upon reaching Punakha, check-in at the pre-decided hotel. Punakha is a town which is famed for a 17th century fortress known as Punakha Dzong. Create memories of a lifetime amidst the pristine beauty, and exotic resorts.
In the afternoon, you will be visiting the Punakha Dzong. Later on. You will be taken to the local bazaar to enjoy shopping.
Be back in the hotel by evening for having your dinner and enjoying a comfortable overnight stay.
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Day 13: Punakha – Paro
Enjoy a healthy platter of breakfast. Afterwards, leave for Paro. A historic town, Paro is dotted with historical edifices and sacred places. An ideal blend of marvelous natural beauty and ancient history prevails at Paro. The town is perfect for partaking in adventure activity. En route, marvel at the captivating view of the Paro Valley.
Take a break at the Simtokha Dzong. The first of its kind, Simtokha Dzong means ‘Palace of the Profound Meaning of secret Mantras’.
After reaching Paro, complete the check-in formalities. A scrumptious lunch is arranged in the hotel. Later on, you will be taken to the Ta-Dzong (Watchtower). The rare round building features the shape of conch shell. A number of thangkas are exhibited here.
Get ready to visit the Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang. The temple owns a shape of a chorten which is very rare in Bhutan. The temple is considered a unique repository of the Drukpa Kagyu School.
Afterwards, you will be traveling to the Kyichu Lhakhang. The Himalayan Buddhist shrine is one of the oldest temple in Bhutan.
Return to the hotel for an overnight stay.
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Day 14: Paro
Drive from Pachu to Drukgyal Dzong early in the morning. Currently in its ruins, Drukgyal Dzong was earlier a Buddhist Monastery and a fortress. The place is also cited in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The journey will halt en route for a while. You can witness the spectacular view of the Bhutanese farm houses.
Eat yummy lunch and start climbing a hill to reach the Taktsang Monastery. The sacred temple is nestled on a Cliffside. The shrine is devoted to Guru Padmasambhava who is the revered deity of the Bhutan.
An overnight stay is arranged in a hotel at Paro.
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Day 15: Paro – Delhi
Once done with the breakfast, you will be taken to Paro airport to board a flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, check- in at the hotel. Rest of the day is free for relaxing and resting.
Enjoy an overnight stay in the hotel.
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Day 16: Delhi
Today is the last day of the trip and it is reserved for sightseeing tour of the capital city of India. The trip starts from the Lakshmi Narayan Temple. The temple is also known as Birla Mandir and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his wife Goddess Lakshmi. Owning a splendid architecture, the temple is an iconic landmark and welcomes people of all castes and creeds.
Thereafter, you will be visiting another must-visit place in Delhi i.e., the Parliament House. The circular colonnaded edifice is worth witnessing.
Continue your daytrip to Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple. You will definitely fall in love will the architectural craftsmanship. Intricately carved marble and sandstone are used to adorn the temple. A magical water show is worth witnessing during the evening.
India Gate is the next attraction in the list to be visited in the afternoon. The war memorial looks truly beautiful during evening when it gets imbued in various hues of the colorful lights. The ‘Arc-de-Triomphe’ like structure commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country.
Followed by this is a visit to Qutub Minar. The minaret is a UENSCO World Heritage site and is thronged by tourists.
Later on, you will be offering prayers at the Chhatarpur Temple. The holy shrine is the scared abode of Goddess Katyayani. The temple boasts of having one of the largest temple complexes in India.
In the evening, you will assisted with the guided transfer to the Delhi airport to catch your flight for your onward destination.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Sightseeing in Agra, including the Taj Mahal
- Excursion to Mirik
- Bask-in the sunrise from Tiger Hill
- Enjoy a toy-train ride to Ghum Monastery
- Soak-in the beauty of the Tsomgo Lake
- Visit Rumtek Monastery
- Delight in at the full day tour to the Thimpu Valley
- Trek towards Wangdi
- Explore the Drukgyel Dzong
- A day tour to Delhi, covering all the major attractions
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