India Holidays

The Golden Temple Amritsar literally translates as the Temple of God and is the most important Gurudwara for the Sikh religion holding the original copy of the Sikh scriptures 'the Guru Granth Sahib'. Your trip to Amristar explores this temple complex and the city which was founded in 1577 by Ram Dass, the fourth guru. As you move on from this temple you head to the Indo Pak border for a classic show of bravado between the Indian and Pakistani border guards.
This trip then heads further north to Dharmasala, which rose to prominence after the exodus of Tibetans from their homeland in 1959. It is a residence of the Dalai Lama, and gives the feeling of ocean tranquillity within the backdrop of the majestic Dhauladhar Mountains.

This journey then heads onto Simla and Manali, two beautiful Himalyan hill stations.
Shimla was discovered by the British in 1819 following the Gurkha War, which was famous for the temple of Hindu Goddess Shyamala Devi. After Simla was recognised for its beauty and cool climate, the Scottish civil servant Charles Pratt Kennedy built the first British summer home in the town in 1822. Once Simla had caught the attention of the Governor-General of India in 1835, Lord William Bentinck the town quickly became the summer capital of the British Raj, British soldiers, civil servants and to escape the Indo-Gangetic plain heat. The Kalka-Shimla railway line is based here and is one of the main highlights in Simla.