Sunday 12 March
We’ll check in at your chosen airport (we can offer several regional departures) for our flights to…
Monday 13 March
…Delhi, arriving early morning. After a morning’s rest, we’ll arrange transport for a visit to the National Railway Museum to see the cream of India’s railway treasures.
Tuesday 14 March
We will take the early morning train from New Delhi for an early afternoon arrival at Kalka, the gateway to the famous 2’6” gauge line up to Shimla. On this line, we can make half the journey in one of the Railway’s iconic Railbuses, but accommodation is limited, and this is open to the first 12 applicants only. The rest of the journey will be on the Kalka Shimla Express in first class. We should arrive in Shimla by 6.00p.m.
Wednesday 15 March
We expect to have a steam charter train from Shimla down the line to Kathleeghat. The rest of the day is free to wander around the pleasant hill station of Shimla.
Thursday 16 March
After breakfast, we will set off by minibus for the journey through the Himalayan foothills for a night at Mandi, a lovely town on the banks of the River Beas. It’s a really pleasant place to wander round, full of friendly people. Our hotel tonight is basic but clean, and has an excellent buffet dinner, and strong beer!
Friday 17 March
Our road trip continues to Joginder Nagar, the outer terminus of the Kangra Valley Railway The scenery becomes more impressive and if we have a good run, we shall be able to get our first experience a short ride on the Kangra Valley from there on the 1155 train for the ninety minute journey to Baijnath Paprola. From there, it’s a very short ride to the Taragarh Palace Hotel at Baijnath, a luxurious surprise in the mountains. There’s the option of stopping in Baijnath to wander round a typical mountain market town.
Saturday 18 March
We hope to have a steam excursion over this scenic line for the 36 mile journey to Jawalmukhi Road, crossing the Reond Nullah Bridge, 600 feet above a mountain stream, and the equally impressive Bathu viaduct.
Sunday 19 March
We will arrange a visit to the Shanan Hydro-electric Power Station, based on a lake in the high Himalaya, with an impressive rope-worked incline system with steep grades following the pipes up the mountain to the lake that feeds it.
Monday 20 March
We have a choice today: you may take an excursion to Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama, driving through fabulous Himalayan scenery. Alternatively, take a road excursion to photograph some of the best and most impressive locations on the Kangra Valley Railway, including the 600 foot high bridge over Reond Nullah, and the equally impressive Bathu Bridge.
Tuesday 21 March
An early start to catch the 0720 train from Baijnath Paprola to Pathankot through wonderful scenery, where we’ll connect into the early evening train down to Amritsar for the night.
Wednesday 22 March
We will spend our day in Amritsar visiting the breathtaking Golden Temple, where a ‘free canteen’ policy produces many thousands of meals a day – help produce the chapattis if you wish! In the afternoon, we will visit Indian Railways Amritsar Works, where steam overhauls are carried out, and they have an amazing model collection. Oh, and a monorail on display.
Thursday 23 March
We will head out to the airport to catch the lunchtime flight down to Delhi. On arrival, we will be taken to our hotel or the next two nights.
Friday 24 March
We can offer a choice – spend the day relaxing at the hotel, or take a coach tour of the city. We will cover India Gate, the Indian Parliament, a cycle-rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk bazaar, Qutb Minar tower and Humayan’s tomb, plus the chance to do some shopping at the Khan Bazaar, traditionally the market used by ex-pats for their Delhi shopping.
Saturday 25 March
We’ll take the train for the ninety minute journey to Rewari, the new outpost of the National Railway Museum where they keep their operational steam locomotives. There is the possibility that the train may be steam hauled for the outward journey with a steam locomotive. Sorry, no guarantees! There will be time to look round the National Railway Museum’s outpost here with metre and broad gauge locomotives before continuing to Jaipur, the Pink City, by train, due to arrive at 7 p.m., in time for a late dinner.
Sunday 26 March
In the morning we will pay a visit to Amber palace, built high up on a rocky outcrop. Access is via a short elephant ride which is good fun, but the queue can be time–consuming. Rest assured the ride and the Palace is well worth the hassle! We will return to the city for the afternoon, to admire the pink stone buildings, the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) which is maybe the best-known of Jaipur’s buildings and the fascinating Janta Mantar, or Observatory, with a sundial accurate to 20 seconds!
Monday 27 March
Back to road transport for the interesting four-hour journey through to Bharatpur, India’s foremost bird sanctuary, but there is plenty of other wildlife too. We can familiarise ourselves with the park in the afternoon – there are plenty of guided walks, but cycle rickshaws are also available.
Tuesday 28 March
After an early morning bird-watching excursion (and a good breakfast), we’ll take the 1½ hour drive into Agra to visit the Taj Mahal before heading south to Dhaulpur, where we will stay at the Raj Niwas Palace for the night. This is a fabulous heritage hotel, which should prove to be one of the highlights of the tour.
Wednesday 29 March
Dhaulpur is the starting point for one of the last pure non-tourist narrow gauge lines that heads out into the countryside, serving a few villages and small towns. We’ll take the 1040 train out to the terminus at Tantpur, form where our coach will collect us, and take us up to Agra for an early dinner. We can then catch the 1750 Gaatiman Express up to Hazrat Nizamuddin in South Delhi. A coach will then take us out to our hotel at Delhi airport for a good night’s sleep
Thursday 30 March
After an early breakfast, we’ll transfer to the airport to catch the 10.35 flight to take us back to the UK.
What’s included?
Economy class flights to/from India, breakfast and dinner (*) daily, accommodation in 3-4 star hotels (or best available locally), all transport, charter trains and excursions as set out in the itinerary and the services of a Darjeeling Tours Limited Tour Manager. (Personal and incidental expenses are not included).
(*) Dinner is not included in Delhi, where there is plenty of choice, both in and out of the hotel. Food is not expensive, and this allows considerable individual flexibility.
Prices
Fully inclusive price from London: £ 4,625 based on two people sharing
Ground only price (international flights excluded) £ 3,950
Single supplement: £ 635
We’ll check in at your chosen airport (we can offer several regional departures) for our flights to…
Monday 13 March
…Delhi, arriving early morning. After a morning’s rest, we’ll arrange transport for a visit to the National Railway Museum to see the cream of India’s railway treasures.
Tuesday 14 March
We will take the early morning train from New Delhi for an early afternoon arrival at Kalka, the gateway to the famous 2’6” gauge line up to Shimla. On this line, we can make half the journey in one of the Railway’s iconic Railbuses, but accommodation is limited, and this is open to the first 12 applicants only. The rest of the journey will be on the Kalka Shimla Express in first class. We should arrive in Shimla by 6.00p.m.
Wednesday 15 March
We expect to have a steam charter train from Shimla down the line to Kathleeghat. The rest of the day is free to wander around the pleasant hill station of Shimla.
Thursday 16 March
After breakfast, we will set off by minibus for the journey through the Himalayan foothills for a night at Mandi, a lovely town on the banks of the River Beas. It’s a really pleasant place to wander round, full of friendly people. Our hotel tonight is basic but clean, and has an excellent buffet dinner, and strong beer!
Friday 17 March
Our road trip continues to Joginder Nagar, the outer terminus of the Kangra Valley Railway The scenery becomes more impressive and if we have a good run, we shall be able to get our first experience a short ride on the Kangra Valley from there on the 1155 train for the ninety minute journey to Baijnath Paprola. From there, it’s a very short ride to the Taragarh Palace Hotel at Baijnath, a luxurious surprise in the mountains. There’s the option of stopping in Baijnath to wander round a typical mountain market town.
Saturday 18 March
We hope to have a steam excursion over this scenic line for the 36 mile journey to Jawalmukhi Road, crossing the Reond Nullah Bridge, 600 feet above a mountain stream, and the equally impressive Bathu viaduct.
Sunday 19 March
We will arrange a visit to the Shanan Hydro-electric Power Station, based on a lake in the high Himalaya, with an impressive rope-worked incline system with steep grades following the pipes up the mountain to the lake that feeds it.
Monday 20 March
We have a choice today: you may take an excursion to Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama, driving through fabulous Himalayan scenery. Alternatively, take a road excursion to photograph some of the best and most impressive locations on the Kangra Valley Railway, including the 600 foot high bridge over Reond Nullah, and the equally impressive Bathu Bridge.
Tuesday 21 March
An early start to catch the 0720 train from Baijnath Paprola to Pathankot through wonderful scenery, where we’ll connect into the early evening train down to Amritsar for the night.
Wednesday 22 March
We will spend our day in Amritsar visiting the breathtaking Golden Temple, where a ‘free canteen’ policy produces many thousands of meals a day – help produce the chapattis if you wish! In the afternoon, we will visit Indian Railways Amritsar Works, where steam overhauls are carried out, and they have an amazing model collection. Oh, and a monorail on display.
Thursday 23 March
We will head out to the airport to catch the lunchtime flight down to Delhi. On arrival, we will be taken to our hotel or the next two nights.
Friday 24 March
We can offer a choice – spend the day relaxing at the hotel, or take a coach tour of the city. We will cover India Gate, the Indian Parliament, a cycle-rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk bazaar, Qutb Minar tower and Humayan’s tomb, plus the chance to do some shopping at the Khan Bazaar, traditionally the market used by ex-pats for their Delhi shopping.
Saturday 25 March
We’ll take the train for the ninety minute journey to Rewari, the new outpost of the National Railway Museum where they keep their operational steam locomotives. There is the possibility that the train may be steam hauled for the outward journey with a steam locomotive. Sorry, no guarantees! There will be time to look round the National Railway Museum’s outpost here with metre and broad gauge locomotives before continuing to Jaipur, the Pink City, by train, due to arrive at 7 p.m., in time for a late dinner.
Sunday 26 March
In the morning we will pay a visit to Amber palace, built high up on a rocky outcrop. Access is via a short elephant ride which is good fun, but the queue can be time–consuming. Rest assured the ride and the Palace is well worth the hassle! We will return to the city for the afternoon, to admire the pink stone buildings, the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) which is maybe the best-known of Jaipur’s buildings and the fascinating Janta Mantar, or Observatory, with a sundial accurate to 20 seconds!
Monday 27 March
Back to road transport for the interesting four-hour journey through to Bharatpur, India’s foremost bird sanctuary, but there is plenty of other wildlife too. We can familiarise ourselves with the park in the afternoon – there are plenty of guided walks, but cycle rickshaws are also available.
Tuesday 28 March
After an early morning bird-watching excursion (and a good breakfast), we’ll take the 1½ hour drive into Agra to visit the Taj Mahal before heading south to Dhaulpur, where we will stay at the Raj Niwas Palace for the night. This is a fabulous heritage hotel, which should prove to be one of the highlights of the tour.
Wednesday 29 March
Dhaulpur is the starting point for one of the last pure non-tourist narrow gauge lines that heads out into the countryside, serving a few villages and small towns. We’ll take the 1040 train out to the terminus at Tantpur, form where our coach will collect us, and take us up to Agra for an early dinner. We can then catch the 1750 Gaatiman Express up to Hazrat Nizamuddin in South Delhi. A coach will then take us out to our hotel at Delhi airport for a good night’s sleep
Thursday 30 March
After an early breakfast, we’ll transfer to the airport to catch the 10.35 flight to take us back to the UK.
What’s included?
Economy class flights to/from India, breakfast and dinner (*) daily, accommodation in 3-4 star hotels (or best available locally), all transport, charter trains and excursions as set out in the itinerary and the services of a Darjeeling Tours Limited Tour Manager. (Personal and incidental expenses are not included).
(*) Dinner is not included in Delhi, where there is plenty of choice, both in and out of the hotel. Food is not expensive, and this allows considerable individual flexibility.
Prices
Fully inclusive price from London: £ 4,625 based on two people sharing
Ground only price (international flights excluded) £ 3,950
Single supplement: £ 635