Delightful Himachal (Standard) Ex- Delhi

Day 1: Arrive in Delhi - Drive from Delhi to Shimla (330 km/approx. 9 hours)
Meals: Dinner
Upon arrival at Delhi, meet a Yatra representative at the Assembling Point – Taurus Hotel, Mahipalpur (Reporting Time – 8 pm).

After dinner, embark on an overnight journey from Delhi to Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. This beautiful hill resort was the erstwhile summer capital of the British. It is one of the top tourist destinations in India owing to its mild climate, meandering streets and snow-clad mountains. Often referred to as the 'Queen of the Hills', Shimla is perched at a height of around 2000 metres above sea level. Besides its natural beauty, what attracts hordes of tourists to this place is the opportunity to indulge in various adventure activities, such as trekking, mountaineering and skiing.

Day 2: Arrival in Shimla
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Upon reaching Shimla, complete the check-in formalities at the hotel and rest for some time. Thereafter, spend the rest of the day in leisure activities like shopping at popular markets or visiting famous attractions, such as Christ Church, Rashtrapati Niwas, Jakhoo Temple and Himachal State Museum.

Later, return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 3: Trip to Kufri
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
After a delicious breakfast, embark on an excursion to Kufri, a scenic hill station located at a short distance from Shimla. Situated at an elevation of around 2500 metres above sea level, Kufri is an ideal place to indulge in adventure activities. Thousands of tourists come to this hill resort to enjoy sports, such as hiking and tobogganing. This place also serves as a picnic spot owing to its picturesque surroundings and snow-covered mountains, to where various trekking and hiking trails are organised.

After reaching Kufri, you can witness the beauty of this place and take photographs of the scenic mountain ranges. You can also go on a hiking tour to the Mahasu Peak, which is located nearby. If hiking is not an option for you, then you can cover this distance on a pony. Another exciting place that you may visit is the Himalayan Nature Park. This park serves as a natural habitat for some endangered and rare animal species, such as hangul stag, musk deer and barking deer. This place is a haven for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.

Return to the hotel in Shimla in the afternoon and rest. In the evening, take a walk to the famous Mall Road of Shimla to shop and savour various delicacies on offer.

Thereafter, retreat to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 4: Drive from Shimla to Manali (270 km/approx. 9 hours)
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
After breakfast, complete the check-out formalities at the hotel and then, drive from Shimla to Manali, a beautiful hill station in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

Located in the Beas River Valley, at an elevation of more than 2000 metres above sea level, Manali can be reached from the national highway that leads to the Leh region. Manali is about 40 km away from another scenic hill resort – Kullu. Home to snow-clad mountain peaks, lush greenery, and rich flora and fauna, the town of Manali is flocked by tourists from across the country, especially in the holiday season.

The name 'Manali' has been derived from the words 'Manu' and 'Alaya', which mean 'Abode of Manu'. According to a legend, Manu was a sage who is believed to have recreated human life after the world was devastated after a great flood. There is an ancient temple in the old Manali village that is devoted to this sage. Besides this, some other prominent attractions of this hill town are Hadimba Temple, Manali Sanctuary, Arjun Gufa and Jagatsukh.

Upon reaching, check-in at the hotel and take some rest. In the evening, you can either explore its numerous places of interest or take a stroll on the popular Mall Road. This street is dotted with numerous eateries, cafes, local handicraft shops and retail brand outlets where tourists can not only go on a shopping spree, but can also relish mouth-watering local dishes.

Later, return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 5: Trip to Rohtang Pass (Up to Snow Point) (Closed on Tuesdays)
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
In the morning after breakfast, go on an adventurous excursion to the Rohtang Pass, which is considered as the highest motorable road in the world. This pass connects the beautiful Spiti and Lahaul Valleys with the Kullu Valley. Located at an altitude of more than 3970 metres above sea level on the highway to Leh/Keylong, the Rohtang Pass is at a distance of about 50 km from Manali. This pass serves as a gateway to the valleys of Leh, Pangi and Spiti and is a prominent attraction for tourists coming to this part of the country.

After reaching the Rohtang Pass, witness spectacular snow-peaked mountains and a panoramic view of the scenic surroundings. You can also see the twin peaks of Geypan from this pass. After spending quality time and taking photographs at this scenic place, return to the hotel in Manali in the afternoon and rest.

Later in the evening, go for a jaunt along the Mall Road to shop, eat and enjoy the pleasant weather. Thereafter, retreat to the hotel for dinner and a comfortable overnight stay.

Day 6: Sightseeing in Manali
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast, you can go on a sightseeing tour of Manali to visit its prominent attractions. You may start your tour with a visit to the famous Hadimba Temple. This shrine is dedicated to Goddess Hidimba, who was the wife of Bhima, a mythological character from the great Hindu epic – Mahabharata. Set amidst a lush green deodar forest, this temple has an exquisite structure, with its doorway featuring carvings of symbols and legendary figures. Built in AD 1533, this temple has a pagoda-shaped four-tiered roof.

Thereafter, visit the Vashist village, which is popular for its hot water springs and several revered shrines. Another must-visit place at this destination is Nehru Kund, which is named after the first Prime Minister of India – Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Stroll along the streets of Manali in the evening for a relaxing experience. Afterwards, return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 7: Drive from Manali to Chandigarh (325 km/approx. 8 hours)
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Soon after breakfast, check-out from the hotel and thereafter, drive towards Chandigarh, popularly referred to as the 'City Beautiful'.

Chandigarh, which is the capital of Punjab and Haryana, is regarded as one of the best planned cities of the country. The dream of this metropolitan city was envisaged by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India and executed by Le Corbusier, a renowned architect. This region, which is also a Union Territory, showcases a well-planned layout in its architecture and is therefore, considered the face of modern India.

Upon reaching in Chandigarh, check-in at the hotel and thereafter, spend some moments of repose. If time permits, you can go for some shopping on your own. Visit Sector 17 and 22 that are some of the popular shopping zones of Chandigarh. Here, you can buy traditional Phulkari suits, Kolhapuri slippers and bridal jewellery. You can also try out some local delights that are served at most of the restaurants here.

Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 8: Drive from Chandigarh to Delhi (250 km/approx. 5 hours)
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, drive from Chandigarh to the Delhi airport for your onward journey.

Tour Ends.