Day 01: Arrive Delhi

Arrive Delhi, meet & greet with our office representative, assistance and transfer to hotel. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 02: Delhi – Pathankot (Overnight train)

Breakfast at hotel, half day city tour. Drive past Red Fort & Chandni Chowk Bazar, Khari Baoli spice market Visit

Jama Masjid (Mosque)- Shah Jahan (King of the World) founded the city of Shahjanabad, now referred to as Old Delhi, in 1648. Opposite the fort is the Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in the world, built by Shah Jahan to dominate his city.

Raj Gath:- The memorial of Mahatma Gandhi where he was cremated after his assassination.

Qutab Minar: The building complex dated back on the onset of Muslim rule in India and are fine examples of Afghan architecture. Himayun’s Tomb;Build by wife of Humayun, the second mughal king. It is an early example of Mughal architecture.

India Gate:- The 42m high stone "Arch of Triumph", erected in the memory of Indian soldiers who died in the First World War; Drive through Rajpath "Kingsway" a VVIP area of Delhi including Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Laxmi Narayan Temple:- Garishly colored modern temple is erected by the industrialist Birla. This temple is dedicated to Laxmi - the goddess of wealth and Narayan - Lord Vishnu, husband of Laxmi.

Evening transfer to New Delhi railway station to board train no. 14033, Jammu Mail departing at 2020hrs for Pathankot. Overnight in train.

Delhi – Dharamsala is also connected by regular flight IT4351, 1110/1235HRS

Day 03:Pathankot – Dharamsala (90kms/ 2hrs approx)

06:30hrs arrive Pathankot railway station, proceed to Dharamshala. The scenic drive through the mountains brings you to the upper Dharamsala or popularly known as McLeodgarh. This hill station with its magnificent view of the Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas is the seat of His Holiness, the XIVth Dalai Lama and the headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile. The town has a large Tibetan refugee settlement. The numerous monks in their flowing maroon robes, the many street shops selling momos and butler tea, and old Tibetan women in their traditional clothes, walking past serenely turning their prayer wheels, could well be in Tibet. On arrival check-in at hotel.

Later visit the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) and attend the various culture programs taking place there. Namgyal Monastery, the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives and Monastery of Nechung. The Library: open from Monday till Friday, has an exhaustive collection of books, manuscripts, and archival photographs on Tibet. One of the most extensive sets of original Tibetan manuscripts is preserved here, besides sacred texts and prayer scrolls. In addition to books on Tibet, there is also information on Indian culture and history. On the first floor of the complex is the museum with Buddhist images, bronze figures and a collection of mandalas (geometrical drawings used in Tantric Buddhism for meditation), including the only wooden mandala outside Tibet. Dip Thekchen Choeling Monastery: with its golden roof amidst tall pine forests. The monastery also offers accommodation, with breakfast and dinner thrown in. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 04:Dharamsala.

Breakfast at hotel.

Meeting with Dalai Lama:- Later city tour of McLeodganj, which is home to most of the Tibetan exiles. At McLeodganj, the Tibetans have established many monasteries, schools and temples. Mcleodganj is sometimes known as 'Little Lhasa', after the Tibetan capital city.McLeodganj has a distinctly different character, with its brightly painted buildings, Buddhist temples, prayer flags fluttering in the air and saffron monks and nuns hurrying along the streets. The main Buddhist temple or Tsuglagkhang (cathedral) is a five-minute walk from the main bazaar. Said to resemble the one in Lhasa, the temple is surrounded by red and gold prayer wheels that are set in motion by devotees to scatter prayers in the air. Inside are images of Shakyamuni (Buddha of the past), Padmasambhava the propagator of Buddhism in Tibet, and Avalokiteshvara (the compassionate one). All the images are in a posture of meditation with offerings of fruits, incense sticks and prayer flags in front. In the courtyard of the temple a curious tradition is enacted every afternoon by lamas from the Namgyal monastery. Punctuated by lots of shouting and clapping, the monks conduct serious debates on various theological issues.

Dal Lake: lake surrounded by Deodar trees, with temple of Durgeshwara Mahadev by the lakeside.

Bhagsunath Temple: old temple of Bhagsunath with a fresh waterspring. Further, about 0.5 km is beautiful Bhagsunath waterfall which is enough to sooth one’s eyes and mind.

Church of St. John in the Wilderness:- built in 1860. Worth a visit for its beautiful stained glass windows, the church was severely damaged in a major earthquake that rocked the region in 1905. Rebuilt subsequently, the church has old bells that had been cast in London and installed in 1915. Lord Elgin, one of the few Viceroys of India who died in office, lies buried here. Evening back to hotel. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 05:Dharamsala – Shimla (235kms/ 6hrs)

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Shimla check in at hotel.

Afternoon visit The Mall: an ideal spot for shopping and tourists have a major attraction to this place for the place besides catering to shops also have a theater and a number of good eating joints.

The Ridge - This ridge of Shimla gives a spectacular sight of the ice-covered mountain peaks. The Mall- an ideal spot for shopping and tourists have a major attraction to this place for the place besides catering to shops also have a theater and a number of good eating joints.

Jakhoo Temple - The temple being situated at the highest peak of Shimla gives a stunning view of the Shimla town. The temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. So tourists visit this place for offering prayers before the idol.

State museum - This is the abode to excellent paintings, handicrafts, textiles and stone carvings. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 06: Shimla – Delhi – Bhubaneswar - Puri

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Delhi, (270kms/ 6hrs approx) direct transfer to airport to board flight 6E259, 1625/1825hrs OR IT3345, 1730/1930hrs for Bhubaneswar. On arrival meet with our office representative and transfer to hotel in Puri (54kms/ 1hrs approx). Overnight at hotel.

Day 07:Puri – Full day excursion

Breakfast at hotel, full day excursion to visit Khandagiri And Udaygiri Caves (first century BC): the twin hills of Khandagiri and Udaygiri, the next major Orissan historical monument after Ashoka's rock-cut edict.The rocks of the Khandagiri and Udaygiri hills were carved and tunneled, to create this multi-storied ancient apartment residence for Jain monks. They were the work of the first known Orissan ruler, King Kharavela, and probably begun in the first century BC. Kharavela was a king of the Mahameghavahana dynasty, who is known for expansion of the Kalinga empire and his installation of public improvements, such as canal systems. His queen was evidently quite a patron of the arts, and probably had much to do with the impressive sculptural decoration of the caves.

Dhauli : where the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka renounced violence and embraced the teachings of Buddha. We visit the Peace Pagoda known as Shanti Stupa built in early 1970s by the Japanese. We also stop at two ancient rock edicts, today eclipsed by the presence of the Pagoda. Dating from 260BC they outline Ashoka's detailed instructions to his administrators to rule with gentleness and fairness.

Shanti Stupa at Dhauli the serenity of the place and the legacy of Buddhism motivated the Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangha, under the guidance of Guruji Fujii, Founder President of Nipponzan Myohoji of Japan to establish a Peace Pagoda or Shanti Stupa at Dhauli along with the construction of the monastery called Saddharma Vihar in early seventies of 19th century. Along with the Ashokan Edicts, the Peace Pagoda and modern Buddhist Monastery, Dhauli offers the visitors small-rock cut caves, Hindu temples of early medieval period and a renovated Siva temple known as Dhavalesvara on top of the hill are added attractions. Overnight at hotel.

Day 08: Puri – Konark – Pipli Artisan Village – Puri

Breakfast at hotel, full day visit to the Chariot of the Sun God temple, built by King Langula Narasimha Deva in the 13th century AD during the golden era of Orissan art. This temple, among the crowning works of Orissan architecture and sculpture, is sheer poetry in stone. Everyday the Sun God rises from the horizon, across the shimmering blue waters of the Bay of Bengal, and casts the warmth and luminosity of his revitalising rays on the sanctum sanctorum, circling the temple during the course of the day, illuminating the three brilliant images of the sun - in the morning, at mid-day and in the evening, as day makes way for the night. As you approach the water, you will see rising from the golden sandy beach, one of the country's most vivid archaeological treasures - the Surya Mandir (Sun Temple). For a millennium, this temple served as a beacon to the ancient and medieval mariners. Despite the fact that the Black Pagoda, as it was referred to by European soldiers who wanted to distinguish Konark from the whitewashed Jagannath Temple in Puri, lies in ruins, the structure is magnificent.

Pipli Artist Village; The villagers of Pipli produce applique art, a process of cutting coloured cloth into shapes of animals, birds, flowers leaves gods, goddesses and other decorative motifs and stitching them over a piece of cloth. These creations are then fabricated into lampshades, handbags, cushion covers or even garden umbrellas. A famous example is the enormous applique' canopies above the reigning deity of Puri, Lord Jagannath.

In Pipli, one can across rows of shops flaunting the applique work. The applique work in Pipli includes bed covers, letter cases, cushion covers, wall hangings, pillow covers, bed sheets, hand bags, canopies, garden umbrellas, etc. It is said that the kings and nobility of Orissa had patronized the applique work. At one time, the applique work of Orissa is said to have reached the heights of excellence. In Orissa, kings engaged craftsmen in the Jagannath Temple. In 1054, Maharaja Birakshore is said to have appointed 'Darjis' to serve the temple. The 'darjis' provided regular supply of the items required for the rites performed at the temple. The village of Pipli was set up for accommodating the craftsmen of Orissa. Initially, the craftsmen only made banners, umbrellas and canopies for the festive occasions, but with the popularity of the art, the artisans started making many items of utility. The craftsmen of Pipli also supplied the articles of utility to the maths and the monastic houses. But since Independence, the darjis have completely taken to making articles for the tourists. Overnight at hotel.

Day 09: Puri – Chilika Lake (at Satpada) – Puri (90kms both way)

Breakfast at hotel, excursion to visit Chilika lake (at Satpada), boat cruise inside the lake, get a chance to see the Dolphins.

Chilika Lake:- is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent. The lake is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals. The lake is an ecosystem with large fishery resources. It sustains more than 150,000 fisher-folk living in 132 villages on the shore and islands. The lagoon hosts over 160 species of birds in the peak migratory season. Birds from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea and other remote parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, Central and southeast Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas come here. These birds travel great distances, but it must be stressed, that the migratory birds probably follow much longer routes than the straight lines, possibly up to 12,000 km, to reach Chilika River. Overnight at hotel in Puri.

Day 10 : Puri full day excursion to Ratnagiri, Udaigiri and Lalitgiri (160kms/ 3hrs approx one way)

Breakfast at hotel full day excursion to Ratnagiri in the Birupa river valley in the district of Jajpur, is another famous Buddhist centre. The small hill near the village of the same name has rich Buddhist antiquities. A large-scale excavation has unearthed two large monasteries, a big stupa, Buddhist shrines, sculptures, and a large number of votive stupas. This excavation revealed the establishment of this Buddhist centre at least from the time of the Gupta king Narasimha Gupta Baladitya (first half of the sixth century A.D.). Buddhism had developed at this place - unhindered upto the 12th century A.D.

In the beginning, this was an important centre of Mahayana form of Buddhism. During the 8th-9th century A.D., this became a great centre of Tantric Buddhism or Vajrayana art and philosophy. Pag Sam Jon Zang, a Tibetan source, indicates that the institution at Ratnagiri played a significant role in the emergence of Kalachakratantra during the 10th century A.D. This is quite evident from the numerous votive stupas with reliefs of divinities of the Vajrayana pantheon. Separate images of these divinities and inscribed stone slabs, and moulded terracotta plaques with dharanis found in the excavation at Ratnagiri.

Presently this university of Buddhist learning is found in ruins that attract a number of visitors every year. For lovers of art and architecture, lay tourists as well as special groups, Ratnagiri offers in its magnificent ruins, a large brick monastery with beautiful doorways, cella, sanctum with a colossal Buddha figure, and a large number of Buddhist sculptures. There is a smaller monastery at the place along with a stone temple, brick shrines and a large stupa with numerous smaller stupas around. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11 - 14 : Puri relax on the beach

Breakfast at hotel Day free for personal activities relax on the beach etc. Overnight at hotel.

Day 15: Puri – Bhubaneswar (54kms/ 1hrs approx)

Breakfast at hotel transfer to Bhubaneswar airport to board flight for Delhi. From Delhi board connecting flight for your home country.