Calcutta to Amritsar rail journey
| country: | India |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2010: 21 Feb, 7 Mar, 28 Mar, 17 Oct, 31 Oct, 14 Nov, 12 Dec 2011: 20 Feb, 6 Mar, 10 Apr |
| price: | From £1760 - £2050 (16 days) including flights from UK, from £1145 - £1195 excluding flights. Optional single supplement £370 |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
Travelling on a network that carries a staggering 10 million people every day, this incredible rail journey travels from vibrant Kolkata on the Bay of Bengal to the heights of the Himalaya and then on to the Pakistan border. We encounter pilgrims on their spiritual journeys to some of the holiest of places in India, whilst passing through the wonderfully contrasting scenery of northern India.
Kolkata to Varanasi
More familiarly known as Calcutta, India's intellectual capital boasts a lively cultural scene and is rich in colonial architecture. As well as visiting historical sites we take time to wander in the flower market and enjoy fine views of the Ganges, known locally as the Hooghly River. We join the flow of Buddhist pilgrims travelling to Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment. Continuing along the pilgrims' trail, our journey takes us to Varanasi and the awe-inspiring sight of Hindu devotees purifying themselves in the sacred waters of the Ganges.
Taj Mahal & Toy Trains
In Agra we spend time at the magnificent Taj Mahal and explore the preserved 'ghost city' of Fatehpur Sikri. From the thriving metropolis of Delhi we journey up into the mighty Himalaya, aboard a relic of the Raj, the narrow gauge 'Toy' train to the hill station of Shimla. Here, at the former British summer capital, we take in the fresh air and magnificent views. There are opportunities for walks in the area or to wander in the warren-like bazaar.
Golden Temple & Wagah
Descending from the mountains we travel to the Punjab and the city of Amritsar, which owes its existence to the renowned Golden temple - the holiest of Sikh shrines. To spend time in its marbled courtyards and shrines is a unique experience. From here it's just a short distance to the Pakistan border at Wagah where we watch the colourful (and noisy!) changing of the guard.
Kolkata to Varanasi
More familiarly known as Calcutta, India's intellectual capital boasts a lively cultural scene and is rich in colonial architecture. As well as visiting historical sites we take time to wander in the flower market and enjoy fine views of the Ganges, known locally as the Hooghly River. We join the flow of Buddhist pilgrims travelling to Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment. Continuing along the pilgrims' trail, our journey takes us to Varanasi and the awe-inspiring sight of Hindu devotees purifying themselves in the sacred waters of the Ganges.
Taj Mahal & Toy Trains
In Agra we spend time at the magnificent Taj Mahal and explore the preserved 'ghost city' of Fatehpur Sikri. From the thriving metropolis of Delhi we journey up into the mighty Himalaya, aboard a relic of the Raj, the narrow gauge 'Toy' train to the hill station of Shimla. Here, at the former British summer capital, we take in the fresh air and magnificent views. There are opportunities for walks in the area or to wander in the warren-like bazaar.
Golden Temple & Wagah
Descending from the mountains we travel to the Punjab and the city of Amritsar, which owes its existence to the renowned Golden temple - the holiest of Sikh shrines. To spend time in its marbled courtyards and shrines is a unique experience. From here it's just a short distance to the Pakistan border at Wagah where we watch the colourful (and noisy!) changing of the guard.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly London/Kolkata (Calcutta). |
| Day 2: | Arrive Kolkata. |
| Day 3: | Sight-seeing tour to include colonial architecture, flower market and temples. |
| Day 4: | Train to Gaya; drive Bodhgaya. |
| Day 5: | Visit Mahabodi Temple; PM train to Varanasi. |
| Day 6: | Visit Sarnath; sunset boat trip on Ganges. |
| Day 7: | Optional sunrise boat trip; overnight train to Agra. |
| Day 8: | In Agra; visit Fort. |
| Day 9: | In Agra; visit Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri. |
| Day 10: | Train to Delhi; tour of New Delhi. |
| Day 11: | Old Delhi by metro and rickshaw; PM free. |
| Day 12: | Train to Kalka; toy train to Shimla. |
| Day 13: | In Shimla; orientation walk. |
| Day 14: | Bus to Ambala; train to Amritsar. |
| Day 15: | Visit Golden temple; trip to Pakistan border. |
| Day 16: | Fly London. |
travellers' tales
Most memorable? The Golden Temple at Amritsar, nothing could have prepared us for this wonderful sight, pure white and gold!! The feeding of the masses was like a well oiled machine, unbelievable. The Taj Mahal and the Ghats at Varanasi were close runners up. (more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. award winner
This tourism business won an Award in our 2008 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Daily Telegraph, World Travel Market, Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society and BBC World News.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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This amazing rail journey starts in the little visited country of Bangladesh where tourism is very much in its infancy and a warm welcome awaits. As pioneers, we have a responsibility to tread carefully and ensure that our impact as visitors from the west is a positive one. To assist us, a Bangladeshi guide accompanies our groups to keep us informed of the unique culture and customs.
All of the services we use in both Bangladesh and India, such as hotels, restaurants, guides and transport are provided by locally owned and operated businesses, thus ensuring the financial impact of our visit is a direct (and much needed) contribution to these country’s economies. As well as the multitude of fascinating places that we visit on this tour, a real highlight is that we travel almost the whole route by train, sitting alongside local travellers. This affords us not only a closer insight into their lives but also helps limit the impact on the local environment through minimising our carbon emissions. You can also limit the impact of your flights on global warming by calculating the cost of offsetting them and contributing this sum to Climate Care, an organisation which funds projects that reduce emissions by the same amount as your flight creates. The company who operate this tour offset all of the emissions from its staff flights, office and operations through Climate Care. As well as the above, we support a variety of charities and projects worldwide which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation, Hope Worldwide and Send A Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies which promote best practice in responsible tourism, such as Tourism Concern, The Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and we have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |