DAY 1 : ARRIVE KOLKATA
Arrive Kolkata International Airport. Meeting & assistance on arrival and transfer to your hotel.
Kolkata is seen as the land of the intellectuals & was the capital of British India before Delhi assumed this position. Kolkata, besides being an extremely populous city of almost million inhabitants, is also the city where Mother Teresa worked tirelessly for the poor and homeless and the city where Rabindra Nath Tagore wrote his famous books.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 2 : KOLKATA
After breakfast, proceed for city tour of Kolkata.
Victoria Memorial, a white marble structure built to commemorate the memory of Queen Victoria of England.
Kali Temple, an ancient temple dedicated to goddess Kali. The city of Kolkata, derives its name from this temple. Also visit Jain Temples.
Drive past Fort William, A colonial fort built by the British to guard the city against the French
Secretariat, a remnant of colonial architecture in the city.
Visit the local markets in Kolkata where you can shop for Bengali Sarees, Murshidabad silks, handicrafts etc.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 3 : KOLKATA – BAGDOGRA (By Flight) – DARJEELING (95 Km / 3.5 hours)
After breakfast, transfer to Kolkata Airport to board flight for Bagdogra.
On arrival at Bagdogra airport, transfer by road to Darjeeling.
Standing high in the Himalayas at an altitude of 2134m, ‘Dorje Ling’, or place of the Thunderbolt, offers breathtaking views of snow-capped mountain peaks, with the Kanchendzonga rising higher than all the others. Darjeeling remains one of the most exotic destinations. Graeme Westlake in his book ‘ An introduction to hill stations on India’ refers to Darjeeling as having “A view Scarcely Unrivalled on Earth”.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 4 : DARJEELING
Early morning visit Tiger Hill and Ghoom Monastery.
Tiger Hill is 13 kms from Darjeeling and one can see beautiful sunrise and Himalayan Range like Kanchandzonga, Mount Everest etc. One can see the horizon changing colors just before sunrise and then the entire Himalayan range turn golden. It is truly a majestic sight.
Ghoom Monastery is oldest Monastery in the area which was built in 1875 and one can see the image of Mythey Buddha 15ft. height on the way back from Tiger Hill.
After breakfast proceed to the Darjeeling Railway station to enjoy World Heritage Toy Train ride up to Ghoom. (Subject to operation of this train & availability of the seats)
The spectacular landscape unfolds as the 2-foot gauge Darjeeling Himalayan railway, opened in 1881, labours at about 10 mph criss-crossing the road. It has tiny 4-wheel locomotives (some over 100 years old) like living legends. One can experience the sound, smell and romance of a bygone era.
Return to the hotel for lunch and Later proceed for city tour.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute/Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park – (Closed on Thursday) The HimalayanMountaineering Institute was started in Darjeeling when Tenzing Norgay climbed Everest to give training to learn Mountaineering and other adventure sports related to mountaineering and in that Institute one can see equipment etc.
Himalayan Zoological Park where one can see Himalayan animals like Snow Leopard, Tibetan Wolf, Tibetan Yak, Himalayan Black Bear and several varieties of birds.
Tibetan Self- Help Centre Or Refugee Centre:- (Closed on Sunday) This institute is run by Tibetan Refugees to preserve their handicrafts and one can see making of Tibetan Carpets, Leather work, Paintings and Wooden work etc.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 5 : Darjeeling - Pelling (123 Km / 06 hours)
Morning after breakfast, transfer by road to Pelling.
Located at a distance of 120 km from Gangtok Pelling is another serene, mountain village which lies in the western districts of Sikkim. This village is situated at an altitude of 2000 Meters (approx).
Afternoon visit Pemeyangste Monastery.
The Perfect Sublime Lotus, perched on a wooded hilltop, commands the most sublime view of the Khangchendzong. Built during the late 17th century, it is one of the oldest and most important monasteries of the Nyingmapa order of Buddhism in Sikkim.
Pemayangtse monastery follows the Mindroling tradition besides holding the lineage of LhatsunChenpo. Mindroling monastery was founded by Minling Terchen Gyurme Dorje whose famous daughter Jetsun Migyur Paldon lived near Pemayangtse and taught there during her exile.
Rabdentse, Sikkim’s second capital. The ruins of Rabdantse are worth exploring. The winding track through the forest brings you to a small set of ruins of the early town and eventually on the ruins of the palace with Chorten (stupa) nearby.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 6 : PELLING – GANGTOK (127 Km / 6 hours)
Before breakfast – Hike to Sangacholing Monastery & back. It takes one way 40 minutes.
Breakfast at the hotel and then drive to Gangtok.
At an altitude of 1750m, Gangtok became the state capital in the mid 19th century and has undergone rapid development since then.The downtown area is dominated by huge government buildings decorated with traditional Buddhist symbols. Gangtok is also a resting ground for people traveling to North Sikkim. Surrounded by Monasteries and Orchids.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 07 : GANGTOK
In the morning, visit the Phodong Monastery, which rises not far from the Tista Valley, in a grandiose landscape. It belongs to the Nyingma-pa sect, and its remarkable decoration includes, among other things, scenes depicting Buddhist hell.
Back in Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim & visit Rumtek monastery which is undoubtedly one of the richest in Sikkim.
Afternoon discover the Institute of Tibetology which contains very beautiful painted canvases, the Thanka then the chorten which rises to the north of the city.
Short visit to the Enchey Monastery founded by Saint DrupthupKarpa during a mystical flight.
Arts and Crafts Center was established to promote traditional Sikkimese arts and crafts. Exquisite wooden friezes, intricate bamboo work, as well as beautiful hand-woven rugs and hand-woven fabrics are featured here.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 08 : GANGTOK - KALIMPONG (80 Km / 03 hours)
Post breakfast, transfer by road to Kalimpong
At an altitude of 1250m, Kalimpong’s location is ideal for a pleasant, relaxed getaway. Its clement weather has made Kalimpong’s orchids and gladiole well renowned.
Afternoon city tour of Kalimpong.
Flower Nurseries: The climate of Kalimpong is ideal for the cultivation of flowers and plants. Kalimpong is famous for its nurseries which export exotice flowers like Amaryllis lilies, Anthuriums, Roses gerberas, Dahilias, Gladiolias as well as Orchids and Cacti.
Zang Dog Palri Fo-Brang Monastery – This is a fairly new monastery located in Durpin Dara, from here one can get an exclusive panoramic view of the town and surroundings. The prayer room inside the monastery is adorned with wall paintings and there is a rare three-dimensional mandala upstairs.
Tharpa Choling Monastery at Tirpai hill on route to Dr.Graham’s Home belongs to the Yellow Hat sect of Lamas to which the present Dalai Lama belongs.
Thongsa Gumpa: this monastery is of Bhutanese origin and built around 1692. It is the oldest in Kalimpong.The original structure was destroyed in the inter-clan wars before the British arrived
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 09 : KALIMPONG / BAGDOGRA (85 Km / 03 hours) – KOLKATA (By Flight)/ DEPART KOLKATA
Morning in time transfer to Bagdogra airport to board flight for Kolkata.
On arrival, further connect with flight for onward destinations.
