TEA GARDENS, MONASTERIES and COLONIAL HERITAGE

KOLKATA, BAGDOGRA, KALIMPONG, GANGTOK, PELLING, DARJEELING, KOLKATA – 12 NIGHTS / 13 DAYS

Explore the natural beauty of India and its cultural prosperity through a tour that takes you to Kolkata, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Gangtok.

India is a diverse country: from pre-historic traditions and creative inheritance to splendid landscapes and religious ceremonies. India has so much to offer to its tourists. The royalty of India is enormous and diverse in nature. The hill stations in India are nevertheless the foundation of tourism in India as they bring you the royalty and colonial resort culture that draws tourists from all over the world. This elite tour to the North-East corner of India will help you explore the beauty of nature, along with witnessing the historical architectures, religious sentiments and numerous monasteries. Experience the glorious history of Kolkata, the beautiful flower market located in Kalimpong and ancient monasteries that give you a glimpse of beautifully-carved sculptures, beautiful paintings, precious images and statues that add to the legacy of India.

Major attractions of this exclusive tour will include -

• Exploring the beauty, culture, architecture and traditions of Kolkata
• The experience of cruising and visiting numerous Ghats in Kolkata
• Tasting the scrumptious food that these hill stations offer
• Witnessing the originality of religions, histories, art and languages in Gangtok
• Enjoying a playful ride on the Himalayan Railways
• Sightseeing in Darjeeling, Kolkata and Gangtok

All touring will be on a private basis with your own driver / guide. All ranges of accommodation would be available from 3* hotels upwards and to include deluxe 5* hotels and palaces as well as boutique-style / heritage properties. Just indicate your preference and budget and leave the rest to us and our expert ground handlers in India!

                                                        Programme:

Day 1: ARRIVE KOLKATA by FLIGHT

Having arrived at Kolkata by flight, you will receive a warm welcome from one of our local representatives before you are transferred to your hotel.  You may then wish to discuss your wonderful tour over a cup of coffee, along with some refreshments.

Kolkata- the Cultural Capital of British India

India’s second biggest city and a treat for those who visit it, Kolkata brings you the flavour of cultures and communities. Kolkata is a city of graciousness, gentry, development, culture and  cuisine. This 350-year old metropolitan area is home to the remnants of the British era in India, splendid music, literature, movies and food. Though poverty in Kolkata cannot be neglected, the middle class of this marvellous city has made it up to the mark and presentable in such a way that you’ll fall in love with the generosity and simplicity of the city. Formerly known as Calcutta, this beautiful city is often labelled as the “City of Joy” and the “Cultural Capital of India.”

Being the former capital of British India, Kolkata is embellished with a delicacy of colonial-era architecture that is distinctive from the inner-city slums and enormous new-town suburbs. There is a taste of Bengali culture that welcomes whole-heartedly with its friendliness, simplicity, intellectuals, artistic facets and its colossal cultures.  Here in Kolkata, you’ll experience the essence of being in a multi-cultured metropolis. You should never miss the auspicious Durga Puja in the month of October, which is regarded as the biggest festival in Kolkata and draws attention from all over the country.

The sight-seeing experience of Kolkata -

Kolkata is a home to the pious River Ganga, locally known as River Hooghly which adds to its heritage. Being one of the most densely populated cities in the country, Kolkata brings you the joy of sight-seeing on another level. Do you love cricket? You can feel playful around Eden Garden, where some of the best and most historic cricket matches in the world have taken place. The involvement of the Chinese gave Kolkata the best of their Chinese cuisine which  you’ll find nowhere else in the country. While going deep into the city, you can explore the secrets of the Parsis, along with the historic colonial edifices and modern entertainment sectors.  

Queen Victoria once spent some of her precious time here and the proof is the Victorian Memorial. Along with this, the city also gives you the pleasure of walking around the oldest museum of India- The Indian Museum which encloses the only ‘Mummy’ in India amongst many other precious works of art.  You can witness the oldest surviving Christian tomb in the city. Kolkata has some of the major sights that you wouldn’t want to miss: Birla Planetarium, Nicco Park, Marble Palace, Bellur Math Temple, Aurobindo Ashram and Howrah Bridge. Kolkata is also well-known for one of India's oldest brothels - Sonagachi. This trip to Kolkata will always be memorable and enchanting as Kolkata never lets you go hands-free. The best thing in Kolkata is its natives who will  welcome you with friendliness and you can see their happiness at having you in their city.

DAY 2: KOLKATA

You start your day with breakfast at your hotel. You then begin your sight-seeing with the Victoria Memorial -  a vast yet beautifully-constructed architecture of white marble. It was initially designed to honour Queen Victoria’s demise in 1901 but the construction was still impending even 20 years after her death.

You will enjoy witnessing what is inside this beautiful monument: the soaring central chamber and the Calcutta Gallery that explains a lot about the city’s colonial era. The memorial is closed on Mondays.

Furthermore, you will feel enchanted when observing St. Paul’s Cathedral, St. John’s Church, Raj Bhavan (the residence of the Governor of West Bengal), the High Court, Eden Garden, the Legislative Assembly, the Christian Tomb, the Race Course and Strand. You also make a stop-over at the Park Street Cemetery, which used to be the largest cemetery outside Europe and America.

You have dinner and another overnight stay at your hotel.

DAY 3: KOLKATA

Pack your energy and leave for an enchanted tour of the Flower Market, also known as Mallick Ghat Flower Market as it is situated in Mullick Ghat, near the south-east end of the enormous Howrah Bridge. If you are a photographer, then this Flower Market is your place as it gets better and more colourful throughout the day with its flowers all around. To explore the best out of this beautiful market, you will step in early in the morning as you will be blessed with the sight of fresh flowers being brought by the workers. The most common flower sold in the market is Marigold.  These beautiful flowers are meant for weddings and auspicious ceremonies. Occasionally the market is filled with a larger than life-like variety of flowers.

After you are done with breakfast, you move forward to the Mother Teresa Home- missionaries of charity. This shows the enchantment left by Mother Teresa on the land of prosperity and whom people still follow since she left for Heaven in 1997. Do you love boating? Here is your chance to enjoy a nice boat ride on the River Hooghly in the evening. It tells you the story of the beautiful memories of when Job Charnock dropped his first ever anchor at Cossim Bazar. You’ll be able to witness a number of Ghats that are located in-between the magnificent structure of Vidyasagar Setu and the enormous Howrah Bridge. These Ghats represent Kolkata’s history, present and future, in just one row. Kolkata is famous for Princep Ghat, Gwalior Ghat, Outram Ghat, Kashi Mitter Ghat, Sova Bazaar, Kumartuli Ghat, Bag Bazar, Maratha Ditch and so much more.

The boat ride starts from Babughat Jetty and sails under the Howrah Bridge - the exclusive cantilever bridge that crosses diagonally the River Ganga and connects the two conurbations of Kolkata and Howrah. This exclusive boat ride will help you to observe a number of heritages on the banks of the River Ganga, which include a number of divine temples and Ghats, Job Charnock’s arrival point, the House of Dolls, the Nimtolla Ghat and the oldest gun and shell factory in India at Casipore.

The day ends with packing your memories and rushing back to your hotel for dinner and a final overnight stay.

DAY 4: KOLKATA- BAGDOGRA by flight / BAGDOGRA – KALIMPONG by surface (125 kms. / approx. 4 hours)

You take a morning flight bound for Bagdogra before you have a long drive of about 4 hours to reach Kalimpong. On arrival, you check in at your hotel. You have your dinner and spend the rest of your day relaxing.

DAY 5: KALIMPONG

This small and busy bazaar town slouches alongside a pillion-shaped mountain crease that overshadows the endless Teesta River. Though Kalimpong is not a very popular place to visit, it gives you a glimpse of the Himalayan views, Buddhist monasteries, colonial-era architecture and an enthralling nursery industry as horticulture is the essence of the Economy here.

Sight-seeing in Kalimpong –

You start off for a wonderful day of sight-seeing in Kalimpong. It is a quiet but small town that is located at an altitude of about 1,200 metres and lying at a distance of about 50 kilometres east of Darjeeling. This beautiful town once used to be the focal point of the Himalayan operations between Indian and Tibetan merchants as they used to transport mule-caravans over the Jelepla Pass on the Sikkim / Tibet border. Each and every stone here narrates the story of the good trading relations between India and Tibet. One of the most enchanting facts about Kalimpong is that it once used to be the headquarters of a Bhutanese Governor. So, you can expect to observe the history of the town.

Here in Kalimpong, it serves you with its beautiful flower market, which is especially famous for its extensive collection of orchids. Kalimpong is famous for its Durpin Monastery, also known as Zang Dog Palri Monastery, built in 1972. You can pay your honour to Tharpa Choling Monastery, built in 1937 that tells a number of stories in its many Buddhist scripts.

You can spend some time around the Dr Graham Home on Deolo Hill, which is the upper-most point in the town. You can plan an exclusive trip to the Catholic Church, built in 1890 and to the Pine View Nursery (Cacti Palace) for its striking collection of cactus plants from all over America.

You end your trip with a nice Kalimpong dinner and an overnight stay.

DAY 6: KALIMPONG – GANGTOK by surface (75 kms. / approx. 3 hours)

This morning, you take a 3 hour drive to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. You check in to your hotel upon arrival. You then spend your day relaxing before having dinner and an overnight stay.

DAY 7: GANGTOK

The modern capital of Sikkim is jovial and pleasingly energetic. The city is bordered by an abrupt mountain landscape that tumbles down the hillside in vertical tiers. The beauty of Gangtok is enhanced by the winding lanes, edged by gigantic, concrete-block buildings.

Though there is a handful of minor sights to see, get ready to be mesmerised by numerous viewpoints with landscapes that pass through the green valleys, making sure that visitors are enchanted by the greenery of the city. The exotic glimpse of Khangchendzonga is at its best when the weather suits it.

For adventure lovers, Gangtok serves as the best place for post-trek relaxation, for arranging tours and permits or for making up groups with fellow travellers. How amazing it is to plan an exotic trip to one of the cities belonging to the ‘Seven Sisters of India’! You can tour the whole of Gangtok for a memorable travelling experience.

Sight-seeing in Gangtok -

You start your exciting day with a visit to the colourful local market, Rumtek Monastery and Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, that makes you believe that you are actually in a Tibetan fantasy palace. You can walk past the wonderful collection of cultural Buddhist iconography and artistic elements that vary from cloth paintings (Thangkas), coins and amulets to tantric skull-cap bowls and marvellous trumpets made from human thigh bones!

You then take a six minute walk to the Deorali Bazaar Ropeway Station and Deorali taxi stand. The original Rumtek Monastery was built by the fourth Chogyal. Sadly, this monastery was destroyed by an earthquake, but it was re-built. The newly-built Rumtek Monastery, built in the 16^th Century, is the largest monastery in Sikkim. You will get a good taste of the best of  Tibetan architecture here, along with experiencing the treasure of the unique religious objects. You can also taste the best cuisine of Gangtok with a blend of Tibetan magic.

You have a tour to Tsuklakhand, Ganesh Tok, the Himalayan Zoological Park, Tashi Viewpoint, The Ridge, Enchey Gompa and Banjhakri Waterfalls.

After an extensive trip, you have your dinner and stay at your hotel for another night.

DAY 8: GANGTOK – PELLING by surface ( 112 kms. / approx. 5 hours)

After your exclusive trip to Gangtok, it’s time to explore Pelling. You depart in the morning for a five hour drive to Pelling where you check-in at your hotel upon your arrival.  

Basically, Pelling’s raison d’être is meant to provide tourists with some awe-inspiring views of white-coated Khangchendzonga. This small but mesmerising town is known for its architecturally monotonous gush of concrete hotels, that look down on the elegant woodland edge. A little bit of a walk will lead you through a fascinating, beautiful forest which is hard to miss.

Sightseeing in Pelling -

Brace yourself for one of the oldest and most important monasteries of Sikkim, the Penayangtse Monastery, built in 1705. This enormous monastery belongs to the Nyingmapa sect of Mahayana Buddhism. The history of this monastery enchants at every level as the founder of this monastery was Gyalwa Lhatsum Chempo, who happened to be one of the three lamas that performed the Consecration Ceremony of the first Chogyal (King) Phuntsog Namgyal at Yuksam in 1642. The monastery offers its tourists a great collection of wall paintings, sculptures, precious images and thankas, along with a gigantic gold-plated statue of Guru Padsambhava. You will experience the fascination of the Changgi Falls, Rabdentse, Sanghak Choeling Gompa and so much more.

After dinner, you stay at your hotel overnight.

DAY 9: PELLING – DARJEELING by surface (75 kms. / approx. 4 hours)

You bid a warm good-bye to Pelling and set off to drive for about 4 hours to reach Darjeeling. On arrival, you check-in to your hotel and have breakfast.

Welcome to Darjeeling -

This ever-famous hill station in India, surrounded by emerald-green tea plantations, stretches in a colorful ribbon-like way over a precipitous mountain edge. Loomed over by royal Khangchendzonga, Darjeeling undoubtedly is one of the most-desired hill stations in India and is preferably the central attraction of West Bengal. One cannot stay there without exploring the colonial-era architecture, the Buddhist monasteries and tea plantations. Not to forget, there is also the joy of seeing Snow Leopards and Red Pandas at the Zoo.

DAY 10: SIGHTSEEING in DARJEELING

You brighten up your morning by moving towards Tiger Hill to experience the exotic and unusual sunrise over the Himalayan peaks. This extraordinary spot is located at an altitude of about 2,590 metres and 13 kilometres from the actual town. This beautiful spot is internationally acclaimed for the fascinating view of the sunrise over the ‘Kanchenjunga’ and the great Eastern Himalayas. You can easily witness the tip of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak.

After breakfast, you head towards Darjeeling Railway Station for a joyful ride on the ever- famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The train here is also known as the ‘Toy Train’. This amazing ride takes you to the Batasia Loop. This ‘Toy Train’ offers you a scenic view of the Kanchenjunga edge. You will witness the sparkling history of the War Memorial, that was built to honour the brave martyrs who fought for the country since the independence of the country.

Before the afternoon, you have a tour to the Ghoom Monastery, built by Lama Sherab Gyatso in 1875. This ancient monastery is rumoured to be blessed by the Tomo Geshe Rimpoche of Tibet. The experience of exploring the statue of the 'Future Coming Buddha' is very pleasant to witness. You’ll also see some of the handwritten Buddhist manuscripts.

You will make your afternoon memorable by visiting the well-renowned Tea Plantation and  Tea Factory. Located on the outside of the town, you can have the experience of walking down the lanes of the tea garden where you can witness local women plucking tea leaves. You will enlighten yourself about the processing of tea and you must make sure that you don’t leave without tasting the tasty and famous Darjeeling tea.

You have your dinner in the town before returning to your hotel for an overnight stay.

DAY 11: DARJEELING

Today, you will go deep into the history of the Tibetan Refugee Centre, where you’ll learn about the era when thousands of refugees from Tibet took refuge in India. The ‘Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre’ was set up as a saviour for these refugees. This centre was established on 1^st October 1959. The residents of the centre are now famous worldwide for their handicrafts, like hand-made carpets, wooden goods and so much more. These handicrafts are famous, not just in India, but have acquired international fame as well.

After exploring the whole of Darjeeling, you will be able to spend some quality time around the local markets of Darjeeling, where you can buy yourself souvenirs and other precious items.

DAY 12: DARJEELING - BAGDOGRA by surface (75 kms. / approx. 4 hours) / BAGDOGRA – KOLKATA by flight

After your marvellous trip to Darjeeling, you head back to Kolkata by taking a flight from Bagdogra airport, which is about 4 hours’ drive from Darjeeling. On arrival back at Kolkata, you are met before being transferred to your hotel for a final overnight stay.

DAY 13: LEAVE KOLKATA

Today, you bid a warm good-bye to Kolkata and take home, with yourself, thousands of memories of your exotic and fascinating trip. You will be transferred back to Kolkata airport for your flight home or to your onward destination.

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