Journey of North East India, India
Sample Itinerary
DAY 1
ARRIVE KOLKATA
The city of Kolkata (Calcutta), the former capital of British India still retains a feast of dramatic colonial architecture, is a daily festival of human existence. As the cradle of the Indian Renaissance and national freedom movement, erstwhile Bengal has long been considered the country’s cultural heartland, famous for its eminent writers, poets, artists, spiritualists and revolutionaries.
Arrive Kolkata airport by flight and transfer by surface to hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 2
KOLKATA
Today morning after breakfast start with sightseeing tour of Kolkata.
Kolkata is a city of glaring contrasts – a curious blend of the old and the new, partly feudal, partly born out of growing urbanization, partly un-definable. It is a medley of the east and the west, a graft of a European city imposed on the Asian scape that gives Kolkata its bewildering charm, confusion and excitement. Being just about 300 years old, Kolkata hardly has many great historical monuments. Perhaps, the oldest remembered is the site where the Kalighat Temple now stands. Today Kolkata is one of the largest cities in India with a population over 10 million and boasts of India’s first ever Metro rail system. It is a city that shocks on first impression but eventually the visitor falls in love with it. The sightseeing of the city includes a visit to the Victoria Memorial (closed on Monday), Kolkata’s most imposing and monumental dream in marble opened by the Prince of Wales in 1921 and often called the “Taj” of the British Raj, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Mother Teresa’s Home.
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 3
KOLKATA – BAGDOGRA (BY FLIGHT) - KALIMPONG
Check out after breakfast and transfer to Kolkata airport to board flight to Bagdogra.
AI 721 Kolkata / Bagdogra 1340 / 1455 Hrs.
On arrival, meet and assist at the airport and transfer by road to Kalimpong (approximately 03 hours’ drive) and check-in at the hotel
Rest of the day at leisure
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 04: KALIMPONG
After morning breakfast proceed for the sightseeing tour of Kalimpong.
Full day local city sightseeing tour of Kalimpong include visit to Zang dog Palri Fo Brang monastery with its debating chambers and the Thanka painting workshop., Tharpa Choling Monastery and Thongsa Gumpa. Continue the tour to visit a local Flower Nursery and Market where one gets a rare opportunity to see a wide variety of orchids.
Overnight stay at the hotel
DAY 4
KALIMPONG
After morning breakfast proceed for the sightseeing tour of Kalimpong.
Full day local city sightseeing tour of Kalimpong include visit to Zang dog Palri Fo Brang monastery with its debating chambers and the Thanka painting workshop., Tharpa Choling Monastery and Thongsa Gumpa. Continue the tour to visit a local Flower Nursery and Market where one gets a rare opportunity to see a wide variety of orchids.
Overnight stay at the hotel
DAY 5
KALIMPONG - GANGTOK
After morning breakfast transfer by surface to Gangtok (approximately 03 hours’ drive)
On arrival, check-in to the hotel
Gangtok has a very spectacular setting and offers excellent views of the entire Khangchen Dzonga range from various points in its vicinity. It is a city, which, till one sees it, one would believe exists only in picture-story books. In the mystery-laden mists prayer flags whip the breeze and wheels spin in the hands of lamas mumbling invocations to God. In the distance are the snows, on the streets amidst brightly painted pagoda roofed houses, lined with friendly smiling people are silver, silk, spice and jewellery to gladden a maiden’s heart.
Rest of the day at leisure to explore the market
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 6
GANGTOK
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel
Full day sightseeing tour of city (Namgyal Institute of Tibetology and Cottage Industry are closed on Sundays)
Rumtek Monastery – is the awe -inspiring Rumtek Monastery, the world Dharma chakra Centre and the seat of His Holiness, the Gyalwa Karmapa, who is the head of the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism. Behind the main monastery is the lavishly decorated Karmae Nalanda Institute of Buddhist Studies, which attracts students from the world over. Opposite the entrance to the Institute is a small hall featuring a beautiful jewel studded Chorten the Golden Stupa, which contains the ashes and remains of His Holiness the XVI Gyalwa Karmapa. According to legend, it is believed that after years of meditation, the first Karmapa was said to have been visited by ten thousand fairies that came to congratulate him each of whom offered a strand of her hair as a gift. These were said to have been woven into a black hat, which was passed down and is still at the Rumtek Monastery today. It is said that unless held on to by the wearer (who of course, cannot be anyone else but the Karmapa) or kept in a box, the hat would fly away.
Do-Drul Chorten – One of the most important Stupas of Sikkim built by the late Venerable Trulsi Rimpoche in 1945-46, it contains a mandala of Dorji-Phurpa, holy texts, mantras and is encircled by 108 prayer wheels.
Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology (closed on Sunday) – Situated close to the Chorten this institute is a repository of the largest collection of Tibetan artifacts outside Tibet. Also renowned worldwide for the study of Buddhist philosophy and religion, it is a treasure house of rare thankas, Buddhist icon and objects of art.
Government Institute of Cottage Industries (closed on Sunday) – This centre offers you the opportunity to observe the local artisans at work and their skills being imparted to young boys and girls. If you want to take back souvenirs, the institute’s salesroom is well stocked with local handicraft and handloom products.
In the afternoon visit Enchey Monastery – Lama Druptob Karpo is supposed to have built a small hermitage at this spot after he flew here from Maenam Hill more than two hundred years ago. During the reign of Sidkeong Tulku, a monastery was built here in 1901 in the form of a Chinese Pagoda. The monastery follows the Nyingma Order and the main puja and dances are held here on the 18th and 19th of the twelfth month of the Tibetan calendar, which normally corresponds to the month of December. You can also spend a delightful evening strolling around downtown to take in the ambience of this mystic hill town. Many a shop in the bustling market place that is in the heart of the town will catch your fancy with the curios and local handicraft on display.
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 7
GANGTOK - PELLING
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer by road to Pelling (approximately 06 hours’ drive) and on arrival check-in to the hotel
Afternoon visit Pemayangste Monastery and Rabdtense Ruins.
Pemayangtse means “Perfect Sublime Lotus”, and is said to represent one of the four plexus of the human body. Planned, designed and founded by Lama Lhatsun Chempo in 1705, it is one of the oldest and premier monasteries of Sikkim, also the most famous in west Sikkim. Originally built by Lhatsun Chenpo in the 17th century, as a small Lhakhang, it was subsequently enlarged during the reign of the third Chogyal Chakdor Namgyal who was considered as Lhatsun Chenpo’s third reincarnate, Jigme Pawo. The monastery follows the Nyingma Order of Tibet Buddhism and controls all other monasteries of that Order in Sikkim. The monks of this monastery are normally chosen from the Bhutias of Sikkim.
The monastery was built for “pure monks” (ta-tshang) meaning “monks of pure Tibetan lineage”, celibate and without any physical abnormality. This practice is still retained. Only the monks of Pemayangtse Monastery are entitled to the title “ta-tshang”. The head lama of this monastery had the unique privilege of anointing the Chogyals of the erstwhile monarchy of Sikkim with holy water.
Rabdtense Ruins – Rabdentse was the second capital of the former kingdom of Sikkim from 1670 to 1814. The capital city was destroyed by the invading Gurkha army and only the ruins of the palace and the Chortens are seen here now. However, the ruins of this city are seen close to Pelling.
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 8
PELLING - DARJEELING
Morning: After breakfast leave Pelling by surface to Darjeeling (04 – 05 Hrs drive).
Upon arrival check in at hotel
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 9
DARJEELING
Early morning: Visit Tiger Hill to see the sunrise. It is 13 kms from Darjeeling and one can see beautiful sunrise and Himalayan Range like Kanchandzonga, Mount Everest etc. on a clear day. One can see the horizon changing colors just before sunrise and then the entire Himalayan range turns golden. It is truly a majestic sight.
On return visit the Ghoom Monastery. This is oldest Monastery in the area which was built in 1850’s and one can see the image of Maitreya Buddha 15ft. height on the way back from Tiger Hill.
After breakfast, Toy Train ride from Darjeeling to Ghoom and back by the celebrated Darjeeling Himalayan Railway which has been listed as World Heritage by UNESCO. 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. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a work of genius and technological achievement of 1881. It has social and cultural importance. It is beautiful and has outstanding universal appeal. Based on its unique features, it is considered to be of lasting significance to mankind.
Afternoon: Sightseeing tour of Darjeeling, one of the most beautiful Hill stations in Eastern India, has an indelible imprint of the British in the life-style, garden tea-estates and its hotels. Visit the St. Andrew Church, Lablong village, the Mountaineering Institute & Zoo, house of Tenzing Norgay – the first Everest hero. Also visit Tibetan Refugee Centre.
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 10
DARJEELING
Today morning visit the Tea Plantation near Darjeeling.
Teas grown on the misty heights of Darjeeling are famous world over for their exquisite taste. The premium Darjeeling tea are mild in character and have distinctive natural fruity flavors. Your visit to Tea plantation will include visit to a Tea factory where you can see the different stages of Tea processing. If he plucking season is on, then you can also see the ladies plucking the tea leaves.
Afternoon is at leisure to relax in Darjeeling or explore the local market on your own.
Overnight stay at hotel
DAY 11
DARJEELING – BAGDOGRA – KOLKATA (BY FLIGHT)
Morning: After breakfast transfer by surface to Bagdogra airport to board flight for Kolkata.
AI 722 Bagdogra / Kolkata 1540 / 1645 Hrs.
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 12
KOLKATA-DEPART
Today in time transfer Kolkata airport to board the flight for onward destination.
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