Duration: - 04 Nights and 05 Days
Destination:- Darjeeling, Gangtok, Kalimpong
Let the beauty of East and North East India cast a spell on you. With our Darjeeling Gangtok Tour, we help you embark on a journey of two most soulful destinations in India. Our 4N/5D tour allows you to take up an adventure that though slowly but with certainity turns out to be an unforgettable travel experience.
| Tour Highlights:- | |
|
Darjeeling |
Tiger Hill, Batasia Loop, Windamere Hotel, Bhutia Busty Monastery, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park |
| Gangtok | Nathula, Hanuman Tok, Rumtek Monastery, Phodong Monastery, Khecheopalri Lake, Himalayan Zoological Park |
| Kalimpong |
|
Day 0 - Arrival Bagdogra – Darjeeling
Arrive Bagdogra, after traditional 'Swagat' (Welcome) our representative would assist you at airport & drive to Darjeeling (Distance 110 km appx), Queen of India's hill stations. Its setting is one of incomparable beauty. A Victorian town of old world charm 'discovered' by the British, it is surrounded by fragrant tea gardens which seem to flow over the layered slopes like emerald swells on a rough sea.
Overnight Hotel - Darjeeling
Day 2 - Darjeeling
Today morning we visit Tiger Hill, famous for its magnificent view of Kanchenjunga, Mt. Everest & other eastern Himalayan peaks especially at the time of sunrise. On our way back we first visit Ghoom, as the name suggests it is gloomy & clammy with perpetual fog. A Tibetan village, one can hear the foghorn-like sounds of Buddhist monks blowing their giant Gyeling pipes from the rooftops of the nearby Yiga-Choling ' Yellow Hat' Buddhist Temple. Later we visit the two Buddhist monasteries Chholing & Darli.
Later we take a ride of toy train of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Overnight Hotel - Darjeeling
Day 3 - Darjeeling - Gangtok (95 km - 03 hrs)
Today we drive to Gangtok, a fairytale capital in the clouds, balances precariously on steep mountain slopes, surrounded by lush rice terraces, swifts flowing rivers & distant snow views. It is situated in the lower Himalayas & was a small hamlet until the construction of the Enchey Monastery in 1840 made it a pilgrimage center. It became a major stopover between Tibet & British India at the end of the 19th century. It is also a centre of Tibetan Buddhist culture & learning with numerous monasteries & religious educational.
Half Day Tour
Upon arrival, we visit Himalayan Zoological Park also known as Bulbuley. It has paved cement path that passes by fenced open air enclosure housing the Red Pandas, barking deer & bears in a semi natural habitat. Next Government Institute of Cottage Industries (GICI), which produces crafts in authentic Sikkimese designs. Hand woven Tibetan carpets sprout dragons in natural dyes, Sikkimese-style tables called Choktse are expertly carved & colored in red & gold. Also explore Lal bazaar, melody of colour. Various ethnic groups from different villages gather to haggle, bargain, gossip their wares. We will also visit Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, which promotes research of the language and traditions of Tibet and contains one of the world's largest collections of books & rare manuscripts on Mahayana Buddhism.
Overnight Hotel - Gangtok
Day 4 - Gangtok - Kalimpong Drive
Today we drive to Kalimpong, (Distance 75.8 kms appx) an incredible stunning backdrop of towering snow capped peaks. This exotic town of beautiful people, mystical & enchanting, with a rare ethnic blend of hill people. It also houses several Buddhist monasteries which hold a number of rare Tibetan Buddhist scriptures. Later we visit Thongsa Gompa also known as the Bhutanese Monastery. It is the oldest monastery in Kalimpong & was founded in the year 1692. Next visit the Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Gompa, which is on the Durpin hill & is famous for the Tibetan wall paintings. We also visit Tharpa Choeling Monastery founded in 1937 & belongs to the Gelugpa (yellow hat) sect of Tibetan monastery. This Monastery houses many old scriptures & literary works. Next Dr Graham's Home, mission school was founded by Scottish missionary Dr. John Anderson Graham in 1900. The purpose of the school was to educate children of the tea garden workers & poor labourers. We also visit few nurseries around town.
Overnight Hotel - Kalimpong
Day 5 - Kalimpong - Bagdogara
After breakfast, we drive to Bagdogra (Distance 75 km appx) to take a fight for Kolkata. This is a wonderful drive & initially you follow the turbulent Teesta.
