Delhi (1N) – Darjeeling (2N) – Pemayngtse (1N) – Gangtok (2N) – Kalimpong (2N) - Delhi (2N)
You be welcomed on arrival and escorted to your booked hotel. Morning at leisure. Afternoon half-day combined tour of Old & New Delhi. Overnight at the hotel.
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel. Later transfer to airport for morning flight to Bagdogra. Arrive Bagdogra Airport, in the morning hours from New Delhi. Transfer by jeep to Darjeeling via Kurseong. Drive to Kurseong, 65 Kms in 2 hrs. From the plains of North Bengal we climb to an elev. of 1600 Meters, passing through, forests and tea gardens, with the famous heritage “toy” train running alongside. At Kurseong an hours break, to visit a tea factory, famous internationally for production of bio-dynamic tea. Lunch will be either at Siliguri or Kurseong, depending upon arrival from Delhi. DARJEELING TEA—The Champagne of tea: Darjeeling tea gardens produce China dart, China hybrid, and hybrid Assam. A combination of intermittent rainfall and altitude has resulted in a relatively small yield. Only 3 percent of India’s total – but Darjeeling tea is considered the finest in the world, and sells at the highest prices. Which have fetched upto 14000 Rupees, per kg at auctions. The production process consists of withering, crushing, fermenting, and drying. The quality and length of leaf determine grades such as Flowery Orange Pekoe, and Broken Orange Pekoe. The word Pekoe comes from the Chinese Pekho, and refers to the soft down of a child's cheek, thought to resemble the fine down on one side of the tea leaf, which appear as flushes. The plucking season is from March to December, which produces two flushes, the best of which is the second. With Eco awareness, most gardens are now changing over to using bio manure for their gardens. Drive on to Darjeeling, through more tea estates, and small villages, climbing steadily to 2143, Meters, and reaching Darjeeling by late evening. Enroute we have a chance to see the Darjeeling Railway's heritage toy train, which was opened in 1881, primarily for the tea traffic. The railway line is laid alongside the road, and to see the tiny steam engine huffing and puffing, uphill with just three carriages, is an unusual sight. The highest point on this line is at Ghoom, at an elevation of 2225 Meters, where the ascent is achieved through a double loop. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Morning : Breakfast at the hotel. Later visit DARJEELING: The town derived its present name from the Tibetan Dorjee-Ling, meaning Place of the thunderbolt.
It is located in the state of West Bengal. It has a population of 200 000, comprising an ethnic mix of Nepali, Bhutia, Lepcha and some Bengalis. Common language is Nepali. Until the nineteenth century, it was a part of the kingdom of Sikkim, but was overrun by the Nepalese. The British intervened to broker peace, and in return pressurized the Sikkim raja, to gift Darjeeling, to the British for an annual sum of Rs 3ooo, in 1835. Finally in 1861, after a short war, the British annexed Darjeeling and the adjoining territory upto the Rangit River The British developed Darjeeling, due to its strategic location as a base to develop trade with Tibet. In early 1840’s, tea plantations were developed, extensively, and Nepali labour was imported. This resulted in a change in the demographic balance, with Nepalese gradually gaining ground over others. Recently after a violent agitation, for formation of a Gorkhaland state, the Bengal government granted the Darjeeling District, autonomy, under a Gorkha Hill Council, with limited powers. Darjeeling retains it colonial flavor, and the region grows the best quality of tea. The fantastic views of the great snow capped ranges, is a major tourist attraction, along with Buddhist monasteries and exotic bazaar.
Early morning drive to Tiger Hill, 14 Kms. From an altitude of 2650 M, get a magnificent view of sunrise over Mt Kanchendzonga, and other peaks of the Eastern Himalayas. (Weather permitting). Return to the hotel for breakfast. Enroute visit the Ghoom Monastery built in 1857. After breakfast take a tour of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Zoological Park, followed by the Tibetan self-help Center THE TIBETAN SELF-HELP CENTER: Following the escape of the Dalai Lama to India, floods of Tibetan refugees were faced with finding useful employment. This center was started in 1959, to teach the refugees, various skills, on the basis of self-help, as a charitable institution. It is located at a historical site, where the Thirteenth Dalai Lama stayed as an exile between 1910 and 1912, following the Chinese invasion at that time. Visitors have a chance to see traditional Tibetan handicrafts, like carpets, wood, metal, as leather handicrafts, being made, and to buy them for a good cause. After lunch, explore the Mall, and the bazaar, Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Morning : Breakfast at the hotel. Later drive down to the Rangit Valley, along picture post card countryside, of tea gardens and small hamlets, mountain streams and rivers. We take 1.30 hrs to drive 21 Kms, to the Sikkim border at Naya Bazaar. After entry formalities (keep passports handy, along with Sikkim Entry endorsement on visa). Continue the drive along the scenic Rangit Valley, with terraced cultivation, variety of flora, quaint villages and smiling folks, for 26 Kms, in another 1.30 hrs. Thereafter we climb through hairpin bends to attain the submit of the Pamayangtse-Pelling ridge at 2085 meters, in 02 hrs, covering 28 Kms. We check in at Hotel Phamrong, or the Norbugang Resort, at Pelling in time for lunch. Both are charming hotels, with direct views of the Mt Khangchendzongaa. In the afternoon take a conducted tour of the famous Pemayangtse Monastry.
Western Sikkim : The cradle of Buddhism in Sikkim - The legendary installation of the Namgyal dynasty, by three monks in 1642, introduced Buddhism in Sikkim. They came together at Yoksom, and as it had been prophesied, in sacred texts, they searched, and found Phuntsog Namgyal; anointed him with holy water, gave him the title of "chogyal" – meaning king of religion, and urged him to spread Buddhism, amongst the ethnic Lepchas. At that time the local people were animist.
They worshipped nature spirits, who were animists worshipping nature spirits. On various hill tops inter- visible to each other, are located a string of holy sites. Pamayangtse-the sublime perfect lotus was built in 1705. It is the paramount of the Nyingmapa monasteries of Sikkim, and regarded the most prestigious. It is well known for its seven level wooden pagoda structure of mind boggling intricacy, depicting paradise. The late Dongzin Rimpoche crafted this, over five years of solo effort. Sangacholing Monastery-the place of secret spells was founded in 1697. Clay statues dating back to the 17th Century are amongst the oldest in Sikkim. Both the monasteries offer enchanting views of the snows, and river valleys. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Morning : Breakfast at the hotel. Later drive to Rumtek Monastery. Headquarters of the Karamapa branch of the kargyu sect, Rumtek Monastery was rebuilt in 1964, as a replica of the Tsurphu Monastery, which was the original headquarters of the Kargyu Sect in Tibet. The 16th Gyalwa Karamapa, head of the order undertook this, after he fled from Tibet, and settled in Sikkim. Behind the main temple are the Dharma Chakra Center, and the Nalanda Institute of Buddhist Studies. Here monks spend a minimum of nine years, in study, followed by three years of meditation. The gilded chorten or stupa studded with precious stones containing the remains of the Karamapa, as also the main temple, are the main attractions. With its traditional architecture, exquisite paintings, intricate woodwork, housing treasures of manuscripts and icons, Rumtek is a splendid example of Tibetan monastic art. After a tour of this world famous monastery, continue your drive to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. Driving through picture post card country, as the road winds down through terraced fields and smiling hamlets, we get a full view of Gangtok, and marvel at the multistoried structures, dotting the hillsides. The 24 Kms journey takes 2 hrs with a visit to the Tibetology Institute, with its large collection of Buddhist, icons, religious paintings and literature. Check in at Hotel Norkhill, for lunch.
Afternoon; Visit the Directorate of handicrafts and handlooms, which is keeping the local handicrafts alive. Here you see skilled teachers and trainees working at various handicrafts. There is also a sales outlet, where you can buy handicrafts at reasonable prices. Latter a walking tour of the bazaar. Explore for bargains. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel. Later do a day trip to Phudong and Labrang monasteries. The tour to Phudong takes us 50 Kms to the North of Gangtok, to the Phudong, Gumpa, which belongs to the same sect as Rumtek. The Gumpa, is a fairly recent structure, although the original Gumpa dates to 1740. The 16th Karamapa, stayed here after he fled from Sikkim, and prior to his installation at Rumtek. Labrang Gumpa close by, was established in 1844, and belongs to the Nyingma-pa sect. Return to the hotel for a late lunch or opt for a picnic lunch. Evening at leisure. Dinner, and overnight at hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel. Later we retrace our steps along the Teesta Valley to drive 66 Kms to Chitre, in 02 hrs, to begin the 14 Kms climb to Kalimpong located at an altitude of 1250 Meters, in 45 minutes. It is a forested drive, along picture post card countryside. Check in at your Hotel. After lunch, free to explore the bazaar. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel. Later visit Colonial bungalows, golf course, and Monastery viewpoint. And a quick look at the Zong Dog Palri Fo Brang Monastery, famous for the "Kanguyar", in 108 volumes, brought personally from Tibet by the Dalai Lama. It was presented to the monastery, when he consecrated it in 1976. The viewpoint presents remarkable views of Khangchendzonga, and other snow peaks. Latter visit an orchid nursery, and return to the hotel for lunch. Afternoon: Lunch a the hotel and the rest of the day free to explore the city on own. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast drive to Bagdogra airport to board flight to Delhi. On arrival you are met and escorted to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel. Full day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Today you are transferred to the airport to board your flight for onward journey.
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