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Darjeeling Sikkim And Kalimpong Tour |
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Situated
in the
Eastern
Himalayas,
this
beautiful
state of
Sikkim
is
surrounded
by the
kingdom
of Nepal
in the
West,
Bhutan
in the
East,
Tibet in
the
North
and the
state of
West
Bengal
in the
South.
The
impregnable
snowy
Himalayas,
the
third
highest
mountain
in the
world
Mt.
Khanchendzonga
and the
flat
lowlands
with its
diverse
flora &
fauna
enriches
its
beauty.
Trekking
in the
rough
mountains,
rafting
on the
turbulent
rivers,
and
sightseeing
are all
laid out
for the
visitor
on a
platter.
Gangtok,
the
capital
of
Sikkim,
is often
referred
to as
the
“Lofty
Hills".
An air
of
Enchantment
pervades
in the
entire
atmosphere
of the
valley
with its
stupas,
Monasteries
and its
Mysticism.
In
Gangtok,
one very
frequently
comes
across
the
Prayer
flags
whipping
in the
breeze,
robed
Lamas
chanting
prayers
to God,
lined
Brightly
painted
pagoda -
roofed
houses,
and of
course,
the
sound of
trumpets
from the
distance
hills &
valleys. |
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Itinerary
In
Details |
Day
01 :
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Fly from Kathmandu to
Bhadrapur which takes
about 45 minutes. You
will then take a drive
from Bhadrapur to
Kakarvitta (Eastern
Border town of Nepal).
You will undergo with
some custom formalities
and then drive to
Darjeeling by jeep which
takes about four and
half hours. |
Day
02 :
|
Darjeeling sight seeing.
Morning visit Tiger Hill
to see the sunrise and
also get the best view
of the world's third
highest mountain
Kanchenjunga and other
peaks. On the way back
visit Ghoom Monastery
Enshrining Maitreyee
Buddha. After breakfast
proceed for a ride in
the famous toy train for
half an hour. This day
you visit Botanical
Gardens, Observatory
Hill, mountaineering
institute to know the
history and the
equipment and used in
the first conquest of
Mt. Everest by Sir
Edmund Hillary and
Tenzing Norge. Then you
go to Zoological Park to
see the Siberian Tigers.
Visit Llamas, Himalayan
Black Bear and Panda.
Visit tea estates and
Tibetan Refugee
self-help centre for
woolen carpet and
leather products. You
stay overnight in hotel. |
Day
03 :
|
Drive from Darjeeling to
Gangtok which takes
about 3 and half hours.
You will drive through
the breath taking
downhill pitched road
Maney Bhanjyang - Loptsu
– Teesta. You will
gradually drive to
Rongpu the border
between West Bengal and
Sikkim.
Beware: You are not
allowed to spit on the
road, throw the wrappers
of foods and chocolates
and not allowed to smoke
in public areas.
You will have some
custom duties to be
fulfilled and then drive
to Melli – Singtam –
Ranipol – Tadong – and
then to Gangtok. “A
mountain of houses” |
Day
04 :
|
Sight seeing in and
around Gangtok. The main
places of interests are
as stated below.
Tashi View Point: From
here, you could have a
view of Mt Kanchanjunga
and other peaks of the
Himalayas. One can have
an experience of the
changes in colour of
snows of the mountains
there.
Institute of Tibetology
was established in 1958
to promote research on
the language and culture
of Tibet, as well as
Mahayana Buddhism, it is
the most prestigious of
its kind in India. It
has on display a vast
collection of rare
Tibetan, Sanskrit and
Lepcha manuscript. The
museum section, houses a
number of exotic
ritualistic chortens,
brass bells, dorjis,
rosaries and some very
rare thanas. Today it is
renowned worldwide
center for study of
Buddhist philosophy and
religion.
Rumtek Monastery is the
sect of the Gyalwa
Karmapa Lama. The
monastery is a
magnificent example of
Tibetan Monastic art and
was built by His
Holiness, Gyalwa Karmapa,
(a leader of the Kagyu
Sect of Tibetan
Buddhism). It is a close
replica of the H.H.
Karmapa's monastery at
Tsorphu in Tibet and
houses some of the
world's most unique
religious art objects.
The sacred Tsomgo Lake
(elevation 3780 m) is
situated 38 km to the
east of Gangtok amidst
picturesque mountains.a
a Tibetan Buddhist
lamasery of the
Nyingmapa order, is a 95
km drive from Kalimpong.
Enchey Monastery is an
important sect of the
Nyingmapa order, this
200 year old monstary,
atop a hill above
Gangtok, was once the
hermitage of Lama.
Dripthob Karpo, a
tantric master renowned
for his powers of
flying. The annual
ritual dance is
performed on the 18th
and 19th day of the 12th
Month of the Tibetan
calendar corresponding
to the month of
December/ January.
Deer Park: Embraced by
gardens f flowers lies a
beautiful Deer Park – an
ideal place to be
solitude, beside the
Secretariat. Built to
commemorate the Buddha’s
reincarnation as a musk
deer, it has a large
fielded statue of Buddha
under a beautiful canopy
in preaching posture, a
replica of the statue at
Sarnath in Uttar
Pradesh, where Lord
Buddha delivered his
first sermon. It is a
popular viewpoint on the
edge of the ridge.
White Hall: Built in
1932 in memory of the
first Political Officer
of Sikkim, Sir Claude
White. Situated on a
ridge, it has historical
value only. There is an
officer’s club.
Orchid Sanctuary: It is
near Research Institute
of Tibetology, where you
can see many of the 454
species of orchid found
in Sikkim. The best time
to visit is April-May,
July-August and
October-November. There
yet another collection
of orchids produced by
the Governmental Tissue
Culture Department of
Sikkim in Saramsa or
Apeca Garden about 14
Kms. from Gangtok
besides Ranikhola. This
is this garden for the
home of Sikkim’s many
exotic orchids and other
rare tropical and
temperate plants. Formed
and maintained by the
Department of Forest, it
is an excellent
recreational and
beautiful picnic spot,
and a swimming pool.
Ganesh Tok: It is at an
altitude of 6500 ft.
above Gangtok and 7 Kms.
There is a small temple
of God Ganesha nested.
Panoramic view of
Gangtok, magnificent and
breathtaking view of
Khangchendzonga and
Siniolchu can be
observed and enjoyed
from this spot on a
ridge. A cafeteria
serves hot tea, coffee
and snacks.
Hanuman Tok: It is at an
altitude of 7200 ft.,
about 5 Kms. From
Gangtok where there is a
temple of God Hanuman.
Panoramic view of
Gangtok and adjoining
hills and valleys with
Khangchendzonga on the
background can be seen
from here. Sunrise can
be observed from here.
Night view of the
Gangtok city lights is
mood elevating.
Tashi View Point is
About 8 Kms. from
Gangtok. It is a resting
shed. Astounding view of
Khangchendzonga and the
Siniolchu Range is the
main attractive of this
point. The distant north
Sikkim monasteries are
also visible from this
point along the North
Sikkim highway.
Do-drul Chorten (Stupa):
Situated on a hillock,
it is a five minutes
drive from Gangtok town,
Built by late Trulshik
Rimpoche in 1946, head
of the Nyingmapa order
and the late Chogyal
Tashi Namgyal in 1957 to
invoke the Gods for the
peace and tranquility in
the State. Set of Kagyur
holy books, relics,
complete mantras, rare
mandalas of Dorjee
Phurba (Bajra Kilaya)
and other religious
objects are found inside
the Chorten. A small
Chorten known as Jhang
Chub is built beside the
Phurba Chorten in memory
of Trulshik Rimpoche who
passed away in 1962. Few
yards below the Chorten
is the rock known as
“DO-TA-PU” or “Stone
Horse”. There is a
monastery close by
called “Guru Lakhang”
with the state of Guru
Padmasambhava and Guru
Snong Zisil Gnen, the
incarnated one of the
first. Around the
Chorten is installed the
‘180’ Mani-Lhakor or
prayer wheels. The
Chorten has the sacred
topped stupa.
Saramsa Garden: Also
know as Ipecac Garden is
about 14 kms from
Gangtok, the home of
Sikkim's most exotic
orchids and other rare
tropical and temperate
plants. The garden is
know as Ipecac garden
because of the plant
Ipecac that is grown
here. Established and
maintained by the
Department of Forest, it
is an excellent
recreation and picnic
spot. Besides this
plant, this garden also
contains a wide variety
of other flora including
numerous types of
orchids and medicinal
plants. A large green
house also accommodates
many other species of
plants. One has to take
a taxi to reach this
place. |
Day
05 :
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Sight seeing in and
around Gangtok. Places
of interests :
Kanchanjunga view point,
Institute of Tibetology,
Rumtek Monastery, Inchey
Monastery, typical
market place, Saramsa
Garden etc. |
Day
06 :
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Free day for monastery
visit and enjoy mountain
views. In the western
district of Sikkim,
Pemyangtse is a picture
perfect destination. It
offers a breathtaking
view of the world's 3rd
highest peak of Mount
Khanchendzonga. The
little place is home to
a number of tourist
attractions in Gangtok,
namely Pemyangtse
Monastery which is one
of the oldest
monasteries in Sikkim,
located on a hilltop at
a height of 6840 ft.
Apart from it, there are
many other monasteries
Pelling like:
Sangachoeling Monastery,
Dabdi Monastery,
Tashiding Monastery and
so on. |
Day
07 :
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Drive from Pemayangtse
to Kalimpong which takes
about 5 to 6 hours |
Day
08 :
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Sight seeing in and
around Kalimpong.
Kalimpong is a sleepy
little town situated at
an altitude of 1,200 m,
some 50 km to the east
of Darjeeling. Kalimpong,
"The Stockade of the
King's Minister" was
once a bustling town on
the trade route to
Tibet. It once used to
be the hub of the
trans-Himalayan trade
between India and Tibet
when merchants used to
ferry goods by mule
caravan over the Jelepla
Pass on the Sikkim -
Tibet border. Although
the trade route has
closed down since the
early sixties, the town
still retains its
tranquility and
intrinsic charm. It
enjoys the best climate
in the region and is a
favorite haunt of those
in search of peace and
serenity. It enjoys the
best climate in the
region, with dense
forests of golden oak
trees offset by the rich
undergrowth of moss and
lichen. Owing to its
rich flora, Kalimpong is
a blaze of colors
throughout the year. The
orchids of this region
in particular are famous
for their infinite
variety as well as their
delicate tints. |
Day
09 :
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Drive from Kalimpong to
Kakarivitta via Siliguri
which takes about 4
hours. You will then
drive to Bhadrapur via
Kakarivitta and fly from
Bhadrapur to Kathmandu. |
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Services
Included
* English
speaking Escort
throughout the
tour
* All meals 3
times a day
* Accommodation
in twin share
basis and partly
camping
* All ground
transportation
by deluxe Jeep
* Entrance fees
for monuments
during
sightseeing
* Services of
Camping Crew
* Porters and
pack animals
during camping
in trekking
Services
Excluded
* Personal
natural expenses
like smoking,
beverages, hot
showers,
laundry.
* Flight
wherever
applicable
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