The Best of Sikkim with Kolkata

Best time to visit: September to May
Duration: 10 Nights - 11 Days
Routing:  Kolkata - Bagdogra - Darjeeling - Pelling - Gangtok – Kalimpong - Bagdogra – Kolkata Departure 

Best available hotels:

Places	Best Available Hotels
Kolkata	Taj Bengal
Derjeeling	The Elgin
Peeling	The Elgin Mount Pandim
Gangtok	Mayfair Spa Resort & Casino
Kalimpong	Mayfair Himalayan Spa Resort

Trip Highlights
Derjeeling	Tiger Hill, Mountaineering Institute, Tibet Handicraft Centre, Tea Gardens
Peeling	Pemayantse monastery, Sangacholing Monastery, Khecheopalri Lake,
Gangtok	Do Drul Chorten, Rumtek Monastery, Himalayan Zoological Park, Government Institute of Cottage Industries, Research Institute of Tibetology, Lal bazaar, Tsongo Lake
Kalimpong	Thongsa Gompa, Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Gompa, Tharpa Choeling Monastery,
Kolkata	Kali Mata Mandir, Victoria Memorial, Fort William, St. John’s Church, Tagore’s castle & slot, marble Palace, Nirmal Hriday (Pure Heart), Birla Mandir, Belur Math

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive Kolkata
Arrive by International flight, after traditional Indian style ‘Swagat’ (Welcome) by Exceptional Escapes representative, he would assist you at the airport & transfer to hotel for check in. Kolkata is the cultural capital of India where rich cultural heritage can be experienced in daily life. Tourists especially visit this city to experience its unique and lively culture. It is the birthplace of renowned poets and philosophers. Appreciation of art and literature is in the blood of the people here. Aptly called the ‘City of Furious’, Kolkata is ideally located on the bank of the Hooghly River in West Bengal. This city is well known for the massive colonial architecture and art galleries. Also known as the ‘City of Joy’, Kolkata surely offers various astonishing attractions to fall in love with.

Overnight Hotel – Kolkata

Day 02: Kolkata – Bagdogra {OWN SPICEJET SG 494@ 1055 /1205 HRS}
Bagdogara – Darjeeling (110 km - 03 Hrs)
Post breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight to Bagdogra via Delhi. On arrival drive to Darjeeling, 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.Evening at leisure to explore the
Queen of India's hill stations.
Overnight Hotel – Darjeeling (B, D)

Day 03: Darjeeling
Morning START your DAY with the visit of Tiger Hill, famous for its magnificent view of Kanchenjunga, Mt. Everest & other eastern Himalayan peaks especially at the time of sunrise.
Way back visit the 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.

Also visit the Mountaineering Institute, created by the late Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who conquered Mt Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary. A display of equipment used on the climb is one of the highlights..
Rest of the time is free to explore the Tibet Handicraft Centre & the beautiful Tea gardens. Guided visit of Makaibari: more than a Tea Estate. Makaibari is the world's first tea factory and was established in 1859. All farmers are artists. Their palette is the earth, where they create their paintings with various seeds and animals, to produce food that sustains mankind. (If time permits)
Overnight Hotel – Darjeeling (B, D)

Day 04: Darjeeling – Pelling (145 Kms / 6-7 Hrs)
Post bfreakfast driven to peliing, on arrival transfer to hotel. Rest of the time is Free.
Overnight Hotel - Pelling (B, D)

Day 05: Pelling – Gangtok (115 / 2 Hrs)

Morning visit -
Pemayantse monastery; is special because it is meant only for ‘ta-sang’ lamas (pure monks). Believed to have been conceptualised and designed by the pioneer of Buddhism in Sikkim, Lhatsun Chhembo,  Pemayangste soon became the nuclei of monasteries in Sikkim. Today, it is considered as the "premier monastery" of the State.
Sangacholing Monastery; this monastery is located on a ridge above Pelling and the famous Pemayangtse Monastery. To reach the Monastery one has to walk on steep hilly slope which lead through rich forests area.
Khecheopalri Lake; Khecheopalri Lake is considered as one of the sacred lakes of Sikkim by the Hindus and Buddhists. The lake remains hidden in the forests. It is believed that birds do not permit even a single leaf to float on the lake surface.

Afternoon 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.
Overnight Hotel - Gangtok (B, D)

Day 06: Gangtok
Post breakfast guided sightseeing of Gangtok visiting

Do Drul Chorten; are two exquisite Stupas, the Dul-dul-Chorten, was built to commemorate the victory of good over evil. The Jhang Club Chorten was built to perpetuate the memory of a great spiritualist of today. Thrul-Shik Rinpoche an ardent devotee of Buddha and one of his best interpreters died in 1962, the stupa immortalizes Rinpoche in the land of his birth.
Rumtek Monastery; meandering roads through emerald green rice terraces, lays Rumtek, the main monastery of Kagyud or 'Black Hat' sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Built in 1959 by His Holiness the 16th Reincarnated Gyalwa Karmapa, it is a replica of Tsurphu Monastery from the Kham region of Tibet.
; 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.
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.
Research Institute of Tibetology; organization dedicated to furthering Tibetan studies, Buddhist philosophy & region. It attracts scholars from all over the world. It houses a rare collection of 30,000 books, Tantric documents, rare manuscripts written in gold on the bark of a poisonous tree, antique thanks & 200 icons, all prized objects of art for the Buddhism.
Evening explore Lal bazaar, melody of colour. Various ethnic groups from different villages gather to haggle, bargain, gossip their wares.

Overnight Hotel – Gangtok (B, D)

Day 07: Gangtok Tsongu lake Excursion – Kalimpong (75 kms / 2.5 hrs)
Post breakfast day excursion to Tsongo Lake; considered extremely sacred by the local people. The place is a paradise for bird lovers with large number of Blue Whistling Thrush, Redstarts & Fork tails around. It hosts a number of migratory birds prominent among which is the Brahminy ducks. The word Tsongo in Bhutia language means source of the lake.

Afternoon drive to Kalimpong, an incredible stunning backdrop of towering snowcapped 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. It was ruled by Bhutan for 155 years & was annexed by the British only in 1865, after which it flourished as a centre of wool trade with Tibet. Here Buddhism rubs shoulders with Hinduism & Christianity. Gumpas, unusual churches, temples & missionaries coexist in a jovial society.

Rest of the time to free at leisure after tiring Journey.
Overnight Hotel - Kalimpong (B, D)

Day 08: Kalimpong

Post breakfast visit:
Thongsa Gompa also known as the Bhutanese Monastery. It is the oldest monastery in Kalimpong & was founded in the year 1692. Though the old structure was destroyed by the Gorkhas, it was rebuilt on the same site.
Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Gompa, which is on the Durpin hill & is famous for the Tibetan wall paintings. It also has a religious debating society along with a school of Tibetan medicine.
Tharpa Choeling Monastery founded in 1937 & belongs to the Gelugpa (yellow hat) sect of Tibetan monastery. This Monastery houses many old scriptures & literary works.

Evening at leisure to explore the local market.
Overnight Hotel – Kalimpong (B, D)

Day 09: Kalimpong – Bagdogara (75 km - 2 hr)
Bagdogara – Kolkata {OWN GO AIR G8 -537@ 1445 / 1600 HRS)
Post breakfast transfer Bagdogara airport to board the fight to Kolkata. Upon arrival transfer to hotel.
Overnight Hotel – Kolkata (B)

Day 10: Kolkata
Post Breakfast Guided city tour of Kolkata; 

Kali Mata Mandir at Panchkula is also called as Kalka Mandir which is a gateway to the eastern side of Himachal Pradesh. Actually Kalka is a town which is named because of Kali Mata Temple. This temple is one of the old shrines from Panchkula Temples.

Victoria Memorial; memorial of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom who also carried the title of Empress of India. The structure was designed by Sir William Emerson in an architectural style similar to Taj Mahal. It was built between 1906 & 1921. It is a majestic white marble building surrounded by a sprawling garden. Also visit the Fort William, St. John’s Church, Tagore’s castle & slot, marble Palace

Howrah Bridge; is a cantilever bridge that spans over the Hooghly River in West Bengal A cantilever bridge is the one built using cantilevers, structures that project horizontally into space, supported on only one end. The bridge does not have nuts and bolts and was built by riveting the whole structure.
Nirmal Hriday (Pure Heart), opened in the year 1952 by Mother Teresa, Home for Dying Destitute in Kolkata. She & her fellow nuns took in dying Indians off the streets & brought them to this home to care for them during the days before they died, so that they might be able to die in peace & with dignity.

Birla Mandir; is a Hindu temple on Asutosh Chowdhury Avenue, Ballygunge, built by the industrialist Birla family. This temple is open in the morning from 5.30 A.M. to 11 A.M. and in the evening from 4 .30 P.M. to 9 P.M.

Belur Math; sprawling over forty acres of land on the western bank of the Hooghly (Ganga), in Howrah district, an hour’s drive from Kolkata, is a place of pilgrimage for people from all over the world professing different religious faiths.  Even people not interested in religion come here for the peace it exudes.

Rest of the day at leisure for shopping & explore local market of KOLKATA.
Overnight Hotel – Kolkata (B)

Day 11: Kolkata Departure
Transfer to airport to board your international fight for onward destination taking back a wonderful HOLIDAY Memory….

Tour Concludes: Exceptional Escapes Manager will assist you with your transfer to the airport for boarding onward flight.

Highlights & Inclusions:         

• Tried and Tested stylish hotel accommodation for 10 Nights.
• Complimentary Breakfast & Dinner will be served at Darjeeling, Pelling, Kalimpong & Gangtok hotel.
• Only breakfast will be served at Kolkata hotel
• Welcome soft drink on arrival at the hotel.
• All airport transfers in private vehicle with friendly chauffeur throughout the tour as per the itinerary.
• Accompanied English speaking guide throughout the tour Except Kolkata (there would be a local guide).
• IGST (Integrated Goods & Service Tax) A 24x7 Customer care representative at your disposal throughout your stay in India.

Package does not include: Toy train in Darjeeling, Any Monument entry fee & camera fee, Any International or Domestic airfare, Any optional service, Any expense of personal nature such as hard/soft drinks, laundry, one/fax calls, tips etc, Any other expense not mentioned in the “Package includes”.