| Eastern Galore Tour |  |
DURATION : 08 Nights / 09 Days
PLACES TO SEE :Kolkata – Bagdogra – Darjeeling – Pelling – Gangtok – Tsomgo Lake –Kalimpong - Home |
| DAY 01 : ARRIVE AT KOLKATA |
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Meeting and assistance upon arrival at Kolkata airport and later you will be escorted to your designated hotel. Kolkata, the ‘city of Joy’, is a city with rich cultural heritage and age old traditions. Established in 1690 as the trading post for the English East India Company by Job Charnock, Kolkata, or Calcutta as it was formerly called, is the present capital of the eastern state of West Bengal and one of the largest cities in India. Overnight stay at Kolkata.
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| DAY 02 : KOLKATA SIGHTSEEING. |
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After breakfast, enjoy full day sightseeing tour of Kolkata. Visit Eden Garden Stadium, Akashbani Bhavan, High Court, GPO, Writers Building, Howrah Bridge - It is not often that a certain landmark becomes the very identity of the entire city, Belur Math - Belur Math is the most enchanting temple in Belur. In 1897 Swami Vivekananda founded Ramakrishna Mission in loving memory of his Guru Ramakrishna Paramhansa who preached unity of all religions. I, Vivekananda Setu, Dakshineswar Temple - The Dakshineshwar temple was been built by Rani Rashmoni in the year 1847. It is a 12- spired temple with its enormous courtyard which is surrounded by 12 other temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Town Hall (Kolkata Panaroma), St. Pauls Cathedral Church - built in 1847. Dedicated to Saint Paul, this church was the first Episcopal Church of the eastern world., Victoria Memorial Hall - An everlasting impression one carries from Kolkata is the shining white Victoria memorial surrounded by lush greenery and wide roads.. You can take a River Cruise on Ganges at your own cost. Overnight stay at Kolkata.
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| DAY 03 : KOLKATA TO BAGDOGRA BY FLIGHT. DRIVE TO DARJEELING (93 KMS/ 3 HRS APPROX.) |
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After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kolkata airport to board flight to Bagdogra. Meeting and assistance upon arrival at Bagdogra. Later, drive to Darjeeling. Standing high in the Himalayas at an altitude of 2134m, ‘Dorje Ling’, or place of the Thunderbolt, offers breathtaking views of snow-capped mountain peaks, with the Kanchendzonga rising higher than all the others. Reach Darjeeling and check into the hotel. Spend rest of the time at leisure. Overnight stay at Darjeeling.
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| DAY 04 : DARJEELING SIGHTSEEING. |
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Early morning visit Tiger Hill and Ghoom Monastery. After breakfast, enjoy Joy Ride on World Heritage Toy Train, Darjeeling to Ghoom and back. Afternoon, enjoy visit Himalayan Mountaineering Institute(closed on Thursday) - Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was built as a tribute to Tenzing so that he could impart his skills to all those who pursued climbing activities in the Himalayas. Tenzing was the first Director of field training in HMI, Zoological Park (closed on Thursday) - This zoo was set up in the Birch Hill area (now known as Jawahar Parvat) in 1958. It was then known as the Himalayan Zoological Park. In India, this is the largest high altitude zoo. It spans across 67.5 acres of area at an altitude of 7,000ft (2133m), Happy Valley Tea Estate (outer view) and Tibetan Refugee Centre (closed on Sunday). Overnight stay at Darjeeling.
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| DAY 05 : DARJEELING – PELLING (75 KMS/ 3 HRS). |
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After breakfast in the hotel and drive to Pelling. Reach Pelling and proceed for city tour visit Pemayangste Monastery (the 2nd oldest monastery of Sikkim) - This is one of the oldest and most important monasteries of Sikkim. Founded in 1705, this monastery belongs to the Nyingma-pa sect. The 3-storied building of the monastery houses a good collection of wall paintings and sculptures., Rabtense Ruins (2nd Capital of Sikkim) - The ruins lie hidden from the main road. The walk towards Rabdantse is through a forest area with some rare species of orchids and a few lakes. These lakes are also home to local carp fish. Overnight stay at Pelling.
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| DAY 06 : PELLING TO GANGTOK VIA RUMTEK MONASTERY (149 KMS / 6-7 HRS APPROX.) |
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After breakfast, drive to Gangtok. Reach Gangtok and proceed for city tour visiting Do Drul Chorten - the biggest and the most important Buddhist stupa situated near Gangtok capital city of Sikkim state, India. Built in 1945 by Trulshi Rimpoche, head of the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism. This stupa or chorten has a sacred gold-topped shikhara and 108 prayer wheels (Mani-Lhakor), Namgyal Institute of Tibetology (closed on Sundays) - It is one of the most important and famous institutes in the world that does research in the areas of Tibetan language and culture. It also has in its premises a museum, a Tibetan library with rich collections and also a reference center about Tibet and Himalayas in general. Overnight stay at Gangtok.
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| DAY 07 : EXCURSION TO TSOMGO LAKE. |
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Morning after breakfast, excursion to Tsomgo Lake - or Changu Lake is perched within mountains at an altitude of 12,400 ft. Located at Gangtok – Nathula Highway only 37 kms. from Gangtok, the Changu Lake is one of the most spectacular landscapes of Sikkim. The lake is highly revered by the local Buddhists and Hindus as a sacred lake. With a depth of around 48 feet and spreading over 1 kilometre, the magnificent Changu Lake romances with its picturesque surrounding. The water of the lake comes from the melting of the snow of its surrounding mountains, which is why, this lake never dries up. Afternoon visit Cottage Industry (closed on Sundays) and Flower Shop. Overnight stay at Gangtok.
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| DAY 08 : GANGTOK – KALIMPONG (83 KMS/ 3 HRS APPROX).
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After breakfast in the hotel and drive to Kalimpong - at an altitude of 1250m, Kalimpong’s location is ideal for a pleasant , relaxed getaway. Afternoon, enjoy sightseeing tour of Kalimpong city visit Tharpa Choling Monastery – It is perched on the mount of Tirpi Hills. Established by Buddhist sect, Gelupka in 1937, it is one of the three monasteries constructed in Kalimpong. This monastery also offers beautiful view of the Himalayas , Thongsa Gumpa - also known as the Bhutanese Monastery was established in 1692. It is the oldest monastery of the area. Monks offer their prayers daily in the monastery, a serene and holy place, which entices you to meditate there. The Gompa was rebuilt by the King of Bhutan after the original was demolished by the Gurkhas. Also visit Flower Nursery. Overnight stay at Kalimpong. |
| DAY 09 : KALIMPONG TO BAGDOGRA (80 KMS/ 3 HRS APPROX.) BAGDOGRA TO KOLKATA BY FLIGHT. |
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After breakfast, you will be transferred to Bagdogra airport to board flight to Kolkata. Arrive at Kolkata airport and board your flight for onward destination.
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| Tour ends here……… | |