Sikkim Delight

Duration: 07 Nights - 08 Days
Locations: Bagdogra - Darjeeling - Pelling - Gangatok - Kalimpong - Bagdogra (Departure)

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01 : Arrive Bagdogra - Darjeeling (95 km / 3 hr)
Arrive by Flight and after Traditional “Swagat” 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.
Overnight Hotel – Darjeeling (B, D)

Day 02 : Darjeeling
Darjeeling Tea Gardens
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.

After some rest we take a ride of toy train of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 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.. Next we visit the Tibet Handicraft Centre & the beautiful Tea gardens. In the evening visit the Observatory Hill known locally as Makal-Babu-Ko-Thaan. According to legend, a Red Hat Buddhist Monastery called Dorje Ling, or 'place of the Thunderbolt', stood at this very spot. The Nepalese destroyed it in the 19th century, now the Shivas & Buddhists share the temple that stands there today.
Overnight Hotel – Darjeeling (B, D)

Day 03 : Darjeeling - Pemayangtse (65 km- 4 hrs)
Morning post breakfast drive to Pemayangtse. Pemayangtse plunges down into the hot, humid valley of the Teesta river where broad-leafed tropical plants thrive & then rises to a 2,085 m high ridge. Here in the 17th century, a Buddhist sage set up a hermitage which grew into Pemayangtse Monastery. Upon arrival assistance & check-in hotel.

Later in the afternoon we will visit Pemayangtse monastery situated at a height of 6840 feet which is the second largest monastery in Sikkim. This ancient monastery belongs to Nyingma-pa sect & is the head of all other monasteries of this sect in Sikkim. Evening at leisure
Overnight Hotel- Pemayangtse (B,D)

Day 04 : Pamayangtse - Gangtok (95 km- 03 hr)
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.
Later in the evening visit to Enchey Monastery, built in 1909, & is home to about 100 Nyingmapa monks.
Overnight Hotel - Gangtok (B,D)

Day 05 : Gangtok
Today we visit 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 wasbuilt to perpetuate the memory of a great spiritualist of today. Thrul-Shik Rinpoche an ardent devotee of Buddha & one of his best interpreters died in 1962, the stupa immortalizes Rinpoche in the land of his birth. Next we visit 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.

Later 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.
Overnight Hotel – Gangtok (B, D)

Day 06 : Gangtok - Kalimpong (80 km – 03 hr)
Today we drive to Kalimpong, 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. 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.
Overnight Hotel - Kalimpong (B, D)

Day 07 : Kalimpong
Today we 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. Next visit the 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.
Later we 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 (B, D)

Day 08 : Kalimpong – Bagdogara (75 km - 02 hr)
Today we drive to Bagdogara to take a fight for onward Journey.

Our tour concludes: We thank you for your patronage & look forward to serve you again in near future.

Tour cost

Cost of the Tour ( Per Person on Double Occupancy basis )

Number of person	Standard Package/4* hotels	Economy Package/3* hotels
Based on 2 person	USD 995/- per person	USD 755/- per person
Based on 4 person	USD 845/- per person	USD 575/- per person

Note : Monument charges extra : can directly on the spot.

Government service tax:
There will be 3.09% service Govt. service tax extra applicable on total package cost.

Package includes:

• 07 Nights accommodation on Double Occupancy basis.
• Daily Breakfast & Dinner at all mentioned hotels
• Transportation by Non AC Tata Sumo/Innova car with English Speaking Chauffeur.
• Assistance on arrival & departure transfer
• Services of English Speaking Guide during the entire tour.
• Driver boarding & lodging
• Fuel surcharge
• Tax, Inter state taxes, Toll Tax & Parking
• Toy Train Ride at Darjeeling

Package does not include:

• Any Monument entry fee & camera fee.
• All presently applicable taxes.
• Any airfare Domestic & International
• Any expense of personal nature such as hard/soft drinks, laundry, phone/fax calls, tips etc.
• Any other expense not mentioned in the

Hotels to be used :

Destination	Standard/4* hotels	Economy /3* hotels
Darjeeling	Cedar Inn	Hotel Villa Everest
Pelling	Hotel Mt. Pandim	Pachu Resort
Gangatok	Hotel Norkhill	Chumby Residency
Kalimpong	Hotel Silver Oak's	Hotel Himalaya

Above or similar hotel to be used.
Please note Check in / check out time is 1200 noon.