Grand East Himalayan Tour (05 Days)

Duration: 04 Nights - 05 Days
Destination Covered: Bagdogara - Darjeeling - Gangtok - Bagdogara Departure

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Tour Itinerary

Day 01 : Arrival Bagdogara by flight
Bagdogara - Darjeeling (110 km - 03 hr)

Arrive Bagdogara, after traditional 'Swagat' (Welcome) Caper's representative would assist you at airport & 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
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 - 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.

Half Day Tour
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. We will also visit includes Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, which promotes research of the language and traditions of Tibet and contains one of the world's largest collection of books & rare manuscripts on Mahayana Buddhism.
Overnight Hotel - Gangtok(B, D)

Day 04 : Gangtok - Kalimpong drive
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.

Later 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.

We also 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 05 : Kalimpong - Bagdogara (75 km - 02 hr)
Bdogara - Kolkata by Flight

we drive to Bagdogara to take a fight for Kolkata. This is a wonderful drive & initially you follow the turbulent Teesta. Upon Arrival in Delhi transfer to International Airport for onward destination.