Delights of Sikkim & Darjeeling

Sikkim is perhaps the most enchanting destination in the Eastern Himalaya of India. Ever since it has opened its doors to the tourist world, the snowbound glitter of Sikkim’s sacred sentinel has added a poignant signal to the measure of Sikkim’s lure of the spiritual and adventure at heart, is wedged between China (Tibet) Nepal and Bhutan, remote wild and unbelievable, the small state tucked in the eastern Himalayas is an experience simply out of the world. Catch the sunrise atop the mighty Kanchenjunga, visit ancient Buddhist monasteries and tea gardens, enjoy a nature walk, or relax amidst peaceful environment of emerald green Lake. Merged into the Indian republic in 1975 the last of the Shangrilas. Sikkim offers the magical feel of a Himalayan fairytale land.

Religion: Forms the main thread in the fabric of Sikkimese life. With hundreds of monasteries, the influence of Buddhism is ever so evident. Even in the remote regions, near wind swept summits, fringing monasteries and houses flutter the ubiquitous flags.

People: The People of Sikkim are warm, simple and friendly. The customs and rituals of the land are as diverse as the people who inhabit the land. The Lepchas, Bhutias, and Nepalese.

Climate : As in the Shivalik range mountain four major session, May-Sep Monsoon, Oct-Jan- Winter, Feb-Mid March- Autumn,   Mid March-April, Spring, the maximum temperature between 21-31 degree C and minimum between 13-23 Degree C.

Best Time : for visit Sikkim all the major session is well, except monsoon (May-Sep)

Entry Formalities : Apart from the Indian Visa a foreigner must obtain inner line permit (ILP) to visit Sikkim. The permit can be obtained from all the Indian mission, Tourism Office (New Delhi) Sikkim Tourism Office (Kolkata or Siliguri) The 15 days durations permit is issued on the spot.

Delights of Sikkim & Darjeeling :

Duration : 09 Nights / 10 Days
Best Time : Oct-March
Highlights : Delhi or Kolkata-Drgeeling-Pemayatse Monastery-Rabdentse Palace Runes- Pellig-Bon Monstery-Gangtok-Rumtak Monastery-Kalimpong-Cactus Nursery.

Day 01: Arrival Kolkata or Delhi : On arrival meet to assistance drive to hotel for rest of the night.

Day 02: Sightseeing : After breakfast full day cit tour Delhi {Old and New Delhi combined Sightseeing visit Jama Masjid, Shahjahanabad, Chadani Chowck, Gandhi memorial, Post lunch visit Government Buildings as(India Gate and President House) Humayun’s Tomb and Qutab Minar}  Kolkata visit Flower Market, Maidan, Victoria Memorial, Writer’s Building, Kumartuli, Mother Teresa’s House, Jain Temples, Kali Temple, Asia Museum, and rest of the time walk through the Chauranghee market. Overnight at hotel.

Day 03: Delhi or Kolkata- Bagdogra: After breakfast drive to airport take flight to Bagdogra, ETD 1025 hrs. on arrival meet to driver take vehicle drive 90 km/ 04 hrs to Darjeeling (2150m), check in hotel rest of the time free, Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 04:  Darjeeling (2150m) : Early in the morning (4 am) drive to Tiger Hill to witness the sunrise over Kanchenjunga Peak (subject to clear weather )on your way back visit Ghoom Monastery. After Break fast Today visit Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Happy (Closed on Thursday) ,Valley Tea Estate, Tenzing Rock & Gombu Rock & Tibetan Refugee Self – Help Center (Closed on Sunday) & Lablong Tibetan village. Drive back to hotel for lunch, Rest of the time visit local market, White Pagoda, and Ava Art Gallery. Dinner and Overnight at Hotel.

Day 05: Darjeeling-Pemayangtse-Pelling (2060m): (135 km/ 08 hrs drive): After breakfast drive to Pelling, pulls most of the visitors for its representative status in history nature and culture of the State. Including the mountains namely Koktang, Kumbhakarna, Rathong, Kabru Dom, Khangchendzonga, Pandim, Jopuno, Simvo, Narsing, Sinoulchu, and some more. En route we through the Blue Pine forest, Rhododendron, Conifer, Spur, hemlock and Cunene trees. Whole route we have a nice view of Khangchendzonga and another peaks.  We have a break at Melli from we take the Sikkim permit this is the border West Bangle and Sikkim, cross the Testa River. Jorthan the lunch break. Before arrival at Pelling we will visit, Ruines of Rabtense Palace. This was the second capital of the erstwhile Kingdom after Yuksam and till the 1814 AD. Neary by the Pelling market  we visit Pemayantse, it is one of the oldest monasteries of the State. Originally established by Lhatsun Chempo, one of the revered Lamas to have performed the consecration ceremony of the first Chogyal (Religious Monarch) of Sikkim. This ancient monastery belonging to the Nyingma Sect, has been considered as one of the premier monasteries in the state. Overnight at hotel.

Day 06: Pelling-Gangtok (1850m): (130km/ 8 hrs) Early in the morning after lunch drive to Gangtok via Ravangla, Legspa, Singtham through the local villages and small hamlets. En route magnificent  landscape, rice fields and through the forest. Gangtok is situated on a ridge at a distance of. We have the first break at Ravangla for visit the Bon Monastery, and lunch break. Singtham the second break for tea and stretch the leg because the whole way descend driving. On arrival at Gangtok, check in hotel.

Day 07: Gangtok : After breakfast full day local visit, Rumtem Dharma Chakra Center, about 45 km drive away from Gangtok city, the seat of the Kagyud pa order, one of the four cuajor major Tibetan Bhddhist sects. Since the 1960s, after the arrival of his Holiness the XIth Gyalwa Karmapa, en route visit the Orchid Nursery. Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, the most prestigious of its kind in India, this Buddhist Institute is a treasure of vast collection of rare Lepcha, Tibetan and Sanskrit manuscripts, statue and rare Thankas (tapestries used in Buddhist liturgy) it has over 200 Buddhist icons and other prized object of art. Do Drul Chorten, of Stupa ws bilt by the Venerable Trullshi Rimphche, head of the Nyigmapa order of Tibetan Buddhism, in 1945. inside the stupa there are compare mandala set of Dorjee phurba (Vajra Kilaya) a set of Kang Gyur Relic. Flower Complex exhibitions are organized round the year at the flowr show ven near the White Memorial Hall complex. The Orchid show is depend on the flowers. Directorate of  Handloom & Handicraft (DHH), Institute of the aim of promoting and keeping alive the state’s traditional art & craft. Enchey Monastery, An important seat of the Nyingmapa order of Buddhist. The Enchey Monastery is built on the Site Blessed by Lama Druptok Karpo, a tantric master know for his power of flying, this 200 years old monastery has in its premises images of gods, goddesses and other religious object. Rest of the time visit Lal Market, M. G. Road, & local vegetable market. Dinner & Overnight at hotel.   

Day 08: Gangtok-Kalimpong (1350m) (125 km/ 3 hrs drive): After an early breakfast drive to Kalimpong, after 60 km we cross the border Sikkim and West Bangle called Ragpo where the local police check the permit etc. continue drive to Kalimpong is a small hill station between Siliguri and Gangtok. The road is one of the most scenic routes in this part of the nation. The swift flowing Teesta river runs by the side of the road adding to the beauty of the scenery. The name, Kalimpong, has three different origins. One, it means the place where the local tribesmen gathered to organize field sports, second, it takes it’s name from the Bhutanese king’s minister’s stronghold and thirdly, it is named after Kaulim, a fibrous plant found in abundance in this region. On arrival at Kalimpong check in hotel rest of the time visit, Pine view cactus nursery, Zong Dog Palri Fo-Brang Gompa, was built in the mid-70s at Durpin Dara Hill and was consecrated by the Dalai Lama. The gompa is worth a visit for its impressive wall paintings in the prayer room, and a rare three-dimensional mandala upstairs. The mountain views are amazing from Durpin Dara Hill. Mother Merry Church the temples as a Bhutanese style. Rest of the time local market. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 09: Kalimpong-Bagdogra(70 km/ 2-3 hrs drive)-Delhi or Kolkata: Early in the morning drive to Bagdogra, take flight to Delhi or Kolkata. On arrival meet to assistance drive to hotel for overnight. Rest of the time free.

Day 10: Delhi or Kolkata : After breakfast full day local sightseeing, in time dep. transfer to international airport. End the Program.

NB : From Kalimpong we can extend the program by surface to Bhutan, drive around 300 km/ 7-8 hrs drive till the Jaigaon-Phuntsoling Board, overnight hotel at Phuntsoling. Next day drive to Thimpu 125 km. continue do the Bhutan program.

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