Location(s)
Gangtok & Darjeeling
Duration
5 nights / 6 days
Destination
Gangtok Transfer
Drive Duration: 4 to 5 hrs. Distance : 127 km. Altitude: 1,780 mtrs. Approx (Gangtok)
On arrival at the New Jalpaiguri railway station/ Bagdogra airport, you will be greeted by our representative and will be driven to Gangtok, East Sikkim. For most of the time you will be driving along the mighty Teesta River. On reaching Rangpo (the border town of Sikkim), at border check point police will ask you for your identification cards for your safety reason.
The process will take approximately 15 minutes. Here on you will be driven via small settlements that cater to the needs of the daily commuters and the people residing in the locality. The last 12 kilometers to Gangtok town is a gradual uphill climb.
Overnight: Gangtok
Gangtok Local Sightseeing
After breakfast, you can visit the Institute of Tibetology (Museum dedicated to the study of Buddhism. It was founded by the late Chogyal Sir Palden Thendup Namgyal) (Sunday closed). After the visit, you will be ferried uphill to the Secretariat (the Official Administrative office of the State of Sikkim) on the rope-way. We will walk along the Royal Palace Road via the White Hall (flower shows are conducted every now and then here) to the Directorate of Handloom and Handicraft Center (Sunday closed).
After Lunch, you will drive for 30-45 minutes to visit the Rumtek Monastery (the Headquarters of the Kagyu sect of Buddhism).
Evening stroll around M.G. Road
Overnight @ Gangtok
Tsomgo Lake,Baba Mandir and Nathu la (East Sikkim)
Note: Nathula would be additional Rs. ……………. Per car. However the passes for same depends on the discretion of the army which we will come to know a day before while you are in Gangtok. You need to carry photocopy of ID proof and 2 copies of passport size photo of all travelers for this tour and handover to our driver 2 days before. Acclimatization being of top priority, warm clothes should be kept in mind and water to be the essence of life should always be kept by your side.
Post breakfast proceed to Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir and Nathula. Whole day excursion programme near Himalayas.
After breakfast, day excursion to Tsomgo lake (A drive from Gangtok takes about 2 ½ hrs. The lake is about 1 km. long & oval in shape.50ft deep. This is an alpine zone & snowbound from December to April & the lake is regarded extremely Holy & attracts 99% of tourists visiting Gangtok, Sikkim.
It is also a home of Brahmini ducks besides stopover for various migratory ducks), Baba Mandir (He was an Indian army soldier who died near the Nathula Pass in eastern Sikkim, India. He is revered by the soldiers of the Indian army, who have built a mandir in his honour. Baba is reported to have granted favours to the soldier & guard each one in the inhospitable terrain. According to legend, Harbhajan Singh drowned in a glacier during the 1962 Sino-Indian War while escorting a column of mules to a remote outpost. He was the first casualty of the 23rd Punjab Regiment, and a manhunt was launched to find him. He was found after three days & cremated with full military honours. According to legend, it was Harbhajan who led the search party to his body, and later through a dream, instructed to one of his colleagues to build & maintain a shrine after him. A shrine was built at his Samadhi, at an elevation of around 14000 ft. (4000 meters), Ganesh Tok (aerial view of Gangtok Town and surrounding).
Evening @ leisure or walk around @ Gangtok Town.
Overnight: Gangtok
Darjeeling Transfer
Distance: 125 km. Altitude: 2,134 meters approx (Darjeeling). Drive Duration: 4 to 5 hrs
After breakfast, you will be driven to Darjeeling, West Bengal. If weather permits; the majestic Kanchendzonga will be visible during most of your journey. En-route you will see lush tea plantation of “Darjeeling Tea”. After lunch break, you could stretch your legs with a walk around the Chowrastha/ Mall.
Overnight: Darjeeling
Darjeeling Local Sightseeing
Early morning trip to Tiger Hill, if weather permits you will be able to see the spectacular sunrise over the majestic Kanchendzonga and top of the world “Mt. Everest” on the way back to Ghoom Monastery and Batasia loop. After breakfast, you could take a joy ride on the famous toy train of Darjeeling. It is a heritage railways established during the British Raj. After a memorable joy ride, you could walk via the mall road and the chowrastha towards the Himalayan Institute of Mountaineering and the Zoo or drive to Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (Thursday close), Zoological Park, Happy Valley Tea Estate, Tibetian Refugee Centre and drive back to Mall. Evening at leisure or stroll around Mall
Overnight: Darjeeling
Train Station / Airport Transfer
Drive Duration: 5 to 6 hrs. Distance : 110 Km
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Railway station / Airport via Mirik (The main attraction of Mirik is Sumendu Lake situated at the centre of the town. The 1.25 Kilometers long Lake has a maximum depth of 8 metres and has been formed by collecting and damming the rain and spring water. The 25 metres arch bridge over the lake is a beauty itself, (Boating and mule rides are good attraction for tourists) and lunch break. On the way to Mirik you can visit Nepal border also and a very beautiful scenic drive, then to meet your schedule journey to your next destination.
Please double check your flight/ Train departure timing