Itinerary in Detail
Day 01 :
Fly from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur which takes about 45 minutes. You will then take a drive from Bhadrapur to Kakarivitta (an eastern border town of Nepal.) You will undergo some custom formalities and then drive to Darjeeling by jeep, which takes about four and half hours. Overnight in a hotel in Darjeeling.
Day 02 :
Darjeeling sightseeing. Morning visit to Tiger Hill to see the sunrise, and also get the best view of the world's third highest mountain Kanchenjunga and other peaks. . After breakfast, proceed for a ride in the famous toy train for half an hour. This day you visit Botanical Gardens, Observatory Hill, mountaineering institute to know the history and the equipment and used in the first conquest of Mt. Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norge. Then you go to Zoological Park to see the Siberian Tigers. Visit Llamas, Himalayan Black Bear and Panda. Visit tea estates and Tibetan Refugee self-help centre for woolen carpet and leather products. On the way back visit Ghoom Monastery Enshrining Maitreyee Buddha.You stay overnight in a hotel in Darjeeling.
Day 03 :
Drive from Darjeeling to Gangtok, which takes about 3 and a half hours. You will drive through the breath-taking downhill road Maney Bhanjyang - Loptsu – Teesta. You will gradually drive to Rongpu the border between West Bengal and Sikkim.
Beware: You are not allowed to spit on the road, litter (including the wrappers of foods and chocolates), or smoke in public areas.
You will have some custom duties to be fulfilled and then drive to Melli – Singtam – Ranipol – Tadong – and then to Gangtok: “A mountain of houses.”
Day 04 :
Sightseeing in and around Gangtok. The main places of interests are stated below.
Tashi View Point: From here, you could have a view of Mt. Kanchenjunga and other peaks of the Himalayas. One can have an experience of the changes in the color of snows of the mountains there.
Institute of Tibetology was established in 1958 to promote research on the language and culture of Tibet, as well as Mahayana Buddhism, it is the most prestigious of its kind in India. It has on display a vast collection of rare Tibetan, Sanskrit and Lepcha manuscripts. The museum section houses a number of exotic ritualistic chortens, brass bells, dorjis, rosaries, and some very rare thankas. Today it is renowned worldwide center for study of Buddhist philosophy and religion.
Rumtek Monastery is the sect of the Gyalwa Karmapa Lama. The monastery is a magnificent example of Tibetan Monastic art and was built by His Holiness, Gyalwa Karmapa, (a leader of the Kagyu Sect of Tibetan Buddhism). It is a close replica of the H.H. Karmapa's monastery at Tsorphu in Tibet and houses some of the world's most unique religious art objects. The sacred Tsomgo Lake (elevation 3780 m) is situated 38 km to the east of Gangtok amidst picturesque mountains.a a Tibetan Buddhist lamasery of the Nyingmapa order, is a 95 km drive from Kalimpong.
Enchey Monastery is an important sect of the Nyingmapa order, this 200 year old monstary, atop a hill above Gangtok, was once the hermitage of Lama Dripthob Karpo, a tantric master renowned for his powers of flying. The annual ritual dance is performed on the 18th and 19th day of the 12th Month of the Tibetan calendar corresponding to the month of December/ January.
Deer Park: Embraced by gardens of flowers lies the beautiful Deer Park – an ideal place to be solitude, near the Secretariat. Built to commemorate the Buddha’s reincarnation as a musk deer, it has a large fielded statue of Buddha under a beautiful canopy in preaching posture, a replica of the statue at Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh, where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon. It is a popular viewpoint on the edge of the ridge.
White Hall: Built in 1932 in memory of the first Political Officer of Sikkim, Sir Claude White. Situated on a ridge, it has historical value only. There is an officer’s club.
Orchid Sanctuary: It is near Research Institute of Tibetology, where you can see many of the 454 species of orchid found in Sikkim. The best time to visit is April-May, July-August and October-November. There yet another collection of orchids produced by the Governmental Tissue Culture Department of Sikkim in Saramsa or Apeca Garden about 14 km from Gangtok by Ranikhola. This is this garden for the home of Sikkim’s many exotic orchids and other rare tropical and temperate plants. Formed and maintained by the Department of Forest, it is an beautiful recreational and picnic spot, with a swimming pool.
Ganesh Tok: It is at an altitude of 6500 ft. above Gangtok. There is a small temple of the god Ganesha nested there. The panoramic view from Gangtok has magnificent and breathtaking sights of Khangchendzonga and Siniolchu can be observed and enjoyed from this spot on a ridge. A cafeteria serves hot tea, coffee, and snacks.
Hanuman Tok: It is at an altitude of 7200 ft., about 5 km from Gangtok where there is a temple of the god Hanuman. Panoramic views of Gangtok and adjoining hills and valleys, with Khangchendzonga in the background, can be seen from here. Sunrise can be observed from here as well. Night view of the Gangtok city lights is mood elevating.
Tashi View Point is About 8 km from Gangtok. It is a resting shed. Astounding view of Khangchendzonga and the Siniolchu Range is the main attractive of this point. The distant north Sikkim monasteries are also visible from this point along the North Sikkim highway.
Do-drul Chorten (Stupa): Situated on a hillock, it is a five minutes drive from Gangtok town, Built by the late Trulshik Rimpoche in 1946, head of the Nyingmapa order, and the late Chogyal Tashi Namgyal in 1957, to invoke the Gods for the peace and tranquility in the State. Set of Kagyur holy books, relics, complete mantras, rare mandalas of Dorjee Phurba (Bajra Kilaya) and other religious objects are found inside the Chorten. A small Chorten known as Jhang Chub is built beside the Phurba Chorten in memory of Trulshik Rimpoche who passed away in 1962. Few yards below the Chorten is the rock known as “DO-TA-PU” or “Stone Horse”. There is a monastery close by called “Guru Lakhang” with the state of Guru Padmasambhava and Guru Snong Zisil Gnen, the incarnated one of the first. Around the Chorten is installed the ‘180’ Mani-Lhakor or prayer wheels. The Chorten has the sacred topped stupa.
Saramsa Garden: Also know as Ipecac Garden is about 14 km from Gangtok, the home of Sikkim's most exotic orchids and other rare tropical and temperate plants. The garden is know as Ipecac garden because of the plant Ipecac that is grown here. Established and maintained by the Department of Forest, it is an excellent recreation and picnic spot. Besides this plant, this garden also contains a wide variety of other flora including numerous types of orchids and medicinal plants. A large green house also accommodates many other species of plants. One has to take a taxi to reach this place.
Day 05 :
Sightseeing in and around Gangtok. Places of interests: Kanchanjunga view point, Institute of Tibetology, Rumtek Monastery, Inchey Monastery, typical market place, Saramsa Garden etc.
Day 06 :
Free day for monastery visit and enjoy mountain views. In the western district of Sikkim, Pemyangtse is a picture perfect destination. It offers a breathtaking view of the world's 3rd highest peak of Mount Khanchendzonga. The little place is home to a number of tourist attractions in Gangtok, namely Pemyangtse Monastery which is one of the oldest monasteries in Sikkim, located on a hilltop at a height of 6840 ft. Apart from it, there are many other monasteries Pelling like: Sangachoeling Monastery, Dabdi Monastery, Tashiding Monastery and so on. Overnight stay in Pemyangtse.
Day 07 :
Drive from Pemayangtse to Kalimpong which takes about 5 to 6 hours. Overnight stay in Kalimpong.
Day 08 :
Sightseeing in and around Kalimpong.
Kalimpong is a sleepy little town situated at an altitude of 1,200 m, some 50 km to the east of Darjeeling. Kalimpong, known as "The Stockade of the King's Minister," was once a bustling town on the trade route to Tibet. It once used to be the hub of the trans-Himalayan trade between India and Tibet when merchants used to ferry goods by mule caravan over the Jelepla Pass on the Sikkim - Tibet border. Although the trade route has closed down since the early sixties, the town still retains its tranquility and intrinsic charm. It enjoys the best climate in the region and is a favorite haunt of those in search of peace and serenity. It enjoys the best climate in the region, with dense forests of golden oak trees offset by the rich undergrowth of moss and lichen. Owing to its rich flora, Kalimpong is a blaze of colors throughout the year. The orchids of this region in particular are famous for their infinite variety as well as their delicate tints. Overnight in Kalimpong.
Day 09 :
Drive from Kalimpong to Kakarivitta via Siliguri, which takes about 4 hours. Then drive to Bhadrapur via Kakarivitta, and fly from Bhadrapur to Kathmandu. Tour ends upon arrival to Kathmandu.
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