East India Tours
Duration: 15 Nights / 16 Days
Places Covered: Kolkata – Gangtok – Lachung – Pemayangtse – Darjeeling – Pandua – Murishidabad – Vishnupur – Kolkata – Raichuk – Sunderbans – Kolkata
Day1 -
Arrive Kolkata international airport and welcomed by Travel Pals executive to transfer to hotel for immediate check-in with ready rooms.
Day2 - Kolkata – Bagdogra (by air) - Gangtok (125 kms / 4 hrs)
After breakfast, transfer to the domestic airport to catch a flight to Bagdogra. On arrival drive through the lovely hills with variety of flaura and fauna to be seen on the way to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. It is often referred to as the ‘Lofty Hill’. Arrive Gangtok by late afternoon to check into hotel. Evening free. Overnight at hotel.
Day3 - Gangtok
After breakfast, take a morning city Tours of Gangtok. Visit the Rumtek Monastery, Nehru Botanical Garden, World Dharma Chakra Centre, Do Drul Chorten and the Flower Show complex. Overnight at hotel.
Day4 - Gangtok – Lachung (124 kms / 5 hrs)
After breakfast, proceed to a one of the most breathtaking places in Northern Sikkim, a small Bhutia village- Lachung. Sprawled on the bank of Lachung Chu, Lachung is also known to retain its unique culture and tradition. Overnight at hotel in Lachung.
Day5 - Lachung - Yumthang - Lachung
Breakfast at hotel, followed by a full day excursion to Yumthang - at an elevation of 11,800 feet and 24 kms away from Lachung is a paradise for nature lovers with a fascinating blend of flora and fauna and breathtaking scenic grandeur. The valley is also home of the Shingbha Rhododendron Sanctuary. Yumthang: ‘Tsa-Chu’ is immensely popular for its curative properties and healing power. Return to Lachung. Overnight at hotel.
Day6 - Lachung – Pemayangtse (250 kms / 9 hrs)
After breakfast, we start on the long but through some of the most breathtaking scenery that Sikkim has to offer. We drive to Pemayangtse (The Lotus) a mountain hamlet. The place houses the prestigious Pemayangtse Monastery and is closest to the motorable viewpoint for Mt Kanchenjunga. Arrive Pemayangtse late evening and check into hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day7 - Pemayangtse
Breakfast followed by a leisure walking Tours covering the three famous landmarks – Rabdantse, Sangacholing and Pemayangtse. First you head for the Rabdantse Palace – once the second capital of Sikkim is now a historical monument. Further down you reach the Sangacholing Monastery- the second oldest in Sikkim. You then visit the Pemayangtse Monastery belonging to the Nyingma-pa order of Tibetan Buddhism. It was built as a small temple in the late 17th century wooden sculpture portraying the Mahaguru’s Heavenly Palace Sangthokpalri. Overnight at hotel.
Day8 - Pemayangtse – Darjeeling (118 kms / 4 hrs)
Breakfast at hotel. Then drive to Darjeeling. On arrival check into hotel, followed by a half-day guided Tours of The Himalayan Zoological Park, Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre and the Happy Valley Tea Estate. Overnight at hotel.
Day9 - Darjeeling – Pandua
Early morning around 03:30 am leave hotel for the famous Tiger Hills to view the sunrise over the Kanchenjunga Peak and other Eastern Himalayan Peaks (subject to clear weather). Return to the hotel for breakfast. Later, take the famous Toy-Train ride, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, till Batasia Loop and then walk up to Ghoom Monastery. The monastery enshrines a 10-foot image of the Maitreya Buddha (the Coming Buddha). Return to the hotel. Afternoon drive to Pandua. On arrival check into hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day10 - Pandua – Murshidabad (145 kms / 3 hrs)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Murshidabad. The events at this place changed the history of India. At Plassey near Murshidabad the historic battle between Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula and Lord Clive had taken place. The relics strewn today speak of those times. But the history of this region date back perhaps further. The famous Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsiang, who made the long journey to India in 629-645 AD, in his world famous travelogue describes Karanasubarna near Murshidabad as the first capital of the ancient Bengal. On arrival check into hotel. Afternoon visit the Hazarduari, Great Imambara, the Jain Parswanath Temple and the Moti Jhil, a fine place to view the setting sun. Overnight at hotel.
Day11 - Murshidabad – Vishnupur (115 kms / 2.5 hrs)
Breakfast. Proceed to Vishnupur (Bishnupur), famous for its beautiful terracotta temples and artefacts. On arrival check into hotel. Afternoon visit Rasmancha, the oldest brick temple, the Pancha Ratna Temple, Jorebangla temple and Madanmohan Temple. Evening free for shopping at the bazaars filled with local and traditional artefacts. Overnight at hotel.
Day12 - Vishnupur – Kolkata (150 kms / 3.5 hrs)
Breakfast at hotel. Then proceed to Kolkata, previously know as Calcutta. On arrival, check into hotel. Take a half day guided Tours driving around this once British colonial capital built in the 18th century. Kolkata originated largely due to the expansionist ambitions of the European powers, especially the British Raj. Little wonder, Kolkata has some of the finest Raj edifices built in a variety of styles. Visit the Victoria Memorial and Fort William. Overnight at hotel.
Day13 - Kolkata – Raichuk (50 kms / 1.5 hr)
Breakfast followed by a half-day guided Tours of Kolkata visiting the Indian Museum, Kali Mandir and Belur Math. Afternoon transfer to Raichuk the riverside retreat developed by the Raddisson Group into a small township with exclusive bungalows. On arrival, check into resort. Overnight at resort.
Day14 - Raichuk – Sunderbans (85 kms / 2 hrs)
After early breakfast, depart for Basanti (2.5 hrs drive) to board a boat to Sajnekhali. On arrival at Sunderbans, transfer to the forest resort. Sunderbans is home to the Royal Bengal tiger; the national park is a part of the world's largest delta formed by the rivers Ganga (Ganges) and Brahmaputra and is also known for its unique mangrove forest ecosystem. Overnight at the resort.
Day15 - Sunderbans
After breakfast, take a cruise along the backwaters of the delta to reach the National Park. Spend the day at the moving through estuarine delta, the largest in the world. The wildlife includes the world famous Royal Bengal Tiger, a major attraction in the tiger reserve. Some of the other attractions include chital, crocodile, monkeys, estuarine and marine turtle, dolphins and various kinds of birds. You can also visit the ruins of a 400-year-old temple at Netidhopani. Return to resort. Overnight at resort.
Day16 - Sunderbans – Kolkata (135 kms / 2.5 hrs)
After breakfast, drive to Kolkata. On arrival at check into hotel for wash-n-change and transfer to international airport to catch connecting flight.
Day16 - Suggested stopover package: Kolkata – Bhubaneshwar – Puri – Konark – Bhubaneshwar
This Tours can be taken as an extension to the Discover East India Tours. This package takes the traveller to Bhubaneshwar, Puri and Konark, the three temple towns of Orissa make up the glorious golden temple triangle of Eastern India. Many of the Hindus and the Buddhist flock to the city, a religious centre that has over 500 temples. Here we visit the important temples in Bhubaneshwar, moving to Konark’s 13th century Sun Temple (Black Pagoda) and then to Puri’s, one of the four holiest places (Dhams) of India. Here we visit the Jaganath Temple ending on the beaches of the city. There are direct flights and rail connections from Kolkata to Bhubaneshwar.
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