East with Tajmahal
Duration : 18 Days
17 Nights
Destination : Calcutta
- Darjeeling - Pemayangtse - Yuksom - Gangtok
- Kalimpong - Agra
Day 1:
Depart
UK
Day 2: Arrive Calcutta
- 1 night.
We arrive early morning and
have use of hotel rooms to freshen up before we check in and take
lunch. In the afternoon there will be the option of a guided tour of
the fascinating city of Calcutta. We visit the Victoria Memorial, the
impressive reminder of Calcutta's past as capital of the British rule,
as well as the Indian Museum, the repository of the largest number of
museum objects in India.
The Victoria Memorial Hall was
opened in 1921. Lord Curzon conceived it and it was built with white
marble from Markana, Rajasthan. As night descends on Calcutta, several
of the city's landmarks including the Victoria Memorial Hall are
illuminated giving the Maidan area a fairy tale look. It is also a
museum where people could see before them pictures and statues of men
who played a prominent part in the history of India and develop a
pride in their past especially in relation to the history of Calcutta.
The India Museum is housed in an Italian-style building
and contains a remarkable collection of sculpture from around India.
It has has over sixty galleries including sections on Art,
Archaeology, Anthropology, Geology, Zoology and Botany. Many rare
specimens, both Indian and Trans-Indian origin, relating to Humanities
and Natural Science are preserved and displayed in the galleries of
these sections.
Day 3:
Darjeeling - 3 nights.
Fly to Bagdogra
and take the 4 hour scenic drive to Darjeeling.
Darjeeling sits
at an elevation of 2134 metres and became the mountain retreat of
government officials during the days of the Raj, its climate providing
a welcome relief from the humidity and heat of the Indian lowlands. It
became renowned for the quality of the tea grown on the hills around
the town and tea and tourism are still today the main income earners
for the area.
Day 4:
Darjeeling.
We spend the whole day
sightseeing in Darjeeling using Jeeps as our transport. We begin by
driving to Tiger Hill (2620m, 8515ft) at 4.30am to view the sunrise
over the mountains (12km, 45min). On a clear day the sight of the suns
rays painting the tips of the snow clad Himalayan giants is a most
memorable spectacle. On our return we visit Ghoom Monastery, the most
famous of Darjeeling's monasteries, which enshrines an image of the
Maitreya Buddha. Foreigners are allowed to enter the shrine and take
photographs.
After breakfast we visit the Himalayan
Mountaineering Institute, Zoological Park and Tibetan refugee Centre.
We take the famous 'Toy train' and are able to view the exhibits at
the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museum at Ghoom Railway Station as
well as the colourful local market.
Day 5: Darjeeling.
Today
we sample some of the local walks in the Darjeeling area.
Day 6: Pemayangtse - 2 nights
We drive to Tukvar Tea Estate (1hr) where we visit
the local factory at to see manufacture of Darjeeling tea. Tukvar was
one of the first tea plantations established in 1852. The labour force
in the tea estates is mostly Nepalese and we can catch a glimpse of
their culture and lifestyle as we pass through several villages. After
Singla Tea Estate we will stop for lunch and then drive on to
Pemayangtse (2050m) in Sikkim (55km/3hrs).
Day 7: Whole day at Pemayangtse
The Sanga Choeling Monastery, situated atop a hill
in Pemayangtse is one of the oldest Monasteries in Sikkim, founded
sometime in the second half of the 17 th century. The view of the
surrounding villages and Mt. Kanchenjunga and Mt. Pandim from the
monastery is spectacular.
The Pemayangtse monastery,
belonging to the Nyimgma sect of Tibetan Buddhism is the most
important monastery in Sikkim. Founded about the same time as the
Sanga Choeling monastery, it is the head of all the Nyingmapa
monasteries in Sikkim. The Sikkimese Buddhists are mostly Nyingmapas.
Rabdanste was the second capital of Sikkim. It was sacked by the
Gurkhas in the late 17 th century and the ruins of the palace lie in a
forest below the Pemayangtse monastery.
The population of Pelling is a
mixture of Bhutias, who are people of Tibetan origin, the Lepchas, the
original inhabitants of Sikkim and Nepalese, who immigrated to Sikkim
in the second half of the 19 th century. These three communities
constitute the people of Sikkim. We will see terraced rice, barley and
maize fields along with cardamom plantations. Rice is the main crop of
Sikkim. Cardamom, ginger and oranges being the main cash crops.
Day 8: Yuksom - 2 nights.
We drive to Yuksom (2hrs), visiting Kecheoplari
Lake along the way. The lake is situated 11km off the road from
Pemayangtse to Yuksom. Kecheoplari or the Wishing Lake, is considered
the holiest lake in Sikkim and is a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists
and Hindus. There is a small Buddhist monastery and a Hindu temple
within the lake. Set among densely forested hills, not a single leaf
can be seen on the Lake. It is believed that birds pick up the leaves
that fall into the lake.
Yuksom (1300m) was the first
capital of Sikkim. The first Chogyal or the King (Buddhist) who rules
with Righteousness, Phuntsok Namgyal, was consecrated here in 1642. In
fact, the site of the coronation, Norbu Gang, can still be seen here.
Like the Rabdanste Palace ruins, it is under the care of the
Archeological Survey of India and both are protected monuments. Dubdi
Monastery, reputedly the oldest in Sikkim is also situated atop a hill
in Yuksom.
We can take an evening walk around Yuksom Village and
also visit Norbu Gang, where the first Chogyal (Religious King of
Sikkim) was consecrated in 1642.
Day 9: Treks from Yuksom
Yuksom is the trail head for the most popular trek
in Sikkim to Dzongri and Goecha La. We head towards Bakhim along the
regular trek route from Yuksom to Bakhim-Dzongri.
Day 10: Gangtok
- 2 nights
We drive to Gangtok, capital of the state of
Sikkim, with hot-lunch at Rabang La along the way. We visit Tashiding
Monastery, 21km from Yuksom, and situated on a hill above the road.
Tashiding monastery is the holiest monastery in Sikkim. It is believed
that just seeing the Stupa of the monastery will wash away the sins of
a lifetime. The monastery is situated atop a hill, with the Rangit and
the Rathong rivers on two sides.
Yuksom to Gangtok - 6-7 hours.
Day 11: Gangtok.
After breakfast we embark on a whole day
sightseeing tour of Gangtok (1600m) by jeep/bus. The city is a centre
of Tibetan Buddhist culture and learning with numerous monasteries and
religious education institutions. We take in the main highlights -
Tashi and Ganesh Tok view point for unsurpassed vistas of the
Himalayas and lofty Kanchenjunga in particular, Enchey Monastery, the
Flower Show, Handicrafts Centre, Institute of Tibetology and local
market.
Day 12: Martam Village
Resort - 2 nights
After breakfast drive
to Rumtek Monastery. Visit the Monastery and then walk to Martam
Village with a visit to the Old Rumtek Monastery on the way. After
lunch - at leisure. O/N Martam Village Resort
Gangtok
to Rumtek Monastery: 1½ hrs drive.
Day 13: Walks in Martam
Martam is a beautiful village situated in a large
valley. The terraced rice fields of the village are a sight to see
during October/November when the crop is ripe. This is a pedominantly
Bhutia village with some Nepalese families also. The morning walk will
be to the rice-fields and the village. We will be visiting some
typical Bhutia and Nepalese houses where one can interact with them.
Day 14: Kalimpong - 2 nights.
Drive to Kalimpong (1250m) in West Bengal. Famous
for its flower markets and particularly its wide array of sumptuous
orchids, Kalimpong lies at the centre of one of only 3 ecological
hotspots found in the Indian subcontinent. The area is abundantly
endowed with a wide range of exquisite flora and fauna and the
comfortable climate makes this a relaxing stop. After our arrival and
lunch we visit Durpin Danra Monastery and a local flower nursery by
bus/jeep.
Martam to Kalimpong: 4-5 hours.
Day 15: Kalimpong walks.
We enjoy a full day walk from the steps of our
guest house. Our walk includes a visit to village of Echhey whose
temple is about 100 years old and we will have time to interact with
the head priest. The temple also runs a Sanskrit school specifically
to teach Brahmin youngsters the ancient Hindu rituals and philosophy
and when these youths pass out of this school they head for further
studies on Hindu scriptures at The Benaras Hindu University in
Varanasi. After passing out from University these scholars will have
the sanction to conduct various religious ceremonies, birth and death
rites and marriage ceremonies according to ancient Hindu custom.
Total walk distance is approx 15 km. Time 7 hours
Day 16: Delhi
- 1 night.
We depart Kalimpong in the morning for the 3½
hrs drive to Bagdogra and our flight to Delhi.
Day 17: Taj Mahal
Our
final day in India is reserved for a visit to the Taj Mahal. We take
the comfortable train to Agra for a guided tour of, arguably, one of
the world's most beautiful buildings. Built as a mausoleum in the 17
th century by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his Persian wife this
exquisite monument to grief and love provides a breathtaking end to
our stay in India.
As our flight is late at night we will
have use of our hotel rooms for the evening after dinner. Late night
flight home.
Day 18:
Arrive UK.
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