GARBED
AT 2134 MTS. WITH INCESSANT AROMA OF TEA PLANTATIONS, DARJEELING YIELDS A SENSE
OF BINATION OF HUMANITY WITH 'BINAYA MAHAYANA, 8 FOLD PATHS, 4 NOBLE TRUTHS' AMIDST
RICH FORESTS, 4000 SPECIES OF FLOWERS, 600 VARIETIES OF BIRDS AND ANIMALS INCLUDING
SHAGGY YAKS. THE SNOW COVERED KANCHENJUNGA AT SIKKIM'S BORDER WITH SINGING RIVERS
AND ECHOING VALLEYS IS 'EXHILARATING'. THE COLORFUL MONASTERIES AND HUMMING BAZAARS
ADD TO THE PERPETUALITY OF LIFE - HERE AND HERE AFTER. THE TOUR COMPLETES IN THE
SHORT VISIT TO 'SHANGRILA- SIKKIM' WITH ITS REMOTE BUDDHIST MONASTERIES ENCLOSED
IN AN EMERALD RANGE OF KANCHENJUNGA MOUNTAINS OFFERING ENCHANTING VIEWS. ROOF
OF THE WORLD AND FORBIDDEN FRONTIERS!
DAY
01, DELHI:Morning be escorted to the airport to take a two hours
flight to Bagdogra and on arrival you will connect car/motor coach for Darjeeling.
DARJEELING:Arrive
in 3.5 hrs drive and check into your hotel. In older days, Darjeeling was 'Dorje
Ling' or 'Place of the Thunderbolt'. This was the mystic thunderbolt of Lamaist
religion representing the sceptre of Indra (Lord of the Gods) said to have fallen
here. Afternoon visit Natural History Museum, contains a comprehensive collection
of 4300 exhibits of butterflies and insects, hang-gliding Himalayan squirrels,
stuffed tigers and buffaloes- representing mainly the fauna of Darjeeling, Sikkim,
Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal and the Eastern Himalayas, Lloyds Botanical Gardens- contain
a lovely collection of the flora of Sikkim Himalayas, Ava Art Gallery and Tenzing's
House- the home of the famous mountaineer. Evening at leisure. The busy little
town is a maze of steps and terraces, a melting pot of exotic hill and village
people, full of bazaars, shops selling colorful handicrafts and the famous Darjeeling
tea ! Meals and overnight.
DAY
02, DARJEELING - TIGER HILL:Early morning leave on Tiger Hill excursion
which is 11 Kms away and the highest spot in the area at 2590 meters. This excursion
is famous for its magnificent dawn views over Kanchenjunga and other eastern Himalayan
peaks. On a clear day even Mount Everest is visible. Return to the hotel via Ghoom
Monastery-famous for its Maitreya Buddha (the 'Buddha to come') belonging to the
yellow sect of Buddhism.
HAPPY VALLEY TEA GARDENS: |
| Afternoon
visit the tea gardens where you will see how fresh leaves are processed to final
stage. Also visit Himalayan Mountaineering Institute which trains mountaineers
and has a museum full of photos, exhibits and equipment relating to past mountaineering
expeditions. On way to the hotel visit the tomb of Alexander Koros, the famous
Hungarian orientologist who traveled to Darjeeling determined to prove that the
Tibetan and Hungarian people shared a common root race origin. He died on the
way to Lhasa in 1842 and was buried here in Darjeeling. Evening at leisure. Meals
and overnight at the hotel. DAY 03, DARJEELING:Morning
depart by car/ motor coach for Gangtok. GANGTOK:Arrive
the capital of Sikkim in 3.5 hrs drive and be escorted to your hotel. Gangtok
occupies the west side of a long ridge flanking the Ranipal river. The scenery
is spectacular and there are excellent views of the entire Kanchenjunga Himalayan
range. Kanchenjunga, the 3rd highest peak in the world, is worshipped here as
a God who is the presiding deity of Sikkim and mountain is also worshipped as
the abode of Gods. Afternoon visit Tsuklakhang, the Royal Chapel of the former
rulers, the Palace, the Institute of Tibetology, Orchid Sanctuary and Cottage
Industries Institute. Evening at leisure. Meals and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 04, GANGTOK - RUMTEK MONASTERY:
| |
Morning take an excursion to Rumtek Monastery, 24 kms away, that is the
seat of the Gyalwa Karmapa, the head of the Kagyu-pa order of Tibetan Buddhism,
founded in the 11th century by Lama Marpa. Mural work here is exquisite and Tibetan
painting are quite interesting. Return to Gangtok and spend rest of the day at
leisure. Meals and overnight at the hotel.
DAY
05, GANGTOK:Morning pack up and be escorted to Bagdogra airport
by car/coach for Delhi to arrive in time for onward connection. |
