Bhutan, Darjeeling and Sikkim-The Jewels of the Eastern Himalayas

On arrival to Bagdogra, you will meet your guide. From Bagdogra it is 40 min drive to Siliguri.
Siliguri is a major town in North East India as it connects the North Eastern States of India to the rest of the mainland India. It is also the junction between Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh with India. It is a very important city for trade and commerce. 10 kms drive form Bagdogra airport will bring you to Siliguri and we check in to your hotel. In the afternoon we can visit the main market place at Sevoke road.

This toy train safari (1 ½ hours) operates between Siliguri Junction and Rangtong Station. Rangtong is a small village on the roadside and at an altitude of 1404 ft. It's 16kms from Siliguri Junction. The train usually leaves at 10:30am from Siliguri Junction, goes past Sukna, and reaches Rangtong at 11:50am. The Jungle Safari takes you through the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary located around Sukna and Rangtong station, and offers breathtaking view of the valley from Tindharia. This safari is a great treat for the nature lovers. There are two or three coaches provided depending on the demand. The Toy Train is pulled by a 'B' class steam locomotive engine.
The railway track cris-crosses the motor road and enter s in to the forest at places making this ride a really fascinating trip. At Rangtang our jeep will pick you up and drive to Goomtee Tea state
The Goomtee Bungalow was built by Mr. Henry Montgomery Lennox as a residence for his family. He chose the most attractive location with brilliant views on all sides. Over the years the bungalow was expanded and renovated extensively while retaining the original character. The polished wooden floors and molded ceiling are magnificent. Please remember, Goomtee Resort is not a commercial venture, rather an invitation from the present owners to experience the life of a Darjeeling Tea Planter.
We arrive at around lunch time and after lunch we can visit the tea gardens and the nearby village.

In the morning we visit the tea garden and witness the tea plucking by the local workers and later visit the factory to witness the process of making tea. We will also participate in the tea tasting session.
After lunch it is a 2 hour drive to Darjeeling and on the way we will visit some stately boarding schools built in the eighteen hundreds during the British era. We arrive Darjeeling in the afternoon and check in to your hotel.
Darjeeling is built on top of a ridge at around 2200m above sea level. With the Mt. Kanchendzonga and its ranges as a backdrop, it is a popular tourist destination for Westerners and Indians alike. The richly forested land was originally acquired by the British in 1833, who introduced tea growing and promoted the settlement as a health resort. We can take an evening stroll around the famous Mall road and Chowrasta witnessing the local life. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

After breakfast, we can take a sightseeing tour of some of the attractions around Darjeeling. These include Tea plantation, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), which has a superb collection of memorabilia from the early days of Everest exploration. Next door to the HMI is the Darjeeling Zoo where the star attractions are red pandas and snow leopards. The Tibetan Refugee Centre, where handicrafts can be found at very reasonable prices is another option. After lunch, we will visit some stately boarding schools and later take a stroll around the town’s many colorful bazaars. Overnight hotel.

After breakfast we begin with the “Joy ride” in a UNESCO World Heritage Toy train which is built between 1879 to 1881. This fascinating train ride takes us through road side vegetable shops and cris-crossing the motor way. It stops for a while at the famous Batasia loop which is a memorial for the brave Gurkha soldiers, which also offers a fantastic vantage point of the Kanchadzonga on a clear day. We will stop at Ghoom station where our car will be waiting for us.
From Ghoom we drive to Melli on a narrow winding road for 32 kms and from here we continue to drive 60 kms to Gangtok. On arrival to Gangtok, we check in to our hotel. The rest of the afternoon, you can take a walk around the town.

We visit the following places:

Namgyal Institute of Tibetology: A really wonderful place to visit. There are ancient items on display. The worksmanship of some items are mind blowing. But photography is strictly restricted inside the building.
Rare artifacts, manuscripts, paintings, idols related to Tibetans Buddhism are the main attraction of this place. It also gives a glimpse of Tibetan history. It has a nice museum with good collection of arts and artifacts which gives a very good insight into the Buddhist culture. There is a Golden Stupa close to this place. It is also worth visiting. place for one time visit with family.

Tashi view point: A great vantage point of Mt. Kanchendzonga and its neighboring peaks.

Flower nursery: Sikkim is home to 600 species of orchids. This nursery ehibits a few of these exotic orchids and many other flowers.

Bazaar walk: A relaxing walk through the local markets

In the morning we visit Rumtek Monastery: The Rumtek Monastery is one of the largest and most significant monasteries in Sikkim, perched on top of a hill 23 km from Gangtok. Originally called as the Dharma Chakra Centre, it belongs to the Kargyu sect of Buddhists who originated in Tibet in the 12th century. The Rumtek Monastery houses a beautiful shrine temple and a monastery for the monks which were established with the aim of spreading the Buddhist teachings around the world. The monastery has a walkway around it on which the monks, pilgrims and visitors perform kora which is basically a circuit round of the monastery.

After Rumtek, a 5 hour drive takes us to Bagdogra and upon arrival we check in to Marina’s Motel. We can spend the evening relaxing at the hotel.

A 35 mins flight into Paro with Druk Air, Bhutan’s National Airline is a spectacular scenic flight. The flight takes you over the great Himalayas, offering most beautiful scenery of the world’s highest glacial peaks. You will be received by our representative at the airport and driven to your hotel at Gangtey Palace. After a short break we visit the Ta Dzong or National Museum, rated among the best natural history museums in Asia. The Ta Dzong offers a unique and varied collection of Thangkas, handicrafts, stuffed animals, masks, costumes and amour and it gives a good idea of the culture and traditions of Bhutan. On the way you will also get to explore the weekend Market of Paro Valley. Later we visit, Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and most scared monastery in the country. It was built by the first Buddhist King of Tibet Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. Then you will be driven to the ruins of Drukgyal Dzong or “fortress of the victorious Drukpas” was built in 1649. In fine weather, the towering peak of Mount Jumolhari, (7,314 m / 24,000 ft) appears as a backdrop. You will then be driven to the hotel. Evening is free to relax or take a stroll through town. Overnight at Gangtey Palace.

Today we hike to the most famous Taktshang, popularly known as the Tiger‟s Nest, built amazingly on a steep cliff. According to legend, Guru Padmasambhava flew here on a flying Tigress and meditated there for three months in the 8th century. It was from there, he propagated the Vajrayana- Mahayana Buddhism (Larger Wheel) that was prophesied by the Buddha at the time of attaining Nirvana. The walk uphill takes you a little more than 300m above the Paro valley. It is a great pilgrimage destination for devout Buddhists. The main deity of Taktsang is Dorji Drolo, the wrathful form of Guru Rinpoche, (the precious teacher). There are 13 sacred sites at Taktsang, and several meditation caves in the cliffs above. Many saints are said to have meditated here. The return walking time is approximately one hour. Towards evening after the hike we will enjoy the Bhutanese Traditional Hot Stone Bath which uses river rocks that therapists place in water where they crack and steam, releasing key minerals and relieving deep-set aches) followed by dinner which in a local farm house with local family where they will serve typical Bhutanese dishes. Overnight at Gangtey Palace.

After breakfast, drive to Punakha (2 ½ hours drive). The road climbs from Thimphu to Dochula pass and descends through ever changing forests into the semi-tropical valley of Punakha and Wangdi at around 1200m.
En-route stop at Dochula pass (3050m) where you can view the eastern Himalayas, including Bhutan's highest mountain, Gangkar Punsum (7,550m).

Punakha is located at about 1,250m with pleasant winters. Cactuses, Oranges, bananas and sub-tropical plants are found here. Punakha was once the winter capital of Bhutan, the tradition that is still held by the Central Monastic body.

Upon arrival, we visit Punakha Dzong, "Palace of Great Happiness", which is located on the confluence of two rivers; Pho and Mochu was built in 1637 by Shubdrung Nawang Namgyal. It serves as winter residence for the Central Monastic body, which migrate from Thimphu to Punakha in the winter. It is also the venue for Punakha Festival held in February or March.

Fertility Temple (Chimi Lhakhang): a monastery and fertility temple dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kuenley, a Tibetan Buddhist saint known popularly as “the divine madman” and considered a folk hero in Bhutan for his unconventional ways. Drukpa Kuenley originally built a chorten on the site in the 14th century, on which a temple was later built in 15th century. The temple, flanked by nearly 100 tall prayer flags, sits atop a picturesque hill. It has long been a pilgrimage site for childless couples. This easy walk takes about ½ hour each way. Later we drive back to Thimpu.

Phobjikha is a U shaped glacial valley which has the best-known marshland in Bhutan. The valley is rich in faunal biodiversity. Because of the large flock of black-necked cranes that winters here, it is one of the most important wildlife preserves in the country. Apart from the globally threatened black-necked cranes Grus nigricollis, 13 other globally threatened species are found here. This is also home to muntjacs (barking deer), wild boars, sambars, serows, Himalayan black bears, leopards and red foxes in the surrounding hills.

We will visit some of the well known monasteries at Phobjika in the afternoon.

Thimpu is the capital city of Bhutan, and is home to approximately 100,000 inhabitants including the Royal family. This bustling little city is the main centre of commerce, religion and government in the country. Thimphu is a modern city with an abundance of restaurants, internet cafes, nightclubs and shopping centres. However, it still retains its’ cultural identity and values amidst the signs of modernization.
The subtle combination of ancient tradition and modernity make Thimphu the ideal location for visitors to break away from their tour itinerary to immerse themselves in the contemporary Bhutanese lifestyle.

Today you all will enjoy full day Local sightseeing at Thimphu includes visit to the National Memorial Chorten, a stupa dedicated to world peace), a shrine built in 1974 in memory of the Third King of Bhutan dedicated for world peace and prosperity followed by the visit to the School of Arts and Crafts (National Institute of Zorig Chusum) where students undergo training course in Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and crafts; the National Institute of Traditional Medicine where Bhutan’s famed traditional medicines are compounded and dispensed; the Folk Heritage Museum which will provide an insight into traditional Bhutanese farm house and rural past through exhibits and documentation of rural life.
After lunch, visit the Textile Museum to see a range of beautiful Bhutanese textiles and then Changangkha Lhakhang, a fortress like temple which lies perched on a ridge above Thimphu; Takin Preserve to see the rare national animal of Bhutan. This animal is chosen as the national animal of Bhutan for its uniqueness and its association with the country’s religious history and mythology. A further drive towards the BBS Tower will provide a bird eye view of the capital. Also visit a small family-run enterprise which manufactures paper and paper products using traditional methods followed by visit to Tashichhodzong or the “fortress of the glorious religion" which is Bhutan’s administrative and religious centre and houses the throne room of His Majesty the King of Bhutan, other Government offices. It is also the summer residence of Je Khenpo or Chief Abbot. Overnight at Thimphu

Early morning drive to Paro airport and fly to Delhi with a short transit at Bagdogra or a direct flight. The drive to Paro takes about 1 hour, covering distance of 50 km. The flight takes around 2 hours 30 mins to Delhi.