Darjeeling-“The Queen of the Himalayas” is an attractive tourist town renowned for its tea gardens, the Himalayan mountaineering Institute, the sunrise over the Himalayas from the Tiger Hill and much more.

Kalimpong, though not as widely known about as Darjeeling is famous for its flower nurseries, quaint European styled cottages and was a bustling commercial centre when the Indo-Tibet border was open. The vestiges of the era can still be felt in its market places.

DETAILED ITINERARY 

Meet, assist and transfer from Bagdogra airport and drive (4 ½ hrs) through the Teesta valley to Gangtok. Over night halt in a hotel.

Located east of Gangtok at an altitude of 3650 mtrs. The Tsomgo Lake is a typically beautiful mountain lake. The journey to the lake offers a magnificent view of Mt. Khangchendzonga and other peaks of Sikkim Himalayas. Overnight stay in a hotel.

Overnight stay in a Village resort.

Enchey Monastery: This 90 year old monastery on a hillock 2 km above follows the Nyingmapa sect and is the main monastery in Gangtok.

Government Institute of Cottage Industry: This centre offers you the opportunity to observe the local artisans at work and their skills being imparted to young boys and girls. If you want to take back souvenirs, the institute's salesroom is well stocked with local handicraft and handloom products.

Do-Drul Chorten : One of the most important Stupas of Sikkim built by the late Venerable Trulsi Rimpoche in 1945-46, it contains a mandala of Dorji-Phurpa, holy texts, mantras and is encircled by 108 prayer wheels.

Research Institute of Tibetology : Situated close to the Chorten this institute is a repository of the largest collection of Tibetan artifacts outside Tibet. Also renowned worldwide for the study of Buddhist philosophy and religion, it is a treasure house of rare Thankas, Buddhist icon and objects of art.

Rumtek Monastery: 24 km drive to the opposite hill takes you to this magnificent monastery built by the late Gyalwa Karmapa, the head of the Kagyupa sect. This monastery has been built as an exact replica of the original Kagyu monastery in Tibet. It is also the international headquarters of the Karma Kagyu centres. Overnight at hotel.

Drive to Ravangla. Overnight stay in a Village resort.

Overnight stay in a Village resort.

Situated 13 kms away against the spectacular backdrop of the peaks of Narsing, Jopuno and Kabur are the two monasteries at Ralang.

The old Ralang monastery was built in 1730 on a site blessed by an earlier incarnation of Karmapa where the grains of rice thrown by him from Tibet had landed. The monastery is one of the most sacred and important monasteries following the Kagyupa tradition. " Pang Lhabsol " the worship of Mt Khangchendzonga & " Kagyad " Chaam masked dances are held every year on the 15th day of the seventh month of the Buddhist calendar coinciding with August/September and on the 29th day of the tenth month just before Losoong - the Sikkimese New Year in December.

The New Ralang monastery - Palchen Choeling Monastic Institute, was built by the XIIth Gyaltsab Rimpoche, one of the four regents of the Kagyupa sect and completed in 1995. This is the biggest monastery in Sikkim and its architecture and paintings have been painstakingly undertaken to maintain the authenticity of the Kagyupa monasteries. The sacred Mahakala Dance is held here every year in November. Visit to the only Tea Garden in Sikkim at Temi to see the processing of the internationally famed brew and Tibetan carpet centre. Overnight stay in a Village resort.

Half day sight seeing.

Visit the Durpin Monastery, atop Durpin Hill which commands a spectacular view of the surrounding areas and a panoramic view of the mountains. Visit some of the flower nurseries specializing in Orchids, catcii, Anthuriums, Gladioli etc. A leisurely walk through the market is an experience.

Overnight stay in a hotel.

On arrival at Darjeeling check in at hotel. Lunch. Afternoon free to strolling around the town.

Overnight stay in a hotel.

Early morning drive to Tiger Hill to view the sunrise over the Himalayas. He changing of the sun rays on the mountains is a singular experience.

On return visit the Ghoom Monastery which follows the Gelupa sect, built in 1875. The monastery houses one of the largest statuses of the Maitreya Buddha-“the coming Buddha”.

After breakfast visit The Himalayan Zoo which houses the Himalayan Fauna like the Red Panda, black bear, yaks, tigers, snow leopard etc. in their natural habitat.

Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is a premier training centre for mountaineers and a museum detailing the ascent of the Mt. Everest by Tenzing Sherpa & Sir Edmund Hillary and numerous other expeditions.

Tibetan Self Help Centre, a centre of training young people in the intricate art of Tibetan handicrafts and handlooms. The sales emporium is open to visitors to pick up souvenirs and nearby Tea gardens. Overnight stay in a hotel.