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The Eastern Escapes: Darjeeling, Sikkim and Bhutan

The Eastern Escapes: Darjeeling, Sikkim and Bhutan


Overview

Discover the still largely unknown places in the Eastern Himalayas. Conquerors, adventurers, artists, poets and writers have left us charming accounts of the inspirational elements of the mystical natural setting and its astonishing beauty. It's little wonder that Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Pelling, Gangtok, Thimphu, Paro and Punakha offer the most exciting holiday circuits in the Eastern Himalayas.  From great fortress to perched monasteries, from colored villages to isolated hamlets, this tour has been specially conceived to discover the jewels of Eastern Himalayas. In this tour you can look forward to monasteries in spectacular locations, rugged gorges and breathtaking vegetation, breath taking views of the majestic Himalayas, ever smiling faces of the locals and so on, the list is endless.

Brief Description of Cities

Kolkata - Also known as “City of Joy” - India’s second biggest city, Kolkata is regarded as India’s intellectual & cultural capital - Being former capital of British India, it retains it retains to colonial era charm - Several well-maintained major buildings from the colonial period have been declared "heritage structures"

Gangtok - The name Gangtok is derived from the Tibetan word for ‘hillside’, this capital city is the largest town of the Indian state of Sikkim - It also is the headquarters of the east Sikkim and located at an altitude of 1650 meters - The town’s one lac population belongs to different ethnicities such as Nepalese, Lepchas and Bhutias - Nestled within higher peaks of the Himalaya and enjoying a year round mild temperate climate.

Pelling/Pemyangtse - Pelling, a beautifully located hamlet in West Sikkim at a height of 2073 meters/6800ft is today emerging as the second biggest tourist destination in the state after Gangtok - Although in itself it is little more than a strip of road lined with hotels, Pelling has become the best chosen tourist destination in Sikkim due to its scenic location and the advantage of having the closest view of world third highest mountain Mt. Khang – Chen - Dzonga and other snow peaks - It offers appropriate sites for mountain biking, rock climbing, village tours, trekking, meditations, educational studies and many more.

Darjeeling - Darjeeling as the QUEEN OF HILL is a famous hill resort offering a breath taking sight of the numerous peaks of the majestic Himalayas - It is located in the Mahabharata Range or Lesser Himalaya at an average elevation of 6,710 ft. (2,045.2 m) - The views of Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest are particularly awe inspiring - The finest blend of tea comes from various tea gardens of this region.

Why the name Darjeeling? Did it ever strike you in the first place how the name Darjeeling was coined? Well there are several stories behind the name. The most popular is the one that says that Observatory Hill (located behind the Mall) which is the highest point in Darjeeling town, attracted lots of lightning and thunders. This is particularly so during the monsoon season. The word 'Dorji' in Tibetan means 'Thunderbolt' and 'Ling' means 'Place'. Therefore, Darjeeling was so named to mean 'The place of thunderbolt'. Another story says that the Tibetan monks built a monastery atop the Observatory Hill in 1763. The name of the chief monk of the monastery was Rinzing Dorji Legden La. The Tibetans named the place after him. Dorji-Ling meaning 'Place of Dorji', and hence the name Darjeeling. In Sanskrit, the word "Durjay Ling" means "Shiva of invincible prowess who rules the Himalayas." The name Darjeeling could have also been derived from this.

Kalimpong - It is a sleepy little town that is situated at an altitude of 1,250 meters/4,101 ft - The town is the headquarters of the Kalimpong subdivision, a part of the district of Darjeeling - It was once popularly known as Silk Route, the hub of the trans-Himalayan trade between India and Tibet-merchants used to ferry goods by mule caravans over the Jelepla Pass on the Sikkim-Tibet border - The name of this town has historic significance. Kalimpong was once the headquarters of a Bhutanese Governor. The word "Kalim" stands for "the King's minister" and the word "Pong" means "stronghold"; hence "Kalimpong" means "the stronghold of the King's minister".

Phuentsholing: Border Town of Southern Bhutan - Has Headquarters of Bank of Bhutan - Thriving commercial center on the northern edge of the Indian Plains.

Thimphu: Capital and the largest city of Bhutan - Only capital city in the world that does not have traffic lights - Main center of Commerce, Religion and Government in the country - Most modern city of Bhutan and has abundance of restaurants, internet cafes, nightclubs and shopping center. It is one of the few cities of Bhutan having ATM facilities. 

Paro: Small town in the western part of Bhutan - Also home to Paro Airport, Bhutan’s only International Airport - The valley has many isolated small villages and is known for red rice - Also home to most of Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries.

Punakha and Wangdue: Punakha and Wangdue is located in the same valley. These two places are located within a distance of 13 km. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan and the seat of government until 1955 - The valley is fed by the Pho Chhu and the Mo Chhu rivers - It is one of very few places in Bhutan which offers Rafting facilities - It is the winter seat of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot) and the monk body at present.


Trip Facts


Our aim is to ensure that the travel to Bhutan in combination with other tourist places of India is a "Life Time Experience" for our guests. Except the overnight destination, the itineraries are flexible and can be modified as per the convinience and the requirement of our guests.

Travel type: Cultural / Photography

Pick up: Kolkata

Drop: Paro

Duration: 14 Nights/ 15 Days

Destinations: Phuentsholing,Paro,Thimphu,Punakha/Wangdue,Kolkata,Darjeeling,Gangtok,Pelling,Kalimpong

Possible Departures:

Throughout the year.

The departures would depend upon flight schedule and seats availability. 

In case of unavailability of rooms in the desired hotels or to accomodate any exigencies, we reserve the right the modify the itinerary as may be needed to confirm the booking.

If a particular sight seeing is closed because of Government Holiday and other occasions, we would provide, alternate sightseeing in its place to capture and experience Bhutan.

Valued Added Services:

We can provide following additional valued added experiences in Bhutan at additional cost wherever applicable -

  • Candle Light Dinner.
  • Picnic lunch at Riverside.
  • Preaching session by the Monk followed by blessing ceremony.
  • Archery Session.
  • Traditional Hot Stone Bath in a rural home.
  • Traditional Cultural Show for 1 hour.
  • Evening with Bhutanese family in farm house, dinner and local ara experience.
  • Ara (Rice liquor) brewing lessons.
  • Overnight Home Stay, where experience local life, learn to cook Bhutanese Dishes, learn about Bhutanese Life and interact with host family, join family in their daily activities.
  • Village walk to experience Rural Bhutanese life.
  • Bhutan Culinary Session.
  • Apple harvesting & plucking tours in Paro (Main Season – End of September)
  • Traditional Gho & Kira wearing session.
  • Personalized Stamps.
  • Traditional wedding to renew the vows.
  • Camping options at Thimphu (outskirts), Paro, Punakha and Haa.
  • Experience Rafting at Punakha.
  • One side bicycle between Thimphu – Paro and return by vehicle.
  • Day excursion on Royal Enfield Motor Bikes to Chele La Pass.
  • Additional day hiking options in Thimphu, Paro, Punakha and Gangtey.

Outline Itinerary


Day 1. Arrival in Kolkata

Day 2. Kolkata Sightseeing

Day 3. Kolkata – Bagdogra – Gangtok

Day 4. Gangtok Sightseeing

Day 5. Gangtok – Pelling (Pemyangtse)

Day 6. Pelling Sightseeing

Day 7. Darjeeling Sightseeing

Day 8. Darjeeling – Kalimpong

Day 9. Kalimpong – Phuentsholing

Day 10. Phuentsholing – Thimphu

Day 11. Thimphu Sightseeing

Day 12. Thimphu – Punakha/Wangdue

Day 13. Punakha – Paro

Day 14. Paro Sightseeing & Hike to Taktsang

Day 15. Departure