Enchanting North East

Take a tour of the city to visit the Jain temple richly decorated with mirrors and Venetian glass mosaics, the Kali temple, and the white marble Victoria Memorial designed in Italian Renaissance-Mughal style. Planned by Viceroy Curzon and referred to both as Curzon’s Folly and the British Taj Mahal it is a museum housing Imperial memorabilia. Also drive past the Howrah Bridge, one of the largest cantilever bridges in the world, the Dalhousie Square, Fort Williams, the secretariat building and the Old Court House Street. In the evening proceed to an authentic restaurant, 'Oh! Calcutta' where you will  explore the new flavours of different cuisines. You can savour Dukbanglow chicken, luchi, kasha mangsho or hilsaor bekti preparation, Kancha Lonka Murgi that is flawlessly flavoured biryani and has very soft mutton pieces in a pot.

Get transferred to the airport to connect flight to Bagdogra. Upon arrival, met by your driver and get transferred to Darjeeling (3.5 hrs drive). Located on a ridge and surrounded by forested hills and tea plantations, Darjeeling has been a popular hill station since the British established it in the mid-1800s. With its idyllic setting, exhilarating climate and stunning views of the Kanchenjunga peaks it also attracts trekkers. Check in at your hotel . Day at leisure.

Early morning visit Tiger Hill ,Ghoom Monastery & back,  After breakfast Toy train ride upto Ghoom & back(Subject to operation of this train & availability of the seats). Take an early morning excursion to Tiger Hill (2590 m) to view the sunrise and its reflection on Kanchenjunga and Mt. Everest in their majestic glory. Later drive to Ghoom (8 km away, altitude 2550 m) to see the important Yiga-Choling gompa, a Yellow Hat sect Buddhist monastery. The 19th century gompa, one of the oldest in the area, enshrines an enormous gilded statue of the Maitreya Buddha and also houses valuable Tibetan manuscripts. Afternoon visit to Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (Closed on Thursday), Zoological Park (Closed on Thursday), Tibetan Refugee Centre (Closed on Sunday),

Today you are at leisure.  You may simply relax and enjoy your hotel or take below optional tours: Optional: Tea Plantation visit and Tea tasting : Tea plantations are little more than just a piece of terrace farming. They are emerging as a new element of tourism, which is now called as tea tourism. Darjeeling is called as the Mecca of Tea. Darjeeling has more than 80 plantations scaling thousands of acres of lands along the slopes. You can find high grade first flush tea to exotic flavoured teas here.After going through a tea tasting session yourself, you can buy some tea of your choice with flavor you liked the most. They keep packaged tea from their gardens here.

Drive from Darjeeling to Gangtok via Rumtek Monastery,  also called the Dharmachakra Centre, is a gompa located in the Indian state of Sikkim near the capital Gangtok. It is a focal point for the sectarian tensions within the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism that characterize the Karmapa controversy. Upon arrival, check at your hotel.  Rest of the day free.

Morning excursion to Tsomgo Lake. Tsomgo Lake, also known as Tsongmo Lake or Changu Lake, is a glacial lake in the East Sikkim district of the Indian state of Sikkim, some 40 kilometres from the capital Gangtok. Located at an elevation of 3,753 m, the lake remains frozen during the winter season. Return back to the city. Late afternoon  as per time permit visit Enchey Monastery (Closed on Sunday) -  The Enchey Monastery was established in 1909 above Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim in the Northeastern Indian state. It belongs to the Nyingma order of Vajrayana Buddhism. The monastery built around the then small hamlet of Gangtok became a religious centre If you still have time, visit Cottage Industry (Closed on Sunday & Second Saturday)  which produces a wide range of local handicrafts.

Drive to Kalimpong (80 Kms/ 3 hrs). Upon arrival, check in at your hotel. Kalimpong is a bustling bazaar town set at an altitude of 1250 m among the rolling foothills and deep valleys of the Himalayas. Its attractions include three monasteries, lovely churches, orchid nurseries and fine views over the countryside. The surroundings are ideal for long peaceful walks. A flower festival is held in Kalimpong every October.

Visit Durpin Monastery, (also known as Zang Dog Palri Monastery) is located at the Durpin Dara Hill. As you enter the monastery, the first thing you will notice are the two large cylinders on two sides (each about some 10-ft high). You can turn the cylinders by a crank, and a lever is so arranged that a bell will ring at every turn. Thongsa Gompa, another monastery is located nearby. It's also known as Bhutan Monastery and the oldest in Kalimpong. It was built in 1692. If you are lucky, you can walk through sea of pigeons who often feed on the open field in front of the monastery. Return to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Drive from Kalimpong to Bagdogra Airport (75 kms/ 2.5  hours approx.) to connect flight to Kolkata. Upon arrival connect to onward flight.