SOUTH EAST INDIA

Eastern Splendour

This tour takes in the highlights of Delhi, India’s capital city and the rich legacy of its past and present. Spacious and planned, New Delhi was built as the imperial capital of India by the British while Old Delhi was the capital of Muslim India between the 17th and the 19th centuries. With its tea plantations, cool climate and English colonial houses, Darjeeling is the quintessential hill station. Sikkim, still regarded as the last Himalayan Shangri-la because of its remoteness, its spectacular mountain terrain and ancient Buddhist culture. Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) has been acknowledged as the cultural capital of India and possesses some of the country’s finest remnants of British colonial architecture. The highly cultured tropical state of Orissa along India’s south-east coastline on the Bay of Bengal was once a formidable maritime empire. Today, it is a showcase of well-preserved temples and exquisite architecture from India’s classical period.

Day 01: Delhi
Arrive Delhi. Meet and greet then transfer to hotel.

Day 02: Delhi
Full day tour of Old & New Delhi discovering it’s ancient rich past reflected in its many old forts and monuments scattered all over this historic city. Drive through Lutyen’s well-planned newer quarters which house the presidential palace, the parliament building and other rambling remnants from the British Raj.

Day 03: Delhi - Darjeeling
Transfer in the morning to connect the flight to Bagdogra airport. Upon arrival drive to Darjeeling (2134m) surrounded by tea estates and undulating green hills. Afternoon free to explore on own.

Day 04: Darjeeling
Early in the morning drive up to Tiger Hill for a panoramic sunrise view of Mt. Kanchenjunga (8598m) and other spectacular Himalayan peaks including Mt. Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8501m) among others on a clear day. Visit the Ghoom monastery, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. Take a joyride on the toy train and visit a tea plantation.

Day 05: Darjeeling - Pelling
Today we drive into the adjoining state of Sikkim heading towards its cultural and religious hub, Pelling (1875m) also a popular tourist spot with great views of Mt. Kanchenjunga. Closeby are the ancient monasteries of Pemayangtse and Sangachoeling for you to explore.

Day 06: Pelling - Gangtok
After a comprehensive tour of the surrounding area drive to Gangtok (1677m), Sikkim’s capital. Afternoon, visit Enchey gompa, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology and the Do-Drul Chorten.

Day 07: Gangtok
Visit the famous Rumtek monastery located across Gangtok valley and seat of the Gyalwa Karmapa, the head of the Kagyu order of Tibetan Buddhism. Also visit Tsomgo lake perched at 3720m and just 18km from the Tibetan border. Return to Gangtok.

Day 08: Gangtok - Kalimpong
Today we drive south to the friendly bazaar town of Kalimpong (1250m) which is set among the rolling foothills of the Himalaya. Though it lacks Darjeeling’s colonial charm, there is plenty of explore and see around Kalimpong.

Day 09: Kalimpong - Kolkata
A short drive to Bagdogra airport and fly into Kolkata, an effervescent metropolis of incredible contrasts known for the warm hospitality of its inhabitants and their cultural and literary achievements. Explore the Chowringhee area and New Market on your own. Here many buildings from the British colonial days can be found.

Day 10: Kolkata
A full day tour taking in some of the city highlights; drive past the Maidan, Fort William, Raj Bhawan visiting Victoria Memorial possibly the most awesome reminder of the Raj to be found in India. Visit Kali temple, the Jain temple, Parasnath and Missions of Charity, Mother Teresa’s Home.

Day 11: Kolkata - Bhubaneswar
This morning visit Belur Math, north of Kolkata on the bank of the Hooghly river, the international headquarters of the well known Ramkrishna Mission. Evening, board an overnight express train for Bhubaneswar.

Day 12: Bhubaneswar
Morning arrive Bhubaneswar, capital city of the highly cultured tropical state of Orissa. Afternoon, visit Udaigiri & Khandagiri located some 6km west of the city these two hills are riddled with caves, some ornately carved and believed to have been chiseled out by Jain ascetics in the 1st century BC. On the way back visit the main bazaars.

Day 13: Bhubaneswar - Puri
Drive to Puri, one of the four most important Hindu pilgrimage sites in India and situated on the Bay of Bengal. This city revolves around the great Jagannath Mandir, one of India’s most important temples and dedicated to Jagannath, lord of the universe, an incarnation of Vishnu. A whole day can be fruitfully spent just exploring the maze of narrow lanes around this temple.

Day 14: Puri - Konark - Puri
Go on a day-return trip from Puri to visit the mighty Sun Temple, Konark, a World Heritage site and one of India’s most astonishing temples. It was built in the mid 13th century but remarkably little is known of its early history. The entire temple was conceived as a chariot for the Sun god, Surya. Around the base are 24 gigantic carved stone wheels while seven mighty stone horses haul at the temple and the immense structure is covered with carvings and sculptures.

Day 15: Puri - Pipili - Bindu Sagar - Bhubaneswar
Drive back to Bhubaneswar visiting Pipili village, notable for its brilliant appliqué craft. In the afternoon visit Old Bhubaneswar town with its myriad wayside shrines and temples the most outstanding of which is the 54m high Lingaraj Mandir dedicated to Tribhubaneswar, the lord of the three worlds. Visit Bindu Sagar, an ancient water tank believed to contain water from every holy stream in India. Scattered around this holy tank are smaller temples and shrines.

Day 16: Bhubaneswar - Delhi - Departure
Morning at leisure. Afternoon, fly to Delhi and connect late evening outbound flights.