Culturally Unique Sikkim and Darjeeling

Start your day by visiting Tsomgo Lake! Tsomgo Lake, also known as Tsongmo Lake or Changu Lake, is a glacial lake in the East Sikkim district, nearly 40 kms from Gangtok. Located at an altitude of 12,400 ft., Tsomgo Lake can be reached navigating through meandering road in the middle of rugged mountain terrain and sharp cliffs. Surrounded by mountains, the lake looks different in different seasons. In winter, the placid lake remains frozen with the area around it covered in snow while in late spring, the abundance of flowers in bloom adds a flourish of colours around the lake. Later visit Baba Mandir! Located between Nathula and Jelepla Passes at an altitude of 13,123 ft. and about 52 kms from Gangtok, Baba Harbhajan Singh Temple is popularly known as Baba Mandir. once inside the Baba Mandir, you get to see a large photo of Harbhajan Singh who is deeply revered by his devotees. Tourists who come here leave their water bottles for a few days and collect them later because the legend is that by drinking that water all the wishes come true. If time permits, go to Nathula Pass, which is located 54 kms east of Gangtok! One of the three open-trading border posts between India and China, Nathula plays a key role in the Sino-Indian trade. It is a favourite hot spot for the tourists in Sikkim. It also offers enticing view of the snow-capped mountains under the light blue sky and the long winding roads. At Nathu La, you also have the sights of Chumbi Valley of Tibet, fenced by mountains. Back to the hotel in Gangtok! Overnight Stay at Gangtok Breakfast and Dinner

Start your day early by visiting Namchi because you've to reach Pelling later in the day! It takes 1.15 hours to reach Namchi from Gangtok via the shortest route. Namchi or Namtse is the capital of the district of South Sikkim. Namchi is situated at an altitude of 400 ms to 2000 ms with unique and countryside swathes of agricultural field and the terraced slopes, dotted with spring-patched forests. Go to Temi Tea Estate, which is situated in Ravangla on the Tandong mountain-range and is quite popular for village tourism. Samdruptse Monastery is located below the Tendong hill facing Namchi. The monastery has the tallest statue of Guru Padma Sambhava in the world with a height of 135 ft. When you have the sighs of Namchi Town, Darjeeling, Kalingpong, Mt. Kanchenjunga and eastern part of Nepal from the hilltop, you get just blown away. Go to Siddheshwar Dham, situated at Solophok hill which is 5 kms away from Namchi town! The main attraction of Siddheshwar Dham is the imposing 108-foot tall statue of Lord Shiva, which is one of the tallest statues of Lord Shiva in the world. The statue is surrounded by beautiful gardens, water bodies and smaller shrines dedicated to other Hindu deities. After reaching Pelling, get into the designated hotel! Overnight Stay at Pelling

Today morning after Breakfast, get going to Rimbi Waterfalls! At a distance of 12 kms from Pelling and 5 kms from Darap Village, you get to see mind-lowing Rimbi Waterfalls. On the way to Yuksom and Khecheopalri Lakes, Rimbi Waterfalls hang over Rimbi River. One of the oldest hydro-power stations in Sikkim is located close to Rimbi Waterfalls. Go to Pemayangtse Monastery! Being around 300 years old, the monastery represents rich architecture and deep faith of the Buddhist followers. This three-storeyed building has many statues of saints and Rinpoches, including Padmasambhava (Lotus Born). The monastery also has many antique idols and scriptures. The Chenrezig Statue in Pelling is architectural wonder. This 137 ft. tall statue of the Bodhisattva Chenrezig is the tallest Chenrezig Statue in the world. The place is also the location of India's first Glass Skywalk. The glass-bottomed bridge here is 200 ft. long and 55 ft. high, giving stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. At a distance of 10 kms from Yuksom and 24 kms from Pelling, Kanchenjunga Waterfall is one of the largest waterfalls in Sikkim and among the prime Pelling tourist places. Originating high up in the glaciers of Mount Kanchenjunga, the 3rd highest peak in the world, this perennial waterfall has the water gushing down from a height of 100 ft. into a pool. Overnight Stay at Pelling

After Breakfast, get transferred to Darjeeling! Reaching there, check into your designated hotel and relax! Later, visit Tea Estates! The history of the tea gardens here begins from 1852 when Darjeeling was only a tiny hamlet and was used as a hill resort by the British officials and their families. Puttabong Tea Estate is known as the oldest tea estate in Darjeeling. Glenburn Tea Estate is a beautiful tea estate with the River Rangeet flowing below it. Go to Himalayan Mountaineering Institute! The institute is one of the most recognized mountaineering institutes in the world. It was founded on November 4th, 1954 by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru to commemorate the first successful climb to Mt. Everest by late Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary. Back to the hotel! Overnight Stay at Darjeeling Breakfast and Dinner

Start your day with Tiger Hill! Tiger Hill is best-known for its trekking routes and breathtaking sights of Mt. Everest and Mt. Kanchenjunga. You've to walk or drive through the oldest tea plantations to reach Tiger Hill. You mustn't miss the sunrise on Mt. Everest from Tiger Hill. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, also known as the Toy Train, offers a life-time journey through the lush green hills and quaint villages. If you're in Darjeeling, you mustn't miss a ride on the Toy Train. Commissioned in 1919, the Batasia Loop is a spiral railway, created to lower the gradient of ascent of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, wherein the track spirals around over itself through a tunnel and over a hilltop. At the centre of Batasia Loop, there is a War Memorial which was constructed by the District Sainik Board, Darjeeling to honour the valiant Gorkha Soldiers, who have sacrificed their lives to safeguard the sovereignty of our nation. At a distance of 5 kms from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Station, Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre is a rehabilitation center for the Tibetan refugees. Established by Tibetan refugees on 2nd October, 1959, the centre is located on the picturesque hilltop over an area of 4 acres of land. Next you visit Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park! Established in 1958, this zoological park is home to numerous rare and endangered species like red panda, snow leopard and Himalayan wolf. Located 8 kms away from Darjeeling, Ghoom Monastery houses a 15-feet statue of Maitreya. Ghoom Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in Darjeeling. The monastery is also known as the Yiga Choeling Monastery. Later visit Japanese Peace Pagoda, an architectural marvel with its sparkling white structure and golden statues. The Pagoda symbolizes peace and spirituality against the serene surroundings of mountains. Near to the Peace Pagoda and located at the Jalapahar hill, the Japanese Temple is built in traditional Japanese style where you can join the prayers and feel the spiritual peace through humming and chants. Having a ride on Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway is a thrilling experience. It is India's first cable car system, which started in 1968. Having the sight of the valley's lush green tea gardens on the hill slopes, Rangeet and Ramman rivers flowing along with forests and waterfalls and snow-clad peaks of Kanchenjunga is something out of the world. Overnight Stay at Darjeeling Breakfast and Dinner

Today you get transferred to Bagdogra Airport/Railway Station for your onward journey with some special memories and experiences. Breakfast