DAY 01
ARRIVE DELHI, TRANSFER TO HOTEL

NEW DELHI : New Delhi is the capital of India and its third-largest city. The city actually consists of two parts. Delhi or `Old' Delhi was the capital of Muslim India between the 12th and 19th centuries. In Old Delhi you will find many mosques, monuments and forts relating to India's Muslim history. The other Delhi in New Delhi, the imperial city created as the capital of India by the British. It is a spacious, open city and contains many embassies and government buildings.

DAY 02 FLY DELHI - BAGDOGRA, DRIVE TO DARJEELING

DARJEELING : Straddling a ridge at 2134 m and surrounded by tea plantations on all sides, Darjeeling has been a very popular hill station since the British. Here you will find yourself surrounded by mountain people from all over the eastern Himalaya who have come to work, to trade or - in the case of the Tibetans as refugees.

DAY 03
FREE IN DARJEELING TO KNOW YOUR CYCLE AND ROADS.
Darjeeling is a fascinating place where you can see Buddhist monasteries, visit a tea plantation and see how the tea is processed, go for a ride on the chairlift, spend days hunting for bargains in colorful markets and handicraft shops, or go trekking to high altitude spots near the Sikkim border.

Like many places in the Himalaya, half the fun is in getting there and Darjeeling has the unique attraction of the famous toy train. This miniature train loops and switchbacks its way up the steep mountainsides from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling.

DAY 04 DARJEELING - PEMAYANGTSE
PEMAYANGTSE : means "the subline perfect lotus" signifying purity was originally built as a small thankhang in the early 17th century by Gewala Lhatsun Chempo, on the three Tibetan lamas who gathered at Yuksom in 1642 to choose Sikkim's first Chogyal. 

There is a statue of him inside behind the alter, to the right of the central figure Guru Rinpoche, or Padmasambhava. The thankhang was later expanded during the third Chogyal's reign in the early 18th century by a reincarnation of Lhatsun Chempo. It is paramount of the Nyingmapa monasteries and regarded as Sikkim's most prestigious center of religious learning.

DAY 05
FREEDAY TO EXPLORE NEARBY VILLAGES.

DAY 06
PEMAYANGTSE - SINGTAM, OVERIGHT CAMP

DAY 07
SINGTAM - RUMTEK

RUMTEK : The seat of the Kagyu order - one of the 4 major Tibetan Buddhist sects - since the late 1960's the center houses some of the world's most unique religious art objects, traditional in design it is almost a replica of the original, Kagyu headquarters in Tibet. The largest monastery of its kind outside Tibet, it is an important center of Kagyu teachings and has over 200 centers worldwide.

DAY 08
RUMTEK - GANGTOK

GANGTOK : (1500 m) meaning "Hilltop", is the capital of Sikkim‚ and has a population of around 30,000. First established in 1716, Gangtok still retains its charming architectural style with the pagoda-like wooden houses, painted turquoise roofs and colorful bazaars. High above the town on a ridge that commands magnificent views of the Himalayas, is the most arresting and important building in Gangtok, the Tsuklakhang. It is a royal Gompa‚ (monastery) of the former Chogyals‚ (kings) of Sikkim. It has an elegant structure in traditional Sikkimise style, carved and painted woodwork, superb murals, thankas and precious Buddhist treasures.

While in Gangtok you can visit the Orchid Sanctuary‚ with over 500 varieties of orchids, and the Institute of Tibetology which is established for research in the Mahayana Secretariat Building‚ and an afternoon at Rumtek‚ are a must. 

Rumtek Monastery is a splendid example of Tibetan monastic art, traditional architecture, intricately carved and painted woodwork. Rumtek is now the residence of His Holiness‚ (the reincarnate) and the headquarters of Dharma Chakra Religion Center.

The lepchas‚ are oldest inhabitants of Sikkim. These tribal people migrated to Sikkim around the 12th Century. Now the population is mixed. comprising of the Nepalese / Lepchas and Bangalies.

Gangtok, for many years isolated from the foreigners, still maintains the old-world Shangri-La‚ atmosphere. The charms of the Sikkimise, the elegance of their costume, the gentle pace of their life-style and the magic of the Kanchenjunga mountain range, makes Gangtok, one of most delightful places in the foot-hills of the Himalayas.

DAY 9
SIGHTSEEING OF THE CITY

HANDICRAFT CENTRE : Instituted with the aim of promoting and keeping alive the state's traditional art and crafts, the center is a storehouse of hand-woven woolen carpets with traditional motifs, blankets, shawls in Lepcha weaves and exquisitely carved Choktse tables and many other gift items.

ENCHEY MONASTERY : An important seat of the Nyingma order, the Enchey monastery is built on the site blessed by Lama Druptob Karpo, a tantric master known for his powers of flying. This 200 year old monastery has on its premises images of gods, goddesses and other religious objects.

DO-DRUL CHORTEN : The Do-drul Chorten or stupa was built by the venerable 
Trulsi Rinpoche head of the Nyimgma order of Tibetan Buddhism, in 1945. Inside this Stupa are a complete mandalas set of Dorje Phurpa, a set of Ka-gyur relics, complete Zung ( mantras ) and other religious objects.

RESERCH INSTITUTE OF TIBETOLOGY : The most prestigious, one of its kind in India - this Buddhist institute houses on display a vast collection of rare Lepcha, Tibetan and Sanskrit manuscripts, statues and rare Thankas used in Buddhist litergy, over 200 Buddhist icons and other prized objects of art. Today it is a renowned worldwide center for study of Buddhist philosophy and religion.

TASHI VIEW POINT : Situated along the north Sikkim highway, from this point you get a breathtaking view of Mount KHANGCHENDZONGA and Mount SINIOLCHU - the most graceful peak in the world. You'll find it hard to believe that this is for real - and not a painting you're looking at.

DAY 10
GANGTOK - KALIMPONG

KALIMPONG : is a bustling and rapidly expanding, through still relatively small bazaar town set amongst the rolling foothills and deep valleys of the Himalaya at an altitude of 1250 meters. It was once part of the lands belonging to the rajas of Sikkim, until the beginning of the 18th century when it was taken from them by the Bhutanese. In the 19th century it passed into the hands of the British and became part of west Bengal. It became a center for Scottish missionary activity in the late 19th century and Dr. Graham's orphanage and school is still running today.

DAY 11
KAMILPONG - BAGDOGRA - FLY DELHI

DAY 12
FLY DELHI and back home.