India Bhutan Tour

Morning Sightseeing of Kolkata, a city of glaring contrasts, a curious blend of the old and the new, partly feudal, partly born out of growing urbanization, partly un-definable. It is a medley of the east and the west, a graft of a European city imposed on the Asian landscape that gives Calcutta its bewildering charm, confusion and excitement. Being just about 300 years old, Calcutta hardly has many great historical monuments. Per haps, the oldest remembered is the site where the Kalighat Temple. Today Calcutta is the largest city in India with a population over 10 million and boasts of India's first ever Metro rail system. The sightseeing of the city includes a visit to the Victoria Memorial, Calcutta's most imposing and monumental dream in marble opened by the Prince of Wales in 1921 and often called the "Taj" of the British Raj, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Indian Museum, the largest in India, with some of the best collections of Indian art.
Overnight at hotel

Morning transfer to airport to connect flight IT-3633 for Port Blaire.

On arrive at Port Blair airport, our representative receive and escorted you to the hotel. After check-in at the hotel and little relax, start the journey with Anthropological Museum, which displays the tools, models habitats, art and handcrafts of the aboriginal tribes of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. And then proceed to Corbyns Cove beach. At evening, the Light and Sound Show at Cellular Jail where the saga of the freedom struggle brought alive.
Overnight at hotel.

After Breakfast., move for an exhilarating journey (by boat) to Ross Island, the erstwhile capital of Port Blair during the British regime, then a joyful trip to North way Island (Coral Island) offering exotic coral and underwater marine life viewed colorful corals in glass bottom boat.
Afternoon proceed for a panoramic tour of the Port Blair City which covers; the Cellular Jail, Chatnam Saw Mill, Forest Museum, Mini Zoo, Samdudrika (Naval Marine Museum), Gandhi Park, Fisheries museum, Science Center and water sports complex.
Overnight at the hotel.

In time assisted departure transfer to the airport to connect the flight S2-320 for Kolkata.
Depart: Port Blair at 1215 hrs
Arrive: Kolkata at 1430 hrs
Meeting & assistance on arrival & transfer to hotel.
In evening dinner with a Indian family.
Overnight at hotel.

In time assisted departure transfer to the airport to connect the flight 9W-363 for Guwahati.
Depart: Kolkata at 1015 hrs
Arrive: Guwahati at 1120 hrs
Meeting & assistance on arrival & drive to Shillong. On arrival check in at hotel.
Overnight at hotel.

Morning drive to Cherrapunjee (56kms.), famed for being the wettest place in the world. After a drive of two hours amid pine trees and mists we reach chereapunjee. It posseeses some exotic waterfalls and lime stone caves. There we visit Nokhalik ai falls, being the world's fourth tallest waterfall, Mawsamai falls, Than gkharang park and Mawsmai cave, which is one of the 100 odd lime stone caves in Meghalaya. Back to Shillong in the evening & short orientation tour of Shillong.
Overnight at hotel

Morning drive to Guwahati. On arrival check in at hotel.Overnight at hotel.

Morning drive to Guwahati. On arrival check in at hotel.
Kaziranga National Park lies partly in Golaghat District and partly in Nagaon District of Assam. It is the oldest park in assam covers an area of 430 Sq kms along the river Brahmaputra on the North and the Karbi Anglong hills on the South. The National Highway 37 passes through the park area and tea estates, hemmed by table-top tea bushes. One can even see the rhinos and wild elephants straying near the highway.
Kaziranga National Park a world heritage site is famous for the Great Indian one horned rhinoceros, the landscape of Kaziranga is of sheer forest, tall elephant grass, rugged reeds, marshes & shallow pools. It has been declared as National Park in 1974.

Kaziranga National Park is one of the last areas in eastern India undisturbed by a human presence. It is inhabited by the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as many mammals, including tigers, elephants, panthers and bears, and thousands of birds.
The park is open from November to April. Tourists can take rides on elephants to move around the park or cruise in a boat on the Brahmaputra along the park.
Overnight at hotel.

On this day Jungle safari start on elephant back early in the morning in the central range of the Park for one hour. Afterwards, back to hotel. After breakfast, later you will transfer to deep inside the central range of the Park in a Jeep for jungle safari & return back to hotel for lunch. In the late afternoon, you will once again transfer the central range for a sunset view of the Park & return back to hotel.
Overnight at hotel.

Early Morning drive to Guwahati. On arrival check in at hotel. In Evening visit to Kamakhya Temple. Overnight at hotel.

In time assisted departure transfer to the airport to connect the flight IT- 3344 for Bagdogra.
Depart: Guwahati at 1355 hrs
Arrive: Bagdogra at 1435 hrs
Meeting & assistance on arrival & transfer to Darjeeling. On arrival check in at hotel.In evening spa treatment at Hotel.Overnight at hotel.

Morning Half day to Tiger Hill and Ghoom Monastery. Early morning to the Tiger Hill to view the sunrise and its reflection over the Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga in their majestic glory. Later drive to the Tibetan Monastery at Ghoom, one of the oldest (1857).in the area that enshrines an enormous gilded statue of Maitreya Buddha. The monastery belongs to the Yellow sect and has several valuable Tibetan manuscripts.
Afternoon Half day to the Tibetan Self-Help Center. The center has a range of carpets for sale in their showroom, woven with dexterity on the premises by refugees who fled their land with the Dalai Lama.
Overnight at hotel.

Morning drive to Gangtok. On arrival check in at hotel.In afternoon excursion to the Rumtek Monastery, 24 Kms from Gangtok. The ancient monastery was built in 1717 but didn't survive long. Again Gyalwa Karmapa built it in the year 1960. The structure is covered with murals, Tibetan paintings, Tankhas and frescoes. The monastery is one of the largest in Sikkim.
Later visiting the Enchey Monastery on the Nathula Road and later pass by the Tashiling (the Secretariat building) and the Tsuk-La-Khang (Royal Chapel) within the Palace grounds and then visit Palden Tondup Cottages Industries Institute.
Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast drive to Kalimpong .On arrival check in at hotel Afternoon Half day sightseeing tour of Kalimpong includes visits to Zang Dog Palri, Fo-Brang monastery, Thongsa Gompa, Nurseries, market and the Tibetan colony.Overnight at hotel.

Morning drive to Phuntsholing & drop on the Bhutan Border. On arrival in Phuentsholing, Meeting & assistence by Bhutan representative, after clearing immigration formalities, check in at the Hotel.Later in the day visit Zangtho Pelri: Situated in city centre, this small temple represents the heaven of Guru Rinpoche. Later in the evening explore the local market.Overnight at hotel in Phuentsholing.

After breakfast drive to Thimphu. 4 km ahead of Phuentsholing, visit Kharbandi Gompa, the beautiful monastery situated in garden of tropical plants and flowers.
From the monastery garden there is a splendid view of Phuentsholing and plains of West Bengal and their tea gardens beyond.
Proceed further to Thimphu. This entire drive is very pleasant with numerous scenic spots en route. Lunch would be served at en route restaurant.En route visit Simtokha Dzong, the oldest fortress of the Kingdom which now houses the School for religious and cultural studies.Overnight at hotel in Thimphu.

After leisurely breakfast at hotel proceed to a guided tour of Thimphu.
Proceed to visit National Library (sat sun, govt holiday closed), which holds a vast collection of ancient Buddhist texts and manuscripts, some dating back severa
hundred years, as well as modern academic books mainly on Himalayan culture and religion.

Also visit nearby Institute for Zorig Chusum (Sat afternoon, sun & govt holiday closed): Commonly known as Arts & Crafts School or Painting School, the Institute offers a six-year course on the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan. On a visit, one can see students learning the various skills taught at the school.
Drive towards city centre to visit Textile (sat afternoon, sun & govt holiday closed)and Folk Heritage Museum: These museums, both of which opened in 2001, provide fascinating insights into Bhutanese material culture and way of life.Conclude sightseeing with a visit of Trashichhodzong: This impressive fortress/monastery houses Secretariat building, the throne room of His Majesty, the King and various government offices. It is also the summer residence of Chief Abbot and central monk body.Overnight at hotel in Thimphu

After breakfast at hotel, Drive to Punakha across Dochula pass (3,O8Om). In Bhutan, the passes are marked by a large Bhutanese Chorten and prayer flag. Dochula pass offers the most spectacular view over the high peaks of the eastern Himalayas on a clear day.

After checking into hotel, proceed to visit Punakha Dzong, a massive structure built at the junction of two rivers. It was the capital of Bhutan until 1955, and still serves as the winter residence of the monk body.

Afternoon visit Wangdue Dzong which is perched on a spur at the confluence of two rivers. The position of Dzong is remarkable as it completely covers the spur and commands an impressive view over both the north-south and east-west. Wangdue district is also famous for its bamboo work, slate & stone carving.

Later in the day excursion to Chimi Lakhang (from hotel it is about 15 minutes drive till motorable road and then walk starts through paddy fields and villages. This is total about 1.1/2 hour walk, including both way). The Chimi Lhakhang, situated on a hillock in the center of the valley, also known as the temple of fertility.Overnight at hotel.

Drive back to Paro descending back down from Dochu La, follow the way back up the dramatic Wang Chhu and Paro Chhu river valleys, before crossing through Paro Town towards the north end of the valley.
After checking into hotel, proceed to visit Ta Dzong (sun, mon & govt holiday closed), originally built as Watch Tower, it now houses National Museum of the Kingdom and boasts antique thangkha paintings, textiles, weapons & armour, household objects and a rich assortment of natural and historic artifacts.Then walk down the trail to visit Rinpung Dzong, meaning 'fortress of the heap of jewels' which has a long and fascinating history. Along the wooden galleries lining the courtyard of the Rinpung Dzong are fine wall paintings illustrating Buddhist lore.Overnight at hotel in Paro.

Morning take an excursion to Taktsang Monastery (5 hrs walk), the most famous of Bhutanese monasteries. It is said that Guru Rinpoche arrived here on the back of a tigress and meditated at this monastery hence it is called "Tiger’s Nest". The excursion to monastery takes about 5 hours for round trip.Along the way, see the 7th century Kichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 temples built in the Himalayas by Tibetan King, Songtsen Gembo. One of the most sacred shrines in the country, it reflects the introduction of Buddhism in Bhutan.Overnight at hotel in Paro.

Morning at leisure. later In time departure transfer to the airport to connect flight for onwards destination.
(No accommodation in Delhi on this day)