Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) is the capital of India’s West Bengal state. Founded as an East India Company trading post, it was India’s capital under the British Raj from 1773–1911. Today it’s known for its grand colonial architecture, art galleries and cultural festivals. It’s also home to Mother House, headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa, whose tomb is on site.
Darjeeling is a town in India’s West Bengal state, in the Himalayan foothills. Once a summer resort for the British Raj elite, it remains the terminus of the narrow-gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, or “Toy Train,” completed in 1881. It’s famed for the distinctive black tea grown on plantations that dot its surrounding slopes. Its backdrop is Mt. Kanchenjunga, among the world’s highest peaks.
Gangtok is the capital of the mountainous northern Indian state of Sikkim. Established as a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the 1840s, the city became capital of an independent monarchy after British rule ended, but joined India in 1975. Today, it remains a Tibetan Buddhist center and a base for hikers organizing permits and transport for treks through Sikkim’s Himalayan mountain ranges.
Day 01 Arrive Kolkata (By Flight)
Arrival at Kolkata International Airport, meeting assistance by our representative who will welcome you and will provide transfer to the hotel. Upon reaching your hotel, you will be handed over the travel documents with a complete briefing of tour by the representative. Check-in and proceed to your room. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 02 Kolkata
After Breakfast Proceed for a full day city tour visiting Dalhousie Square Covering Raj Bhavan, St. John’s Church, High Court, GPO, Town Hall, Writer’s Building and other important colonial buildings, Flower Market, Howrah Bridge, Kumhartoli The Potter’s Village, Marble Palace, Indian Museum, St. Paul’s Cathedral Church & Victoria Memorial. The Heritage tour will give insight in to the historical aspect of old Calcutta. This square has many old historic buildings, to name a few – Silver Mint 1824-31 built in Greek style is presently in a dilapidated condition, The Writers Building – designed by Thomas Lyon as a trading house for East India Company in 1780 has 57 sets of identical windows on 3 storeys built like a barrack inside. The Old Mission Church, built by Swedish missionary Johann Kiernander was consecrated in 1770, General Post Office designed by Walter Granville in 1868 has a white dome and Corinthian pillars, The Raj Bhawan, once a residence of British Governors-General and Viceroys, it is now the home of Governor of West Bengal, next to it is the most important Gothic building of Kolkata – the Calcutta High Court, built in 1872.
The Pareshnath Jain Temple is an ornate Digambar Jain temple built in central Indian Style in 1867 by a jeweller. The interior is richly decorated in European baroque and Italianate styles with mirrors and Venetian glass mosaics. The gardens have formal geometric flower beds.
Belur Math was founded in 1899 by Swami Vivekanand, a disciple of Saint Ramakrishna. It is presently the international headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission and preaches the unity of all religions. Symbolizing the belief of “Math” monastery it has Hindu, Christian and Islamic style of architecture.
Visit to the Ninth oldest regular Museum of the world, Indian Museum, Kolkata. It was established in the year 1814 at the Asiatic Society and was transferred to the present site in 1878. It has over sixty galleries of Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Geology, Zoology and Botany sections, spreading over 10000 sq. feet area. Many rare specimens both Indian and Trans – Indian origin relating to Humanities and Natural Science are preserved and displayed in the galleries of these sections. It has a collection of more than 50,000 coins of Gold, Silver and other metals. It also has a mummy in its Egyptian section.
In the afternoon visit the Victoria Memorial – a gift by Lord Curzon to Queen Victoria in honor of her commemoration and as a symbol of her Indian Empire. It has been designed in Italian Renaissance-Mughal style and built in White Marble in 1921 and has many galleries with over 3000 exhibits. At the entrance it has an impressive ‘weather vane’ in form of a 5mt tall bronze figure of Victory, weighing over 3 tons.Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 03 Kolkata–Bagdogra (By Flight) / Bagdogra–Darjelling (66 Km/ 03 hrs)
After Breakfast Proceed to airport to board flight to Bagdogra. Arrive Bagdogra and drive to Darjeeling. Darjeeling is one of the most magnificent hill resorts in the world. This heavenly retreat is bathed in hues of every shade. The flaming red rhododendrons, the sparkling white magnolias, the miles of undulating hillsides covered with Emerald Green tea bushes, the exotic forests of Silver fir – all under the blanket of a brilliant azure sky dappled with specks of clouds, compellingly confounds Darjeeling as the QUEEN OF HILL STATIONS. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 04 Darjeeling
After Breakfast Proceed to Tiger Hill. Situated at an altitude of 2590 metres 8482 ft. and 13 kms from the town, this spot has earned international fame for the magnificent view of the Sunrise over “Kanchenjunga” and the great Eastern Himalayan Mountains. On your way back visit Ghoom Monastry More correctly known as Yogachoeling Gompa, this is probably the most famous monastery in Darjeeling, just below Hill Cart road and the train station near Ghoom. It enshrines an image of the Maitreya Buddha. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at hotel.
Day 05 Darjeeling
After Breakfast Proceed, visit Tea Plantations / Gardens nearby.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 06 Darjeeling – Pemyangtse (By Road) (67 Kms / 03 hrs 35 min appx)
After Breakfast Proceed to Pemyangtse. Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 07 Pemyangtse
After Breakfast Proceed city tour visiting Pemyangtse monastry etc. Rest of the day free to explore the area. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 08 Pemyangtse – Gangtok (By Road) (107 Kms / 04 hrs 20 min appx)
After Breakfast Proceed to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim is situated at a height of 5,500ft. The present capital was shifted from Tumlong in 1894 by Chogyal Thutob Namgyal and is today the centre for political, commercial, religious and cultural activities of the Sikkimese people. Gangtok offers the tourists all modern amenities for pleasure and comfort. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 09 Gangtok
After Breakfast Proceed visit some of the fascinating sights in Gangtok. Visit Phodong Monastery, it was built in the early 18th century but an older monastery had pre-existed the current one. The 9th Karmapa was invited by the king of Sikkim, where he founded three monasteries Rumtek, the most important monastery of the Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism, Phodong and Ralang Monastery.
This beautiful monastery makes the abode of not less than 250 monks and it is adorned by the old mural paintings. Phodong Monastery is the major monastery of Karmapa sub-sect of Kagyupa sect. Afternoon visit the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology – It is a premiere institute and research center located atop a small hill. The main attraction here is the museum which houses around 200 Buddhist icons, antique Paintings, Thangkas, Statues, Shrines, Tapestries, Masks and other religious works of Tibetan Art.
Establishment in 1958, it has sponsored and promoted research on the religion, history, language, art and culture of the people of the Tibetan cultural area which includes Sikkim. Its library holds one of the largest collections of Tibetan works in the world outside Tibet. Later visit Do Drul Chorten – an imposing white stupa. This holy stupa was built under the direction of Late Truslshi Rimpoche in 1945. It is part of the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism. There are 108 prayer wheels and the wheels have a special meaning.
Turning of these wheels goes along with the chanting of the mantras engraved on them. The sound of a collective chant emanates from the prayer and meditation rooms in the monastery can also be heard in the background. The famous Do Drul Chorten has a gold plated spire. The Chorten is encircled by Chorten Lhakhang and Guru Lhakhang that boast of the two colossal statues of Guru Rimpoche as Guru Padmasambhava is popularly referred as in these parts. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 10 Gangtok – Kalimpong (By Road) (75 Kms / 02 hrs 36 min appx)
After Breakfast Proceed to Kalimpong. Situated at an altitude of 1250 metres, it enjoys temperate climate throughout the year. Somewhat secluded and tucked away in the corner under big Darjeeling umbrella, Kalimpong offers a quiet and relaxed holiday, against the backdrop of the Kanchenjunga. Arrive and check-in at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure for independent activities. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 11 Kalimpong – Bagdogra (76 Km/3 hrs)/Bagdogra–Bhubaneswar (By Fly)
After Breakfast Proceed to Bagdogra airport 76 Kms /02 hrs to board flight for Kolkata Flight SG324 1420 / 1520 hrs. Arrive in Kolkata, your connecting flight for Bhubaneshwar 9W 7073 departs at 1835 hrs and arrives at 1940 hrs. Transfer assistance upon arrival from airport to the hotel. Check-in at hotel for overnight stay.
Day 12 Bhubaneswar
After Breakfast Proceed for the sightseeing, visit following places of interest:-The Rajarani Temple AD 1100, set amongst picturesque paddy fields, derives its name from the stone known as the Rajarani. It was built earlier in comparison to the impressive Lingaraja, but what sets apart this relatively small temple is its celebration of the feminine form. Here women are portrayed in a stunning variety of amorous poses and moods reminding one of the temples of Khajuraho.The 55-mt-high Lingaraja Temple is a rare masterpiece depicting the high point of Orissan architecture of the 10th-11th century. Described as ‘the truest fusion of dream and reality’ every inch of its surface is covered with elaborate carvings of Gods, Goddesses, Dryads, Nymphs and Fairies.
The temple can be seen from miles away and the sculpture and architecture here fuse elegantly to create a perfect harmony. It is believed that all pilgrims, who wish to go to the Jagannath temple at Puri, must first offer worship at the Lingaraja temple. The temple has two added structures—the Natya Mandir dance hall and the Bhoga Mandap offering platform. Note – Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the Lingaraja Temple.Most ornate Temple in Bhubaneswar, the Mukteshwar Temple 7th-8th century has intricate carvings of deities that show the amalgamation of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain styles of architecture. The carvings on the roof, especially the Bho motifs of the grinning Lion and Monkey, are quite striking.
There is a well to the south of the temple in which childless women toss a coin to wish for a child. The Brahmeshwara Temple, stands in a courtyard flanked by four smaller temples and a Shivling. Besides, there are other minor shrines in every corner of the courtyard. Two interesting images are found inside this temple: a well-oiled image of Lakshmi, covered in cloth, and a miniature image of Nataraja sitting on a bull and playing a Veena.
Outside the city limits are the Udayagiri and Khandgiri caves, harking back to the time of Jain and Buddhist occupation of this region in the 2nd century BC. The Jain caves are among the earliest in India and all the caves were built or excavated during the 150 years before Christ. In contrast to the stark decor of the Jain caves, the Buddhist caves are decorated with excellent friezes and sculptures. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 13 Bhubaneswar – Puri (By Road) (68 Kms / 01 hrs 22 min appx)
After Breakfast Proceed visit Jagannath Temple. Remaining day at leisure for independent activities. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 14 Puri
After Breakfast Proceed Day at leisure for independent activities.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 15 Puri – Bhubaneswar (68 Km/ 02 hrs) /Bhubaneswar–Kolkata (By Fly)
After Breakfast Proceed to Bhubaneshwar airport in-time to board flight for Kolkata. Transfer to International airport to board flight to back home.
Day 16 Depart Kolkata (By Flight)
Departure transfer to onwards destination.
| City | Night (s) | Deluxe Hotels |
| Kolkata | 02 | Hyatt Regency |
| Darjeeling | 03 | Mayfair Darjeeling |
| Pemayangtse | 02 | The Elgin Mount Pandim |
| Gangtok | 02 | Mayfair Spa Resort & Casino |
| Kalimpong | 01 | Elgin Nor-Khill |
| Bhubaneswar | 02 | Mayfair Lagoon |
| Puri | 02 | Mayfair Puri |
| Kolkata | 01 | Hyatt Regency |
– Welcome with fresh flower garlands.
– Meet assist at the airport and the hotels.
– 15 nights hotel accommodation as per the program.
– Daily breakfast and dinners.
– Entrance fees to the monuments as per the program.
– Flower Market, Howrah Bridge and Kumhartoli.
– Ghoom Monastry, Tea Plantations and Pemyangtse monastery.
– Tibetan Buddhism, Phodong and Tibetan Art.
– Rajarani Temple, Natya Mandir and the Bhoga Mandap.
– Jagannath Temple.
– Air Ticket for Kolkata – Bagdogra – Kolkata – Bhubaneswar – Kolkata in economy class
– Local English / French / German / Italian / Spanish / Chinese / Russian speaking guide.
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions by private AC vehicle.
– All taxes.
– Tips
– International Air Fare
– Visa Fees
– Travel Insurance
– Personal expenses and drinks.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– In Asia, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.