sikkim tourism

EA TASTING TOURS
Delhi - Bagdogra - Darjeeling - Gangtok - Doars - Phuntsholing
Paro - Thimpu - Delhi
Duration : 15 Days
Best Time to visit (October to March)

IndiaOur invitation to India for cups of the magical and refreshing yet inexpensive drink - `Chai'. Legend suggests that tea originated in India. In the early 19th century The East India Company started tea plantations in Assam using wild Chai plants found growing in the area and later introduced it in the Darjeeling area in the northeast and the Nilgiri in the South. Today there are many varieties of tea, which grow at much lower altitudes. India is the largest producer of tea in the world. Assam grows over half and Darjeeling about a quarter of the nation's output. Once drunk by tribal people, tea is now India's national drink and its taste developing around the globe. The Happy Valley Tea Estate claims to use the old orthodox method of tea production. Fresh leaves are dried by fans on withering troughs to reduce the moisture content and then rolled and pressed to express the juices, which coat the leaves. These are left to ferment in a controlled humid environment in order to produce the desired aroma. Finally the leaves re dried by passing them through a heated drying chamber and then graded - the unbroken being the best quality down to the fannings and dust. Be our guest!!

Day 1 DELHI
Arrival Delhi. You are met and transferred to the hotel. In Delhi's existence of 3000 years; seven cities have risen where the present capital of India stands today. Here you'll encounter a fascinating blend of the ancient and the contemporary. Enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi. We start by visiting Old Delhi. The 7th city of Delhi - Shahjahanabad, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1639-48 AD). Red Fort - the 17th century imposing fortress built in red sandstone. Jama Masjid (Friday Masjid) was completed in 1656 and India's largest mosque. Finally visit Raj Ghat on the banks of the river Yamuna is Mahatma Gandhi's Memorial, where he was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. The highlights of New Delhi are The Humayun's Tomb - An early example of Mughal architecture considered the predecessor of the Taj Mahal. The Qutub Minar - the landmark of Delhi, a huge tower of victory started in 1199 and completed in 1368. Proceed to the Rashtrapati Bhawan once the Viceroy's residence is now the official residence of the President of India. The Government Buildings designed by Baker, The Parliament House, The India Gate (42m) arch built of Bharatpur-stone, commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war.
Accommodation: Delhi (Breakfast)

Day 2 DELHI / BAGDOGRA Flight
Morning flight to Bagdogra from where we take the scenic four-hour drive through the Himalayan foothills and tea gardens to Darjeeling. Rest of day free to explore the 'queen of the hill stations' where British administrators came each summer to the escape the heat of the Indian plains during the days of the Raj. Tea was introduced to the area in the 1840's and today Darjeeling tea is a world-renowned brand.
Accommodation: Darjeeling (Breakfast)

Day 3 DARJEELING
We start early for Tiger Hill to catch the spectacular sunrise over Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain. We then visit the Planter's Club, where the local tea growers still meet; the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute; and the zoo with its Himalayan fauna (Yaks, Black Bears, Red Pandas and various colourful pheasants). We also visit a tea estate, the Botanical Gardens and the Tibetan Refugee Centre.
Accommodation: Darjeeling (Breakfast)

Day 4 DARJEELING / GANGTOK Drive
After an early breakfast take a short trip on the famous 'toy train'. Later we travel through scenic countryside on the journey to Sikkim nestled in the mountains of the Himalaya bounded by the Tibetan plateau to its north and the plains of Bengal to the south, and sandwiched between the independent kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan. It was incorporated into the Indian union in 1972. At Gangtok, the capital, we visit the lavishly decorated Royal Chapel of the Chogyal, the former ruler, and the Namgyal Tibetology Institute with its rich collection of Buddhist scrolls and paintings.
Accommodation: Gangtok (Breakfast)

Day 5 GANGTOK
Today we will be introduced to many of Sikkim's 450 orchid species when we visit the Orchid Sanctuary. Afterwards the 200-year-old Enchey