East-West Sikkim Tour (Gangtok & Pelling)

DAY 01: TRANSFER FROM (IXB) BAGDOGRA AIRPORT TO GANGTOK

Our representative cordially receives you on arrival at Bagdogra Airport (IXB) and helps you to board the car.
The exciting journey to Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim, runs through the winding road cutting across the valleys, hills, and villages and follows the course of Teesta River. You enter Sikkim through the Rangpo border and soon reach Ranipool. From Ranipool climb up towards Gangtok about 10 km away.
Gangtok is the capital of Sikkim. It is a modern city but with a great history and tradition. At 1,650 meters, Gangtok offers excellent weather throughout the year and offers multiple tourist attractions in and around the city. We assist you to check-in at the hotel.

Overnight stay at Gangtok.

Recommended: Visit to M.G Marg, the main promenade of the city. There are plenty of shops and eateries in the nicely decorated road where locals and tourists visit during the evening. Visit to MG Marg is to be self.

DAY 02: FULL DAY EXCURSION OF TSOMGO LAKE, BABA MANDIR

After a heavy breakfast, we take you to the famous Tsomgo Lake at 12000 ft (3600M). We start around 8.30 AM from the hotel. You have the whole day to enjoy the snow and Yak ride at the scenic high altitude alpine lake near the Indo-Tibet border. The 1 km long and 15m deep lake is considered sacred to the local people. The pristine clear water remains frozen during winter. Have fun with snow and enjoy an exciting Yak ride around the lake.

Tsomgo Lake, also known as Changu Lake is a glacial lake in Sikkim. The name Tsomgo means 'Source of water'. It's located 40kms from Gangtok town and leads to Nathula Pass. This is one of the few high-altitude lakes in India. Before 1962, this was part of the old trade route between India and China. It takes about 2 hours by car from Gangtok to reach the lake along the Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary, the home to the red panda and the blood pheasant with Rhododendron and other alpine trees along the road - Situated at an elevation of 3753 meters / 12310 feet - The Lake is oval shaped lake nearly 50 feet deep - Generally covered in snow for most of the year – This lake is home to the Brahminy ducks & many migratory birds – Enjoy playing in snow and Yak Ride. Proceed further to Legendary Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir (“Hero of Nathula '' An Indian soldier who was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra medal for his bravery and known for doing his duty still after death). Nearby is the sacred Baba Mandir known to be a very holy site for all. You can take a ride on colorfully adorned yaks and ponies. There is also a 957-meter long ropeway (cable car) that carries passengers from the lake to a hilltop nearby. You should reach Tsomgo Lake before noon because in the afternoon the weather here usually starts getting bad. Additionally, Nathula Pass (14,140 ft) which is the Indo Chinese border can be combined in this trip on request by the passengers at an extra cost.

** Kindly note the following points regarding visit to Nathula**

1. Nathula permits are limited; hence it is NOT a guaranteed trip.

2. If permits are issued, the additional cost to be paid by the passengers is approx. Rs. 3000 - Rs. 4000 per vehicle.

3. Nathula visit cost has not been included in this package.

4. If you have breathing problems, you are advised to consult a doctor before visiting these places (particularly Nathula) because of low oxygen at such high altitudes. Portable oxygen cylinders are available at Medical shops in Gangtok.

In the evening, return from Tsomgo Lake to Gangtok.

Overnight stay at Gangtok.

DAY 03: FULL DAY GANGTOK EXCURSION

After an early morning breakfast, we move forward to the Gangtok local excursion.

Ban Jhakri Waterfall: A great waterfall in a landscaped forest garden. The place is an excellent picnic spot for families.

Tashi Viewpoint: A great viewpoint for watching the Kanchenjunga Snow Peaks on a clear day. Also an excellent place for sunrise view.

Gonjang Monastery: Gonjang Monastery is located about 6 km away from the heart of Gangtok town near Tashi Viewpoint. It is situated at 27.36908 latitude and 88.613314 at an altitude of 6066 feet. The monastery was established in the year 1981 and the founder is H.E. Tingkye Gonjang Rimpoche. Monastic education along with Tibetan language and English are taught to the monk students. The monastery imparts knowledge on close and comparative studies of Indian and Tibetan Buddhist philosophy based on moral values. Gonjang Institute is for a complete nine years course similar to other Nyingma Institute.

Plant Conservatory: The Plant Conservatory at Bulbulay near Gangtok stands in semi-wilderness on the road that connects Gangtok to Hanuman Tok. Sikkim is home to over 400 species of plants and trees, and the conservatory is intended to make the region a botanical hub of the future. For the layperson, the conservatory is merely an exotic garden growing naturally on the hillside. Placards give away the academic intent of this place and help visitors put names to the trees. One can identify trees such as the Dhuppi known for its fragrant resin and the omnipresent Angeri. The trees are interspersed with flowering plants like Hydrangeas, Orchids, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Magnolias, and Daylilies. When in full bloom, this garden is a multi-sensory treat. The conservatory is home to beautiful ponds and bridges and is surrounded in greenery wherever the eyes go. With a backdrop of the mighty Himalayas, this Plant Conservatory’s picturesque setting is worth a visit.

Enchey Monastery: Located on a hilltop, it's one of the oldest monasteries around.

Ganesh Tok: A Ganesh Temple with viewing lounge and open balcony.

Ropeway (Cable Car): Great ride to view the whole of Gangtok, the valley and the peaks from far above.

Institute of Tibetology: A world-famous institute researching Tibetan language and culture also has a great museum and library with rare and huge collections. It's located within a short walk from Chorten Stupa.

Handicraft Center: This is the building of Directorate of Handicraft & Handloom including a Sales emporium and a Museum showcasing many different handicraft items and artwork created by the local artists and craftsmen.

Overnight stay at Gangtok.

DAY 04: TRANSFER TO PELLING VIA NAMCHI AND RAVANGLA

Early in the morning we continue our journey towards Pelling.

Namchi. This is the first Shai Baba temple in the whole of Sikkim. It was built by Shirdi Sai Baba Trust of South Sikkim under the patronage of the Government of Sikkim Tourism. It was opened for prayers on 3rd November 2010 by the Chief Minister of Sikkim Dr. Pawan Chamling. The temple is located at the corner of two roads. Although overall it's a striking complex with a garden setting with an awesome architecture with intricate work all around. Upstairs there is a wonderful statue of Shirdi Shai Baba kept on an elevated platform at the end of a huge hall. The hall with its blue decor & hue, and paintings & sculptures of many gods & goddesses around the walls is awe-inspiring.

Char Dham: Char Dham is undoubtedly the most popular and the best tourist attraction in Namchi. It is located on a hilltop and about 5kms from the center of town. This large complex has been conceived to take Sikkim to new heights of pilgrimage & religious tourism. The complex comprises the main temple of Shiva on which the imposing statue of Shiva has been set up. Additionally, there are replicas of twelve jyotirlingas to offer one platform to all devotees of Shiva, as well as replicas of the four dhams (Badrinath, Jagannath, Dwarka dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Rameshwar dedicated to Lord Shiva).

Samdruptse Monastery: Samdruptse Monastery is about 7kms from Namchi town and up on Samdruptse hill. Before Char Dham, this used to be the main attraction of Namchi, it is still very popular among tourists. Samdruptse means 'Wish-fulfilling Hill'. The locals believe that the hill is a dormant volcano. The Buddhists have been regularly offering prayers so that the volcano does not erupt. It has stayed calm so far. There is a mammoth 45-meter statue of Sikkim's patron saint Guru Padmasambhava set up on an elevated platform. The face is coated with gold that glitter in the sun. Walk around the platform and you can get magnificent views of the mountains and forests. The entry to the monastery is from the backside. The foundation stone here was laid by the Dalai Lama on 22nd October 1997. Subsequently, when the work started, it took over 3 years with many renowned architects, engineers, and over 1,000 laborers who worked hard together to set up the statue and the monastery. The religious aspects of the project were supervised by His Eminence Kyabje Dodrupchen Rinpoche who later consecrated the holy statue.

Ravangla: Another lovely place is Buddha Park in Ravangla (aka Ravangla) also known as Tathagata Tsal, 30kms from Namchi town. Spread over 23 acres of area, this parkland has a towering sitting statue of Buddha which is 137ft 22inch tall. The face of the statue is coated with 3.5kgs of gold. It is the tallest metal statue of Buddha in the world.
Overstay at Pelling.

DAY 05: FULL DAY PELLING EXCURSION

After having a hearty meal, you will be indulging in a full-fledged sightseeing tour of Pelling. You will be visiting various places of scenic beauty like:

Places Include:

Darap Village: A humble abode treasured amidst the lofty mountains, DarapSubba Village is a must-visit for those who want to spend some quality time with nature. Calming ambiance, wide rolling ranchlands, and paddy fields oozes a feeling of peace and tranquillity. The tourists mainly visit DarapSubba to seek spirituality and peace, and to relish panoramic views of the snow-capped mountains and terrace fields which offer breath-taking sights. Here, you can sightsee the paddy fields and visit plantation sites

Rimbi WaterFall: On the way to Khecheopalri and Yuksam, near Darap Village Rimbi Waterfall is found. The waterfall leads to the Rimbi River and is famous for recreational activities like fishing. Spend some memorable moments with your loved ones here. A decent footfall of tourists is seen here during the summer months. The waterfall is placed at a distance of around 12 km from Pelling and about 5 km from Village Darap.

Pemayangtse Monastery: Occupying a small section of beauty at the higher end of western Sikkim, a renowned monastery of Pemayangtse is located. The word Pemayangtse means ‘Perfect Sublime Lotus’ and it is a famous tourist attraction and widely visited by many travelers all year round. This is so, as you can not only enjoy the holistic site but also witness the enthralling beauty of the Himalayas as well. This three-storied building has many statues of saints and Rinpoches, including Padmasambhava (Lotus Born). It also has several antique idols and scriptures. The main prayer hall is decorated with paintings and also the doors and windows are beautifully painted in traditional Tibetan design.

Rabdentse Ruins: Rabdentse Ruins is the archeological site that tells Sikkim’s story of glory. Until 1814 A.D, it was the second capital of Sikkim, established by Chogyal II. Later on, after the Nepalese invasion in the 18th century, the palace and the monastery complex were destroyed and turned into ruins. The place is a must-see for the history-enthusiasts who want to dig into the state’s past in between the spectacular view of Kanchenjunga peak and the gushing river flowing through the foothills. The ruins of Rabdentse Palace are just a walk away from the Pemayangtse Monastery through the dense forest on the way to Pelling.

Chenrezig statue & Skywalk: A new Buddhist pilgrimage site at Pelling in West Sikkim is all set to attract tourists since November 1, 2018, as it plays host to the world’s tallest 137-feet Chenrezig statue. A destination park with the 41.758 m tall statue of Chenrezig and a new complex with a skywalk, café and a gallery has been built at SangaChoeling in Pelling for Rs 46.65 crore. The massive project was consecrated by The Dalai Lama in March, 2018.

Overnight stay at Pelling.

DAY 06: FULL DAY PELLING EXCURSION

Khecheopalri Lake: As the prayer flags flutter in the wind and the calming sounds of bells ring one after the other, you know you have your bliss at the Khecheopalri Lake, which is a sacred pilgrimage site, considered holy by both Buddhist and Hindu. This religious place is believed to fulfill one’s wishes. The legend has it, if someone prays and sprinkles the water on oneself, his wishes are likely to come true. It is also said that no leaves can be seen afloat the lake despite being located amidst dense forest as the birds remove the fallen leaves from the water. Similarly, many legends revolve around the lake. A beautiful place, Khecheopalri Lake is a paradise for nature lovers and trekkers

Singshore Bridge :Singshore Bridge, with a height of over 100 m and 240 m in length, is the highest bridge in Sikkim and the second-highest bridge in Asia. It is truly a man-made marvel that offers the spectacular base-view of immense greenery that makes it difficult to distinguish between the lowlands and the mountains. You can feel the thrill when you are standing in the middle of the bridge and strong winds blow. The river flowing through the uneven rocks seems breathtaking along with the effusive sound of the waterfalls. It is one of the oldest bridges that connects two hills and shortens the travel time as well as the distance for the trekkers. This engineer's triumph is certainly one of the most popular tourist destinations in Sikkim.

Khangchendzonga Waterfalls: Khangchendzonga Waterfall is a tourist hotspot offering an awe-inspiring view of its gushing chilled water enthusiastically splattering through the rich green vegetation; amidst the jagged surface of the hill. This waterfall is fed by the streams formed by the melting glaciers of Mt. Khangchendzonga and one has to climb up a little to reach the base of the fall, and feel the striking water shaping the granite rocks underneath.

OverNight stay at Pelling.

DAY 07: TRANSFER FROM PELLING TO BAGDOGRA/NJP STATION

After early morning breakfast, depart for (IXB) Bagdogra Airport/NJP Station for the onward connection.