We all love Hill Station – Westbengal Hills & Dooars Tour

DAY 01 ARRIVAL AT (IXB) BAGDOGRA AIRPORT/ (NJP) STATION & TRANSFER TO MIRIK & SIGHTSEEING OF MIRIK & STAY

On arrival at Bagdogra Airport , our representative will warmly welcome you on arrival and assist you to the vehicle for the further journey to Darjeeling. Thereafter you will depart towards your dream destinations. Throughout your journey, you can enjoy the versatility in climate. Pleasant weather will win your heart completely. On the way, you will pass through beautiful natural heritage and more of all this journey offers magnificent views of the mountains, valleys and village life, the forest, waterfalls and hills covered with tea gardens.
Excursion towards Pashupati Nagar (Indo-Nepal border) for shopping & Mirik Lake (Horse riding & Boat is available around the lake on direct payment basis).
Places Include:-
Simana View Point: In about 20 minutes from Sukhiapokhri, there is a wonderful view point called the Simana ViewPoint - a 60 feet by 40 feet plateau and a viewing point. Simana in Nepali means border. This is the Indo-Nepal border area, the road itself belongs to India and the viewing area falls in Nepal. But you can freely cross over to get the views. From Simana for a long way towards Mirik, the road acts as the divider between India and Nepal. You can view places like Maneybhanjan from here and the beautiful mountains on a clear day. You can also see the narrow winding road leading to Sandakphu on the other side of the valley. Towards your right you will be able to see the dazzling Kanchenjunga snow peaks.
Pashupati Market: Further down, you will reach Pashupati Market entrance at the India-Nepal border. The main market is about 1km walk from the border. You can either walk or take a Nepal taxi at the border to reach the main market (Rs. 200/- for round trip). There are few shops right across the border, which you can check out in case you do not want to go all the way to the main market. Once you complete formalities with the border security, you will get to the road in Nepal that leads to the main market. This road continues all the way to Kathmandu. Cameras are not allowed inside. Note that only Indians and Nepalese are allowed to cross over the border area here. Foreign nationals are not allowed to access this border. You are required to carry Photo ID in case you want to cross over the border and visit the shops. The market is full of imported electronic gadgets, jackets, perfumes & cosmetics, accessories and clothes.
Gopaldhara Tea Estate: Having visited Simana and Pashupati Market, as you move on further towards Mirik, you will come across lovely landscapes full of tea gardens on your left. There are several small round hillock formations with pine trees on top making it a picture perfect site. This is Gopaldhara Tea Estate. In fact you can walk down the aisle through the tea gardens and reach a viewpoint from where you get a wonderful view of the gardens all around. On the opposite side of the road is Gopaldhara Tea Stall. Halt for a while to taste a cup of tea. The tea served here is from Gopaldhara Tea Gardens. You can also buy packaged tea from the gardens here.
Mirik: A small hill town is located further 12kms from Pashupati Market and at an average altitude of 5,000ft. After reaching Mirik, first visit the Mirik Monastery on top and then the Mirik Lake. These are the top attractions of the place. Sit along the bank of the lake and relax. You can also do boating in the lake (mostly paddle boats). Or walk over the arching footbridge and cross over to the other side (western bank) of the lake, turn left and take the walkway through the pine tree forest and enjoy nature. Pony rides are also available around the lake and quite popular with children.

Overnight stay at Mirik.

DAY 02 FULL DAY EXCURSION OF DARJEELING & THEN TRANSFER TO HOTEL IN DARJEELING

Morning after breakfast drive towards Darjeeling for Local Sightseeing and late in the evening you will be transferred to a Hotel in Darjeeling.
Places Include:
Rock Garden: Rock Garden is an exquisite picnic spot terraced with natural fall known as Chunnu summer fall, located 10 km away from Darjeeling. It is also known as Barbotey Rock Garden which is surrounded by a beautiful hill stream along with the slope covered with fascinating flower gardens and sitting arrangements at various levels. It is considered one of the most preferred visiting destinations for nature lovers travelling to Darjeeling.
Ganga Maya Park: Ganga Maya Park is located about 3 kilometres further than the Rock Garden. This park gets its name from an innocent victim of the police firing that took place during the GNLF agitation. There is also a small lake with excellent boating facilities which will make sure your trip is a memorable one. Professional dancers also perform Gorkha folk dances to entertain the tourists.
Ghoom Monastery: You will visit one of the oldestBuddhist monasteries of Darjeeling located at a scenic location in Ghoom area. It houses a12-foot tall statue of Mayetriya Buddha which represents the Buddha of the future.This is one of the biggest and oldest statues of Buddha in Darjeeling area. This statue was created with clay that was all brought from Tibet. In front of the Buddha's statue there are two huge oil lamps that keep burning all the time and all through the year.No entry fee but donation required for taking photos inside.
Batasia Loop and the War Memorial: Batasia Loop is an engineering marvel located in Ghoom area. This is where the toy train makes a double spiral loop to negotiate a drop of 1000 ft as it moves towards Darjeeling town. Amidst the beautiful garden where the railway track is laid in the form of a loop, there is also a War Memorial. You can walk along the track and complete the loop yourself. I do it every time I am there. Or take the many pathways in the garden and walk around, enjoying the many flowers and the surroundings. It was constructed in honour of the Gorkha soldiers who sacrificed their lives in service of the nation. There is a nominal entry fee. Don't miss the Samosas (fried vegetable pastries) that are sold near the entrance of Batasia Loop in the morning.

Overnight stay at Darjeeling .

DAY 03 DARJEELING FULL DAY SIGHTSEEING

Early Morning (at 04:00 am) drive to Tiger hill (8,400 ft.) to watch the spectacular sunrise over Mt. Khangchendzongha (28,208 ft. Worlds 3rd highest peak), After breakfast relax for a while and then continue your tour.
Places Include:
Tiger Hill: Who doesn't know about the magnificent view of sunrise from Tiger Hill. You will need to wake up by 3:30am and take a vehicle. But the rewards are awesome. You can see the changing colours of the colossal Kanchenjunga snow peaks as the light strikes,it's a place where you can soak yourself with Himalayan beauty. On a clear day you can also get a glimpse of Mount Everest, Mount Makalu and one of the most beautiful peaks of the world, Tibet's ChomolHari. Tiger Hill is 11kms away and at an altitude of more than 8,400ft. It takes about 40 minutes to reach the top where there is a view tower for watching the sunrise. There is an entry fee.
Japanese Temple & Peace Pagoda: Close to the Darjeeling town and in a scenic setting there is a temple built in a traditional Japanese style. About 100 yards away and in the same complex, there is a large Peace Pagoda that showcases four avatars of Buddha. The view of the mountain range and Darjeeling town from the top of the pagoda is spectacular. No entry fee. Caution: In order to save time, some drivers try to treat these two attractions as separate ones and count 2 instead of one. Don't be deceived or you will miss out on one of the following.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute - Darjeeling Zoo - Natural History Museum: These are three attractions co-located in the same large compound. The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was built to honor Tenzing Norgay's triumph to Everest and is dedicated to provide mountaineering and rock climbing lessons to students from all over the world. There is a mountaineering museum as well. The highlights of this museum include the artifacts from various Himalayan expeditions, the Everest section showcasing Tenzing's personal belongings, an eagle found dead at 26,000 feet during the 1960 Everest expedition, a high power telescope that once belonged to Hitler and was used by the Institute etc. Darjeeling Zoo has many high altitude Himalayan animals including Snow Leopard, Tibetan Wolf, Himalayan Black Bear, Red Panda, yaks etc. And the Bengal Natural History Museum is great to know about flora and fauna of Bengal including high altitude animals of Himalayan region as well as of Darjeeling district. There is a combined entry ticket to visit all three attractions in one go.
Darjeeling Ropeway: You will board the cable car from Singamari located 3km away from the town center. The 45 minutes ride takes you from an altitude of 7,000ft to 800ft with wonderful vista of a valley around Rangeetriver, tea estates and sweeping views of the snow peaks of Himalayan range including Kanchenjunga. Tickets need to be purchased. During the high season, there may be long queues. So try to book in advance.
Tea Garden:An old tea estate that exports all its produce to Harrods in London and few other countries. You can see the delicate tea processing in the factory with the help of a guide and buy tea packets from its outlet. You won't get this tea anywhere else in the country. There is no entry fee, however there is a fee for the guide.
Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center: A center and a factory established by the Tibetan refugees who fled Tibet and took refuge in Darjeeling. They not only live here, but also produce varieties of exquisite handicraft items to make their living. The hand crafted items include jackets, carpets, gloves, aprons, bags, curios, cards, pouches, carved wooden items, Tibetan paintings etc. This is a great place to buy a gift or a souvenir for your friends and relatives. There is no entry fee.

Overnight stay at Darjeeling .

DAY 04 TRANSFER FROM DARJEELING TO MANGPU VIA TINCHULEY & TAKDAH

Early morning after breakfast we will leave towards Mungpu via Tinchuley & Takdah. On arrival Check-in to hotel then after checking in to your hotel and after freshening up can roam around Mangpu.

Overnight stay at Mangpu.

DAY 05 SIGHTSEEING OF MANGPU & THEN TRANSFER TO KALIMPONG

Morning after breakfast we will leave for local sightseeing. And then transfer to Kalimpong.
Places Include:
Cinkona Plants : The plantation was first established at an altitude of 2,000 - 4000 ft in Darjeeling hills in the year 1862 to produce antimalarial Quinine from the barks of Cinchona trees. Gradually, it became the economic backbone of hills. But following the introduction of synthetic quinine in '70s, it started facing a dark era.
Rabindra Nath Tagore Bhavan: Mongpu is also famous for Rabindra Bhavan, the bungalow where the great poet & Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore stayed several times during summers. The poet came to this place for its soothing and quiet ambience, and of course for its beauty of Cinchona plantations. Although the place doesn't have views of the great snow peaks, it has a charm of its own.
Tagore came to this house four times between 1938 and 1940. During his last visit he fell seriously ill and had to be shifted to Kolkata. Very few know that Tagore visited this place for another reason as well. He came here to meet with Maitreyi Devi, the daughter of his friend Surendranath Dasgupta. He had a strong bondage with her. Maitreyi Devi herself published this in one of her own books.
Mangpu Monastery: Adjacent to the bazaar area and perched on a hillock is a Buddhist monastery. It's known as Dinchhen Sherap Chhoeling Gumba. The atmosphere inside is serene although it's located right next to a noisy area. There is a stairway right from Shanti Chowk which leads up to the monastery.

Overnight stay at Kalimpong.

DAY 06 FULL DAY KALIMPONG EXCURSION

Early in the morning we will leave for Kalimpong. After reaching there they will do an Excursion of Kalimpong.
Places Include:
Deolo Hill: This is the major attraction in East Kalimpong. The tourism department has created an 8-acre lush parkland with manicured flower gardens and several viewpoints with breathtaking views of Kanchenjunga, Durpin hill, Kalimpong Township and the valley with rivers flowing through them. Deolo hill is the highest point of Kalimpong with an altitude of about 5,500ft. There is a GTA (erstwhile DGHC) lodge here and a multi cuisine restaurant. Children can also take pony rides. At one corner of the lawn are stalls offering coffee and snacks. Overall a great place to have a picnic or just relax. Entry fee: Rs. 10/- for day visitors.
Science City: It is located less than a kilometer away from Deolo Hills, the highest point in Kalimpong. It is located at an altitude of 5,590 feet from the sea level and this Science Centre is about 9 KM to the north of the Kalimpong town and covers an area of 7 acres of hilly land. Jurassic Park at Science Center, Kalimpong Image It has scientific objects for display and awareness, a place of tremendous joy to children. Various examples of science and science live working models are presented here. Children get ample information on the various aspects of science. Life and works of various scientists are exhibited here. It's a sheer place of “science – magic” for children. The Games area at Science Center, Kalimpong The Science City also has a garden with various outdoor activities like tyre-swings, climbing ropes , see-saws, along with models of dinosaurs like a little Jurassic Park. It provides great joy to all visitors especially because of its location being on a hilltop and specially its a place of great joy to children.
Durpin Hill: Offering the panoramic view of the town of Kalimpong, the snow-clad Himalayan ranges of West Sikkim, the Teesta river and its valleys, Durpin Dara Hill also has a golf course and the Zang Dhok Palri Monastery. There is also a famous botanical garden there.
Kanchenjunga View Point: From here you get magnificent views of Kanchenjunga and the entire mountain range, rivers Teesta and Rangeet flowing below, neighboring areas like Peshok tea estate, Takdah cantonment, western Sikkim, Nathu-la, Tiger hill top, Kurseong, Siliguri etc.
Durbin Monastery: This Tibetan monastery is located on the Durpin hill and hence such a name. The actual name is Zang Dog Palri monastery. It was built in 1972 and has some rare Buddhist scripts that were brought here by the Dalai Lama from Tibet. From the upper terrace of the monastery, you get magnificent views of Kalimpong town with Kanchenjunga in the background, the valley and the plains, Teesta & Reang rivers flowing down, and lovely tea estates of Peshok area.
Pine View Nursery : It has great collections of cactus and ornamental plants. You get a great view of Kalimpong town from the backside lawn. Entry fee: Rs. 10/- per person.

Overnight stay at Kalimpong.

DAY 07: TRANSFER TO LATAGURI (GORUMARA NATIONAL PARK)

Morning after breakfast Next drive to Lataguri/Gorumara National Park via Lava.It ensures a pleasant climate round the year so it isn't a problem even if you've set your visit any time of the year - The entire in eastern Himalayan region has six National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries and is famous among tourist for its Wildlife and Tea tourism – Evening free to stroll around the local market – Night halt at Lataguri Hotel / Resort

Overnight stay at Lataguri.

DAY 08 LOCAL SIGHTSEEING & JUNGLE SAFARI

Early morning Breakfast - Drive to visit to Jhalong / Bindu / Chapramari in the lap of Himalaya – This is an excursion involving drive and sightseeing - The area is known for its diversified flora, fauna and the scenic beauty of Bhutan Hills - It provides habitat for the Royal Bengal Tiger, Gaur, Leopard, Sambar, Chital, Hog Deer, Barking deer etc – Back to resort - Early evening (4 P M to 6 P M) Jungle safari subjected to availability of ticket (Optional) – As per the norms of the Government Guest has to book the ticket (He will be assisted by a guide from the Resort - Excursion to Medchal / Chukchuki / Jatraprasad Watch Tower - In the late evening campfire & tribal dance at the resort can be arranged (Optional) – Night Stay at Resort in Lataguri (Dooars / Dooars)

Overnight stay at Lataguri.

DAY 09 TRANSFER FROM LATAGURI TO BAGDOGRA AIRPORT

After early morning breakfast, depart for Bagdogra Airport for the onward connection.