7 Nights Itinerary Covering: Darjeeling - Kalimpong – Gangtok
Honeymoons are always a special occasion in one's life. The excitement of getting to know each other better is multiplied if the locations are inspiring. India's north-east is a region that is unexplored and can provide you with exotic locations where you can profess your love towards your beloved. We have specially created the north-east honeymoon package for you, which will make you fall in love with the raw natural beauty of the place.
Dotted with mind-blowing mountains, lush green forests, spiritual Buddhist monasteries and the crystal clear waters of the Tsomgo Lake await your presence in this north-east honeymoon package tour. We promise you that one honeymoon in north-east India will not be enough and you will not be able to resist yourself from coming back for a second honeymoon soon after you have finished your first one.
Note: The itinerary is just an indicative one and we encourage you to make your itinerary. We will be more than happy to you customize your holidays according to your requirements.
Our smiling representative will meet you at either the New Jalpaiguri railway station in Siliguri or at the Bagdogra Airport or the Tenzing Norgay bus stand depending on your site of arrival. Then you will be escorted towards Darjeeling which will be your first destination on this tour.
Check into your hotel in Darjeeling and relax for the day, evenings are at your leisure. The local markets of Darjeeling are famous for a variety of things apart from the famous Darjeeling tea, go explore these markets yourself.
Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Darjeeling.
Today we start early at around 3:45 a.m. as we drive towards the Tiger Hill to view one of the most memorable sights of your life, the Himalayan sunrise. The Kanchendzonga peak is one of the major tourist attractions in this part of the world as when the sun rises from the hearts of snow-capped mountains your heart will surely skip a beat on viewing this scintillating view. Smell the refreshing smell of pine and oak trees as you sip a hot cup of coffee or tea during the Himalayan sunrise.
Then we proceed towards the Ghoom monastery which is a famous monastery of the yellow hat sect of Buddhism. The monastery consists of a 15 feet high statue of the Maitreya Buddha (future Buddha). Standing in front of the Maitreya Buddha you will be free from all your worldly worries. There is a large collection of Buddhist manuscripts inside this monastery which includes the famous 108 volume Kangyur known locally as the Tibetan Buddhist gospel. Many colorful paintings of Avalokitesvara, famous lamas and Tsongkhapa don the interior of this monastery.
View the mesmerizing Kanchenjunga from the Ghoom monastery and we are sure that you will fall in love with the place. There is a war memorial that was built in the memory of Gorkha warriors near the Ghoom monastery. Once your morning excursion is over we head back towards the hotel for brunch and then after some rest, continue with the second phase of our tour.
We visit one of the most famous zoos in India, the Padma Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park which is renowned all over the world for its conservation efforts of Red panda, Tibetan wolf, snow leopard, and other endangered eastern Himalayan species. Established in 1958 the Zoological Park is spread on a 68-acre land and holds the coveted position of being the highest altitude zoo in India. You can watch many endangered species like this Siberian tiger, red pandas, corals and the snow leopards in this zoo.
We then proceed towards visiting the Tenzing Rock which is a natural Rock dedicated in memory of Tenzing Norgay one of the first men to climb Mount Everest. Opposite of the Tenzing Rock, lies the Gombu Rock, which is named after Nawang Gombu who was the first person to climb Everest twice and coincidentally was the nephew of Tenzing Norgay.
You can try your hand (and legs!) At climbing these rocks under the able guidance of the instructors from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute who are the caretakers of these two rocks. We proceed towards visiting the Japanese peace Pagoda which emphasizes world peace. This simple white and golden structure established by a Japanese monk will push out all the negative Vibes from your mind. The natural history museum in Darjeeling is a must visit the site if you have even a passing interest in nature. The site contains a large collection of birds with their nests and eggs, mammals, insects, reptiles, fishes and many more plant species. All these are real creatures that were captured and preserved.
Enjoy an enchanting cable car ride which will offer you scenic views of the tea estates and the snowcapped mountains of Himalaya as it takes you through the Rangeet valley.
Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Darjeeling.
We proceed towards Mirik for a one-day excursion after you finish your breakfast. Located at around 1500 meters above sea level, it is a popular tourist destination. Located on the banks of the Sumendu lake, Mirik contains many places worth visiting which includes the aromatic tea gardens. This place will provide you ample photo opportunities so do not forget to bring your DSLR if you are a photo fanatic.
Collect some souvenirs from the Pashupati market which contains a rich collection of Indo – Nepali handicrafts. After you have sent it your shopping desires we move towards Darjeeling during the evening.
Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Darjeeling.
Check out from your hotel today and after having your delicious breakfast we drive towards Kalimpong, which is a small city in town that is famous for its Buddhist monasteries and colonial architecture.
Upon your arrival, you will have an assisted check into your pre-booked hotel in Kalimpong. Then we proceed to explore this beautiful town starting with the Nature Interpretation Centre / Forest Museum. The Nature Interpretation Centre is also known as the Forest Museum has been maintained by the forest department since 1900. You will find 3D miniature versions of various ecological life forms in this museum and the sole purpose of this museum is to sensitize people about forest conservation.
Visit the largest monastery in Kalimpong called Zangtok Pelri or Durpin Gompa which is located on the Durpin hill. This is a beautiful Tibetan monastery which consists of colorful murals of Padmasambhava and intricate Buddhist mandalas. The next stopover of the day will be Doctor Graham's home which is an orphanage started by a Scottish missionary to provide refuge to the orphans of the area. Spend some quality time with the kids and consider yourself lucky to be born in a home with a family.
Return to the hotel in the evening and have a delicious dinner. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Kalimpong.
On the 5th day of the tour, we proceed towards Gangtok after having breakfast. Sikkim's capital Gangtok is one of the most beautiful cities in north-east India. Once we reach the hotel in Gangtok rest for a while and then you can proceed to the M.G. Road where you can check out the latest fashion trends popular in India.
Overnight stay will be at your hotel in Gangtok.
Today we go on a sightseeing excursion of Gangtok, but only once you finish your delicious breakfast. We start the sightseeing tour of the Gangtok from the Hanuman Tok, which is one of the most famous temples in Sikkim and is dedicated to the Lord Hanuman. Along with the blessings of Lord Hanuman, you will find mesmerizing views of the Himalayas from this Temple.
Visit the Flower Park which consists of a huge variety of flower species like celosia, blue Vanda orchids, Anthurium, and other white colorful varieties of orchids. The fresh and scintillating aroma of these flowers will spread its scent into your honeymoon. Flower Park is a wonderful photo opportunity. The Enchey monastery is the site where Lama Dhrupthob Karpo, a famous Lama in Sikkim used to practice tantric Buddhism.
Dedicated to the Nyingma order of Buddhism, it is believed in Buddhist mythology that this is the place where Guru Padmasambhava controlled the powerful spirits of Mahakal, Yabdean, and Kanchendzonga. We then visit the Do- Drul Chorten stupa which is another important stupa in Gangtok. You will find Kangyur and various important religious relics in this Chorten.
We then head towards our hotel in the evening with our minds refreshed from the cultural beauty of the monuments of Gangtok. You can visit the discotheques in the evening in Gangtok and get a firsthand experience of the famous nightlife of the north-east.
Today we visit the Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir after you finish your delicious breakfast. The name Tsomgo means the source of water in the local language. Located at an altitude of 12310 feet the Tsomgo Lake is magnetically beautiful. During winters the lake becomes frozen and during summers and autumns, you can find rich alpine vegetation and primulas flowers along the lake. You can find many beautiful migratory birds including the Brahminy ducks in the sky blue waters of the Tsomgo Lake.
Sip some hot Tibetan noodle soup called Thukpa on one of the lakeside food stalls and enjoy the serene beauty of this heavenly place. The unique thing about this lake is that it reflects different colors according to different seasons and hence is considered to be a sacred Lake by the Sikkimese people. Local people also believe that the lake has healing properties and the festivities of Guru Purnima accord an ephemeral beauty to the lake. You can enjoy a yak ride along with your better half around the lake which will be a memorable experience for both of you.
We all know that Indian Army soldiers can perform their duties until death but what if we told you that there is one soldier who performed his duties even beyond death. Such is the story of Baba Harbhajan Singh who was a sentry of the 23rd Punjab regiment posted during the year 1968 in this place. Even after death in this difficult terrain, Harbhajan Singh continued to serve his duty and came into the dream of one of his colleagues and told him to build a Samadhi in the bunker from where he will keep a watch on the Chinese movement. The local soldiers believe that the soul of Harbhajan Singh still guards the border in this area and protects the Indian soldiers.
Later in the evening, return to Gangtok and spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Gangtok.
Note-If due to unfavorable weather conditions for landslides we are not able to visit the Tsomgo Lake, then an alternate sightseeing arrangement will be made for you.
Today is the final day of your Darjeeling Gangtok honeymoon package. We hope that you have created wonderful memories on this tour which will remain with you for the rest of your life.
Finish your breakfast and proceed towards your respective destinations by reaching the New Jalpaiguri railway station / Bagdogra airport/ Tenzing Norgay bus stand. Our tour representative will help you in reaching to the above-mentioned spots.