05 Nights/06 Days
Sikkim
Sikkim - Monastic Tour of Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong
Package Description
Sikkim's near about 200 monasteries or Gompas belonging to the Nyingma and Kagyu order have not only been influencing the cultural heritage and lifestyle of the people, but also demonstrates the ancient rituals in practice. Devoted Lamas robed in red, chant ancient mantras to the rhythm of drums and trumpets while soft lights flicker from decorative lamps placed before statues of the great Guru Padmasambhava. Feel the peace and quiet of being one with nature and close to the almighty as sacred words mingle with the whirring prayer wheels.
The Gompas are adorned with life-like frescoes of hoary Buddhist legends, rare silk and brocade Thangkas. Also preserved here, are ancient Tibetan manuscripts, exquisitely carved wood work and icons of silver and gold.
Detailed Daywise Itinerary
Meeting & assistance on arrival and transfer to Darjeeling. Overnight at the hotel in Darjeeling.
Early morning sunrise view from Tiger Hill. The view from this point is unforgettable, for colours changing from grey to pink and to luminous gold. Mt. Everest (8,848 m.), the world’s highest peak is visible from Tiger Hill but being 170 km away does not stand out as strikingly as the nearer Kanchenjunga. After breakfast, visit Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the house of Late Tenzing Norgay, the sherpa who first climbed Mt. Everest with Edmund Hillary in 1953. Then visit Natural History Museum, Lloyd Botanical Garden established in 1878 and the Zoo, specializing in high altitude species. Afternoon visit to Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre which produces and sells a wide range of Tibetan artifacts and curios. Here you can see Tibetan craftsman making traditional items like carpets, woolen boots, wood carvings and leather boots. The centre was established in 1954 to rehabilitate those refugees who had fled Tibet with Dalai Lama in the wake of the Chinese invasion. Overnight at the hotel in Darjeeling
After breakfast drive to Gangtok. Afternoon free for shopping and leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Gangtok.
Enchey Monastery; it is a beautiful monastery, in an equally beautiful setting, approached along an avenue of hundreds of multi-coloured prayer flags. Government Institute of Cottage Industries; here you can watch young students being taught the traditional art of thangkha paintings along with weaving, wood carving and carpet making. Also visit the Institute of Tibetology, housed in a beautiful building, built in traditional Tibetan style, with mural decorated columns and a wonderful smell of beeswax polish from the creaky wooden floor. Then drive through picturesque, terraced rice fields to the headquarter of Dharma Chakra Centres (Rumtek Monastery), the present seat of His Holiness, the Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Kagyupa sect. Said to be the replica of the monastery at Tsurphu, Tibet with its traditional architecture, exquisite paintings, intricate wood work, housing treasures of manuscripts and icons. Rumtek is a splendid example of Tibetan monastic art. Overnight at the hotel in Gangtok.
Morning drive to Kalimpong. Afternoon visit to Tharpa Choling Monastery, belonging to the Gelugpa sect of Dalai Lama. Then drive to Deolo Hill, the highest point in Kalimpong at 5,500 ft, which offers good view of the surrounding region. It also has two water reservoirs, the source of Kalimpong drinking water. Then visit Zong-Dog Palri Fo-brang Monastery followed by visit to Gauripur House, the favorite retreat of Rabindra Nath Tagore who wrote many of his works here. Overnight at the hotel in Kalimpong.
Kalimpong – Siliguri / Bagdogra airport / New Jalpaiguri (80 km/3 hrs)
Inclusion
- Accommodation is on twin sharing basis
- Meals : breakfast at all places
- Transfers from one place to another
- Sightseeing in private cars
- Vehicle will be provided based on the itinerary
- All current taxes such as hotel taxes and transportation taxes
Exclusion
- Accommodation is on twin sharing basis
- Meals : breakfast at all places
- Transfers from one place to another
- Sightseeing in private cars
- Vehicle will be provided based on the itinerary
- All current taxes such as hotel taxes and transportation taxes
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Policy Regarding Cancellation / No Show / Early Departure
In case of cancellation of tour/travel services due to any avoidable/unavoidable reason/s we must be informed in writing. Cancellation charges would be effective from the date we receive letter in writing and cancellation charges would be as follows:
30 days & prior to arrival – 10% of the tour/service cost.
20 days to 18 days prior to arrival – 20% of the tour/service cost.
14 days to 16 days prior to arrival – 25% of the tour/service cost.
10 days to 08 days prior to arrival – 50% of the tour/service cost.
07 days & less, prior to arrival or no show – NO REFUND.
Please note – Irrespective of above mentioned cancellations slabs – in case of cancellation of tour services after the booking is made with us – a minimum 10% service charges would be applicable.
In case you cancel the trip after commencement refund would be restricted to a limited amount that too would depend on the amount that we would be able to recover from the hoteliers we patronize. For unused hotel accommodation, chartered transportation and missed meals etc. we do not bear any responsibility to refund.
Refund
In regard to refund of unused / unutilized services (which are paid for and cancelled in advance) the refund amount would be worked out on the basis of cancellation policy as described above and the money would be accordingly refunded to the person who has made the payment to us. Please note that the refund process may take 2 – 4 weeks due to banking procedures. If the refund is made to the credit card account OR to Bank account, the bank charges would be debited from the refund amount.
