The world
renowned hill resort of Darjeeling is a
welcome respite for many Indians during
the hot summer months. Situated at 2,134
m above sea level, it is stones throw away
from Nepal's Eastern border. Darjeeling
was acquired by the British from the Raja
of Sikkim as a gift around a hundred and
fifty years ago, it was developed into
a rest and recreational center for British
troops. Today the town retains many of
the legacies of the British Government.
Treks in the Darjeeling region are generally
moderate and mainly based in the Singalila
range of hills which provide some splendid
views of the Himalayas including Everest,
Kanchenjunga and Makalu, High pasture dominates
in an area bequeathed with Rhododendrons
and a vast assortment of plants and wildlife
especially in Springtime, making this an
ideal time for nature lovers to explore
the area. Over six hundred species of orchids
and about two hundred types of rhododendron
flourish. .
By the late 1800s, Darjeeling had gained
in importance as a hill station but the
only means of transportingtion goods to
and from the town was by bullock cart using
the famous Hill Cart Road which began on
the plains at Siliguri. An agent of the
East Bengal Railway, Franklyn Prestage
came up with the plan for a narrow gauge
rail link between Siliguri and Darjeeling.
Construction started in 1879 and the first
train pulled by one of these ‘gutsy’ little
steam engines and three coaches puffed
into Darjeeling on 4th July, 1881.
Nicknamed ‘Toy Trains’ they
have been making daily journeys for over
a century. The journey takes around 8 hours
- the trip is more of an experience rather
than the quickest way of transport nowadays
to reach Darjeeling....Famous for its Tea
Gardens ‘Darjeeling’ and ‘excellent
tea’ have become synonymous with
tea drinkers the world over.
Kalimpong
- "The Governor’s Fort"
As the Lepchas ,the aboriginal people
of the region called it. Kalimpong nestles
in Himalayan West Bengal at a modest altitude
of 1,250 m. enjoying a moderate climate.
Forming a close knit triangle with its
more illustrious ‘neighbors’,
Darjeeling and Gangtok, Kalimpong is an
excellent spot for a restful and quiet
holiday. Kalimpong has a number of houses,
which speak of the town’s heritage
and gracious living in earlier decades
of this century when it was the main trading
post between Tibet and British India. Today
it is a flourishing floriculture center
as the climate has proved to be extremely
conducive.
Day 01:- Daj. – Maneybhanjan – Tonglu Early
morning drive to Manaybanjan (1 ½ hrs)
commence trek. The trail begins with a
vertical climb for the most part to reach
Tonglu. Tonglu faces and reflects on Darjeeling
and Kurseong commanding an excellent view
of Kanchenjunga. Overnight at a trekkers
lodge or camp. Alt. 2800 m Dist. 11 Kms/
5 hrs.
Day 02:- Tonglu – Sandakphu Many ascents and descents characterise
the trek to Sandakphu. The first part of
the day to the village of Jhobhari (across
the Nepal border) is reasonably flat before
a steep climb for most of the remainder
of the day. Sandakphu is situated at an
altitude of about 3800m.at the beginning
of the Singelila ridge, it offers splendid
views of both the Everest and the Kanchenjunga
ranges. Distance 16 kms/ 7 hours.
Day 03:- Sandakphu – Phalut The trek to Phalut is comparatively easy
going and more or less flat along the Singelila
ridge. The trek 21 Kms is a long but easy
amble with some good mountain vistas to
enjoy. The landscape is extremely beautiful.
Phalut is an axis between Sikkim, Nepal
and West Bengal.
Day 04:- Phalut – Rammam The trail descends steeply into the Rammam
valley to the village of Gorkhey before
leveling and passing through the village
of Samadeen, meaning the Lost Valley. From
Samadeen to Rammam it is another 2 Kms
of easy amble along the River Rammam, which
defines the boundary between Sikkim and
West Bengal. Overnight in a Trekkers Hut
or camp. Dis. 14 kms / 5 hrs
Day 05:- Rammam – Rimbick The last day of the trek is to Rimbick,
a gentle walk with no ascents to speak
of through meadows and small villages.
Rimbick is a small village with a little
market. Tonight we stay at a family home
converted into a lodge.
Day 06:- End trip. Transfer
to Darjeeling (3-½ hrs
drive).
Day 01:- Arrival – Darjeeling
Pick up from Bagdora / NJP (train Station
or Silguri, jeep to Darjeeling passing
through several tea estates on the way. Overnight hotel in Darjeeling.
Day 02 & 03:- Darjeeling Sightseeing Perched at a height of 2134m,Darjeeling
is the most important and organized hill-
resort in Eastern India. Darjeeling town
is lined with shops and restaurants. It
is an ideal place to take a relaxed stroll
with the view of the mighty Kanchenjunga
range as a backdrop. Travel on to the Mall
with exquisitely designed wooden shops
constructed during the British Raj. Major
places of interest include The: Himalayan
Mountaineering Institute and Everest museum
where the legendary Tenzing Sherpa is buried.
The Zoological Park, which shelters exotic
breeds of high altitude Himalayan fauna
is nearby. In 1995 for the first time in
India the snow leopard was bred in captivity
at this zoo.
Day 04:- Darjeeling – Gangtok: The road to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim
ploughs through changing vegetation and
landscape and takes around four hours.
Ghangtok is a well layed out town with
flower gardens and bustling markets filled
with local people Lepchas, Bhutias and
Nepalese people are its main inhabitants.
Day 05:- Gangtok Sightseeing A days sightseeing taking in the Research
Institute of Tibetology; famous for its
research activities on Tibetan language
and culture, the Phurba-Chorten (Stupa),
Enchey Gompa, along with viewpoints of
the Kanchenjunga range,followed by a visit
to the orchid sanctuary.
Day 06:- Gangtok– Rumtek – Martham: Today
we visit the most popular Monastery and
certainly the largest in Sikkm – Rumtek.
before a short but extremely beautiful
drive to Martham. Martham gives an insight
of rural Sikkim, The valley of Rice as
the Tibetan and Bhutanese neighbors have
termed it. The terrance of Rice paddies
runs from high up the ridges down to the
river below. Charming Small villages inhabited
by Tibetans and Lepchias add to the spice
of the day.
Day 07:- Martham - Pemayangtse From Martham a drive through breathtaking
scenary to Pemayangtse. Visit the old Pemayangtse
monastery. Overnight Tourists lodge.
Day 08:- Pemayangtse – Excursions
(Walking and drive) A whole day is spent exploring Pemayangtse
and its surrounds, optional drive to Yuksom.
Day 09:- Pemayangtse – Kalimpong Drive to Kalimpong , visit the flower
and orchid nurseries of Kalimpong. Overnight
hotel.
Day 10:- Kalimpong – Departure After breakfast, departure transfers to
Bagdora Aiport/ NJP Train Station or Siliguri.
FULL
ITINERARY ON REQUEST
SINGALILA TREK
This nine day trek beginning and ending
in Darjeeling takes you along the famed "Singalila
range" to Sandakphu (12,000) and Phalut
(11,800). On the way we pass through spectacular
forests of silver fir, rhododendrons, chestnuts,
oaks, magnolias and hemlock. A spring time
trek reveals not only stunning views of the
mountains but whole hillsides covered with
rhododendron and magnolia flowers. A post
monsoon trek reveals the mountains in their
crispier glory when the rains have washed
away any hint of haze. The trail from Sandakphu
to Phulut is an exhilarating experience allowing
some splendid views Everest, Makalu, Lhotse
and Kanchenjunga.
This fifteen-day trek leads up to the
Base Camp of the Himalayan Mountaineering
Institute, where the institute conducts
it's training on ice and snow work in the
surrounding mountains. We depart from Darjeeling
early morning for a scenic drive to Pemayangtse
and on to Yuksom in Sikkim with an abundance
of rich Sikkimese culture to be experienced
along the way where we overnight. The trek
commences from Yuksom and journeys through
virgin forest, icy cold rivulets, high
mountain passes and breathtaking valleys
surrounded by snow clad mountains. The
highlight of the trek is the excursion
along the rocky Rathong glacier and the
magnificent view of the Kanchenjunga massif
from Goecha-la. This area remains total
wilderness, the beauty and purity of nature
unspoiled by the ravages of modernization.
Please note that a minimum of 4 persons
are required for this trek.
4 nights hotel 11 days trekking. A full
itinerary for this tour with costs is available
on request.
The world
renowned hill resort of Darjeeling is a
welcome respite for many Indians during
the hot summer months. Situated at 2,134
m above sea level, it is stones throw away
from Nepal's Eastern border. Darjeeling
was acquired by the British from the Raja
of Sikkim as a gift around a hundred and
fifty years ago, it was developed into
a rest and recreational center for British
troops. Today the town retains many of
the legacies of the British Government.
By the late 1800s, Darjeeling had gained
in importance as a hill station but the
only means of transportingtion goods to
and from the town was by bullock cart using
the famous Hill Cart Road which began on
the plains at Siliguri. An agent of the
East Bengal Railway, Franklyn Prestage
came up with the plan for a narrow gauge
rail link between Siliguri and Darjeeling.
Construction started in 1879 and the first
train pulled by one of these ‘gutsy’ little
steam engines and three coaches puffed
into Darjeeling on 4th July, 1881.
Nicknamed ‘Toy Trains’ they
have been making daily journeys for over
a century. The journey takes around 8 hours
- the trip is more of an experience rather
than the quickest way of transport nowadays
to reach Darjeeling....Famous for its Tea
Gardens ‘Darjeeling’ and ‘excellent
tea’ have become synonymous with
tea drinkers the world over. 
