Experience the diverse and vibrant culture of India with our 15-day  tour. Begin your journey in Delhi, where you'll explore the historic  city and its famous landmarks. Travel to Agra and Jaipur, then fly to  Kolkata for a taste of the bustling metropolis. Continue your adventure  with scenic visits to Darjeeling, Gangtok, and Kalimpong, and end your  trip in Delhi. Immerse yourself in India's rich history and stunning  landscapes on this unforgettable tour. 

Welcome to Delhi, India’s capital and a major gateway to the country, contemporary Delhi is a bustling metropolis, which successfully combines in its folds – the ancient with the modern. Amidst the fast spiraling skyscrapers the remnants of a bygone time in the form of its many monuments stand as silent reminders to the region’s ancient legacy. The first impressions for any visitor traveling in from the airport are of a specious, garden city, tree-lined with a number of beautiful parks. 

Upon arrival you will be met and escorted to your hotel. 

Your morning exploration of Old Delhi begins with a visit to the Red Fort, a symbol of Shah Jehan's Mughal power and elegance, also known as the greatest wonder of all the cities of Delhi. 

India's history has been closely linked with this fort. It was from here that the British deposed the last Mughal ruler - Bhadur Shah Zafar, marking the end of a three - century long Mughal rule. It was also from its ramparts that the first prime. Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, announced to the nation that India was free from colonial rule. Your tour continues with a visit to India’s largest mosque Jama Masjid, originally known as ‘Masjid-I-Jahan-Numa’, meaning ‘The mosque with a commanding view of the world’. This mosque was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan and was completed in 1656. 

This afternoon you will explore ‘Lutyens’ Delhi or New Delhi. Drive through the city viewing the government buildings, President's House and Parliament House.  Also Visit India Gate and drive past the government buildings. Built as an imperial capital by the British, all the main buildings, designed in the 1920’s by the British architects Lutyens and Baker, remain today.   

At one end of the avenue known as the Rajpath (literally the “King’s Way”) is the War Memorial Arch, better known as India Gate, a memorial to the 90,000 Indians who gave their lives in World War I. As you drive along  the majestic  Rajpath -  the broadest  avenue of  Delhi -  our first  views encompass the enormous Secretariat buildings with their 1,000 rooms and miles of corridors, and the Parliament House, a huge circular building in red and grey sandstone with an open colonnade extending around its circumference. At the other end stands the Rashtrapati Bhawan, one of the largest and most grandiose of the Raj constructions, built originally for the British Viceroy and now the official residence of the President of India.  

Continue to Humayun's Tomb. Emperor Humayun, the father of Emperor Akbar, lies buried in this magnificent monument built in red sandstone. Haji Begum, Humayun's first wife and mother of Emperor Akbar designed and supervised the entire construction. Her design was way ahead of the times and is the  basis for  the design  of the  famous Taj  Mahal,  built almost  a hundred  years later! 

Overnight at the hotel.  

This morning you will drive to Agra, the capital to the Mughals in the 16th and 17th Centuries. Agra was also the repository of many of the Mughals most famous monuments. The city has long astonished visitors and many places of interest date back to the Afghans, who predated the Mughals.  

Arrive and proceed to your hotel. 

Later you will visit the Agra Fort. Set on the bend of the River Yamuna. Emperor Akbar built it as his citadel over the years 1565-1573. This magnificent fort, with its imposing gates, walls of red sandstone and moat, dominates the center of the city. The fort was built by three different Mughal Emperors: Akbar the Great erected the walls, gates and first buildings; Emperor Shah Jehan built the impressive imperial quarters and mosque; while Emperor Aurangzeb added the outer ramparts. A visit to the Hall of Public Audience and the Royal Pavilions is a must! At the end of his life, Aurangzeb imprisoned his father, Shah Jehan, at Agra Fort — a mild punishment considering the luxury of the fort. Legend states that Shah Jehan died in Muasamman Burj, a tower with a marble balcony with an excellent view of the Taj Mahal. 

Continue to the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is everything that has been said about it and more. Visitors are asked to remove their shoes prior to entering the interiors of the Taj Mahal. 

Taking 22 years and 20,000 men to build, the white marble was quarried 200 miles away and was transported to the site by a fleet of 1000 elephants! Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal (literally translated as Jewel of the Palace). She died at the age of 39 giving birth to her fourteenth child and he went into mourning for two years, turning away from the business of running an empire and becoming more involved with his other great love – architecture! Feast your eyes on the exquisite intricate marble inlay work!  Legend has it that the cenotaphs were inlaid with diamonds. A blanket woven of pearls covered Mumtaz’s shroud. A railing of gold circled the cenotaphs, which was later on replaced by a marble one. Gold leaf was said to have covered all or part of the dome. 

Return to your hotel where the rest of the day is at leisure. 

This morning you will drive to Jaipur stopping en route to visit Fatehpur Sikri or “The City of Victory - the deserted red sandstone city, built by the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the late 16th century. Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only some 10 years. It was abandoned soon after it was built when the local wells went dry and it remains today in much the same condition that it was over 300 years ago.  It is complete with palaces and mosques and used to be a town larger than London when it was originally constructed.   

After your visit continue to Jaipur, a city, whose past is never too far from hand. The city of victory, Jaipur presides over the fascinating desert state and its people: surrounded by rugged hills, each crowned by a formidable fort; and beautiful palaces, mansions and gardens dotted throughout its precincts. The palaces and forts of yesteryear that were witness to royal processions and splendour are now living monuments, accepted quite naturally into the lifestyles of the people of the "pink city".   

Jaipur, whose past is never too far from hand. The city of victory, Jaipur presides over the fascinating desert state and its people: surrounded by rugged hills, each crowned by a formidable fort; and beautiful palaces, mansions and gardens dotted throughout its precincts. The palaces and forts of yesteryear that were witness to royal processions and splendour are now living monuments, accepted quite naturally into the lifestyles of the people of the "pink city".  There is a timeless quality to Jaipur's bazaars and its people.  With its historical past, Jaipur revives legends of the ancient Rajputs.   

Arrive and proceed to your hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure. 

This morning you will drive along the streets of Jaipur, to Amber Fort, stopping en-route to view and photograph the Palace of Winds. Completed in 1799, the Palace was originally built to allow the sequestered ladies of the court to view the bustling life of the city. It is popularly known as Hawa Mahal, because of the perforated screen façade which catches the welcome breeze or Hawa.  

Continue on to the Amber Fort. On the crest of a rugged hilltop and overlooking Lake Moata, the fort evokes thoughts of legends and fairy tales. The fort has been constructed in white and red sandstone. The Fort is unique in that it’s outside, an imposing and rugged defensive structure, is markedly different from its inside, an ornate, lavish interior influenced by both Hindu and Muslim styles of ornamentation. The walls of the interior of the fort are covered with murals, frescoes, and paintings depicting various scenes from daily life. Other walls are covered with intricate carvings, mosaic, and minute mirror work. 

This afternoon you will explore the city. Your program begins with a visit to the City Palace complex that continues to evoke the splendour of a bygone era. In an unending series of delights, from its grand aged entrance  to the  play of  ornamental fountains,  the City  Palace is  a  dazzling showplace  of Hindu  and Mughal  architecture.  Amongst the pleasures of the Palace is a museum with ample evidence of opulence.  

Next to the city palace is Jantar Mantar, literally translated as Calculation Instrument. This Observatory was built between 1728 and 1734 by Maharaja  Jai Singh,  Jantar  Mantar was  built on  a grand  scale  and was way beyond its time. This was modelled after the one that was built in Delhi, the then Mughal capital. He had constructed a total of five of which the one in Jaipur is the largest. 

After your tour board a cycle rickshaw to explore the local markets. Jaipur is a shopper’s paradise, renowned for gems and jewellery: precious and semi-precious stones set in gold, ‘meenakari’ (enamel work), antique and chunky silver jewellery; and Colombian emeralds which are actually brought to Jaipur for cutting and polishing and are available at reasonable prices. Other finds include carpets, ‘Pechwai’ and miniature paintings on silk and paper, a unique type of blue pottery and even glass bangles! Fabric-wise, there are brocades, tie-and-dye, block printed, and the famous ‘mirror work’ embroidery, also used in table linen, cushion covers and readymade garments.  

Overnight at the hotel. 

Following breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Kolkata.  

Arrive Kolkata and transfer to your hotel.  

Kolkata – The City of Joy and the capital of British India till 1923, the ancient city, which has completed more than three hundred years of its establishment. This charming city was home to country's first Metro railway and till date retains many buildings which are more than a hundred years old. 

Overnight at the hotel. 

After breakfast at the hotel, today the tour of this sprawling city begins with the Howrah Bridge; this bridge is built on river Hooghly and connects the city of Kolkata with the industrial town of Howrah. Entire Kolkata is like one big market and there is probably no main road, which is not lined with shops. Here anything and everything can be found. Our first stop is at the flower market at Jagannath Ghat, where we feast our eyes on the brilliant rainbow of colours.  

Next stop is Dakshineswar Kali Temple is situated on the Eastern Bank of the Hooghly River. The presiding deity of the temple is Bhavatrini an aspect of Kali, literally meaning - 'She who takes her devotees across the ocean of existence'. The temple was built by Rani Rashmoni, a philanthropist and a devotee of Kali in 1855. The temple is famous for its association with Ramakrishna a mystic of 19th Century Bengal.  

Continue onto visit Kumartolli (a place where craftsman make idols). Kolkata is famous for its festivals and pujas the whole year round. It is very interesting to see the craftsman making idols without using any machinery.  

Your tour also includes a visit to College Street and Indian Coffee House.  

This evening we visit the Belurmath Temple, situated on the banks of the River Hooghly. Headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, its beautiful setting is in sharp contrast to the industrial surroundings of Belur. The main temple in Belur Math is a brilliant blend of various architectural styles of the different religions of India. 

Overnight at the hotel. 

Breakfast at the hotel.  

After breakfast at the hotel proceed for explorations of the city which begins with Dalhousie Square from where will see the Writers Building (State Secretariat), Raj Bhawan (Governor House), General Post Office Building, Kolkata High Court, Kolkata Town Hall and the St. John's Church. You will also pass the Calcutta High Court is the oldest High Court in India and was established as the High Court of Judicature at Fort William on 1 July 1862 under the High Court’s Act, 1861.. The Town Hall of Kolkata has been a vibrant participant in all major activities of the city since last two centuries. Constructed in 1813 by Colonel John Garstin, the Hall, designed in the Palladian style, was constructed to complement the Government House.  

St. Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral of the Church of North India. The building was initiated by Bishop Daniel Wilson in 1838 and completed in 1847 in Gothic Revival style with stained glass windows and two frescoes in Florentine Renaissance style.   

Your tour includes a visit to the palatial Victoria Memorial, a splendid example of British architecture. Built in 1921 .as a memorial to Queen Victoria, it was based on the architectural design of the Taj Mahal and was built in white marble, brought from Jodhpur. At the entrance there is a beautiful bronze statue of Queen Victoria on her throne, a bronze statue of King Edward VII astride his horse and a marble statue of a stern looking Lord Curzon. Your tour ends with a visit to the Missionaries of Charity to pay our tributes to the Noble Laureate for peace Mother Teresa.  

During the day also visit the Indian Museum (Closed on Mondays & National holidays) and Nahoum Bakery. 

Overnight at the hotel. 

After breakfast, in time transfer to the airport for flight to Bagdogra. 

Upon arrival at Bagdogra airport our representative will receive you and transfer you to Darjeeling (90 Kms/ 4 Hrs).  

Upon arrival Darjeeling, proceed for check-in at your hotel.  

Darjeeling is called the Queen of the Himalayas, it offers unparalleled view of the majestic mountains. The snow-clad Kanchenjunga ranges, which turn orange-gold in the early morning sun, provide an unforgettable sight. 

Reminder of the day will be at leisure.  

Overnight at the hotel. 

Early morning after a cup of tea, you will visit Tiger Hill before the break of dawn, to see the sun rise over Mount Everest, the highest mountain peak in the world. 

Darjeeling owes’ its grandeur to its natural beauty, its clean fresh mountain air and above all, the smiling resilient people for whom it is a home. Known for its natural splendour, Darjeeling’s best gift to its’ visitors is the dawn of a new day. The mountains awaken first with a tentative peeking of the sun. A steep ride, five Kilometres from Ghoom, or an invigorating walk up a steep incline, leads sun worshippers to Tiger Hill. The air is chilly with darkness and damp. To the east, a dull orange sun emerged painting the sky with brilliant strokes of magenta, gold, orange and fuchsia. The snow-capped Everest, Kabru, Kanchenjunga, Jannu and other peaks slowly emerge from slumber to start a new day. The sun worshippers gasp at the magnificent sight. As the fog lifts in the slowly penetrating sun, the town gradually comes alive. Amidst brewing of tea, the sing-song Gorkhali which is the local dialect, rises and falls like music.  

On your way back stop at the Ghoom Monastery, the holiest monastery in Darjeeling. 

Return to your hotel for buffet breakfast.  

After breakfast, you will be driven to the Darjeeling Railway station to board train - Darjeeling Himalayan Railway that is the first, and still the most spectacular instance of a hill passenger railway. Opened in 1881, it adopted device full engineering solutions to the problem of establishing an effective rail link across a mountainous terrain. It is still fully operational and retains most of its original features. UNESCO World Heritage Committee has inscribed the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway on the list of World Heritage sites. Only two railways have this status, the Semmering Railway in Austria being the other. 

Passing through the Darjeeling roads and market area, you will reach the Ghoom railway station in about 45 minutes. Ghoom situated at 7410 Feet above sea level is the second highest railway station to be reached by a steam engine. Your vehicle will pick you up from the Ghoom railway station to take you to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the Himalayan Zoo with Red panda as the main attraction of the visit.  

Buffet lunch would be at your hotel (On direct payment basis). 

Later visit the Tibetan refugee help centre where you would see how these refugee camps support the homeless understand that no help can substitute self-help.   

Afternoon, proceed for a visit to a close by tea factory. 

Here one can see the various processes of tea manufacture: 

PLUCKING:
During quality periods i.e. first flush or second flush, two leaves and a bud are picked - this is called fine plucking, resulting in high quality teas. At other times, even three or four leaves and a bud are plucked - this is called coarse plucking. The plucking cycle is maintained at about 7 day intervals. The plucked leaves are collected in bamboo baskets, taking care that they are not crushed by overloading the baskets. 

WEIGHMENT:  

The plucked leaves are delivered to the factory for weighment. Each plucker is paid against the quantity (weight) of green leaf that he/she brings in 

WITHERING:
The green leaf, after eradication of any foreign matter, is spread on "withering troughs", loosely, to a depth of 6 inches. Fans are installed to pass air over the green leaf while it withers. The object of the withering process is to get rid of the moisture content in the green leaf and prepare the leaf to withstand the strain of rolling without breaking up. Period of withering can vary from 18 to 24 hrs. depending on the moisture content. The leaf, when properly withered, gives off a fragrant odour. 

ROLLING:
The object of rolling is to bruise the cells of the leaves so that their sap (juice) is exposed to the action of oxygen in the air. Rolling also gives a twist to the leaf. The cell sap contains tannins, caffeine, proteins and other chemical substances, which ultimately give the characteristic colour to the tea liquor during infusion. The withered leaf is given 3 or 4 rolls (each of 30 minutes). After the first roll, the leaf is sifted (kutcha sifting) and the fine leaves (about 20%) are taken out. The rest are given a second roll and in the second kutcha sifting about 20 - 25% rolled leaf is taken out. This process is repeated on the remainder with a 3rd or 4th roll. The first roll is done at low pressure, second at medium and 3rd at harder pressure. 

FERMENTATION:
The rolled leaves are spread on fermenting beds and left to ferment for a period of 3 to 4 hrs. The leaves are loosely spread to a thickness of 1 or 1.5. Inches. Good fermentation results in the colour of the leaf to change to reddish brown giving off the characteristic aroma after the juices in the rolled leaves react with each other and the air 

FIRING:
The fermented leaves are then fired (i.e. heated) in a drier machine. The object of this process is to arrest fermentation and slowly dessicate the leaf in such a way so as to extract the moisture without scorching the tea and at the same time, preserving its quality and other characteristics to the optimum level. The leaves are passed through the drier and remain within the drier for a period of approx. 20 mins, at a temperature of around 240 to 250? F. This results in the leaves moisture content to come down to 20 - 25% from 60 - 70% before it enters the drier. A second firing is also given shortly thereafter. 

SORTING:
Sorting of different grades is done by sorting machines which are fitted with wire mesh trays that revolve or vibrate. The tea is passed over wire mesh of varying sizes so that the whole leaf, broken leaf, fannings and dust grades fall at different places. These sorted teas comprise the different grades. 

PACKING:  
The different grades of tea are then packed into plywood chests / paper sacks lined with aluminium foil inside. Each lot is generally packed in a minimum of 5 chests / sacks or more. The chests / sacks are sealed and the grade name, garden name, lot number (called an invoice), chest number, gross and nett weight, year of manufacture etc. are printed on the chests / sacks with stencils. Lastly, Darjeeling CTM user licence number and Darjeeling "CTM-applied for" are also stencilled onto the tea chests / sacks. 

Overnight at the hotel. 

After breakfast, you will be driven to Gangtok (98 KMS / 4 Hours). You will continue your journey to Gangtok through the Tista river valley.  

Gangtok is Sikkim's largest city. It served as the royal administrative seat of the Kingdom of Sikkim from 1894 to 1975. Now as the state capital it retains a royal character. The Chogyal's durbar (king's palace) crowns the ridge, naturally facing Kanchenjunga, and the yellow roof of the Tsuklakhang or Royal Chapel gleams from far across the valley. High into temperate forests, oaks give way to laurels, chestnuts, maples, birch, magnolias and rhododendrons. Some 200 species of ferns, mosses, vines and lichens form thick undergrowth. Sikkim is world renowned for its orchids with almost 1000 species in and around Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The best time to see orchids is from the second week of April, extending into late May and June at the higher elevations. Rhododendrons are another of the most celebrated of this amazing pot pourri of flora. During April-May, yellow and lavender shaded hillsides stretch as far as the eye can see, and canopies of rose, crimson and ivory crown the misty forests.

Overnight at the hotel.

After buffet breakfast, you will be driven to Rumtek Monastery, the seat of the Karmapa Rinpoche, head of the Karmapa sub-sect of the Kargyudpa order of Tibetan Buddhism. The new four-level gompa was designed as a replica of the Kargyudpa's head monastery of Tolung in Tibet. Rumtek's monks come from all over Sikkim, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. Thangkas and frescoes decorate the walls of this ancient monastery, renovated in 1960's. It has a school to teach the Tibetan language and the various aspects of Buddhism. Every year on the 10th day of the 5th month of the Tibetan calendar a religious dance festival is held in this monastery. A perfect symbol of the confluence of the past and present is Gangtok - the capital of Sikkim. Built on the flank of a ridge, Gangtok is at 5500 feet above sea level. The town's unique ambience derives from the happy blend of tradition and modernity. 

Later proceed to visit the Enchey Monastery – an important seat of the Nyingmapa order, the Enchey Monastery is built on the site blessed by Lama Druptok Karpo, a tantrik master known for his power of flying. Your visits of the day ends with the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology (closed on Sundays). The most prestigious of its kind in India, this Buddhist institute is a treasure of vast collection of rare Lepcha, Tibetan & Sanskrit manuscripts, statues and rare thanks (tapestries used in Buddhist liturgy). It is over 200 Buddhist icons and other prized objects of art. Today it is a renowned worldwide centre for Buddhist philosophy and religion.  

Remainder of the day is at leisure or free for shopping at the local market.  

Overnight at the hotel. 

Early this morning you will be driven 6 KMS to Tashi View Point, a beautiful place with magnificent panoramic views of Mount Kangchenjunga and of the numerous monasteries scattered over the mountainside. After your visit, you will be driven back to the hotel for breakfast. 

After breakfast, you will be driven to Kalimpong (80 KMS / 3.30 Hours). Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel.  

Kalimpong, once the headquarter of the Bhutanese Governor. A political hot potato tossed between neighbouring Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal and India, Kalimpong was for the last century everybody's trophy, but more for its strategic value as a prosperous trade post than for its natural resources and pretty face. The town straddles a north-easterly ride flanked by two rivers. Kalimpong has a temperate climate throughout the year with not so heavy a monsoon. The climatic condition is ideal for the cultivation of horticultural plants and, due to this, there are many flower nurseries here. After checking into your hotel and having lunch, we will visit several flower nurseries (best of the flowers can be seen around the months of March & April).  

Overnight at the hotel.  

After buffet breakfast, you will be driven from Kamilpong to Bagdogra (78 Kms / 3 Hours). Upon arrival Bagdogra, you will meet our representative who will assist you in checking in at the airport for your flight to Delhi. 

Upon arrival Delhi, you will meet our representative and transferred to the

International airport for your flight to onward destination.

In time connect on to your international flight to onward destination.