Duration : 15 Nights / 16
Days
Day 01. On board to Kolkata :
Arrive Kolkata and transfer to prebooked hotel. Morning free. Afternoon tour to city through WHITE TOWN heritage zone, visit Eden Garden, nicely laid-out in green expanses, dotted with ponds, this is an attractive spot in the city. Dalhousie square or BBD Bagh-is in the heart of the city. Many historical buildings surround the square. Overnight in hotel.
Day 02. Kolkata Excursion :
Morning after breakfast full day excursions to foreign settlements along the river "Hoogly". Explore Serampore (Danish settlement), Chandernagore (French settlement) and Bandel (Portuguese settlement) -1537-1651, and later drive back to the hotel. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 03. Kolkata to Basanti to Sunderban (drive about 101 km/03 hrs&
boat ride 3˝ hrs) :
Morning after breakfast drive to Basanti via Sonakhali, at Basanti take a motor boat (3˝hrs) to Forest Tourist Lodge. Check- in and overnight at Forest Tourist Lodge.
Sunderbans Tiger Reserve - Sunderbans or "beautiful forests" is named after the 'Sunderi Trees'. The mangrove swamps are said to be the largest estuarine forests in the world. The biosphere reserve, a world heritage site, still preserves the natural habitat of about 300 Bengal Tigers (Panthera tigris). They are bigger and richer in colour than elsewhere in South Asia and are thought to survive on salt water ; rainwater is the only source of fresh water in the park. Legend says because of drinking salt water these tigers become man eaters.
Spotted deer, wild boar, monkeys, snakes, fishing cats, water monitors, olive ridley, sea turtles and a few large estuarine crocodiles are the other wildlife here. You may see deer, boar, macaque and some birds but are unlikely to see a tiger.
Day 04. Sunderban Explore :
Morning after breakfast explore the world Heritage Mangrove Forest by motorized boat through small creaks. Lunch on board-will be cooked in the country boat with fresh fish and crab from the catch during the trip. Overnight in Forest tourist lodge.
Day 05. Sunderban to Basanti to Kolkata :
Check-out after early breakfast. Morning visit widow village and Prawn cultivation. Back to Basanti in afternoon by motor boat. Lunch on country boat and later drive back to Kolkata from Basanti. Evening free. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 06. Kolkata Excursion:
Morning after breakfast tour to North of the city (about 16 km across the river Ganga) and Belur Math (1938)- a unique place of worship which represents a church, a mosque and a temple and is the international headquarter of the Ramakrishna Mission, founded in 1899 by Swami Vivekanand, a disciple of the 19th century Hindu saint Ramakrishna Paramhans. By motorized boat visit Dakshineswar Kali temple, Kalighat Kali Temple, Jain temple (which resembles a box of sparkling jewels) and Birla 'super deluxe' temple a symbol of modern india. Later drive back to kolkata. Overnight in hotel
Day 07. Kolkata to Vishnupur (Drive about 174 kms/ 05 hrs) :
Early morning after breakfast drive to Vishnupur (174 krn/5 hrs), once the capital of Malla Kings. After check-in and lunch at Tourist lodge, explore Shyam Rai Temple and Jor Bangla/ Mandir, a pair of hut- shaped temples with a single sikhara attractively ornamented panels built in 1655 by Raghunath Singh.
Rickshaw ride through Kasari Para (Bell metal factory)/ Tanti Para (weavers weaving famous Balunchari sari). Evening walking tour in the local market and gossip at local tea stall. Overnight at Tourist Lodge.
Day 08. Vishnupur to Shantiniketan University (Drive about 154 kms/04
hrs):
After breakfast start driving for Shantiniketan University about 154 km/ 04 hrs. Arrive and Check-into hotel. Rickshaw tour around the University .
After lunch afternoon tour to Rabindra Bhavan, a museum and research centre in the Uttarayan complex, contaning photographs, manuscripts and Tagore's personal's belongings- the peripheral buildings contain photos too. Overnight in hotel.
Day 09. Shantiniketan to Kolkata :
(drive about 213 km/07 hrs) : Morning after breakfast visit Baitali, prayer and song at Gaur Prangan and rickshaw ride through the university campus to soak up the atmosphere, sounds of children and birds singing. Watching classes taking place under the shade of the trees is particularly memorable. After lunch drive back to Kolkata. O/n hotel.
Day 10. Kolkata :
Morning after breakfast tour to the black town of Chitpur (about 04 hrs) and visit Nakhoda Mosque (1926). Facades of Babu' s houses, Kumartully-idol maker colony, Shovabazaar area and rickshaw ride through old part of North Kolkata. Back to the hotel for lunch.
Afternoon visit (3 hrs) St. Paul's Cathedral, Victoria Memorial, National Library, Botanical Garden, the largest Banayan tree in the world with 2800 prop roots. Overnight in hotel.
Day 11. Kolkata to Bagdogra :
Fly & Bagdogra to Darjeeling drive: Morning after breakfast fly to Bagdogra, arrive Bagdogra and further drive about 90 km/03 hrs to Darjeeling, located in the northern part of West Bengal.
Afternoon tour to Batasia Loop (5 km)- a marvellous feat of engineering. Lloyd Botanic Garden, a colorful garden situated just below the market motor stand. The Shrubbery, a beautiful garden behind Raj Bhawan. A magnificent view of the Kanchenjungha and the Singla valley. Overnight in hotel.
Day 12. Darjeeling :
Full day visit to Darjeeling explore Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (3 km) very near to the mall. The museum of the institute contains an interesting collection of mountaineering equipments and a relief model of the Himalayas. The Natural history museum, walking distance from the Mall, contains a comprehensive collection of animals, birds, fish, butterflies and reptiles of this region. Tiger Hill (11 km), at an altitude of 8482 ft, is famous for the magnificent view of sunrise over Kanchenjungha and other Himalayan peaks. Even Mount Everest is visible from here. Overnight in hotel.
Day 13. Darjeeling to Kalimpong (Drive 51 km/02 hrs) :
Morning after breakfast drive to Kalimpong, another hill station of West Bengal, much quieter than Darjeeling. After check-into the hotel visit Dr. Graham's Homes (3 km from the town), this extraordinary educational institute has a campus of 500 acres. In May every year, a May Fair is organised by the school. Durpin Dara, is an observation point from where one can have breathtaking views of the Himalayan ranges, valleys, rivers and plains. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 14. Kalimpong:
Kalimpong Full day visit to Kalimpong. Flower Nurseries, Kalimpong is famous for its nurseries which export exotic flowers as well as orchids and cactii. Lava (32 km), at an altitude of 7200 ft. this is a dense forest of oak and fir trees. From here there is a panoramic view of the eastern Himalayan ranges and Rechila Passes. Back to Kalimpong, in evening visit local market, there is a bi-weekly 'haat' where the villagers gather to sell their wares. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 15. Kalimpong to Bagdogra :
Drive & Bagdogra to Kolkata fly Morning after breakfast drive to Bagdogra airport about 80 km/3 hrs and then fly to Kolkata. Arrive and check-into the hotel. Evening free, late evening transfer to international airport.
Day 16. Kolkata -Departure.