Welcome to A Himalayan Odyssey

Monasteries, both ancient and new, Temples, Churches exist in these hills in complete harmony. Many can be reached after walking a distance from the main town centers. For those with an interest in religion, we can organize these tours/treks.


Day 01

Arrive Bagdogra - Darjeeling: Met upon arrival and driven to Darjeeling for three hours through tea gardens and pretty hillside towns.  will occasionally meet the famous Darjeeling toy train, huffing and puffing across our road. On arrival in Darjeeling check in  to the hotel.

Day 02

Darjeeling : Early morning, visit Tiger Hill for fabulous sun rise views of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world at 7409m. Mt. Everest and a host of other Himalayan giants are also seen on the horizon. On our drive back to the hotel we will stop at Ghoom, a Tibetan- Buddhist monastery. After breakfast we shall visit the Mountaineering Institute, the Tibetan Refugee Camp and the local market.

Day 03

Darjeeling : After breakfast visit the Bhutia busty monastery & Tong Soong monastery. PM. Lecture by an expert on Buddhism.

Day 04

Darjeeling - Pemayangtse : Half day drive to Pemayangtse.

Day 05

Pemayangtse - Yuksom via Kecheoplari Lake :  Early morning visit to Pemayangtse monastery. Here we hear the chanting of the morning prayers by the young and the old monks and the smell of the burning Junipers Squamatra and Rhododendron Nivele. Pemayangtse, also known as the ‘Perfect Sublime Lotus’, is one of the oldest monasteries of Sikkim. This monastery belongs to Hat sect of the Tibetan Buddhists.

 

After visiting the monastery, we continue driving towards Kecheopalri Lake or the wishing lake. PM: Drive to Yuksum.

 

Day 06

Yuksom - Gangtok: The original capital of Sikkim, the tiny hill town of Yoksum is the base for treks and climbing expeditions to Mount Kanchenjunga and other important peaks. This day we walk to the coronation throne, Dubdi monastery and the nearby jungles to see wild orchids.

The 5 hour drive from Yoksum to Gangtok, passes lush green fields, the famous Sikkimese Cardamoms as well as Golden Rice.

Day 07

Gangtok - Rumtek - Gangtok : The day starts with a visit to the Enchey monastery, located about 1 km. This monastery was built by Lama Druptob Karpo, a tantric master known for his power of flying. Built in the early part of this century, it follows the Nyingmapa tradition and has pagoda style architecture unique to the Sikkimese monasteries.

Institute of Tibet logy: Renowned world-wide centre for study of Buddhist philosophy and religion, a treasure house of rare thankas, statues, over 200 Buddhist icons and prized objects of art.

Do-Drul Chorten: One of the most important stupas of Sikkim built by Trulsi Rimpoche, head of the Nyingma order. The stupa contains rare mandalas of Dorji Phurpa (Vajra Kalayan), holy books, mantras & is encircled by 108 prayer wheels.

Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre: 24 kms away from Gangtok is the seat the Karmapa, who heads the Kagyupa sect of Buddhism. Thankas and frescoes decorate the wall. The mortal remains of the late Gyalwa Karmapa are preserved in a stupa in the monastery. The prayer hall in the new complex is well worth a visit for the Serenity and the calmness it exudes to facilitate the right frame of mind for prayer.

Day 08

Gangtok - Phudong - Gangtok :  A day excursion to the Phudong monastery. Built in the mid 18th century, it is one of the important Kagyupa monasteries of Sikkim. Along with Rumtek and Ralong monasteries it hosts the annual ‘Kagyat Chaam’ - the masked dance, on the 28th and 29th of the tenth month in the Tibetan calendar. This corresponds to the second fort night of December. A kilometer uphill is the Lab rang monastery which belongs to the Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism. Enroute to Phudong, a stream of prayer flags leads to the Phensang monastery. This monastery follows the Ningmapa sect and has about 300 monks.

Day 09

Gangtok - Kalimpong : After breakfast drive to Kalimpong for three hours. PM. Half day sightseeing. Before the Chinese takeover of Tibet, Kalimpong was the centre of India’s wool trade with that country, with Tibetan caravans wending their way down from the Tibetan plateau to trade wool for manufactured goods. Today Kalimpong is a holiday resort for its fabulous mountain views, bird watching, and walks in the hills. It has become a centre for Orchid and Cactus nurseries, and exports these plants to different places all over the world.

Day 10

Kalimpong – Bagdogra : AM. Transfer to Bagdogra airport in time to catch the flight to Calcutta or Delhi.

 

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