Mesmerizing Darjeeling Gangtok Tour

On the second day of your Darjeeling Gangtok tour start driving to the popular Tiger Hill (11 km) to have a glimpse of the sunrise. The visuals will be out of this world. After seeing this magnificent sunrise, return to Darjeeling. On your way, you can stop at the Ghoom Monastery, War Memorial and Batasia Loop. As you reach the hotel, freshen up, eat your breakfast and get ready for the next set of places to visit. Firstly, visit the Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park. Afterward visit the Peace Pagoda, which is another tourist attraction in Darjeeling. Next up for the visit is the renowned Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (Closed on Thursday). Also, visit the other spots like the Tensing Gumpo Rock, Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center (Closed on Sunday) and Natural History Museum (Sunday Closed). Return to the hotel and take a walk along the mall in the evening.

Tiger Hill is most famous for its splendid sights of sunrise from where you can see the peaks of Kanchenjunga illuminate before the sun is seen at lower elevations. The splendid view of the snow-capped mountains sits amid cotton clouds which is an alluring sight to the tourists from all over the country.

Situated at a grand elevation of 8,000 feet, the Yiga Choeling or old Ghoom Monastery is the oldest Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in Darjeeling. You can also see several rare Buddhist manuscripts inside the monastery. Visitors are treated to a beautiful view of the majestic Kanchenjunga outside the monastery.

War Memorial was constructed in the honor of the Gorkha soldiers of the Darjeeling area. They had sacrificed their lives in several operations and wars after Indian independence. At the bottom of the monument there lies the Roll of Honor engraved with the names of those who died along with the dates.

Perhaps one of the most picturesque train routes in all of Darjeeling, the Batasia Loop is a lush green toy train pathway that is meant to minimize the elevation of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The special design of this superb site allows the track to wrap around itself through a hilltop tunnel.

The Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park is a splendid enclosure in Darjeeling housing a wide variety of animals. Also known as Darjeeling Zoo, this is a haven for animals of all kinds and a huge center of attraction for animal lovers and nature enthusiasts. The zoo is known internationally for its breeding and conservation programs and also includes an off-display breeding center for snow leopards and red pandas.

The design of the Peace Pagoda is such that it attracts people of all races and creeds and unites them in their quest for world peace. It consists of the four avatars of Buddha including Maitreya Buddha.

The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is recognized as one of the best mountaineering institutes in the world. It was established to channelize the ample energy of the youth into a prolific and self-rewarding sport. Apart from being the pioneer institutes in mountaineering in the world, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute is also a significant major draw for tourists because of its scenic set up in the hill station of Darjeeling. The majestic sight of the 8586-meter high peak of Kanchenjunga - the 3rd highest peak in the world, is truly mesmerizing.

Tenzing Rock, a huge natural rock in Darjeeling which is named after Tenzing Norgay. In 1953, he created history when he climbed Mount Everest for the very first time along with Edmund Hillary. Professional rock climbers and the trainees' climb from the left side of the Tenzing Rock.

Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center comprises of a Tibetan-Buddhist temple, woodcarvings, workshops producing carpets, woolen items, a kindergarten, a home for the aged and a clinic. Visitors are welcome to visit the workshops. There's also an interesting, politically charged photographic exhibition on Tibetan history.

You can learn a lot about the flora and fauna of the Darjeeling district and also of the state at the Bengal Natural History Museum. A small building in the Botanical Garden was constructed to display only the butterflies and birds of the area. The museum consists of large collections of specimens of a wide variety of birds with their nests and eggs.

Stay overnight at the hotel.

After eating the healthy morning breakfast drive to Gangtok from Darjeeling. Gangtok is at a distance of 96 km from Darjeeling. Check-in at the hotel upon reaching the Gangtok. After a short rest, head out to visit the major tourist attractions. Set on a scenic hill above Gangtok is the Enchey Monastery. Do visit other attractions like Directorate of Handicrafts & Handloom, Research Institute of Tibetology, White Hall and Flower Show. Later, return to the hotel. Enjoy the evening at leisure.

Extremely alluring, pleasantly boisterous and wreathed in clouds - Gangtok, the capital city of the Sikkim offers a spectacular view of Mt. Kanchenjunga, at a distant skyline. The unspoiled hill station nestled in the mountains and clouds is also the starting point for a lot of trekkers to the Himalayan mountain ranges.

The Chorten Stupa is marked by a golden top dome. This golden top is seen from several places in Gangtok. The stupa is encircled by 108-prayer wheels all of which have mantras decorated on them in the Tibetan language. The prayer wheels are rotated in a clockwise direction. Inside the Chorten Stupa are exhibited the Kanjur holy books, complete mantras, relics, and many other religious items.

Enchey Monastery means the 'Solitary Temple'. It is a holy pilgrimage place for the Buddhists living in the enchanted paradise of Gangtok surrounded by natural beauty. The tall pine trees, flowery fields and the beautiful sight of the Kanchenjunga Hills, gives the tourists the feeling of being in the midst of a tranquil and sacred location.

Directorate of Handicrafts & Handlooms, also known as the Government Institute of Cottage Industries. Exceptional to Sikkim, the institute is an authentic home to traditional handlooms and handicrafts. Tourists can also see the hand-woven carpets made using traditional motifs. Sikkimese carpets and handmade paper made from the bark of Algeri tree are the specialties of this institute.

One of the very few of its kind, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology is an abode of centuries-old Tibetan-Buddhist culture and its history. As significant as its role is for the followers of Buddhist studies and Asian culture, with its silent and tranquil charm, it is a heaven for the tourists as well, particularly for the infrequent history enthusiasts.

White Hall is a two-storey architecture. The building is named after the first British political bureaucrat in Sikkim. The White Hall is an enduring venue for the Flower Show held in Sikkim. At the time of the flower show, quite a few varieties of rhododendrons and orchids are exhibited. Inside the hall, there is a badminton court and an officer's club.

After exploration, return to the hotel for an overnight stay.

After eating the delicious breakfast, head out for an exhilarating day including sightseeing of top-tourist attractions. Your Gangtok Darjeeling package consists of a visit to the Tsomgo (38.5 km) and Baba Mandir (54.6 km). Then you will leave for the Nathu La which will be the last destination of the day before heading back to the hotel. Go for a walk around the Mall Road or at the shopping centers.

Tsomgo is one of the most popular glacial lakes in India. It remains frozen during the winter season. Situated at an elevation of 12,400 ft., Tsomgo is quite a beautiful place listed on the itinerary of every tourist. Rides on colorfully decorated yaks and mules are offered at the lake site, which also has a variety of eating stalls serving snacks and beverages. Snow boots and gumboots can be hired here.

Nestled in between the Nathu La and Jelep La at an elevation of 13,123 ft. is the Baba Harbhajan Singh Temple which is more commonly known as the Baba Mandir. This site can be covered while on a visit to Tsongmo and Nathu La. Inside the temple, you will find a large photo of turbaned Harbhajan Sing who is worshipped here. According to the legend, if a bottle full of drinking water is left here and then if anybody drinks this water after a few days, their wishes will be fulfilled. Entry is allowed only for Indian Nationals.

Located at an altitude of 14,140 feet is the Nathu La. Nathu Pass was also the famous place where the Silk Route was being operated until 1962. This was once used as the silk trade route between India and Tibet. Mules were used to carry gold, silk, and several other items from Tibet to India and take daily prerequisites back to Tibet.

Return to the hotel and spend the night in the room.

Note: Foreign nationals are not allowed to visit Nathu-La Pass.

Day 5 marks the end of the Darjeeling Gangtok tour package. After eating some delicious breakfast head towards Siliguri / New Jalpaiguri Railway Station (119 km) / Bagdogra Airport (126 km) / Tenzing Norgay Bus Stand (113 km). Board your preferred mode of transport and head back home.