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Detail
Itineary.
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), Chanderna gore
(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
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 b oard-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
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
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 t our
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
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:
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 -Transfer to airport back to your journey.
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