Varanasi Darjeeling and Sikkim Tour

Arrive in Delhi in the morning and flight flight to Varanasi, traditional welcome
with flower wreath giving and transfer to the hotel. Varanasi is the holy city of India where Hindus come to seek spiritual deliverance. Pilgrims flock to the ghats that lead to the river. The great attraction of Varanasi is the long chain of ghats bordering the western bank of the Ganges. The Ghat are those steps that go down to the river and where the dead are cremated. In the evening you will attend ‘ Puja ‘ The Aarti ceremony in the evening in the bank of the Ganges, Brahman priests, oil lamps in hand, pray in front of the Ganges, then bless the pilgrims, Night at the hotel.

Early morning departure for a boat ride on the Ganges where you can see the sun rising women bathing quietly in their saris. young men submitting their bodies to the contortions of yoga exercises. the Brahman priests offering their blessings, the water has a magic power for the Hindus, and among all the waters, those of the Ganga is the holiest water of the washing ganga of all past sins. present and future thanks to the birth of the Goddess Ganges on Earth, Free Lunch. then visit the temple Bharat mata (mother India) inaugurated by mahatma Gandhi who is outside the old city, after mid-visit SARNATHOne of the high places of Buddhism is indeed that Buddha came to set the wheel of the law in motion. His first sermon, on the site, still remains vestiges of the student buildings by Ashoka himself, with the main temple of the sixth century the column of Ashoka. The Dhamek stupa, Then visit the silk workshops in Varanasi, overnight at the hotel

Departure by road to Bodhgaya one of the most important and sacred Buddhist pilgrimage centers, it was under a banyan, the tree of bodhiGautama attains supreme knowledge to become enlightening him. Arrival and installation in the hotel In the towns of Bodhgaya, we will devote a moment to visit the small but interesting archaeological museum. carved fragments of the original balustrade of the temple, as well as some statues of the Blessed, a large recent Buddha statue, the visit of the temples of many nationalities shows the various faces of Buddhism in these countries, a Big Buddha of 14 meters high is behind the temple of Japan, it is accessed by an alley providing a good perspective on this recent statue, a walk through the city by visiting the dinner market, overnight at the hotel

Bodhgaya is one of the holiest
sites for Buddhists from all over the world, where Japanese and Chinese meet. Vietnamese Sri Lankans, Thai Tibetans and many Western Bodhgaya is not very developed, which strikes the most except the Mahaboddhi temple, it is the multiple temples of religious communities of Buddhist countries that have settled here for a few decades, the Mahabodhi Temple, in the center of the village, is located at the same place where the Buddha reached the illuminations, it was built between the 1st and 3rd century on the site of an ancient temple erected during the reign of Emperor Ashoka (third century before our era) then restores in the 19th century. it is a pyramidal tower of bricks covered with a stonework, 55 meters high, four small turrets mark the corners inside the sanctuary houses a large statue, dressed with leaves, gold Buddha at the time of Awakening, just at the back of the monument.
the tree of the bodhi (a ficus religiosa) is the descendant of the original tree under which the Buddha meditated, a cuttings were transported to Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, in the third century BC by Mahinda son of Emperor Ashoka Another cuttings would have been brought back to Bodhgaya 120 years ago … and it is this tree that we see today, on the ground right in front of the tree, a stone plate worked (dating from the time Ashoka) surmounted by a canvas awning, is called the diamond throne … this is the exact location where the Buddha meditated. Departure for the nearby city of Gaya. Walk on the banks of the river to see the pilgrims participate in the ceremony of ancestors (SHRADDHA) then departure to Patna en route, visit the Nalanda – former Hindu university and high place of Buddhism that radiated throughout Asia 5th in the 12th century. Arrival in PATNA, One of the oldest cities of India, facilities at the hotel and Overnight at the hotel

Patna is the capital of the state of Bihar, in the north-east of India. The city was previously known as Kusumpura, Pushpapura. Pataliputra, and Azeemabad, The Golghar, vast dome-shaped constructions located between the Ganges and Maidan, dates from the end of the eighteenth century, it was to be used as grain silo but never served, The State Museum is all a remarkable fact, a walk in the city, Night at the hotel.

Transfer to the train station to take the Janshatabdi Express train departing at 05.45 to Kolkata. Arrival in kolkata around 13:25. Welcome and transfer to the hotel, excursion to Chandarnagar, the French Chandernagor the buried under the coconut trees by the river, we will visit the museum housed in the former residence of France, as well as the church of the Sacred Heart. The French Catholic cemetery some tombs date from the second half of the XVIII. The kiosk of the landing stage on the stand, offered by a son of Durga Chorone Roquitte in memory of his father, descendant of jean-louis pug trader from Bordeaux. the family Roquitte is the only family is the only family of purely French origin still present in Chandernagor. Chandannagar Church, some beautiful houses with colonial architecture XVIII, hidden behind the palm trees back to kolkata diner. Night at the hotel.

Discovery of the huge and buzzing city has the enchanting atmosphere, which has many traces of its colonial past, during your stay you can visit different monuments and museums (the city is rich, there are 25) and the remains of the colonial era. during the stay the order of the visits will be organized with your guide visits: The Writers Building, the cathedral Saint-Paul (dating from 1847), the Armenian church 1630, the Victoria Memorial, built in memory of Queen Victoria, empress of the Indies, but also the temple of Kali, the bloodthirsty mother goddess of the city where the memories of the sect of thugs and its human sacrifices, which certainly inspired Fritz Lang for Writing of the scenario of the films “Bengal Tiger”, and “Hindu Tomb” you will pass by La Martiniere College, built in 1836, in memory of Lyon Claude Martin officer of the French Army of the Indies visit also the Indian Museum, one of the richest in India, and the Marble Palace, an old palace housing a beautiful collection of sculptures and paintings. Visit the house of mother Teresa, dinner. Night at the hotel

Visit of the big flower market of Kolkata. Transfer to the train station to take the Bbs Jan Shatabdi Express train departing at 13:25 to Bhubaneshwar. Arrival at Bhubaneshwar around 8:20 pm Reception and transfer to the hotel. Night at the hotel

Departure by road to Puri. Excursion to Konarak. On the way, stop at the stupa of Dhauli, after a stop in a village of sinners, or we will discover a form of very original boat, we will go up along the shore of the Bay of Bengalto the Konarak Temple. built in the 13th century, in honor of the sun god Surya, the sanctuary represents a gigantic solar tank, which seems stranded on the sand dunes. If this has not withstood the onslaught of time, the abundant decoration always delivers the message of the cosmic symbolism of the building: the visual discovery of the innumerable sculptures raising the spirit towards the understanding of the Hindu thought, Evocation of the different modes of existence taken in the eternal circle of time, but transcends the supreme reality, accessible thanks to the deity, a place steeped in strength, which will seduce us with its charm and the nostalgia that emerges, arrival and facilities to the ‘hotel. Jagannath Temple Touror the holy of holies shelters statues sculpts, at the origin, by Vishnu itself, the secret of the cult is jealously preserved and the non-Hindus can not penetrate there the brahmanes of the temple dared to refuse access to Indira Gandhi it -even. We will discover it from the outside. then we will be impregnated with the atmosphere of this high place of Tantrism while strolling on the market along the route taken by the floats carrying the divine statues during the summer procession, when the pilgrims converge by hundreds of thousands. Night at the hotel

Departure by road to Bhubaneswar, en route, tribal dance show in Raghurajpur, visits of villages (Pippli and Raghurajpur) on the road between Bhubaneshwar and Puri Arrival and installation at the hotel. The visit of Bhubaneshwar will be an opportunity to stroll through the lush countryside of Orissa or among the palm trees, the rice comes to maturity three times a year From village to village, we will discover a rural world rich in traditions and beliefs deeply steeped in everyday life, a last facet of the diversity of northern India, scorned history books but that will surely delight you as much as the high places by its authenticity. Discovery of the most notable among the dozens of medieval Hindu temple of the city, after experiencing a brilliant Buddhist period at the beginning of our era. Bhubaneshwar was from the seventh century a major center of development of Shaivism. Witness a unique temple complex whose construction spans between the seventh and twelfth century and is a true museum of the evolution of the Hindu architectural tradition in northern India the oldest temples, such as those ofParasurameswara and Mukteswara , seduce by the balance of their proportions and the elegance of their decoration. In their small size, even their charm resides the more grandiose buildings of the eleventh and twelfth centuries testify to the new assurance of the architects and the pride of their sponsors the sculptors gained more ease of skill and the celestial nymphs who succeed on temples with earlier mythological scenes express all the grace of the high choreographic tradition of Orissa. Night at the hotel.

Transfer to the train station to take the train Shatabdi Express departure at 06:00 to Kolkata arrived in kolkata around 12:40 reception and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon walk in the residential area of ​​Alipore and Belvedere hosted by the National Library in the former residence of the Viceroy of the Indies, or Satyajit Ray, the great filmmaker Bengali, received the Legion of Honor hands of François Mitterrand . In the middle of the crowd, crossing the famous bridge over the Hoogly which leads to the great Howrah. Night at the hotel.

Departure by road to Godhkali. Arrival at Godhkali then departure by boat for Dayapur, Boat trip to the Sajnekhali Project Tiger area to see the wildlife, lunch, afternoon, visit the watchtower and Sudhanyakhali. Cruise through Rivers A and Narrow. Pitchkhali-Sarakhkhali-Sudankhali-Bonobibi-Dharani creek (narrow Creek) and visit the watchtower followed by a Cruise around the islands of the Sunderban Tiger Area Project. Back to kolkata. Night at the hotel.

Excursion to Serampore , visit of Government House formerly the Dutch Chief’s Residence, visit of the Dutch School and Cemetery, then visit of Jute Factory, Return and overnight at the hotel.

Visit of Kolkata Sculptor District, Kumartuli is a district in the north of Kolkata, a center of Hindu idol creations for worship related to religious festivals, Kumartuli is particularly active in the approach of the Durga Puja festival in October very popular in Calcutta and Bengal streets are then cluttered with idols of the Hindu pantheon, very often Durga or Ganesh from father to son the artists tirelessly repeat the same gesture which allowed to perpetuate an old artistic tradition diner night to the ‘hotel

Transfer to the airport and flight to Bagdogra , arrival, reception and departure by road to Darjeeling a beautiful road of 120 km 3 along the Teesta River, Darjeeling (at an altitude of 2123 m ) is a breathtakingly beautiful tea plantation in steps with Mount Everest in the background, Darjeeling is home to many international schools of the Himalayan Mountain Institute of Padmaja Naidu Zoological Park, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, etc. It is also the place where you can find the famous World Heritage highland train: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a hotel facility. Overnight at hotel

Early morning excursion from Tiger Hill, the highest point of the region (2590 m.) magnificent sunrise view over the Kanchenjunga and other peaks of the eastern Himalayan range, Ghoom Monastery, one of the most famous of Darjeeling houses a statue of Buddha Maitreya (5m high) a short ride in small heritage train then visit Darjeeling Lolyd Botanical Garden which contains a collection of plants of flowers and orchids of the Himalayas. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, one of the most prestigious in India, it contains collections of ancient mountaineering equipment, specimens of Himalayan flora and fauna. the Tibetan Refugee Center created in 1959, includes a school a hospital a retirement home an orphanage and a craft workshop producing Ladakh pure wool carpets of wood carvings of leather goods and woolen fabrics. Night at the hotel

Departure by road to Pelling – one of the famous mountain resorts in Sikkim for the magnificent view of the snow-capped mountains of Kanchenjunga, en route visit Rinchenpong in southern Sikkim of Pemayangste Monastery, Rabtense ruins, on the way to go to Yukum visit en route to Khechipalri Lake and Rambi Falls. Arrival and facilities at the hotel. Night at the hotel

Departure by road to Gangtok – the capital of Sikkim province a scenic route capital of Sikkim, which extends on the western side of a ridge bordering the Ranipul. The scenery is beautiful and many sites around the city enjoy splendid views of the Kanchenjunga range. Arrival and installation at the hotel. Night at the hotel.

Visit the monastery of Rumtek : situated at 23km from Gangtok is an imposing monastery built in the early 18th century, it houses about 150 lamas (monks) in a serene location. the structure of the monastery is in perfect harmony with the traditional style of architecture is the seat of Gyalwa Karmapa chief of the kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism is the 16th reincarnation of the famous master. visit the city of Gangtok. The Enchey gompa the palace of the ancient chogyal and the imposing royal chapel (Tsuk-la-khang). The immense tashiling (complex of the secretariat) is a little more the institute of diabetology Namgyal, the garden of orchids and a big choten (Tibetan stupa) Overnight at the hotel

Departure by road for KALIMPONG . Formerly it was the meeting of trade routes between Tibet-Bhutan and Nepal. Small town located at 1250 m above sea level – a forest of oaks and an abundance of flowers. Arrival and installation at the hotel. Afternoon visit of a monastery and a flower nursery. visit fascinating markets with their colorful animation and craft products. you will also visit the Tibetan Monastery of Ttripal Hill, and from Dubindera Hill you will have a splendid view of the Himalayas. Night at the hotel

Departure by road to Siliguri by way of Coronation bridge. The Coronation Bridge also known as Sevoke, it was named so to commemorate the coronation of King George VI in 1937 and was completed in 1941 the first stone of the bridge was posse by John Anderson who was then the Governor of Bengal in 1937 locals call it the Baghpool Bridge which means tiger bridge because of the two lion statues (Bagh means tiger) at a bridge entrance the bridge is also called Lohapul (iron bridge) because it is realized in steel. Arrival and installation at the hotel. Afternoon visit of the lskcon temple and the Salugara monastery the lskon temple in Siliguri attracts thousands of people to its fold. The international society for the conscience ofKrishna (Iskcon) manages the temple with dedication and respect. The temple houses Radha Madhav idol an image of Lord Krishna with his romantic wife Radha the temple houses many beautiful idols of Advaita Acharya, Lord Narasimha, Chaitanya and many others. The temple is entirely built in the modern architectural style without giving up the ancient Indian customs of ‘Vashtuhaara’ The marble floors and the beautiful shiny walls are very eye-catching the Salugara Monasteryis among the places the most frequent and revered places, located in the outskirts of Siliguri located 6 km from the city the Buddhist temple is visited by tourists for meditation the ideal location for meditation was created by the monks and the followers of the religious leader His Holiness the Tibetan Dalai Lama. Night at the hotel

Transfer to Bagdogra airport and flight to Delhi . Arrival in Delhi. Reception and transfer to the hotel. Night at the hotel

Transfer to the airport for flight to Paris.