+91-8929175340
Until the beginning of the 18th century, the area between the present borders of Sikkim and the plains of Bengal, including Darjeeling and Kalimpong, belonged to the kings of Sikkim. In 1706 the king lost Kalimpong to the Bhutanese. And control of the remainder was wrested from them by the Gurkhas who invaded Sikkim in 1780, following consolidation of the latter's rule in Nepal. These annexations by the Gurkhas, however, brought them into conflict with the British. A series of wars followed, eventually leading to the defeat of the Gurkhas and the ceding of all the land they had taken from the Sikkimese to the British. Part of this territory was restored to the king of Sikkim and the country's sovereignty guaranteed by the British in return for British control over any disputes which arose with neighboring states.
When the British first arrived in Darjeeling it was almost completely forested and virtually uninhabited, though it had once been a sizeable village before the wars with Bhutan and Nepal. Development was rapid and by 1840 a road had been constructed, numerous houses and a sanatorium built and a hotel opened. By 1857 Darjeeling had a population of some 10,000. The population increase was due mainly to the recruitment of Nepalese laborers to work the tea plantations established in the early 1840s by the British. Even today, the vast majority of people speak Nepali as a first language and the name Darjeeling continues to be synonymous with tea.
The immigration of Nepali-speaking peoples, mainly Gurkhas, into the mountainous areas of West Bengal, eventually led to political problems in the mid-1980s. Resentment had been growing among the Gurkhas over what they felt was discrimination against them by the government of West Bengal. Their language was not recognized by the Indian constitution and government jobs were thus only open to those who could speak Bengali. The tensions finally came to a head in widespread riots throughout the hill country which continued for several years, and in which hundreds of people lost their lives and thousands were mode homeless. Tourism came to a grinding halt. The movement was lead by the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), led by Subash Ghising, which demanded a separate state to be known as Gorkhaland. A compromise was eventually hammered out in late 1988 whereby the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) was given a large measure of autonomy from the state government and fresh elections to the council were held. Darjeeling remains part of West Bengal but now has greater control over its own affairs.
Day 1 : BY AIR - ARRIVE DELHI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Arrive Delhi International Airport. Meeting and assistance upon arrival and transfer to hotel in Bangalore.
Perhaps there is no other capital city in the world so steeped in history and legend as the Indian capital Delhi. It was the magnet, which drew the Mongols, Turks, Persians, Afghans, Mughals and the British, all of whom contributed to its glorious but turbulent past. The fascination with Delhi was such that even though it was abandoned many times, its rulers returned to it again and again rebuilding it at least seven times. Today, the twin cities of Old and New Delhi still intrigue Indians and tourists alike as the cultural and political capital of the largest democracy in the world.
Overnight in Bangalore.
Day 2 : IN DELHI
After breakfast proceed for city tour of Old and New Delhi :
New Delhi : Built in a typically British colonial style with tree-lined avenues and colonial bungalows. See the Laxminarayan Temple, a modern Hindu temple, and India Gate, the 42 m high War Memorial Arch. Drive past the Parliament House, the Secretariat buildings and the Vice Regal Palace, now the official residence of the President of India. You will also visit Qutab Minar - what was intended to be the most glorious tower of victory in the world and was to be the prototype of all minars in India.
Old Delhi : Visit the 17th century Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. See Chandni Chowk, the shopping center of old Delhi and drive past the Red Fort for a photo stop. Visit Raj Ghat where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated.
Overnight in Delhi
Day 3 : BY AIR - DELHI / BAGDOGRA ONWARD BY SURFACE TO DARJEELING
On time transfer to airport to board flight for Bagdogra. Meeting and assistance upon arrival and drive to Darjeeling. Upon arrival check in at hotel in Darjeeling.
Located on a ridge at 2134 m and surrounded by forested hills and tea plantations, Darjeeling has been a popular hill station since the British established it in the mid-1800s.With its idyllic setting, exhilarating climate and stunning views of the Kanchenjunga peaks it also attracts trekkers. It is a fascinating town where one can see Buddhist monasteries, visit tea plantations, bargain-hunt or go trekking.
Overnight in Darjeeling.
Day 4 : IN DARJEELING
After breakfast proceed for half day city tour of Darjeeling visiting the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Everest Museum and the house of Tenzing Norgay, who shared the first climb of Mt. Everest in 1953.
Dinner and overnight in Darjeeling
Day 5 : IN DARJEELING
Early morning excursion to Tiger Hill (2590 m) to view the sunrise and its reflection on Kanchenjunga and Mt. Everest in their majestic glory. Later drive to Ghoom (8 km away, altitude 2550 m) to see the important Yiga-Choling gompa, a Yellow Hat sect Buddhist monastery. The 19th century gompa, one of the oldest in the area, enshrines an enormous gilded statue of the Maitreya Buddha and also houses valuable Tibetan manuscripts.
Rest of the free for independent activities.
Dinner and overnight in Darjeeling.
Day 6 : BY ROAD - DARJEELING / GANGTOK
After breakfast drive to Gangtok. Upon arrival check in at hotel in Gangtok.
Afternoon proceed for tour of Thshangu Lake & Baba Mander.
Dinner and overnight in Gangtok.
Day 7 : BY ROAD - GANGTOK / BAGDOGRA ONWARD BY AIR BAGDOGRA / DELHI
On time transfer to Bagdogra airport to board flight for Delhi. Meeting and assistance upon arrival and transfer to hotel in Delhi.
Overnight in Delhi.
Day 8 : DEPART CHENNAI FOR ONWARD DESTINATION
On time transfer to international airport to board flight for onward destination.
Payment Terms & Methods :
* Some Advance Percentage of total booking amount * Airfare/Transport fare to be paid full at one time in advance.
Cancellation & Refund Policy :
* Upon cancellation, refund will be made after deducting the Retention Amount. * Retention Amount varies as per the number of days left before your package start date.
Saffron Vacation View Profile
0 / 5
About Saffron Vacation
Saffron Vacation
0 /5New Delhi - Indore - Ujjain - Bhopal - Sanchi - Pachmarhi - Kanha - Khajuraho - Orc..
Chennai - Kodaikanal - Thekkady - Kottayam - Trivandrum - Kovalam - Kochi
Mumbai - Munnar - Periyar - Alleppey - Kanyakumari - Kovalam - Trivandrum - Kochi
Trivandrum - Alleppey - Thekkady - Munnar - Ooty - Coimbatore - Kochi
Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Mysore - Kodagu
New Delhi - Shimla - Manali - Chandigarh City
08048026916
Get QuoteNew Delhi - Shimla - Manikaran - Manali - Amritsar
08048403820
Get QuoteNew Delhi - Agra - Prayagraj - Lucknow - Mathura - Varanasi - Ayodhya - Vrindavan -..
08047019570
Get QuoteGangtok - Darjeeling - Kathmandu - Pokhara - Goa City
08048003179
Get QuoteGangtok - Darjeeling - Kathmandu - Pokhara
08047018023
Get QuoteGangtok - Darjeeling - Kathmandu - Pokhara
08047017437
Get Quote