This 12 day horticultural journey takes you closer to the natural life around West Bengal and

Sikkim. Weaved exclusively for the Garden lovers, this entire expedition abounds unique

interactions with passionate entrepreneurs, retreat owners and horticulturist.

Beginning with the colonial gardens of Kolkata and finishing in the forests of Himalayas, this

fantastic journey will see you exploring botanical gardens, orchidariums, flower and plant

markets, and nurseries, plant conservation and research activities; each one a new exploration

and journey to learn from. Add to that a fresh stay amid tea gardens that blends exploring and

gaining an understanding of the essential agronomy and learning the steps in the tea-making

process from withering to sorting.

Itinerary

Welcome to the very heart of West Bengal; Kolkata

Explore the colonial gardens of Kolkata knotted with Art and History; absolutely one - of - a – kind

From Kolkata, Hop to Darjeeling, home to an interesting and varied collection of Himalayan flora

At Darjeeling, interact with Tea pickers and get an insider’s perspective on how tea is grown, manufactured and

tasted. Participate in a traditional tea ceremony

Enter Gangtok; layers of nature, charming markets and superb views of world’s third highest peak; Mount

Kanchendzonga surround it

Nature lovers will revel in this beautiful landscape of Gangtok; lush hills bursting with orchids and rhododendron

blossoms

In Gangtok, meet the keen Horticulturalist and preserver to enhance and enrich your knowledge on the plant science

From Gangtok, follow north to Lachung; your base to the beautiful valley of Yumthang and eventually a zero point

plateau

Day excursion to Yumthang Valley; a peaceful slice of lush with rhododendron sanctuary in sight

Up next is Gangtok, base for the onward journey

From Gangtok, wind along the road that runs through a thick, well shaded forest and arrive at Kalimpong; quiet and

quaint

Into the Himalayan foothills of Kalimpong, spend the day exploring the gardens and nurseries

Early morning, a short drive takes you to Bagdogra airport for the flight towards Kolkata

Homeward Bound

Day 1: Welcome to Kolkata

Arriving into Kolkata - the cosmopolitan capital of

West Bengal, offers a lovely introduction to this

program. With number of spectacular gardens that

surround Kolkata, art and culture that abounds

throughout its streets; 3 days here will see you

appreciating the rhythms, the sounds and the absolute

heart of its locals.

Good to know

The city’s most famous landmark Victoria

Memorial stands amidst beautiful garden

grounds, dotted with patterned palms, ponds and

statues.

Inside, the 25 galleries cover a fascinating

selection of paintings that depict Kolkata’s

history, an exquisite set of Persian manuscripts,

and other objects of historic value. Even if you

don’t want to go in, the building is still worth

admiring from afar.

Take a chance and visit this magnificence and

you may just be in for a wonderful experience

Day 2 Kolkata

Over a course of three day stay; ramble in the streets

spilling over with distinct imperial character, lose

yourself in its history, chat with locals about their lives

and experience a way of life that is extremely foreign to

all your senses.

Visit the Botanical garden for the indigenous collection

of plants. The main attraction of the 273-acre gardens

being the banyan tree, the world's largest, having a

circumference of 330m. These gardens are the biggest

in Asia, and the second largest in the world.

Overnight stay at the hotel

Sita Recommends

Flower market- Wonderful collage of colors

Kolkata’s flower market blooms into bud in the wee

hours of the morning and catching this scene in full

bloom really is something that we highly recommend.

Out here, you can see flowers everywhere; on the

ground, on people’s head, in carts and trucks and on

display.

Its quiet a chaotic and harried scene but the bright

blooming flowers perfume everything with subtle sense

of calm.

Day 3: Kolkata – Bagdogra – Darjeeling

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to the airport in time for

flight to Bagdogra. Assistance at the airport on arrival

and drive for a couple of hours to Darjeeling for

exploring the acre upon acre of rolling tea bush and

forest….A house on a hill, a Himalayan sunrise and a

tea garden that still marches to a century-old beat sheer.

Good to Know

Lloyd Botanical Garden

The Lloyd Botanical Garden harbors Himalayan

and alpine plant varieties, including flowers and

orchids. There are over 1500 varieties of trees,

which represent species from 17 different

countries.

Day 4: Darjeeling

Spend your day exploring the beautiful nooks and

corners of Darjeeling.

Visiting the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute can be

an interesting exploration. Started in Darjeeling when

Tenzing Norgay climbed Everest to give training to

learn Mountaineering and other adventure sports related

to mountaineering and in that Institute one can see

equipment etc. Used by Mr. Tenzing Norgay and

Everest Museum having complete details on Everest

attached to institute, one can visit Himalayan Zoological

Park where one can see Himalayan animals like Snow

Leopard, Tibetan Wolf, Tibetan Yak, Himalayan Black

Bear and several varieties of birds.

Tibetan Self- Help Centre or Refugee Centre - This

institute is run by Tibetan Refugees to preserve their

handicrafts and one can see making of Tibetan Carpets,

Leather work, Paintings and Wooden work etc.

Sita Recommends

Catch spectacular sunrise at Tiger Hill

Rise early to drive uphill 13 km from Darjeeling

to see beautiful sunrise and Himalayan Range

like Kanchandzonga, Mount Everest etc. One

can see the horizon changing colors just before

sunrise and then the entire Himalayan range

turn golden. It is truly a majestic sight.

Discover the flavors of Indian Tea

Learn about the fascinating process of tea

making. From bush to factory - and into your

tea cup at a tasting session, discover what goes

into making a fine Darjeeling tea.

Day 05: Darjeeling – Gangtok

Breakfast at the hotel and journey further towards

Gangtok. Gangtok became the state capital in the mid-

19th century and has undergone rapid development

since then. The downtown area is dominated by huge

government buildings decorated with traditional

Buddhist symbols.

Gangtok is also a great resting ground for people

traveling to North Sikkim. Surrounded by Monasteries

and Orchids, Gangtok is truly a traveler’s delight.

Good to Know

Rumtek Monastery

Rumtek Monastery is the world Dharma chakra

Centre and the seat of His Holiness, the Gyalwa

Karmapa, who is the head of the Kagyupa order

of Tibetan Buddhism. Opposite the entrance to

the Institute is a small hall featuring a beautiful

jewel studded Chorten the Golden Stupa, which

contains the ashes and remains of His Holiness

the xvi Gyalwa Karmapa. According to legend,

it is believed that after years of meditation, the

first Karmapa was said to have been visited by

ten thousand fairies that came to congratulate

him each of whom offered a strand of her hair

as a gift. These were said to have been woven

into a black hat, which was passed down and is

still at the Rumtek Monastery today. It is said

that unless held on to by the wearer (who of

course, cannot be anyone else but the Karmapa)

or kept in a box, the hat would fly away.

Day 06: Gangtok

Breakfast at the hotel and proceed for city tour

Ipecac Garden: - About 14 Km from Gangtok toward

Siliguri is the Ipecac Garden popularly known as

“Saramsa Gardens” named after the exotic medicinal

Ipecac plant which is grown here. Also exhibited is a

wide variety of other floras including numerous species

of endemic orchids. You can picnic here amidst the

famous tree ferns of Sikkim that grow in abundance

here.

Found here are some of the famous butterflies of

Sikkim including the “Golden Birdwing” that is as

endangered as the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Sita Recommends

The Flower Show Complex:

The complex is a pride and joy of Sikkim where

the World famous Orchids of Sikkim are on

exhibition along with seasonal flowers and

bonsai. Various competitions are organized here

periodically to adjudge the best orchids that are

then placed for displays.

Day 07: Gangtok – Lachung

After breakfast drive to North Sikkim. Enroute visit

Phodong Monastery. Built by the Chogyal Gyrumed

Namgyal in the early eighteenth century, it is one of the

important monasteries of Sikkim following the Kagyupa

sect.

Day 08: Lachung – Yumthang – Lachung

After breakfast drive to Yumthang. The road runs along

the valley with snowcapped mountains rising high up on

either side.

During spring season the journey is lit up with flaming

rhododendrons and other mountain flowers.

YUMTHANG is a wide valley where the local

herdsmen from Lachung camp their herds of yaks and

cattle during summer. The day can be spent walking

around in the valley, taking a dip in the hot sulphur

spring or just gazing at the towering white Mountains

around.

Lunch at Yumthang. Return to Lachung.

Day 9: Lachung - Gangtok

Drive back to Gangtok today and rest of the day is for

your own exploration.

Day 10: Gangtok – Kalimpong

Drive along the Gurgling streams for a couple of hours

to Kalimpong. In springtime, the ranges are glowing

with rhododendrons. The ethnic population is friendly

and the influence of Buddhism is strong. Past the

Batasia loop, past the Ghoom Buddhist monastery, past

the lush tea gardens, you finally arrive in a quaint town

with slanting red roofs among the recent upsurge of

concrete, peeping at you from behind lofty pines.

Sita Recommends

Home hosted Lunch

Arrive in time for a generous lunch at Neena’s

Kitchen; one of the greatest indulgences to be

had in Kalimpong.

Here, the gracious family is your hosts and

willingly introduces you to the area, its history

and unspoilt beauty while pampering you with

some delicious meals from their kitchen.

Neena is known for her food and hospitality

whereas her husband; Jivan loves sharing and

swapping stories. He retired as a senior tea

planter and giving guests an impromptu lesson

on tea tasting is really something he enjoys.

It is an experience that is atmospheric; a

quietude that is addictive; one that involves

cuisine, culture and learning…

Day 11: Kalimpong

An unhurried destination; Kalimpong has forests that

are a bird watcher and hiker’s paradise. Across the river

lie the forests and villages of the old royal kingdom of

Sikkim, which you can access via a hanging bridge.

Camp out, river raft, hike through the forest, wander

around the town, explore the tea estate in a four-wheel

drive vehicle, or simply take in the sun.

Good to Know

Chebu Basti is famous for its orange farms and

rice fields. There are a number of flower

nurseries in Chebu Basti farming rare orchids

which Kalimpong is famous for.

Flower Nurseries: The climate of Kalimpong is

ideal for the cultivation of flowers and plants.

Kalimpong is famous for its nurseries which

export exotic flowers like Amaryllis lilies,

Anthuriums, Roses gerberas, Dahilias,

Gladiolias as well as Orchids and Cacti.

Day 12: Kalimpong -Bagdogra – Kolkata

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Bagdogra in time for

flight till Kolkata. On arrival, transfer those to hotel

who have flight the following day.

For those who have flights the same day, assisted

transfer in time to the airport.

.

15 days

Day 13: Homeward bound

As per your international flight, transfer to the airport

for your onward destination

*With Sita, there is an exciting world of travel

possibilities and it’s our goal to provide an

unforgettable combination of experiences. This

routing can be customized based on your

preferred destination, experiences and hotels.