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Day I:
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Pickup Bagdogra/NJP drive
Gangtok,126kms, and 4 hours.Bagdogra is the nearest Airport where as NJP (New Jalpaiguri) is the closest Railway
Station to Sikkim. Drive to Gangtok
passes through a lush green vegetation
adjacent to it river Teesta flows in a
vibrant current.
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Day II:
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Tour around Gangtok includes Rumtek Monastery, Flower show, Directorate of handicraft &Handlooms, Enchey Monastery, Hanuman Tok, Tashi view Point, Chorten, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology (NIT). Rumtek monastery is 24 kms away from Gangtok, about
45 minutes drive;-established in 1960 after the arrival of his holiness the XVIth Gyalwa Karmapa –it is almost a replica of the original Kagyud headquarter in Tibet. Flower show is orgnised round the year near White
Memorial Hall complex- exhibitions are held twice a year for the display of Orchids and other flowers, of which Sikkim boasts of having 4,000 flowering plants. Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms, is a store house
of handwoven woolen carpets, blankets, shawls, with traditional motifs and many other gift items- Sales Emporium remains open through-out the year. Enchey Monastery 200 years old Monastery – build on the site blessed by Lama Druptok Karpo,
a tantric master known for his power of flying.
“Chaam” a religious masked dance is performed with great fanfare for 2 days around January.. Chorten- Do-drul Chorten (Stupa)-build in 1945 by venerable Trulshi Rompoche head of Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism-
inside the Stupa: complete “Zung”(mantras)
and other religious objects. Around Chorten:108 Mani Lhakor (prayer wheels), Chorten Lakhang and Guru Lakhang.
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III:
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Day trip to Tsongo-Babamandir/Nathula Pass.Tsongo Lake, Babamandir and
Nathula are situated in high altitude area. Tsong is at 12400 feet,
Babamandir app. At 13000feet and Nathula is at 14600 feet. Tsongo Lake is
an alpine lake with lots of rainbow trout though it is a sacred lake of
Sikkim. Visitors are not allowed to do boating and entering the lake. Baba
mandir is situated much higher with a mandir established and maintained by
17th Mountain Brigade. Baba Harbajan a soldier who perished in
a gushing river in 1960 re surfaced to protect the border of Indo-China.
Nathula pass is gateway to
Tibet and before Chinese aggression this used to be only a silk route to
Lhasa. Nathula to Lhasa is only 470 kms. In near future this route is
being re- opened to start Indo-China
Trade. Gangtok to Tsongo—Baba Mandir drive is one of the most interesting
as it provides an altitudinal changes along with the vegetation changes.
During winter the region is full of snow. Nathula is opened for visitors
on the following days: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
Tour has to be organized by recognized local travel agent.
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Day IV.
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Gangtok drive to Lachung; –126 kms, is situated at around
8,610 feet. with total tribal culture & is one of the remote areas. The
Lachung Monastery on the slope opposite the highway is a focal point of
all religious functions of the local inhabitants. Scenic beauty while
traveling to Lachung is at its best with long cascading water falls- it
has gained soaring popularity of Yumthang Valley, which is just 24 kms
from here.
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Day VI.
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Lachung drive to Lachen 2728
meters. /Thangu: 14000 feet- Lachen is situated at an altitude of 9,075
feet. Lachen monastery situated on the top of the village commands a
panaromic view of the surroundings and countryside. Thangu is at an
altitude of 14,000 feet- about three hours drive from Lachen.
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