Sun Temple with Sikkim Tour

Welcome to Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha and one of eastern India's important centres of temple architecture and heritage. On arrival at the airport, our representative will assist you and escort you by air-conditioned car to the pre-booked hotel. During check-in, you will receive the required tour documents and a briefing about the itinerary and services. If you arrive in the morning and time permits, take a short introductory drive through the city; otherwise, relax at the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Bhubaneswar.

After breakfast, begin a full-day exploration of Bhubaneswar, known for its remarkable concentration of Kalinga-style temples. Visit Rajarani Temple, an 11th-century architectural masterpiece noted for its finely carved sandstone sculptures and distinctive tower; the temple today has no presiding deity. Continue to Mukteswar Temple, celebrated for its ornate torana and detailed carvings, followed by Lingaraj Temple, one of the city's principal Shaivite monuments, and Parasurameswar Temple, an important early example in the evolution of Kalinga temple architecture. Proceed to Atri, known for its perennial hot spring and the nearby Hatakeswar Temple. Later explore the twin hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri, where ancient rock-cut caves preserve important evidence of Odisha's Jain heritage. In the evening, you may explore local markets for traditional Odishan handicrafts or visit Bindusagar Lake. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive towards Puri. En route, stop at Dhauli, associated with the Kalinga War of 261 BC and the transformation of Emperor Ashoka from a conqueror into a patron of Buddhism. Visit the Dhauli Shanti Stupa, or Peace Pagoda, overlooking the historic landscape. Continue to Konark to explore the magnificent Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 13th century as a monumental representation of the chariot of the Sun God Surya. Its carved wheels, horses and sculptural panels showcase the sophistication of Kalinga architecture and the artistic life of medieval Odisha. Continue to Puri and transfer to the hotel. The evening is free to relax on the beach or explore the local surroundings. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore Puri, one of India's major pilgrimage cities and one of the four traditional Char Dham destinations. Visit the renowned Jagannath Temple, a 12th-century temple and the spiritual centre of the Jagannath tradition. Non-Hindu visitors are not permitted inside the main temple complex, but the temple can be viewed from designated viewpoints outside. Continue to Gundicha Temple, associated with the annual Rath Yatra, and Adi Shankaracharya's Govardhan Math. Later stroll through the bustling temple bazaar, where traditional handicrafts and religious items are available. The remainder of the evening is free for shopping or relaxation along Puri Beach. Overnight at the hotel.

After an early breakfast, take an excursion to Raghurajpur, a renowned heritage craft village near Puri and one of Odisha's best-known centres of Pattachitra painting. Walk through the village and see artists working on traditional paintings, palm-leaf engravings, masks and other crafts. Continue towards Chilika Lake, Asia's largest brackish-water lagoon and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. Depending on the chosen excursion point and local operating conditions, enjoy a boat experience on the lagoon, where the surrounding wetlands support large numbers of resident and migratory birds and the Satapada area is known for its Irrawaddy dolphins. Return to Puri after the excursion. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Bhubaneswar Airport for your scheduled flight to Kolkata. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and complete check-in. The remainder of the day is free for individual activities, relaxation or exploring the local markets. Overnight at the hotel in Kolkata.

After breakfast, explore Kolkata, a city shaped by colonial history, Bengali culture, literature and art. Begin with the Howrah Bridge, one of the city's most recognizable landmarks spanning the Hooghly River. Continue to the Victoria Memorial, an iconic white-marble monument built between 1906 and 1921 and now home to collections documenting Kolkata's colonial and cultural history. Visit the Indian Museum, one of India's oldest and largest museums, with collections spanning archaeology, art, natural history and cultural heritage. Continue to Kalighat Kali Temple, one of the city's most important Hindu pilgrimage sites. Visit St. Paul's Cathedral, known for its Gothic Revival architecture, followed by the Botanical Gardens. See the High Court Building and Dalhousie Square, important landmarks of colonial Kolkata, before visiting Tagore House, associated with the Tagore family's literary and cultural legacy. Continue to Birla Mandir. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to the airport for the scheduled flight to Bagdogra. On arrival, drive towards Kalimpong, a peaceful hill town in the Eastern Himalayas known for its mountain scenery, monasteries and horticultural traditions. Kalimpong's temperate climate supports a long-established nursery industry, particularly known for orchids and other Himalayan plants. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and spend the evening at leisure, enjoying the quieter atmosphere of the hill town. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore Kalimpong with a visit to Durpin Dara, a scenic hill overlooking the town, the Teesta River and the surrounding Himalayan ranges. Visit Zang Dhok Palri Phodang Monastery, located on Durpin Dara and consecrated by the Dalai Lama in 1976. Continue through the local flower and orchid nurseries and explore Kalimpong Market before departing for Pelling in West Sikkim. Pelling is known for its close views of the Khangchendzonga range and its proximity to important monasteries, waterfalls and historic sites. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and relax. Dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, take a full-day excursion around Pelling. Visit Singshore Bridge, Sikkim's highest suspension bridge, offering dramatic views over the forested valley, followed by Dentam, a scenic mountain settlement. Continue to Pemayangtse Monastery, one of Sikkim's most important Nyingma Buddhist monasteries, known for its religious artwork and the elaborate wooden representation of Guru Padmasambhava's celestial abode. Visit the sacred Khecheopalri Lake, revered by both Buddhists and Hindus and surrounded by dense forest. Continue to Khangchendzonga Falls and Rimbi Falls for views of the region's mountain landscapes and waterways. Visit the historic Rabdentse Ruins, the remains of the former capital of Sikkim, before enjoying views from a nearby sunset viewpoint. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Gangtok. The journey follows the mountainous landscapes of Sikkim, with views of forested valleys, rivers, waterfalls and small settlements along the route. Continue through the Teesta Valley before gradually climbing towards Gangtok. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and after refreshment visit Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park, a landscaped park built around a waterfall and inspired by Sikkimese folklore, followed by Ranka Monastery, a peaceful Buddhist monastery surrounded by forested hills. In the evening, explore Gangtok's local market area and enjoy the town's mountain atmosphere. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, take an excursion to Tsomgo Lake, a sacred high-altitude lake situated at approximately 3,780 metres above sea level. Surrounded by steep mountain slopes, the lake changes character with the seasons and is an important cultural and natural landmark of East Sikkim. Enjoy the mountain scenery and, where locally available and permitted, experience a Yak Ride. Continue to Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir, associated with the legend of an Indian Army soldier and visited by travellers along the route. Return towards Gangtok and visit Hanuman Tok, a hilltop temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman, followed by Tashi View Point, known for views towards Khangchendzonga on clear days. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Darjeeling, the renowned hill station of West Bengal known for its tea gardens, Himalayan scenery and the UNESCO-recognized Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The journey passes through mountain valleys and tea-growing landscapes before reaching Darjeeling. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and relax. In the evening, take a leisurely walk along Chowrasta and Mall Road, the heart of Darjeeling's town centre, with its shops, cafés and views across the surrounding hills. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Begin the day with an early morning excursion to Tiger Hill to watch the first light illuminate the snow-covered peaks of the Khangchendzonga range. On clear days, Mount Everest may also be visible from the viewpoint. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Later visit Batasia Loop, a remarkable section of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway where the track negotiates the steep mountain gradient, followed by Ghoom Monastery, one of Darjeeling's well-known Buddhist monasteries. Continue to the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre, established in 1959 and known for its traditional craft workshops, followed by the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, which focuses on the conservation of Himalayan fauna. Visit a local tea garden to see Darjeeling's distinctive tea-growing landscape. In the evening, you may stroll around the Mall area. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Bagdogra Airport. On arrival, transfer to the airport to board the scheduled flight for Kolkata. From Kolkata, board the scheduled onward flight for your hometown. The tour concludes with happy memories of Odisha, Bengal and the Eastern Himalayas.