Darjeeling & Sikkim

DARJEELING

As much a haven from the heat of the plains as Shimla provided for the British in Delhi, so the residents of Calcutta would retreat to Darjeeling as their favoured hill station complete with toy railway, golf club, race course, botanical garden and mock Tudor houses. Unlike Shimla, however, there is a genuine Buddhist atmosphere here. It is the gateway to the Buddhist kingdoms of Sikkim and Bhutan. One of the great experiences of Darjeeling is to watch the sun rise over Kanchenjunga, the worlds third highest mountain, from Tiger Hill.

DARJEELING TOY TRAIN

Trains came to India in the early part of the last century - among the very first and most novel is the famous Toy Train of Darjeeling. It is 125 years old, having made its maiden trip in 1881.

In 1870, an agent working for the Eastern Bengal Railway came up with a brilliant idea to reduce the costs of transport. His name was Franklyn Prestage, and his idea was the Toy Train. It took eight long years for Prestage to submit his scheme to Governor Sir Ashey Eden, who gave it immediate sanction. Named the Darjeeling Steam Tramway Company, it was changed to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Company on 15 September 1881. It remained as such until it was taken over by the Indian government on 20 October 1948. The construction had begun in 1879, the first 20-mile section, from Siliguri to Tindharia station, was opened in March 1880 for the Viceroy's special train only, and finally, on 4 July 1881, the baby locomotive and three coaches puffed right through to Darjeeling - a total of 50.75 miles.

SIKKIM

The Buddhist kingdom of Sikkim is a remote mountainous region bordering Tibet to the north and wedged between the Himalayan kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan. It is a beautiful, lush country containing a fascinating capital city, Gangtok, and the world's third highest mountain, Kangchenjunga (8,586m), which straddles the border with Nepal.

Recommended travel guide books: The India Lonely Planet Guide and the Rough Guide to India.

Who looks after us? How our tours work is that from the moment you arrive in India our agents will meet you and their responsibility is to ensure that you are transferred as per your itinerary and escorted onto trains and met etc. All train and domestic flight bookings are reserved in advance. Travel by train is in comfortable air-con carriage in 4/6 berth cabins with padded berths/seats. You will have an English speaking driver and our local English speaking guides will escort you on your sightseeing tours.

For further information please telephone 01225 868544 or email info@essential-india.co.uk

Special note:
This tour can be adapted to suit your particular travel preferences. For tailor-made itineraries please contact Essential India Travel to discuss your individual requirements.

You can dowload and print our booking form and our detailed day by day tour itineraries with accommodation photographs and service details.

If you wish to pay for all or part of your holiday, please use our new ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEM or phone us directly on 01225 868544

Travel Tariff Information

Duration: 16 Days
Peak Season : £
High Season October to April (Not including Christmas and the New Year): £1980 Mid range accommodation. Airline: British Airways. Land only: (Not including flights on BA) £1385 Deposit £300
Car Supplement Cost: N/A
Domestic Flight Cost: N/A

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