In the Shadow of the Himalayas – Nepal, Darjeeling & Gangtok Mountain Tour

Kathmandu
After breakfast in hotel, visit the following in Kathmandu:

Kathmandu Durbar Square
Kathmandu Durbar Square, one of the three medieval palace squares. An ancient courtyard is incredible with spectacular craftsmanship that reflects the local culture and tradition of yesteryear. The stone-paved streets, pagoda-style edifices, and the religious monuments inclusive of many different deities are exquisitely displayed as far as the eye can see.
Stroll through the streets and capture the daily activities of the locals. Small vendors selling a variety of trinkets, gregarious shops, and busy streets are all full of life.

Swayambhunath
After Kathmandu Durbar Square, visit Swayambhunath. Commonly known as The Monkey Temple, Swayambhunath is a hillock overlooking the valley. Capturing the Buddhist monks chanting prayers throughout the long series of staircases leading to the main temple is quite an adventure in itself. The entire complex includes a white stupa and other temples depicting Buddha and other gods in their several mudras. Everything about this magnificent place can be interesting. Even a monkey minding his own business can be a nice pick!

Dhulikhel
Dhulikhel is a Newari town that offers spectacular views of the Himalayan mountains on a clear weather day. Temples adorned with wood carvings and the fine example of traditional Newari craftsmanship can also be seen here.

Dinner and overnight in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu
After breakfast, visit the following during the city tour in Kathmandu:

Pashupatinath Temple
Early in the morning, after breakfast, we head towards Pashupatinath, the most popular Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. Pashupatinath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered the holiest place in Nepal to cremate departed ones. The series of Shiva Lingas, temples strewn all over the place, and the holy saints from India and Nepal signify spirituality. Within the temples, there are magnificent shots you will want to capture.

Boudhanath
After the visit of Pashupatinath Temple, drive to Boudhanath. Boudhanath is one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world. In this UNESCO World Heritage Site, one can observe Buddhist monks absorbed in prayer surrounding the stupa. The Tibetan culture is well observed in the backstreets of Boudhanath. The place offers a tremendous opportunity to capture the authentic Tibetan culture.
Later, visit Panauti, one of the oldest towns in Nepal.
After the visit, transfer back to the hotel in the city.

Dinner and overnight in Kathmandu.

After breakfast in the hotel, drive further to Bhaktapur, the city of devotees. En route visit Thimi.

Thimi
Thimi is one of the ancient, cultural, and historical places along the trade route joining Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. It is famous for its pottery and papier-mâché masks.

Later, travel further to Bhaktapur.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a cluster of architectural masterpieces of medieval Nepal. The square is full of temples, shrines, and sculptures namely the Golden Gate, 55 Windows Palace, Big Bell, Dog Barking Bell, Taleju Temple, Vatshala Temple, Statue of Bhupatindra Malla, etc.
Thimi and Bhaktapur offer an opportunity to capture the traditional lifestyle of the valley and its historic heritages.

Dinner and overnight in Bhaktapur.

After breakfast and visiting Bhaktapur in the morning, drive further to Changu Narayan Temple.

Changu Narayan Temple
Changu Narayan Temple is considered to be the oldest Hindu temple in Nepal. The temple offers an authentic experience of ancient Nepali art. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple was built in the 4th Century AD. Inside the temple precinct are some exquisite stone sculptures of Hindu deities from the Licchavi period (4th to 9th centuries).

After the visit, drive further to the hill station at Nagarkot. Nagarkot is famous for its views of the sunrise over the Himalayas (depending on the weather on that particular day).

Dinner and overnight in Nagarkot.

After breakfast in the hotel in Nagarkot, drive further to Kathmandu.

On arrival in Kathmandu, visit the Patan Durbar Square.

Patan Durbar Square
Patan Durbar Square is known for its cultural and historical richness. It offers a wide array of wooden arts in the form of monumental historic edifices that reflect the architectural influence in the city during ancient and medieval times. The creative wooden carvings depicting the sutras of Lord Kamadeva (God of human love or desire) are scattered throughout the pagoda-style temples in the back streets. Patan, the city of artists, offers many visual treats.

After the visit, transfer to the hotel in Kathmandu.
Dinner and overnight in Kathmandu.

On-time transfer to airport to board flight for New Delhi, India. Depart Nepal with many beautiful memories and a portfolio of sensational images.
Upon arrival in New Delhi, meet, assist, and transfer to the hotel.
Evenings in New Delhi are for relaxation and leisure.

Dinner and overnight in New Delhi.

On-time transfer to the airport to board the flight for Bagdogra, West Bengal. Upon arrival, meet, assist, and transfer to hotel.
Drive for around 4 hours from Bagdogra to Darjeeling.

Darjeeling
Darjeeling is one of the prettiest hill stations in India. Shimla, Ooty, Dharamshala, and Coorg are the other well-known and beautiful hill stations in the country. Darjeeling is all about the lovely tea gardens, magnificent views of Kanchenjunga, and landscapes. The modern yet colonial charm of Darjeeling can still be easily noticed.
UNESCO World Heritage site, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, is an add-on to the beauty of Darjeeling as it passes through the town.

Dinner and overnight in Darjeeling.

After breakfast, visit the following in Darjeeling:

Tiger Hill
Tiger Hill lies at an altitude of around 8,200 feet and offers a beautiful panoramic view of both Mount Everest and Mount Kanchenjunga on a good weather day.

Old Ghoom Monastery / Yiga Choeling Monastery
One of the most popular Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Darjeeling is the Old Ghoom/Yiga Choeling Monastery. Built in the mid-19th century, the monastery is well known for a 15 feet high ‘Maitreya Buddha’ (Buddha of the future).

Dali Monastery
Monastery lies at an altitude of around 7,000 feet and is well known for its around 6 high prayer wheels which the monks keep on turning while offering the prayers. Also, the monastery has around 200 monks residing within. Monks arrive from different regions of India and stay in the monastery. Dalai Lama visited the Dali Monastery and spent 3 days.

Batasia Loop
The loop has been of great importance to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway as it was required to handle a steep gradient. Apart from this, the Batasia Loop offers a scenic view of Darjeeling and is well known as a ‘War Memorial’ for the Gorkha Soldiers.

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
This zoological park is one of the very few places in the entire country where Red Pandas can be seen, as Red Pandas are present only in the northeastern region of India. The Padmaja Naidu Zoo has existed for around 60 years and is well known as the largest high-altitude zoo in India (7,000 feet).

Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre
The centre was set up for the Tibetan refugees around 60 years ago (October 2, 1959) when they escaped from Tibet and sought refuge in India. Land was provided by the state government for the construction of the refugee centre.

Dinner and overnight in Darjeeling.

After breakfast, drive to Gangtok, the capital of the state Sikkim.

The second-smallest Indian state after Goa, Sikkim lies in the northeastern region of India, having borders with Bhutan, Nepal, and West Bengal. A big region of Sikkim is covered with mountains, dominated by Kanchenjunga. On a good weather day, Kanchenjunga can easily be seen from Gangtok.
On arrival in Gangtok, visit a local market.

Dinner and overnight in Gangtok.