VILLAGES & VISTAS OF THE EASTERN HIMALAYA

Your adventure in eastern India begins in Calcutta, one of India’s most historic and fascinating cities which is often described as the country’s cultural capital. India’s second-biggest city, it’s a riot of colonial architecture, refined intellectual tradition and exquisite arts and crafts; Bengal’s poet laureate Rabindranath Tagore lived here, and the house where he was born and died now serves as a museum. Embarking on a walking tour of Dalhousie Square, you’ll see some of the finest British colonial buildings anywhere in the world, including the General Post Office, the Writer’s Building and the Calcutta High Court; most of these are beautifully preserved and continue to serve their original civic functions. You’ll also visit the Mullik Ghat Flower Market, a cornucopia of kaleidoscopic colours by the Hooghly River.

Flying from Calcutta to Bagdogra (1hr), you’ll embark on the longest and most active leg of your adventure: 5 days of walking through the Himalayan mountain villages of Sikkim. The last of the independent kingdoms to give in to the Indian republic in 1975, Sikkim still feels like a world of its own, physically and culturally – set off from the rest of India in the foothills of the Himalayas, it’s home to a rich Buddhist culture influenced by bordering Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal. On the Shakti Sikkim walk, you’ll trek between villages, meeting local people and experiencing their traditional way of life and vibrant culture with visits to schools, markets and monasteries. Passing cardamom fields and peaceful streams, you’ll also enjoy stunning views of Kanchenjunga, the third-highest mountain in the world. Along the way, you’ll stay in traditional village houses, which have been renovated to be very comfortable while retaining their original character.

Departing Sikkim, you’ll be taken by private transfer to Darjeeling, probably India’s most famous hill station and perhaps its prettiest town. Sitting in the Lesser Himalaya with emerald-green tea fields as far as the eye can see, Darjeeling as we know it today was established in the days of the Raj as a sanatorium for soldiers and to satisfy the never-ending British demand for tea. Your home for the next 3 nights, Glenburn Tea Estate, captures Darjeeling’s history of colonial elegance perfectly, set in traditional planter’s bungalows and offering unending opportunities to enjoy a good cuppa. Glenburn’s Tea Experience can be as gentle or as taxing as you want it to be, with guided walks available through the tea fields before a visit to the factory, where you’ll see how tea leaves are processed. The activity ends, of course, with an extensive tasting session, with black, green, oolong and white teas all there for you to savour. Nearby Kalimpong is worth a visit, for beautiful Buddhist monasteries and fine hiking opportunities.

After 3 days slurping tea and enjoying the view in Darjeeling, you’ll fly from Bagdogra to Delhi, the final stop on your journey. The contrast could hardly be greater between Himalayan India and the chaos of its capital, but Delhi is full of cultural and historical curiosities. As the seat of the mighty Mughal Empire for centuries, there are some magnificent examples of medieval Muslim architecture, including Humayun’s Tomb and the Red Fort. The Central Secretariat area features more British civic architecture, while India Gate is an impressive and poignant memorial to those whose lives were lost in the First World War and Third Anglo-Afghan War. You’ll spend the final night of your trip at the Imperial, a refined 1930s hotel with Art Deco-influenced architecture.