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India Safaris
Trekking and Tiger Safari
Sikkim has the unique distinction of being bounded by three sovereign
nations, Nepal in the west, Bhutan in the east and China's Tibet in the
north. It also shares its southern border with the state of West Bengal.
It has an area of around 7096 sq km and it is about 64 km from east to
west and 110 km from north to south. Mt. Kanchendzonga, the third
highest peak in the world dominates the landscape of the State and is
revered as Sikkim's guardian deity. The state has a good number of
glaciers and some of the very important ones are Zemu, Rathong, Lona in
North Sikkim. The river Tista is the lifeline of Sikkim and it
originates from Lake Cholamu. Its tributaries are Rangeet, Ramam and
Rangpo. Sikkim offers best buys for hand woven carpets, thankas and
other paintings. Other items typical of the state and are large
cardamoms, Lepcha weave bags, purses, jewellery and liquors etc. The
main inhabitants of the state are the Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalis
DELHI-BAGDOGRA (IXB) AIRPORT – KALIMPONG (01 NT)
– GANGTOK (02 NTS) - YUKSOM (01 NT) - TREKKING (03 NTS) - DARJEELING (02
NTS) - BAGDOGRA (IXB) AIRPORT-DELHI-JABALPUR-KANHA-DELHI
DAY 01
Arrive Delhi Transfer to Hotel Connaught.
Overnight Hotel on B&B
Day 02
Delhi Full day sight seeing Overnight
Hotel on B&B
DAY 03
Take a direct flight to Bagdogra On
arrival at IXB Airport, you will be met by our local representative at
who will assist you to board your vehicle to Kalimpong (85 kms / 3hrs).
Check in and over night at Hotel.
DAY 04
KALIMPONG – GANGTOK
Today visit to Flower Nurseries, Durbin
Dara Hills & Jang-Dong-Palriffo Brang. Transfer to Gangtok (85 kms / 3
hrs). Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 05
GANGTOK
Go for a half day sightseeing covering
Rumtek Monastery, Droul Chorthen, Research Institute of Tibetology,
Directorate of Handicraft & Handloom (Closed on Sunday) & Flower Show.
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 05
GANGTOK - YUKSOM
Transfer to Yuksom (116 kms / 5 hrs).
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 06 YUKSOM - TSOKA
Following an early morning start, you trek
for three hours through lush green meadows and cross four mountain
streams. Henceforth, the trek is a continuous uphill path lined with
conifers and is virtually carpeted with a bed of leaves to leach Bakhim-
a hill village at an altitude of 9000 ft. Tsoka is a slightly settlement
with a few houses, a monastery and is the last village on the route. You
spend the night at Tsoka (17 kms / 7 hours trek). Overnight stay at
Trekkers Hut / Tent.
DAY 07 TSOKA - DZONGRI
Trek Dzongri from Tsoka, 10 km climb takes
05 hours. The vegetation changes to stunted bushes of rhododendrons and
miniature pine trees resembling bonsais as you gain altitude with every
step to reach Dzongri (13220 ft). Overnight stay at Trekkers Hut / Tent.
Day 08 DZONGRI - TSHOKA
An early morning trek at around 4.30 am to
Dzongri top which at 4269 mtrs is higher than most mountain peaks in
Europe, presents yet another view of the Kanchenjunga along with other
ranges basking in the glory of the rising sun We return to the campsite
and after breakfast trek to Tshoka. We call it a day at Tsoka. Over
night at Trekkers hut / Tent.
Day 09 TSHOKA - YUKSOM
A veritable repeat of your 3rd day, the
only difference being that you are walking downhill to Yuksom. A visit
to the Dubdi monastery- one of the oldest in Sikkim, is a must.
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 10
YUKSOM - DARJEELING
Transfer to Darjeeling (115 Kms / 05 Hrs).
Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 11 DARJEELING
Early morning tour to Tiger Hills (at
around 4 am) to view sunrise over Kanchenjunga Peak (subject to clear
weather). On way back visit Ghoom Monastery, Batasia Loop. Afternoon go
for a half-day sight seeing of Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park &
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (Closed on Thursday), Tibetan Refugee
Self-Help Center (Closed on Sunday) & Tea Estate. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 11 DARJEELING - IXB AIRPORT
Transfer to IXB Airport, (100 Kms / 3 Hrs)
to connect direct flight to Delhi. Reach Delhi & transfer to Hotel
Janpath. Overnight hotel on B&B.
Day 12
Drive by road to Agra visit Taj & take a
evening train to Jabalpur. Overnight on train.
Day 13
Reach Jabalpur early morning, transfer to
Hotel Krishna Jabalpur for fresh n up & breakfast. After breakfast
proceed to Kanha (3 hrs) check in Krishna. Evening drive.
Day 14, 15, Kanha
on full board Jungle plan.
Day 16
Drive back to Jabalpur after breakfast. Lunch at Hotel Krishna
Jabalpur.3.55P.M. take a direct train to Delhi. Overnight train.
Day 17
Reach Delhi early morning transfer to international airport or to hotel
if you have booked extra nights.
Tour ends.
LUXURY HOTELS USED
Kalimpong:
Silver Oaks
Gangtok:
Norkhill
Yuksom:
Tashi Gang Hotel
Pelling:
Norbu Gang Resort
Darjeeling:
Cedar Inn
Delhi:
The Connaught
Kanha:
Krishna
Costs Include:
- Twin Sharing Per Person
- Transportation based on 02 NON AC Tata Sumo / Similar.(IN Sikkim
only) for rest of the places it will be AC car.
- Accommodation at Kalimpong, Gangtok, Yuksom, Pelling & Darjeeling
will be on APAI (Full Board) basis.
- 04 DAYS Trek using Trekkers Hut / Tents on APAI (All Meals) basis.
- English speaking Escort cum Guide assistance in Sikkim throughout.
In Delhi & Agra local escort.
- Flight ticket Delhi to Bagdogra & back to Delhi All road transfers
by AC car All rail journeys by AC sleeper class.
- Lunch & Breakfast at Hotel Krishna Jabalpur Kanha on full board
Jungle Plan
Kanha Jungle Plan includes
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Two park rides daily
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Accommodation
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Full day meals
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All park entrance fees
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Guide charges
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Lecture on wildlife,
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Service of resident
naturalist,
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Elephant ride (on Tiger
sighting),
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Daily bonfire.
Cost will Not Include:
- Payments for service provided on a personal basis
- Cost for any services not mentioned in the "Costs Include"
- Cost incurred due to mishaps, strikes, political unrest etc.
- Personal expense in items such as laundry, soft drinks, Camera
Charges, Bottle water, incidentals, Portage, Bellboy charges tips or any
other services
- Services other than mentioned will be charged extra.
FEW WORDS OF OPERATION
Please be informed that the area that is Sikkim / Darjeeling is not
as developed as other parts of the world. The infrastructure available
is bare minimum and people coming to this area, should expect, nothing
more than to be with nature with basic necessities. The infrastructure
used is the best available as per category, not to be compared with the
developed world.
For entry to INDIA a valid visa is must, which you can have it
indorsed at Indian embassy in the home country OR at Kathmandu. Visa for
India is not available upon arrival. With valid visa one can visit
Darjeeling & Kalimpong (NO SPECIAL PERMIT REQUIRED). For SIKKIM a
SPECIAL INNER LINE PERMIT is required which is available at NO EXTRA
COST. All the guest has to do is mentioned their desired to visit to
SIKKIM while stamping Indian visa on the passport. In case the client
has a valid Indian visa and they do not have SPECIAL PERMIT to Sikkim
then our office in India will get the necessary organise. In such case
the itinerary will be modified because permit will be subjected to
working of the government offices. For such happening the company will
not be responsible for any kind of compensation & refund. All additional
& extra expenses will be collected directly.
For the Sikkim Inner Line permit we need the following details a
month in advance
- 02 photograph
- Photo Copy of Passport
- Valid Indian Visa.
- Fathers name, occupation & Residential Addresses.
The Trek starts and ends at Yuksom and is on Full Board
(Includes all Meals). Please note that this areas are cold through out
the year and you must be equipped with proper warm clothes. The
accommodation provided during the trek will be at Trekkers Hut / Tents
with very basis facilities like.
During the trek we provide
- Warm water for washing.
- The food prepared will be fresh, by the local trained Sherpas’s.
- The best season for trekking is Mid Sep to Mid December & Mid March
to Mid June.
- Camping equipment, Porters, Guide, Cook etc.
- Sleeping Bags & Inner
- We have noted that may guest are very particular on hygiene & have
seen them bringing their own Sleeping Bags. In case the passengers are
getting their own Sleeping it is always welcome.
Weather
Cool - from middle of
October to end of February.
Hot - from middle of March
to middle of June.
Wet - from middle of June to
middle of October.
The temperature ranges from
a maximum of 42 ° C in May and June, to around 4° C in winter
Clothing
Neutral
khakis, greys and green clothes are recommended.
Ensure you have plenty of
warm clothing for the early morning and late evening game drives.
Accessories:
Camera, binoculars,
sunglasses, and hats.
Excluded in price: Camera
and Video camera fees.
Hint:
Very nice Indian meals are available on the train or you can bring some food
with you. Tea and coffee are also available on the train but only the Indian
variety, with milk and very sweet.
Bottled drinking water is available on the platforms.
Kanha
Tiger Reserve
Welcome to
Kipling Country, the setting for the famous Jungle Book. The Kanha National
Park in the Mandla District of Madhya Pradesh, spreads over 1,945 sq. km of
dense sal forests, interspersed with extensive meadows and trees and clumps
of wild bamboo. This is where you can spot the tiger in all his magnificence
or feast your eyes on the rare Barasingha Deer amidst extensive grasslands.
The park
forms the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve created in 1974, under Project
Tiger. It is one of the most well-maintained National Parks in Asia, and a
major attraction for avid wildlife buffs all over the world. Two major
rivers, Halon anfd Banjar, flow through the park.
Kanha National
Park in the Mandla District spreads over 1,945 sq. km of dense sal forests,
interspersed with extensive meadows and trees and clumps of wild bamboo.
This area known as Kipling Country is where the jungle book of Rudyard
Kipling was conceived.
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Area : 1,945 sq. kms.
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Altitude : 450-872 metres.
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Temperature (deg C): Summer- Max 40.6,
Min 23.9. Winter- Max 23.9, Min 1.1.
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Rainfall : 152 cms.
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Best Season : April to June and November
to January
Using
your senses to find a Tiger
The key to successful tiger
spotting lies in the jungle's reactions to the animal's movement. When the
king of the forest is on the move, his kingdom is as responsive as the
court of any of the great Mughal Emperors . Peacocks blare, Sambar bell,
Spotted Deer call, Langurs explode in cough-like alarm, Jungle Fowl screech,
Bison whistle shrilly and barking deer emit the impossibly raucous bark for
which they are named. The continuous repetition of such calls as well as
their combination from two or more species in the same small area of the
forest is a very good sign that a Tiger is moving nearby.
Using your ears to listen to
what other animals are saying is a good method of locating a Tiger.
Responsible Tourism
There
seems to be lot of hype and commotion in regards with features of wildlife
tourism & conservation. Words such as tribal welfare, local upliftment usage
of recycle products eco friendly dresses colours etc. all flashed by glamour
struck organisations especially in recent times.
We started with a small team
of Nature lovers who are dedicated, who were not necessary qualified but
were definitely born conservationist at heart and a born nature lover. These
were the people instrumental in educating for the first time in the history
of Kanha National park the locals in the field of catering, house keeping
steward ship, the guides etc all of whom were fifth standard drop outs or
not been to school at all. We taught the people cane weaving, earthen
products such as ash trays & potteries all of which we used annually in our
lodge. Thus increasing the uplifting the local economy.
The health scenario was
deplorable at that time when there were no proper medical facilities, we
gave talks, and we supplied medicines & told them about diseases such as
malaria & so on. At this point of time the ousted tribal villages from
within the core area nurtured great animosity against the Kanha Tiger
reserve officials, they would not see eye to eye because the locals felt
that more importance was being given to the wild animals then to them, so we
intervened and created a healthy buffer based on which things improved to
such an extent that the Park authorities held an unprecedented meeting with
the lodge owners/managers and local villages regarding solving all problems
amicably which to this day continues.
This feature or this event is
a unique example & achievement for Kanha National Park as this has never
happened in any other game reserve in India resulting in perhaps being the
least poached national Park in India. We are highly concerned in educating
every guest regarding the code of conduct at the lodge and as well as within
the park.
One of the greatest & unique
features of our buildings in our lodge is that we have not used any modern
chemicals based colours for the exterior or interior white washing. The
material used for exterior painting is made from the local yellow mud mixed
with lime stone, which gives an ethnic look of the old India.
Again the only lodge where
the entire open floor area is being smeared with cow dung paste mixed with
husk which works as a binding material.
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