Manipur and North East1

Day 01 London - Kolkata

Fly form London (Heathrow) to Kolkata (NSBIA)

Day 02 Kolkata - Imphal

Arrive Kolkata.
Transfer to Hotel Hyatt Regency to rest and refresh.
Fly from Kolkata to Imphal (2 hrs 45 mins) via Guwahati by
Met upon arrival transferred to hotel in Imphal.

Day 03 Keibul Lamjao National Park

Transfer by surface to KLNP (1 hr) and excursion by boat inside Keibul Lamjao National Park.
Return to Hotel Imphal.
Located in Manipur, Keibul Lamjao is probably the world's only 'floating' sanctuary that comprises 40 sq. km. of wetland overgrown with 1.5 m. deep floating vegetation (called phumdi). The park has several distinguishing features. Apart from the vegetation and terrain, an important highlight of the park is the Loktak Lake (6, 475 ha.), the largest freshwater lake in India; a large portion of which falls within the park.
The entire Loktak Lake was protected and declared a sanctuary in October 1953, mainly to save the sangai deer, which was threatened by extinction. Following the re-discovery of the deer, in July 1954, this area was officially notified as a sanctuary in 1966 and a decade later, on March 28, 1977, the Keibul Lamjao National Park was created.
Flora/Fauna
Keibul Lamjao consists of the unique 'phumdi' or floating marshes. Eighty per cent of the flora is submerged and the vegetation forms a 90-120 cm. thick cover on the water surface. About half a century ago, the predominant plants used to be tou (45 per cent), singut (25 per cent) and khoimom (15 per cent). But the composition of the vegetation has undergone rapid changes and the plant cover, at present, is estimated to comprise of equal proportions of hoop Leersia hexandra and sing kambong Zizania latifolia, a protein-rich plant, often used as food (about 24 per cent).
Some very rare animals may be encountered in and around this wilderness. The star attraction, of course, is the brow-antlered deer Cervus eldi eldi, called sangai in the local Meitei dialect. This particular subspecies of the Thamin deer is also fondly called Manipur's dancing deer because of its delicate gait as it negotiates its way along the floating wetlands. Other species of deer seen here include the hog deer, sambar and muntjac. One of the most primitive primates, the slow loris occurs in scattered pockets on the hills. Assamese and stump-tailed macaques and the Hoolock gibbon are restricted mainly to the western hills. The Rhesus monkey is found ubiquitously around the park. The large Indian civet Viverra zibetha and small Indian civet Viverricula indica, common otter Lutra lutra and wild boar Sus scrofa are some of the large mammals noted in the area.

Day 04 Keibul Lamjao National Park

Transfer by surface to KLNP (1 hr) and excursion by boat inside Keibul Lamjao National Park.
Return to Hotel Imphal.

Day 05 Keibul Lamjao National Park

Transfer by surface to KLNP (1 hr) and excursion by boat inside Keibul Lamjao National Park.
Return to Hotel Imphal.

Day 06 Imphal - Kaziranga National Park via Guwahati
Transfer to airport by surface in time to board.
Met upon arrival and transferred by surface to Wild Grass Lodge Kaziranga National Park (5-6 hrs).
Stay at the Wild Grass Lodge for three nights.
(Modest jungle lodge- one of the best available in the resort)
With an accommodation of 21 rooms, Wild Grass Lodge is situated by a stream in the paddy fields and forest. The lodge has the facility of arranging elephant rides and walks through the forest and tea plantations.

Day 07 Wild Grass Resort Kaziranga National Park

Early morning enjoy the elephant ride.
Afternoon enjoy the game drives.
Kaziranga National Park, situated in the northeastern state of Assam, is one of the most picturesque wildlife parks in India. The natural habitat of the one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), Kaziranga lies on the southern banks of the Brahmaputra River, northeast of Assam's capital Guwahati. The predominant vegetation is a mixture of tall grasslands and riverine forests. There are many marshes, interconnecting streams and ox-bow lakes, known locally as 'bheels' or 'bils'. To the south of the park lie the Mikir hills which rise to over 1,000 metres elevation. Kaziranga wildlife sanctuary is famous for its Indian Rhinoceros population which is estimated at about 1500 and is by far the best place to see them in India. (this species in unique to the subcontinent, with the second largest population of 400+ found in Chitwan, Nepal). Other large mammals include the Water Buffalo, Swamp Deer and Gangetic Dolphin. The park may be explored by riding elephant or 4-wheel drive motor vehicles. There are several watch towers. The nearby Panbari Reserve Forest is the best place to see the Hoolock Gibbon. The riverine habitat consists primarily of tall, dense grasslands interspersed with open forests, interconnecting streams and numerous small lakes or 'bheels'. Apart from being the home of the one-horned rhino, it is also the natural habitat of wild buffalo, wild boar, elephants, Barasingha leopard, tiger, hoolock gibbon, capped langur, rock python, monitor lizard, various species of eagles, partridge, bar-headed geese, whistling teal, the highly endangered Lesser Florican, herons, pelicans and water fowls.

Day 08 Wild Grass Resort Kaziranga National Park

Morning and afternoon enjoy the game drives.

Day 09 Kaziranga NP- Kalimpong (Bagdogra) via Guwahati

In the morning transfer by surface to Guwahati (5-6 hrs) in time to board your flight 9W601 (1300:1350 Mon, Wed, Fri). Met upon arrival and transferred to Kalimpong (3 hrs 30 mins) to your hotel.
Kalimpong, a remote hill station, has the beautiful mountain scenery, oak forests and the abundance of flowers, which makes Kalimpong an attractive resort. It has been a meeting point of the once "Three Closed Lands" on the trade route to Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal.
The place of interest in Kalimpong are Nurseries, it excels in producing Orchids, Amaryllis, Roses, Dahlias among others for export. One of the oldest monasteries is the Thongsa Gompa, which is brightly painted. Another monastery, Tharpa Choling houses a library of Tibetan manuscripts and Tankhas. Lepcha Museum, Bag Dhara has an ethnology collection.
Overnight we will be in Himalayan Hotel.
A period hotel with old world charm and modern amenities
A Government approved heritage hotel Himalayan Hotel is located close to down town area, 80 kms from the airport and 70 kms from the railway station. The hotel has a restaurant, which offers Indian and European food. Each air-conditioned bedroom has a telephone and a private bathroom with bath and/or shower and toilet.

Day 10 Kalimpong - Glenburn Tea Estate

Morning transfer by surface to Glenburn (2 hrs)
Later in the day optional walk through tea bushes for tea tour with manager. Later in the day we enjoy tea tasting in the factory.
Evening at leisure in the burra bungalow.
Located in the foothills of the Darjeeling hills Glenburn is an idyllic and old-fashioned tea-estate bungalow where the colonial way of life still flourishes. Two rivers the Rungdoong and the Rungeet meander through the valley and with a bit of luck the Kanchendzonga can be seen from the sprawling veranda of Glenburn. The plush interiors match the beautiful scenic outside and with the gourmet food it is a paradise for food enthusiasts.

Day 11 Glenburn-Kolkata via Bagdogra

Morning you will be transferred by surface to Bagdogra (3 hrs) in time to board your flight to Kolkata 9W 618(1350:1450 Daily). Met upon arrival and transfer to hotel Taj Bengal.
Taj Bengal is situated 25 kms from the airport in the lush green Alipore, the elite residential area of Calcutta, and within easy reach of the city centre. A Government approved five-star deluxe hotel, Taj Bengal has 229 rooms including 12 suites. The hotel has a shopping arcade, health club, an outdoor pool, four restaurants and a bar. Each air-conditioned bedroom has a telephone, television and a private bathroom with bath and/or shower and toilet.

Day 12 Kolkata
Early morning go for an optional urban bird-watching tour to Botanical Gardens with Prakriti Samsad the local partner of Important Bird Area India program. Later in the day go for a city sightseeing and shopping.
Calcutta is a city of glaring contrasts: a curious blend of the old and the new, partly feudal, partly born out of growing urbanization, partly un-definable. It is a medley of the east and the west, a graft of a European city imposed on the Asian scape that gives Calcutta its bewildering charm, confusion and excitement. Being just about 300 years old, Calcutta hardly has many great historical monuments. Perhaps, the oldest remembered is the site where the Kalighat Temple now stands. Today Calcutta is the largest city in India with a population over 10 million and boasts of India's first ever Metro rail system. It is a city that shocks on first impression but eventually the visitor falls in love with it. The sightseeing of the city includes a visit to the Victoria Memorial, Calcutta's most imposing and monumental dream in marble opened by the Prince of Wales in 1921 and often called the "Taj" of the British Raj, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Indian Museum, the largest in India, with one of the best collections of Indian art.
Evening optional boat ferry on the river Ganges.

Day 13 Kolkata - London

Morning transfer by surface to NSBIA in time to board.