In
no time at all the stimulating bustle and heat of
Calcutta is left far behind, opening out to the cool
and luscious mountains of refreshing Darjeeling.
Encounter the mighty range of the Himalayas in
Sikkim, the one-horned rhinoceros in wonderful
wildlife reserves, then dream of a forgotten age in
the ancient holy towns on the plains of rural India.
Discover
the Soul of Calcutta
Calcutta
is the largest city in India, indeed one of the
largest in the world. Established as a British
trading post in the 17th century, the city rapidly
grew, acquiring a life and vibrancy of its own. Its
glory is still reflected in the buildings of
Chowringhee and Clive Street, know as Jawaharlal
Nehru Road and Netaji Subhash Road respectively. It
is a city which leaves no-one
indifferent-fascinating, effervescent, teeming with
life, peoples, cultures. The impact can be a shock
at first; the rickshaws, cars, brightly painted
lorries, trolley buses, the cries of the street
vendors, labourers hard at work on the construction
of the vast underground railway, the noise and
colour of the huge New Market, the bustle of the
crowds...but soon the jumbled impressions will sort
themselves out. Central Calcutta is best viewed in
perspective around the rolling green of the Maidan,
3 square kilometres of parkland where the
early-morning yoga sessions provide for the city
dwellers a relaxation from the stresses of urban
life. For relaxation of another kind, visit the
Indian Museum, one of the finest in Asia. Other
attractions include the huge white marble Victoria
Memorial, the Octherlony Monument and the
headquarters of the Rama Krishna mission. To the
north of the city is the silent beauty of the Belur
Math and, across the river, the Botanical gardens
(with a 200 years old Banyan tree, reputedly the
largest in the world)and the Kali temple of
Dakshineshwar. Calcutta has a soul. The Bengalis are
poets and artists of India and this has affected
their city. Calcutta will certainly grow on you. For
a complete change, take a plane or boat from
Calcutta to Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, the peaceful sun-soaked paradise in the Bay
of Bengal.
The
Magic of the Toy Train
For
those who don’t wish to fly, try taking a train to
Darjeeling from Calcutta. The last leg of the
journey from New Jalpaiguri takes place on a
miniature railway which winds through deep jungles,
tea gardens and pine forests. It is one of the great
journeys of the world. Darjeeling is an unspoilt,
English-style hill station straddling a mountain
slope and surrounded with high green hills covered
with coniferous trees, with massive drops into the
enchanting valley below. It commands a stunning view
of Kanchenjunga (8586 metres), particularly from
nearby Tiger Hill, and the sunrise which breaks over
the mountains is one of the most beautiful on earth.
Many Tibetan refugees live here, and it is also the
home of the celebrated Sherpa Tenzing, as well as
being the headquarters of the India Mountaineering
Institute. The tea to which the town gives its name
is the finest in the world; where better to sample
it than here.
Invigorated
by the fresh mountain air, stroll along the winding
paths, marvelling at the views of the massive range
of snowcapped peaks which appear in all their glory
as the swirling mists clear. See the Buddhist prayer
flags fluttering in the breeze; it is possible to
visit one of the Buddhist Monastaries, such as Ghoom
which enshrines an image of the Maitreyee Buddha.
Only two and a half hours away by bus or taxi is
Kalimpong, a quaint bazaar town set in rolling
foothills and deep valleys at the foot of the mighty
Himalayas. There are several excursions from here to
places which offer some of the finest panoramas in
the world. To the north, the mountain state of
Sikkim is a land of peace and tranquillity high up
in the mountains. The capital Gangtok, on a ridge
flanking the Ranipool River, is overshadowed by the
Kanchenjunga, a truly spectacular sight that will
imbue you with awe and wonder. Discover the ancient
beautiful Royal Chapel of Tsuk-La Khana, or enjoy
the profusion of wild flowers in bloom throughout
the year. Here in orchid-strewn Sikkim the visitor
becomes like an explorer who has found a forgotten
land. Even further east are the states of ’Assam
and Meghalaya. The state of Assam is famous for its
tea, and also for its wildlife reserves which can be
reached via the ancient and graceful state capital
of Gauhati, situated on the river Brahmaputra. The
tiger reserve of Manas is also rich in other
varieties of wildlife, while in Kaziranga it is
often possible to see one of India’s one-horned
rhinoceros. Bordering Assam to the north is the
beautiful mountain kingdom of Bhutan. Shillong, the
capital of Meghalaya, is the home of the colourful
Khasi people. The breathtaking views, the
waterfalls, brooks and pine groves have all led to
the state being popularly described as "The
Scotland of the East"; Shillong also has one of
the best golf courses in India. The landscape, the
people and the climate all combine to make it an
ideal holiday resort throughout the year.
Enchanting
Holy Cities
Orissa,
the eastern state of the Bay of Bengal, has a rich
tradition of classical dance, music, silverware,
handicrafts and sculpture. The three great temple
towns of Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark constitute,
like Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, a "Golden
Triangle", but here with the emphasis strongly
on tempels – temples of the most glorious and
stunning kind. Bhubaneswar is the capital of Orissa
and the Temple City of India. Seven thousand temples
once ranged around the sacred Bindusagar Lake in Old
Bhubaneswar; about five hundred of them are still
standing. The great Lingaraja Temple dedicated to
the Lord Shiva is the largest of these, and is the
site of a major Shivartri festival in
February-March, on the night of the new moon. On the
coast, south of Bhubaneswar, lies Puri, one of the
four holiest Hindu cities in India and now also
being developed as a beach resort; relax in the
refreshing sea after wondering at the famous 12th
century Jagannath Temple, the home of Lord
Jagannath, the Lord of the World, "the Formless
God". Many travellers try to be in Puri around
June or July, when it is possible to join in one of
India’s greatest festivals the spectacular Rath
Yatra or "Car" Festival, when a concourse
of pilgrims gather to pay homage to the images of
the deity drawn on their massive wooden chariots.
Splendidly alone amidst the sand dunes which rise
from the blue waters of the bay, the Sun Temple of
Konark marks the pinnacle of a great Kalinga
achievement in temple architecture. It was built as
a chariot for the Sun God, complete with wheels and
horses. The sculpture is among the most stupendous
in India. After seeing these, and so many other,
remarkable sights, relax with the friendly people by
the flat and beautiful Chilka Lake, or in the little
beach resort of Gopalpur-on-Sea. The excitement and
stimulation of busy Calcutta, the tranquillity and
ecstatic beauty of the Himalayas, the dream-like
quality of the ancient holy cities - what
spectacular and varied offerings eastern India has
to give.
NORTH EAST
Consisting of Assam, Meghalya, Mizoram, Manipur,
Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura and the state
of Sikkim.
ACCESS: Air: airports are
Bagdogra, near Siliguri and Guwahati along with
Tezpur, Jorhat, Lilabari and Dibrugarh and these
have connections within the North East. Rail:
Fast and convenient rail connections to the gateway
cities from both Delhi and Calcutta. Road:
Most of the north east is well connected. Though the
distances are short, being hill areas, journeys
could be time consuming but yet this may well be the
best way to discover the land and its people.
HOTELS: The accommodation is modest but
comfortable. State governments provide the main
accommodation network in this area. Tented
accommodation is also available for adventure
tourism.
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