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.
