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Saturday, 5 March
Today we take a look at the fascinating town of Kurseong. Road transport will be laid on to take us there and back from Darjeeling, or alternatively take the steam-hauled service train. Spend some time wandering round this busy town, photographing the service trains as they pass through, and finding some of the stunning views around this hill station. It is also possible to visit the Makabari tea estate, one of the oldest in the area, just down the hill from the hotel.
Sunday, 6 March
We have two options to return us to Siliguri today; either travel via the DHR service train, or take a breathtaking journey down through the forests from Ghum into the Teesta Valley to view the new dam over the river Riyeng and the Coronation Bridge over the Teesta. We return to the Cindrella Hotel for the night.
Monday, 7 March
A free day in Siliguri. There’s the opportunity to ride out to visit the local tea estates on the lower slopes, or visit the town’s markets for their colour and frenetic activity. It may be possible to take a trip on the metre-gauge railcar that is due to run between Siliguri Junction and Bagdogra airport. If we’re lucky, there may even be some form of steam activity on this section.
Tuesday, 8 March
Today (subject to the loco being available) we have a day excursion behind one of India’s preserved broad gauge locomotives from Siliguri Junction to Chalsa in the Dooars area. We leave Siliguri Junction at 10:30, and expect to back at around 16:35. The journey takes us through a fertile area of West Bengal with wide rivers and lots of tea! We have a light lunch at one of the local dhabas in Chalsa before returning to Siliguri.
Wednesday, 9 March
After breakfast, we take the coach to New Jalpaiguri station to catch the day train to Calcutta. One of the joys of rail travel in India is sitting in the carriage doorway with a camera in your lap, recording the colourful pageant that you’ll be passing. After arrival in Calcutta a coach takes us to our hotel for a late dinner.
Thursday, 10 March
After a relaxed breakfast we take a specially chartered Calcutta Tram through the streets of the city – this is an excellent way to see how Calcutta really works - with its teeming streets and colourful bazaars - from the relative calm of the tram. Our coach then gives us a tour of the rest of the City with a visit to most of the key sites - and there may even be time for some shopping!
Friday, 11 March
The morning is free to catch up on any Calcutta sights that you may have missed yesterday. In the afternoon we take a cruise on the River Hooghly (one of the mouths of the Ganges) to see temples, and much of the old British riverfront. Our end-of-tour meal is taken on board the vessel before we are taken to the airport for our evening flight to Mumbai...
Saturday, 12 March
..where we transfer to the international terminal for the 02.35 Jet Airways flight back to Heathrow, due in at 0700.
What’s included
Economy class flights to/from India, all breakfasts, all dinners in Siliguri and Darjeeling, 14 nights’ accommodation in 3-4 star hotels, visit to Gorumara, hand trolley ride, steam charters on the DHR, dining charter on the DHR, Joy train ride, entry to the National Rail Museum, river cruise including lunch, tram charter, train travel as specified, all relevant transfers and transport, services of a Darjeeling Tours Tour Manager.
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