(Departure November – April)
Rabindranath Tagore was born to one of the leading families of Kolkata regarded as a key influence during the Bengal Renaissance. Rabindranath Tagore, the youngest son born in 1861, was the first Asian to win a Nobel Prize and was the most famous in the family. Rabindranath is best remembered in history for writing what became the national anthems of the nations of India and Bangladesh and for coining the title “Mahatma” for Gandhi. Visit Jorasanko House where Tagore was raised and to Shantiniketan, the university that the Tagore family began. Visit the Northeastern states of India to see the temples and villages which influenced Tagore’s writing. Tagore’s India let you walk the path of this Indian philosopher and see the places and images which greatly influenced him.
Day 1 – Kolkata
Arrive in Kolkata where you will be met and driven to your hotel.
Day 2 – Kolkata
Tour the Tagore Museum and Jorasanko to see where Tagore was born and raised. Originally called Jorasanko Thakur Bari, Jorasanko is now Rabindra Bharati University which honors Tagore by arranging cultural programs on the poets birthday and a festival of the arts on the day he died.
Day 3 – Kolkata/Shantiniketan
After breakfast you will embark on a full day tour to Shantiniketan. It was here that Rabindranath Tagore started Patha Bavana, the school of his ideals, whose central premise was that learning in a natural environment would be more enjoyable and fruitful. After he received the Nobel Prize in 1913, the school was expanded into a university In 1951, it became one of the central universities of India. Many world famous teachers have become associated with Shantiniketan such as Indira Gandhi, Satyajit Ray, Ghani Khan and Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen.
Day 4 – Kolkata/Guwahati (Assam)
You are driven to the airport for your flight to Guwahati where you are met and driven to your hotel. Visit Kamakhya Temple, one of the greatest Hindu temples known for Shakti, spiritual energy in the country. Shop at the local markets.
Day 5 – Guwahati/Kaziranga National Park
Drive to Kaziranga National Park which is a paradise for the great Indian one horned rhinoceros as well as its array of unique birds. Jeep safari in the afternoon. Enjoy a cultural program of Assamese traditional dance.
Day 6 – Kaziranga National Park
See the park early morning on elephant back. It is possible to see hog deer, wild buffalo, elephants and tigers. In the afternoon visit a nearby village which is home to the Mishing tribe. Early evening safari.
Day 7 – Kaziranga/Sualkuchi/Guwahati
Drive to Guwahati visiting Sualkuchi en route. Sualkuchi is located on the bank of the Brahmaputra river and is referred to as the silk village. Watch the process of manufacturing Assamese and Muga silk.
Day 8 – Guwahati/Shillong (Meghalaya)
Drive to Shillong and check in to your hotel. Tour the Rabindranath Museum/Old Brookside Compound in Rilbong located in Laban town which is the oldest town in Meghalaya and the Don Bosco Museum of Ethnology.
Day 9 – Shillong/Cherrapunjee/Shillong
Tour Cherrapunjee which sits on the southern part of the Khasi Hills and has an expansive view of the plains of Bangladesh. Visit Mausmai Cave with its myriads of stalagmites and stalactites which gives it an illumination effect, Seven Sisters Falls and Thangkharang Park. Visit Nohkalikai Falls, the highest in Meghalaya and see Elephant Falls on the drive back to Shillong.
Day 10 – Shilong/Guwahati/Imphal (Manipur)
Drive to the Guwahati airport for your flight to Imphal where you are met and taken to your hotel.
Day 11 – Imphal/Loktak Lake
Morning excursion to Moirang (53 kms / 2 hrs), Loktak and Sendra Island. Enroute we visit Red hills to see the Japanese war memorial- a monument in memory of Japanese martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the Second World War. Also visit the INA museum at Moirang and Keibul Lamjao National Park . Return to Imphal and overnight at hotel.
Day 12 – Imphal
Today we visit Kangla Fort, Kangla Museum, Govindajee Temple, RKCS Art Gallery, Three Mothers International ArtGallery, IMA market and state museum.
Day 13 – Imphal/Agartala (Tripura)
Drive to the airport for your flight on to Agartala where you are met and taken to your hotel.
Day 14 – Agartala
Tour the State Museum, Ujjajanyanta Palace, Fourteen Gods temple, Tripureswary temple and Neermahal.
Day 15 – Agartala/Dhaka (Bangladesh)
Drive to the Indo/Bangla border where you are met by our representative from Dhaka. Drive onward to Dhaka and check in to your hotel. In the afternoon drive to Pagla and cruise on the Buriganga river.
Day 16 – Dhaka
Tour of Dhaka includes a visit to century old Curzon hall, Lalbagh fort, dakeshwari temple and the exterior of the National Parliament building. The afternoon is free for you to explore as you wish.
Day 17 – Dhaka/Khulna
After breakfast, drive to Khulna, a district which is part of the largest delta in the world. The Sundarban, the world’s largest mangrove forest, lies in the southern part of the delta. Visit Tagore Lodge nearby in Kushtia.
Day 18 – Khulna/Mongla/Jessore
Drive to Mongla to embark on a boat for a full day cruising to the Sundarban and back. Drive to Jessore.
Day 19 – Jessore/Shilaidah Kuthibari/Jessore
Drive to Shilaidah Kuthibari, Tagore’s family estate which he began managing in 1890. See the historic building and the Padma river adjacent to it. Tagore spent a lot of his time on the family’s converted flat-bottomed keel less barge known as a “budgerow” or a Daccai bajras. His dealings with his tenants included the annual collection of (mostly token) rents and the blessing of villagers in exchange for his generosity, villagers regularly held feasts in Tagore’s honor which featured dried rice and sour milk. It was living here that greatly influenced Tagore’s stories about people’s daily lives.
Day 20 – Jessore/Dhaka
Drive to Dhaka crossing the mighty Padma river. Check in to your hotel. Your afternoon is at leisure.
Day 21 – Depart Dhaka
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
CALL NOW for more details 415-331-3791
Cost from $5995.00, per person, land only Cost is Subject to Change
Single supplement applies
***Airfare supplement in economy class for Kolkata/Guwahati/Imphal/Agartala – US$210-250Per Person (subject to change)***
Includes:
– 20 nights accommodation on twin sharing room at 3-4* hotels.
– All meals starting with lunch Day 4 ending with breakfast last day .
– Kolkata is on room + breakfast basis.
– All transfers using 01 AC Scorpio / Tata Safari / Similar vehicle.
– Park entry Fees, monuments fees, parking fee, road taxes, village visits and local sight seeing as per programme
– 1 Elephant Safari + 2 Jeep Safari at Kaziranga National Park
– Services of accompanying English speaking escort from arrival in Guwahati till departure from Agartala and local guide in Kolkata and Bangladesh Or wherever necessary.
– Boating in buriganga in Bangladesh
– Boating in sundarban in Bangladesh
Does not include:
– Any Camera/Video Camera Fees.
– Trip Insurance
– Any Airfares (shown separately where applicable and subject to change)
– Any expenses of personal nature like laundry, phone calls, beverages, snacks or refreshment, room service orders, mini bar usage, conveyance, porterage etc apart from those clearly mentioned above.
– Any other expenses incurred due to unforeseen, unavoidable circumstances
– Any change / new tax imposed by the Government
– Any other services not mentioned in the “package include” section
Other Important Details:
– Money Changing facilities are not available every where. Hence, we would advice you to change money before commencement of the tour.
– Credit Cards / Travellers Cheque’s are not freely accepted.
– Mobile phone service is available in the region for selective networks only. It may not be active at all destinations.
– In India there is no relevance between the distance and time of traveling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– Kaziranga/Manas NP remains open from 1st Nov to 30th April only.
– Hotel Check in / Check out time : 12 noon
– Prices are subject to change with any increase in the tariff, fuel prices, forest fees, amendment in Government taxes etc.
– Itinerary is subject to last minute change due to local strikes etc
NOTE: While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc which are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
