India Tour Review: Agra Fort, Darjeeling, Gangtok, Mangan, Lachung, Kalimpong, Taj Mahal, Monasteries, Buddhism, Yumthang Valley

Agra: Seeing the Taj Mahal at sunrise. This must be the world’s most beautiful building - quite unforgettable. Our Guide enhanced our visit with his knowledge, explaining historical events and ensuring we saw the Taj from the best vantage points. We also visited “baby Taj”, Agra Fort, Fatephur Sikri, but nothing rivalled impact of seeing Taj Mahal

Darjeeling: Toy Train from New Jalpaijuri to Darjeeling: Staying in the wonderfully “old Raj”, the hotel where a fire was lit in our room each night without our asking, and dining in the candlelit restaurant: Ghoom monastery: Himalayan Mountaineering Institute: Observatory Hill: Staying in the hotel and enjoying exceptional meals and service (fire lit in room each evening), guided walk through tea garden and factory visit

Gangtok: Drive to Tsomgo Lake on switchback roads through the cleared snowdrifts, seeing the high mountains and reflections in lake: Namgyal Institute of Tibetology where as well as possessing a collection of artefacts there are beautiful paintings showing the 12 stages of Buddha’s life: Being caught in a sudden and intense downpour of rain and hailstones (I was saturated – Pat bought an umbrella) as we walked down MG Marg: Staying at the resort - enjoying superlatively good evening meals and breakfasts - lots of our meals’ ingredients grown on property in their surrounding gardens. Relaxing on our balcony with its views of Gangtok – stunning at night.

Lachung: Stunning, demanding drive on mountain roads from Gangtok - avoiding rocks brought down by landslides, narrow switchback roads: Yumthang Valley – our top scenic experience where the Himalayas slope down to the Teesta river. Crossing the river on footbridge to visit the hot sulphur springs.

Kalimpong: Super enjoyable mountain drives from Lachung and Kalimpong to Bogdagra :Deolo Hill surrounded by flowers and views over Kalimpong: a fascinating guided walk in the town’s market: Durpin Dara monastery reached by the narrowest of streets, surrounded by flowers with views over Kailmpong.

Explanations of Buddhism: The extraordinary patience shown by our Guide as he repeatedly explained the significance of Buddhist beliefs, paintings, prayer wheels and prayer flags – we kept forgetting what he had told us.

Resourcefulness kindness and care: After the hotel in Lachung explained their rooms were unheated Pukar, our Guide, ensured hotel supplied our room with a heater. Being in my later 70’s I also appreciated his attentiveness climbing steps and steeper slopes.