The Hippie Route

Start point atA - Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal, IndiaJessore Road,Kolkata, WB

End point atX - Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal, IndiaJessore Road,Kolkata, WB

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Day : 1 - Jamshedpur - Indias steel city

Night stay at B1 - Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India
Distance from days start -289 Kms.

Hotel - Centre point Hotel

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt B1 - Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India
Distance from days start -289 Kms.

Activities - Visit Jubille Park & Lake

Factors at the Halt include :

The drive from Kolkota to Jamshedpur takes about 5.5 hours and on reaching Jamshedpur we shall have a small city tour before checking into our hotel. By early evening we can head out to visit the beautiful Jubilee Park, lake and Sir Dorabji park later in the evening to catch the spectacular light shows.

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Jamshedpur city
Jubilee park
Jubilee lake
Sir Dorabjee Park in the nighht

Day : 2 - The waterfalls city of Ranchi

Night stay at C1 - Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
Distance from days start -109 Kms.

Hotel - Hotel Coral Grand

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt C1 - Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
Distance from days start -109 Kms.

Activities - Visit Dassam Waterfalls, Ranchi City tour

Factors at the Halt include : Waterfalls.

Ranchi is popularly known as the waterfalls city, with the no of waterfalls around the city. Set at an elevation of 650 meters above sea level the city enjoys a pleasant climate across the year. Ranchi is surrounded by the forests and hills of the Chotta Nagpur Plateau region. On the way to Ranchi we shall stop by to visit the beautiful Dassam waterfalls which are also known as the falls of the ten streams owing to the 10 different streams flowing in to make the spectacular waterfalls. And on reaching Ranchi we shall a small city tour of the Ranchi.

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Dassam Ten Stream Waterfalls
Ranchi City Scapes
Ranchi City Scapes

Day : 3 - Buddhisms holiest city

Halt D1 - Patratu Valley, Kanke Patratu Road, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
Distance from days start -25 Kms.

Activities - Drive through Patratu valley

Factors at the Halt include : Great Views.

Night stay at E2 - Gaya, Bihar, India
Distance from days start -163 Kms.

Hotel - Sukhdeo Clarks Inn Resort

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt E2 - Gaya, Bihar, India
Distance from days start -163 Kms.

Activities - Visit Bodhi tree, Mahabodhi temple and Bodhi statue at Bodh gaya

Factors at the Halt include : Palace / Monuments stay,Spiritual,Cultural / History.

On Day 3 we shall set out from Ranchi city towards the famous Patratu valley. The Patratu valley is a beautiful hill drive that is famous across the country because of its crisis crossing highway winding up to the top of the hills. Bodhgaya in Bihar state is the holiest place for Buddhists as it is the Bodhgaya where Buddhas have attained salvation or 'Nirvana' as it is called. Since all the sights are located close by it is still possible for us to visit the important sites in the same afternoon itself. The most important site we shall visit the Bodhgaya is the famous Mahabodhi temple, the Bodhi tree under which Buddha sat in meditation and attained salvation. The Mahabodhi Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an ancient, but much rebuilt and restored, Buddhist temple. The temple marks the location where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. The descendant of the Bodhi Tree under which Buddha gained enlightenment, has been a major pilgrimage destination for Hindus and Buddhists for well over two thousand years, and some elements probably date to the period of Ashoka (died c. 232 BCE). Then we can visit the Great Buddha statue a massive 24-meter statue of Buddha representing the Buddha seated in a meditation pose, or dhyana mudra, on a lotus in the open air. And the last sight of visit for the day would be the delightful Metta Buddharam Temple, a Thai temple situated a Bodhgaya. The temple is appealing with an outer shell of stainless steel and a decorative mosaic using mirrors. The temple sees the Thai Temple style of architecture. The temple lacks many colors and is a great example of simplicity. Roof tiles of the temple are pressed stainless steel, while the interior is sheeted stainless steel. The main temple floor is made of wood. Underneath the temple is the marble-floored meditation room offering a perfect environment to the devotees for meditation. The temple is decorated with numerous sculptures, which are hand-made, from a mixture of white cement, clay, and epoxy.

Day : 4 - Patna city

Night stay at F1 - Patna, Bihar, India
Distance from days start -89 Kms.

Hotel - The Grand Empire

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt F1 - Patna, Bihar, India
Distance from days start -89 Kms.

Activities - Visit Gandhi Setu bridge, Golghar

Factors at the Halt include : Cultural / History.

A 4-hour drive from Bodhgaya will take us to Patna city, historically known as Pataliputra, which is the capital and largest city of the state of Bihar. One of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world, Patna was founded in 490 BCE by the king of Magadha. Pataliputra was a seat of learning and fine arts. It was home to many astronomers and scholars including Aryabhata, Vatsyayana, and Chanakya. During the Maurya period (around 300 BCE) its population was about 400,000. Patna served as the seat of power, and political and cultural center of the Indian subcontinent during the Maurya and Gupta empires. Today Patna is a modern and thriving city by the banks of the Ganges river. While in Patna we just have enough time to explore a few spots in the city. The Gandhi Setu bridge in Patna that connects the north and south banks of the Ganges river at an astonishing length of 5.75 km is a must-visit while in Patna. We can also visit the famous Sikh Gurudwara or temple of worship for Sikh religion, called the Patna Sahid Gurudwara. It was to commemorate the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs on December 1666. It was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire. We can also visit the Golghar, the circular-shaped massive granary in Patna. According to a contemporary inscription at its base, the Golghar in Patna was intended to be just the first of a series of huge grain stores. In the end, however, no others were ever built. The granary was "part of a general plan … for the perpetual prevention of famine in these provinces" ordered in 1784 by Warren Hastings, the then Governor-General of India. Built-in the Stupa architecture, the building has a height of 29 m. It is pillar-less with a wall of thickness of 3.6 m at the base. One can climb at the top of the Golghar through the 145 steps of its spiral stairway around it. The spiral staircase was designed to facilitate the passage of the workers who loaded and unloaded the grain in the granary, who had to carry grain bags up one flight, deliver their load through a hole at the top, and descend the other stairs. The Buddha Smriti Park in the center of the city is a spot to relax in the evening before we retire to our hotel room to spend the night.

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Patna City
Patna City
Gandhi Sethu Bridge across Ganga
Gandhi Sethu the unending bridge
Patna Sahib Gurudwara
Patna Sahib Gurudwara illuminated in the night
Inside Patna Sahib Gurudwara
Golghar Aerial View
Golghar
Budha Smriti Park Patna

Day : 5 - Entering Nepal

Night stay at G1 - Amlekhganj, Nepal
Distance from days start -189 Kms.

Hotel - Quick 20 Riverside Hotel

Star Rating of Hotel :

On Day 5 we shall leave Patna and head north towards Nepal. At the Nepal checkpoint, we will need to be ready with the passports or any other Govt issued Indian ID cards such as an Aadhaar or Election card. Nepal starts off as a very unimpressive country at its Indian borders, but as we proceed further inland the landscape slowly changed into more lush and green forests and hills. Our stop for the night is a quiet riverside retreat just to break the strenuous journey in between.

Day : 6 - Magical Kathmandu

Night stay at H1 - Kathmandu, Nepal
Distance from days start -56 Kms.

Hotel - Apsara Boutique Hotel

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt H1 - Kathmandu, Nepal
Distance from days start -56 Kms.

Activities - Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, Visit Swayambunath Stupa

Factors at the Halt include : Hills,Spiritual,Cultural / History,UNESCO Heritage Site.

On Day 6 we shall set out on a 4 hour trip through the Himalayan mountains to reach the magical kingdom of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Kathmandu is also known as the city of temples and it is the largest city of Nepal, with a population of around 1 million. The city stands at an elevation of approximately 1,400 meters above sea level in the bowl-shaped Kathmandu Valley in central Nepal. After we reach Kathmandu we can check into our hotels first to freshen up before we set out on our city sightseeing tour. We can begin with the Kathmandu Darbar square, in front of the old royal palace of the former Kathmandu Kingdom is one of three Durbar (royal palace) Squares in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Several buildings in the Square collapsed due to a major earthquake on 25 April 2015. Durbar Square was surrounded by spectacular architecture and vividly showcases the skills of the Newar artists and craftsmen over several centuries. Then we can visit the Swayambhunath stupa, which is an ancient religious complex atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. The complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines, and temples, some dating back to 500 CE. Towards afternoon by when we should be finished with the sights, we shall be ready to check in to our hotels to settle in for the night.

Day : 7 - Beautiful locales around Kathmandu

Halt I1 - Pashupatinath Temple, Gaushala Road, Kathmandu, Nepal
Distance from days start -5 Kms.

Activities - Visit Pashupathinath Temple compled

Factors at the Halt include : Spiritual,Cultural / History,UNESCO Heritage Site.

Halt J2 - Boudhanath Stupa, Buddha Stupa, Boudhanath Sadak, Kathmandu, Nepal
Distance from days start -7 Kms.

Activities - Visit Boudhinath Buddha Stupa

Factors at the Halt include : Cultural / History,UNESCO Heritage Site.

Night stay at K3 - Shivapuri Eco Village Resort, National Park, Samundradevi, Nepal
Distance from days start -22 Kms.

Hotel - Shivapuri village eco tourism resort

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt K3 - Shivapuri Eco Village Resort, National Park, Samundradevi, Nepal
Distance from days start -22 Kms.

Activities - Mountain drive to Shivapuri, Jhor waterfalls

Factors at the Halt include : Forests,Treks,Great Views,Waterfalls,Rivers / Lakes,Hills.

On Day 7 of the trip we shall begin by heading to the eastern part of the city to see the famous Pashupathinath temple, a sacred Hindu temple complex that is located on the banks of the Bagmati River. The temple serves as the seat of Pashupatinath. This temple complex was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 1979. This "extensive Hindu temple precinct" is a "sprawling collection of temples, ashrams, images, and inscriptions raised over the centuries along the banks of the sacred Bagmati river" and is included as one of the seven monument groups in UNESCO's designation of Kathmandu Valley. After that almost on the outskirts of Kathmandu, there is the famous Boudha stupa, the outskirts of Kathmandu, with its massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal and the world. The influx of large populations of refugees from Tibet has seen the construction of over 50 gompas (Tibetan convent) around Boudha. As of 1979, Boudha Stupa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After visiting the Boudha stupa we shall set north towards the more hilly terrains and Shivapuri national park region. There are beautiful hiking and trekking routes on the way leading to spectacular waterfalls and pristine forests. However, on the way, we shall stop at Jhor Waterfalls which is more easily accessible by road. If you are more adventurous we can proceed on a hiking trip to see the beautiful Bishnudhar waterfalls and the secret temple set in the middle of the forest. So the plan is to enjoy the wilderness and to stay back for the night in the crisp mountain air, at an eco-tourism resort set high up in the Shivapuri national park region.

Day : 8 - Bhaktapur, Nagarkot & Everest Views

Halt L1 - Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Durbar square, Bhaktapur, Nepal
Distance from days start -38 Kms.

Activities - Visit Bhaktapur heritage city

Factors at the Halt include : Spiritual,Cultural / History,UNESCO Heritage Site.

Night stay at M2 - Nagarkot, Nepal
Distance from days start -42 Kms.

Hotel - Everest Manla Resort

Star Rating of Hotel :

Quite a packed day today from Shivapuri we shall head back towards Kathmandu. Our first stop is the world famous Bhaktapur, a heritage city about 13 kilometers east of Kathmandu, and it was the largest of the three Newa kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley and was the capital of Nepal during the great 'Malla Kingdom' until the second half of the 15th century. It has a population of more than 81,728, of which the vast majority are still New Nepa mi. Historically more isolated than the other two kingdoms, Kathmandu and Patan, Bhaktapur has a distinctly different form of Nepal Bhasa language. Bhaktapur has the best-preserved palace courtyards and old city center in Nepal and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its rich culture, temples, and wood, metal, and stone artworks. In Bhaktapur, the major point of attraction is the Bhaktapur city square which looks straight out of a 15-century town square. It houses the royal palace of the old Bhaktapur Kingdom, and It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the complex consists of at least four distinct squares (Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square, Dattatreya Square, and Pottery Square), the whole area is informally known as the Bhaktapur Durbar Square and is a highly visited site in the Kathmandu Valley. The Durbar Square was severely damaged by the earthquake in 1934 and hence appears more spacious than the others, in Kathmandu and Patan. Originally, there were 99 courtyards attached to this place, but now only 6 remain. Before the 1934 earthquake, there were 3 separate groups of temples. Currently, the square is surrounded by buildings that survived the quake. On 25 April 2015, another major earthquake damaged many buildings in the square. The main temple in Bhaktapur's square lost its roof, while the Vatsala Devi temple, famous for its sandstone walls and gold-topped pagodas, was also demolished. Bhaktapur city still has enough elements to captivate a traveler with its unique architectural style of the buildings and the old world charm. On the way back to Kathmandu we can visit Patan Darbar Square Patan which is situated at the center of the city of Lalitpur in Nepal. It is one of the three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of its attractions is the ancient royal palace where the Malla Kings of Lalitpur resided. The Durbar Square is a marvel of Newar architecture. The square floor is tiled with red bricks. There are many temples and idols in the area in and around Patan Durbar Square. A center of both Hinduism and Buddhism, Patan Durbar Square has 136 courtyards and 55 major temples. The square was also heavily damaged by the earthquake in April 2015. Moving on from Bhaktapur we shall head to Nagarkot set at an elevation of 2,195 meters, it is considered one of the most scenic spots around Kathmandu Valley. It is known for a sunrise view of the Himalayas including Mount Everest as well as other peaks of the Himalayan range of eastern Nepal. The scenic beauty of the place makes it a very popular hiking route for tourists. At Nagarkot, we can check into a very scenic resort that provides an outstanding view of the Himalayas, which is the main attraction of Nagarkot. After checking into the hotel we can go for a paragliding tour that will provide outstanding views of the Himalayas and mainly, that of the majestic Mt. Everest, itself. The paragliding experience to give you views of Mt Everest is undoubtedly the highlight of this trip. After that, you have the rest of the day to explore Nagarkot or go on a beautiful hiking trip through the Nagarkot Panoramic Hiking Trail.

Media and additional information available for the day's itinerary.

Patan Darbar Square
Patan Darbar Square
Patan Darbar Square
Patan Darbar Square
Bhaktapur city
Bhaktapur Darbar Square
Bhaktapur Darbar Square
Nagarkot Views
Nagarkot Sunset Views
Nagarkot Views
Nagarkot Views
Paragliding at Nagarkot
Mt Everest View Paragliding at Nagarkot

Day : 9 - Day - 9

Night stay at N1 - Mithila, Nepal
Distance from days start -191 Kms.

Hotel - Hotel Paawan Mithila

Star Rating of Hotel :

Day : 10 - The long drive to Darjeeling

Night stay at O1 - Darjeeling, West Bengal, India
Distance from days start -460 Kms.

Hotel - Summit Grace Boutique Hotel

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt O1 - Darjeeling, West Bengal, India
Distance from days start -460 Kms.

Activities - Drive to Mirik and Darjeeling from Nepalese Border

Factors at the Halt include : Forests,Hills,Great Views.

On day 10 we shall take on a long drive through the East West highway towards the east to cross to the Indian border again close to Darjeeling and ascend the hills to Darjeeling in the West Bengal state of India. The experience is all about the pretty locales, hills, and Koshi river views on the way and we shall try to reach Darjeeling as early as possible by not taking a lot of stops on the way. We shall enter Darjeeling through the Mirik region which is famous for its beautiful tea gardens.

Media and additional information available for the day's itinerary.

Koshi River Views
Koshi River Views
Mirik Views
Tea gardens in Mirik
Roads through the tea gardens in Mirik
The Mirik Lake

Day : 11 - Darjeeling tour and Kalimpong

Halt P1 - Kalimpong, West Bengal, India
Distance from days start -40 Kms.

Activities - Kalimpong tour, Teesta river rafting

Factors at the Halt include : Small Boats / Canoes,Watersports,Adventure.

Night stay at Q2 - Darjeeling, West Bengal, India
Distance from days start -0 Kms.

Hotel - Summit Grace Boutique Hotel

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt Q2 - Darjeeling, West Bengal, India
Distance from days start -0 Kms.

Activities - Darjeeling tour, Batasia Loop, Ropeway ride in Darjeeling

Factors at the Halt include : Hills,Ropeway / Cable Car / Train,Great Views.

Our day in Darjeeling, we shall start early and visit the Batasia Loop, the last point on the Himalayan railway where the Toy train takes goes around a circle at the edge of the hills to turn around. Also we can enjoy the views of Darjeeling and the lovely hills around from the Darjeeling rope way. After that, we can drive towards the eastern side of Darjeeling to Kalimpong. At Kalimpong we shall try white water river rafting in the river Teesta. The exciting experience will definitely set your mood high, and we shall head back to our resort in Darjeeling to relax for the rest of the afternoon.

Media and additional information available for the day's itinerary.

Batasia Loop Darjeeling
Darjeeling Ropeway
Darjeeling Ropeway
Kanchenjunga Views from Darjeeling
Darjeeling city
Kalimpong
Kalimpong views
Teesta River rafting site
Teesta river rafting at Kalimpong

Day : 12 - Siliguri and tea estates.

Night stay at R1 - Siliguri, West Bengal, India
Distance from days start -74 Kms.

Hotel - Royal Sarovar Portico Hotel & Resorts

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt R1 - Siliguri, West Bengal, India
Distance from days start -74 Kms.

Activities - Siliguri tour

Factors at the Halt include : Forests,Hills,Shopping.

On day 12 we shall leave Darjeeling and descend to hills to reach the beautiful city situated at its foothills, Siliguri. Siliiguri is a well-developed city and it is surrounded by Tea gardens the climate also remains pleasant throughout the year. One of the most noted things to do in Siliguri other than the city tour is a visit to the famous Iskcon temple in Siliguri. The drive from Darjeeling to Siliguri takes only slightly about 2 hours which leaves us with enough to time to relax and enjoy the city and the beautiful tea gardens on the way.

Media and additional information available for the day's itinerary.

Siliguri City Views
Siliguri City Views
Siliguri City Views
Siliguri City Views
Iskcon temple Siliguri
Iskcon temple Siliguri
Siliguri Tea Estates
Siliguri tea estates

Day : 13 - To Malda

Night stay at S1 - Malda, West Bengal, India
Distance from days start -383 Kms.

Hotel - Golden Park Hotel & Resort

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt S1 - Malda, West Bengal, India
Distance from days start -383 Kms.

Activities - Visit Mughal monuments and mosques around Malda

Factors at the Halt include : Cultural / History.

From Siliguri we shall head back to the plains of West Bengal and reach Malda by late afternoon. Malda is famous for its Mughal architecture monuments, mosques, and forts set around the city. We shall visit a few on the way, while the daylight is still left. After that, we shall check into our hotel in Malda for the night stay.

Day : 14 - Back to Kolkata

Night stay at T1 - Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Distance from days start -270 Kms.

Hotel - The Stadel

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt T1 - Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Distance from days start -270 Kms.

Activities - Kolkota Salt Lake tour

Factors at the Halt include :

And the entire Day 14 is spend on the drive from Malda to reach Kolkata. The drive should take about 8 hours and on reaching Kolkata since we can not afford to have anything more to do for the day we shall check into our hotels and relax for the night.

Day : 15 - The city of Joy

Halt U1 - Victoria Memorial, Queens Way, Maidan, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Distance from days start -3 Kms.

Activities - Victoria Memorial and Central Kolkota tour, lunch from Kolkatas iconic restaurant Peter Cat

Factors at the Halt include : Shopping,Cultural / History,Iconic Food Outlets.

On the last day of the trip we shall spend exploring the central parts of the city of Joy before it is time to drop you to the airport for you to catch your return flights home. We shall be visiting the central area including the Victoria memorial. We shall also do a short leg of the Tram ride in Kolkata so that you can get an experience of that too. Also included in the itinerary is a lunch from the Iconic restaurant in Kolkota the 'Peter Cat', situated on the park street.

Media and additional information available for the day's itinerary.

Aerial view of Kolkata city
Aerial view of Kolkata city
Kolkata city views
Kolkata city views
Kolkata city views
Park Lane Kolkata
Aerial View of Victoria Memorial
Victoria Memorial
Tram ride in Kolkata
Tram ride in Kolkata
Peter Cat Restaurant
The famous Chelo Kabab at Peter Cat

Day : 16 - The last day of the trip

The last day of the trip can be spent for more Kolkata tour especially the Salt Lake area and for shopping before dropping you off at the airport to catch your return flights home.