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Enchanting East India

In the East you will discover wonderful colonial architecture and a vibrant atmosphere that will make your journey a unique cultural experience unmatched elsewhere in India. Between the southern Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal, expect to see stunning scenery, temples, tribal villages and meandering river ways.

Colonial cities like Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, feature strong cultural heritage with museums, galleries and breathtaking architecture, while to the south, the tribal and village culture of Orissa boasts pilgrimage centres at Puri and Konark, including the striking Sun Temple. Venture to the north of the region and you will find tea plantations and spectacular scenery. The mountain state of Sikkim is scattered with Buddhist monasteries located along Himalayan trade routes while at Assam you can cruise along India’s longest river, the Brahmaputra. Sight one-horned rhinos at Kaziranga while on an elephant safari or feel the raindrops in Cherrapunji, the only place in the world where downpours can be expected year round. For those seeking to witness nature’s real beauty then a visit to North East India is a must. Here, neighbouring regions hold many surprises and a charm that will sweep you off your feet.

  • Kolkata

    The former riverside capital of the British Raj, Kolkata retains a great deal of dramatic colonial architecture and continues to dominate the political and economic life of much of eastern India. Visitors are often surprised by the city’s energetic daily life, which is played out before your very eyes on the streets pulsating with people. Locally regarded as the intellectual and cultural capital of the nation, Kolkata showcases dance, poetry, art, music, film and theatre. Here you will also find wonderful restaurants where you can sample the mild, fruity tang of Bengali cuisine and share the city’s passion for sweets.

  • Darjeeling

    Spread in ribbons over a steep mountain ridge, surrounded by emerald-green tea plantations and with a backdrop of jagged white mountaintops peaking through low-lying clouds, Darjeeling is a web of interconnecting roads and steep steps amid stunning scenery. Expect to be greeted by colonial architecture, Buddhist monasteries and even see snow leopards and red pandas at the nearby zoo. Not only has Darjeeling long provided respite from the intense summer heat that permeates Kolkata but it also offers the ideal climate for tea planters to cultivate their ‘Champagne of the East’.