Eastern India & Kolkata Holidays

Eastern India retains much of India's colonial architecture and atmosphere, and Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) is an endlessly fascinating city, but there is far more to see aside from the capital of West Bengal. Kolkata had, until recently, a reputation for squalor and poverty, but in this vibrant city of 13 million inhabitants sits an important part of east India's historical heritage in buildings such as the Marble Palace, the Botanical and Eden Gardens, the Victoria Memorial, and in the museum. This delta is home to one of Eastern India's many and diverse ecosystems - Sunderbans with its huge mangrove forests (where we have a huge replanting programme in place) and tiger reserve. There's even more to Eastern India holidays: further to the north the Himalayan foothills are perfect for trekking. One of the key areas is Darjeeling, where you can stay in a lodge surrounded by rolling tea plantations and spectacular views of the Himalayas. From here you can continue north into Sikkim for a few days walking. Once an independent Himalayan Kingdom like Bhutan, the state is scattered with monasteries along what was once the main Himalayan trade route. Read more