Hill Stations of the Himalayas

My friend and I intend to visit November 9th, we are taking a tour as named above.

Someone told me it could be cold??? I am wondering about clothing and any other hints. We are two old ladies travelling with Voyage Jules Verne. Never been to India before. Is there anything they like as gifts, etc? Any other advice?

This is our tour:

vjv.co.uk/destinations/…index.html

Day 1 Fly from London Heathrow via Mumbai to Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) arriving the following afternoon.

Day 2 Transfer to the 3-star Floatel for a two-night stay. This unique hotel is moored on the Hoogly River.

Day 3 Morning visit to the flower market, Belur Math and a boat across the Ganges to the Dakshinashwar Temple. In the afternoon visit the Jain temple, the Kalighat Temple and the book market.

Day 4 Morning flight to Bagdogra and a steep uphill drive to Darjeeling (2100m). Spend two nights at Hotel Fortune Central. Transportation from Bagdogra is by 4-wheel drive.

Day 5 Early morning visit to Tiger Hill for sun rise over the Himalayas. Continue to Ghoom Monastery before returning to the hotel for breakfast. Later that morning travel by toy train to the highest railway station in India. One of only three railways in the world to be granted world heritage status, the locomotives were made in Manchester. Afternoon tour of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, the zoo and snow leopard breeding centre (when available).

Day 6 Leave Bengal for Sikkim, one of India’s smallest states. En route visit a tea garden. Spend two nights at Norbu Ghang Resort at Pelling. All guest rooms enjoy views of the mountains.

Day 7 Full-day tour to Khecheopalri Lake, the Pemeyangste Monastery and the ruins of Rabdentse, Sikkim’s second city.

Day 8 Travel eastwards to Gangtok, the modern-day capital of Sikkim. Stay two nights at the family-run Rhenock Villas, located in an elevated position overlooking Gangtok. Visit Rumtek Monastery en route to the hotel.

Day 9 Enjoy spectacular scenery on this short drive to Tsomgo Lake. At an altitude 3300 metres and not far from the India China border, there may even be an opportunity to ride a yak.

Day 10 Drive from Gangtok to Bagdogra for an early afternoon flight to Kolkata and a final night at the Floatel.

Day 11 Morning sightseeing includes Victoria Memorial, Dalhousie Square, St. Johns Church, Howrah Bridge and a panoramic drive around colonial Calcutta. Transfer to the airport for return flight to London Heathrow via Mumbai.

Day 12 Morning arrival into London Heathrow.

Hill Stations of the Himalayas

I don%26#39;t think that Darjeeling and Gangtok will be too too cold for someone from Middlesex.

Average temperature range in Gangtok in November is likely to be 9-18 Degrees Celsius. However, Tsomgo lake is at a high altitude and is usually frozen in winters.

You may plan accordingly.

Hill Stations of the Himalayas

In September, the monsoons end, and the temperature starts to fall in late October as winter arrives in India.

Calcutta is not cold in November, the average temperature is 18 - 29 C, but there are days when the lowest is 10 or 11 C. Humidity is in the 70%26#39;s. I love the sound of your Day 3! So many interesting places!

The average temperature in Darjeeling is between 6 and 12 degrees in November, with a minimum of 2 degrees and a maximum of 19. They have snow in Jan / Feb but not in November. In this season the Himalayas are clearly visible.

Your trip sounds perfect,temps have already been written about.Just one suggestion try to include Rangpo Monastery in Gangtok,Rumtek is more bigger and popular,but Rangpo is more beautiful.

Thank you very much. Have you any advice on clothing? Bare arms for example, appropriate clothing for temples? Tipping, giving, anything we should take as gifts?

There are no ';prescribed'; clothes for temples, but just as you would dress modestly for a church, you should ideally dress circumspectly for temples. Typically that means modest clothes that do not display cleavage and bare skin. I usually advise people against spaghetti straps, halter necks, hot pants, very short skirts, and so on. Sleeveless clothes by themselves are not a problem - It is more a matter of what image you project than what you wear. Dressing ';sexy'; is usually not very well received.

In mosques they are stricter and have problems with skin display of any sort.

In all religious places, you must take off shoes. So bring lots of socks :D since you will probably end up walking around in socks inside temple complexes and they%26#39;ll get dirty.

In many Jain temples, they are strict about not bringing leather into the temple - belts, wallets, shoes etc.

In my experience the best things to wear are loose linen pants (protection from mosquitoes as well) and regular cotton t-shirts or shirts (that will protect the arms as well).

- Deepa

Oh and ALWAYS carry a scarf just in case you need to cover up or cover your head (the Sikh temples require you to cover your head).