Glorious Sun Temple with Sunderban Tour

Welcome to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata, where our representative will assist and escort you by air-conditioned car to the pre-booked hotel. During check-in, all required documents related to the tour will be handed over, and you will receive a detailed briefing about the tour and services, with all your queries explained. Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, developed along the Hooghly River and became an important centre of commerce, administration, education and culture in eastern India. If you arrive early enough, sightseeing can be arranged according to the available time. Otherwise, the evening is free for relaxation or a visit to the local market. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, take a full-day sightseeing tour of Kolkata, beginning with the Howrah Bridge, one of the city's most recognizable landmarks spanning the Hooghly River and connecting Kolkata with Howrah. Continue to the Victoria Memorial, an imposing marble monument built between 1906 and 1921 and combining British and Indian architectural influences, with galleries documenting Kolkata's colonial and cultural history. Visit the Indian Museum, one of India's oldest and largest museums, housing collections covering archaeology, art, natural history and cultural heritage. Continue to Kalighat Kali Temple, one of Kolkata's most important Hindu pilgrimage sites and a major Shakti shrine. Visit St. Paul's Cathedral, known for its Gothic Revival architecture, followed by the Botanical Gardens, among India's oldest botanical gardens and known for its extensive plant collections and historic landscape. See the High Court Building, completed in 1872 and reflecting Kolkata's colonial architectural heritage, along with Dalhousie Square, the historic administrative centre of colonial Kolkata. Visit Tagore House, associated with the Tagore family and Bengal's literary and cultural history, and Birla Mandir, dedicated to Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, take an excursion to Ganga Sagar, one of Bengal's important pilgrimage destinations where the River Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal. Drive to Harwood Point and cross the Muriganga River by ferry before continuing by local transport to the southern part of the island. A holy dip at the confluence is considered highly auspicious, particularly during the annual pilgrimage. Visit Kapil Muni Ashram, associated with the sage Kapil Muni and the traditional legend of King Sagar, Bhagirath and the descent of the Ganga to earth. After the visit, return to Kolkata for overnight stay.

At 8:30 A.M., depart from the hotel and drive to Gothkhali Jetty. At approximately 11:00 A.M., arrive at Gothkhali, where the road journey ends and the boat journey into the Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's largest mangrove ecosystems, begins. At 11:30 A.M., depart by boat for Dayapur with tea/coffee on board. At approximately 1:15 P.M., arrive at Sundarban Tiger Camp, Dayapur, located opposite the Sundarban Tiger Reserve forest across the River Pitchkhali. After lunch, take a boat trip to the Sajnekhali area and visit the Sajnekhali Museum, Mangrove Interpretation Centre and Watch Tower. Return to the camp in the evening. Enjoy evening tea/coffee with snacks, followed by a local folk-dance programme, wildlife movie and a bonfire during winter. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

At 5:30–6:30 A.M., enjoy morning tea before beginning the day's exploration. At 8:00 A.M., start a boat cruise through the creeks and dense mangrove forests, with breakfast served on board, travelling towards Dobanke Watch Tower. Enjoy the canopy walk inside the forest, offering an elevated perspective of the surrounding mangrove habitat, followed by a visit to the Spotted Deer Rehabilitation Centre. Continue towards Matla Sea Face, from where the Bay of Bengal can be seen, before cruising back through the five-river junction to Pitchkhali. After lunch, take a walk through the neighbouring villages and interact with local communities to learn about their traditional livelihoods, culture and relationship with the surrounding mangrove ecosystem. Evening tea/coffee with snacks, followed by folk dance by local artists or a wildlife movie. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

At 6:30 A.M., enjoy morning tea before beginning the day's exploration. At 7:00 A.M., cruise towards Sudhanyakhali Watch Tower through the waterways and narrow creeks of the Sundarbans. Continue through the Pitchkhali, Sarakhkhali, Sudhanyakhali and Bonobibi Dharani areas and along the waterways of the Sundarban Tiger Reserve. The boat journey provides opportunities to observe the distinctive mangrove landscape and its wildlife habitat, including birds and other animals along the waterways. Breakfast is served on board during the cruise. At approximately 10:00 A.M., return to Sundarban Tiger Camp, followed by lunch. At 12:00 Noon, depart by boat for Gothkhali, arriving at approximately 3:00 P.M.. Continue by road to Kolkata and arrive at approximately 6:30 P.M.. Transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to the airport to board the flight for Bhubaneswar. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and after refreshment begin sightseeing of the Temple City. Visit the Rajarani Temple, an important example of Kalinga architecture known for its finely carved sandstone walls and sculptural details, followed by the State Museum, which houses archaeological objects, sculptures, paintings and palm-leaf manuscripts reflecting Odisha's cultural heritage. Overnight at the hotel.

Today morning after breakfast, visit Atri, known for its hot sulphur springs, and the nearby Hatakeswar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Return to Bhubaneswar and visit Mukteswar Temple, an important example of Odisha's temple architecture, particularly known for its ornate torana gateway and detailed stone carvings. Continue to Lingaraj Temple, one of Bhubaneswar's principal religious landmarks and a major expression of the Kalinga architectural tradition, followed by Parasurameswar Temple, among the city's oldest surviving temples. Visit the twin hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri, where rock-cut caves preserve important evidence of the region's early Jain heritage. In the evening, explore the local markets for traditional Odishan handicrafts or visit Bindusagar Lake, an important water body surrounded by historic temples. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Puri. En route, visit Dhauli, associated with the historic Kalinga War of the 3rd century BC. The conflict is traditionally regarded as a major turning point in Emperor Ashoka's life and his subsequent association with Buddhism and Dhamma. Continue to Konark and visit the Konark Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by King Narasimhadeo in the 13th century and dedicated to the Sun God. The temple was conceived as a colossal stone chariot, with carved wheels and sculptural details covering its architecture. The wheels are among its most recognizable features, while the extensive carvings provide insights into the artistic, religious and social life of medieval Odisha. The temple is also known as the Black Pagoda. Continue to Puri and transfer to the hotel. The evening is free for leisure at the beach. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, take a city tour of Puri, one of India's four principal Hindu pilgrimage centres and an important centre of the Jagannath tradition. Visit the famous Jagannath Temple, dedicated to Lord Jagannath and one of the most significant pilgrimage temples in eastern India. Continue to Gundicha Temple, traditionally associated with the annual Rath Yatra, and visit Adi Shankracharya Mutt. Walk through the bustling temple bazaar and experience the lively surroundings of the main temple complex. Later drive to Chilka Lake, Satpada, a vast saltwater lagoon and important wetland landscape. Its reed islands and surrounding waters attract white-bellied sea eagles, ospreys, golden plovers, sandpipers, flamingos, pelicans, shovellers, gulls and migratory birds travelling from Iran, Central Asia and Siberia. The combination of wetlands, birdlife and local fishing communities makes the lake an important natural attraction of Odisha. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

After an early breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Bhitarkanika. En route, visit Raghurajpur Village, renowned for its traditional crafts, particularly Pattachitra painting. Explore the village and visit its small temples dedicated to Lord Lakshminarayan, Radha Mohan, Raghunath, Gouranga, Gopinath and Bhuasuni. Continue to Bhitarkanika and transfer to the hotel. After refreshment, explore the Farmers Village, followed by the Crocodile Breeding Centre and Museum. The sanctuary's mangrove ecosystem supports saltwater crocodiles, deer, monitor lizards, wild boar and numerous resident and migratory birds. Dinner and overnight stay.

After an early breakfast, explore Bhitarkanika by boat, travelling through its network of mangrove creeks and waterways and looking for giant saltwater crocodiles, birds and other wildlife along the banks. Continue exploring the sanctuary on foot from designated boat halting points, where you may encounter deer, wild boar, monitor lizards and a variety of birds. Later check out from the resort and drive towards Bhubaneswar. En route, visit Ratnagiri, an important Buddhist archaeological site known for its monasteries, sculptures and other remains associated with Odisha's Buddhist heritage. If time permits, visit Lalitgiri, another important Buddhist archaeological site, before continuing to Bhubaneswar for overnight stay.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar to board the scheduled flight for your hometown. On departure, the tour concludes with happy memories of Kolkata, the Sundarbans and Odisha's rich cultural, architectural and natural heritage.