Darjeeling, Sikkim im Early March

Hi,
We are planning a trip to Darjeeling and sikkim and a tentative plan as follows. Any Suggetions(timing and route)??
I also appreciate rec. of hotels around INR700/- at those places at that time.

28-2-2007 Wed.
Leave Hyd. to Kolkota, Catch night train to NJP.

01-3-2007 Thus.
Reach NJP/Siliguri and take Toy train (9am) to Darjeeling.

02-3-2007 Fri.
Visit early morning 4 am Tiger Hill, Ghoom, Batasia loop.
Visit to Chowrasta, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute & Museum, Evening Mall

03-3-2007 Sat.
Leave to Pelling after breakfast

04-3-2007 Sun.
Pelling local tour . Pemyangsy Monastery, Kanchendongha Falls, Rimbi falls, Chhange Falls, Khechiperi Lake, Sangakcholing Monastry

05-3-2007 Mon.
Leave to Gangtok before/after lunch.


06-3-2007 Tue.
Gangtok Local tour Institute of Tibetology, Rumtek Monastery, Tashi view Point, Enchey Monastery, Ganesh Tok, Hanuman Tok etc.)
Arrange for a travel agent to visit “Nathu la”, “Baba Mandir” and “Tsomgo lake”.

07-3-2007 Wed.
“Tsomgo lake”.”.“Nathu la”, “Baba Mandir”

08-3-2007 Thur.
Drive from Gangtok to Lachung,

09-3-2007 Fri.
Drive from Lachung, to Yumthang and back to Gangtok

10-3-2007 Sat.
Gangtok to NJP and take night train to Cal

11-3-2007 Sun.
Cal to Hyd. Flight

Don't worry. You will be there in offseason. So hotel will give you discount. In Darjeeling i suggest Old belevue Hotel.Pelling and Gangtok also have lot of hotel and also you will get discount .
I sudggest you must booka tour for north Sikkim from Gangtok. If possible stay one nght in SINGKIK.

i'm doing essentially the same tour in late february, and assembled a detailed itinerary that looks remarkably like yours (in reverse) based on two guidebooks and, more significantly, feedback i got from this site.

i can't advise you on hotels, as i've not been there yet, and i've reserved at places costing a bit more, but i'm sure recommendations here will start to stream in. somnath, who's active in this forum, strongly favors the darjeeling tourist lodge, and quite a few others speak well of aliment. don't despair if it takes a few days to get replies. IM has been quiet this holiday weekend.

regarding the toy train to darjeeling, some folks here will tell you it's TOO liong and slow and grueling and that you'd be better off driving and then taking a shorter trip on the train once you reach darjeeling. i read an article in the october issue of "national geographic traveler" in which the author said he always went the full distance and that it was the ONLY way to go. sounds very much like a matter of personal preference. i'm sure the scenery is spectacular whether driving or taking the train, but you'll gain quite a few extra sightseeing hours in darjeeling if you skip the full 9-hour train ride. of course, i can't speak from personal experience, but others here can. i wasn't able to access the article online, but here's a link to another at NGE that nicely supplements the guidebooks and IM: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/tr.../himalaya.html

a final note: nathu-la is not open to foreigners, a fact that a travel agent there just confirmed for me this morning - don't know whether you are. if you ARE a foreigner, PM me and i'll pass on some info i received in a PM about a possible way to visit there nonetheless, for what it's worth.

Thanks a lot Janice, for the info.
I am an Indian staying south dreaming to see snow during our trip. Would have planned earlier but worried that they may cancel trips to Yumthang valley(ht alititude in the trip) where we are likely to see snow apart from Tsongo lake.I only hope to see the mountains clearly from Darjeeling onwards.
We went to Kuasani in May didnot see any thing but ble sky.
Wish me luck this time. Well we may take short trip by Toy train in Darjee