Land of Bruce Lee

 

Day 1: 18 Oct 2025 CCU >Hong Kong (Arrival & Night Tour & City Explorations )

Day 2: 19 Oct 2025 (Hong Kong City Tour)

Day 3: 20 Oct 2025 (Lantau Island & Big Buddha )

Day 4: 21 Oct 2025 (Macau Day Trip)

Day 5: 22 Oct 2025 (Departure) Hong Kong >Manila

Day 6 : 23 Oct 2025 : Philipines

Day 7 : 24 Oct 2025 : Philipines

Day 8 : 25 Oct 2025 : Philipines

Day 9 : 26 Oct 2025 : Philipines

Day 10 : 27 Oct 2025 : Philipines

Day 11 : 28 Oct 2025 : Philipines>Hong Kong

Day 11: 28 Oct 2025 : Departure : Hong Kong >CCU

Apply for Visa

See this wonderful video to know about problems of visa application from India, especially Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chandigarh. If you apply from these countries. Pre-Arrival Registration (PAR) Process will be unsuccessful, like my application, inspite of visiting 44 countries. But nothing to worry about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5vTDJpfD-U

For documents required, follow this link -

 https://www.gov.hk/en/nonresidents/visarequire/visasentrypermits/applyvisit_transit.htm

✈️ Day 1 (18 Oct 2025) — Arrival & Hong Kong By Night

• 🕚 11:45 am: Arrive at Hong Kong International Airport.

• 🧳 12:45 pm: Airport Express to Kowloon Station (~24 mins), then check-in at hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui/Mong Kok.

• 🕠 2:00 pm onward:

  • Take Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak for a panoramic sunset view.

  • Ride the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour.

  • Explore Avenue of Stars & Clock Tower at Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront.

  • Wander Temple Street Night Market and sample street food (egg waffles, fish balls).

• 🛏️ Overnight in Kowloon.

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🏙️ Day 2 (19 Oct 2025) — Hong Kong City Tour

• 🕘 After breakfast, join a Hong Kong City Tour covering:

  • The School of Yaumatei

  • Tin Hau Temple

  • West Kowloon Art Park

  • 1881 Heritage

  • Man Mo Temple

  • Aberdeen Fishing Village

  • Repulse Bay

  • Shek o beach / Tai Tam reservoir ??

• 🕕 Afternoon & evening free for shopping at Ladies Market, Mong Kok

• For night life - Lan Kwai Fong [nearest metro station in Central - Island Line (Blue Line) is the closest]. From there, it's about a 5–7 minute uphill walk.

• 🛏️ Overnight in Kowloon.

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🏞️ Day 3 (20 Oct 2025) — Lantau Island & Big Buddha

• 🕘 Morning:

  • Travel by MTR to Tung Chung Station (~45 mins).

  • From Tung Chung Station take the Ngong Ping 360 by Cable Car for stunning views up to Lantau Island, enjoying sweeping views of North Lantau Country Park and Hong Kong International Airport

• 🕙 Visit Big Buddha (Tian Tan Buddha) and Po Lin Monastery.

• 🕚 Optional trip to nearby Tai O Fishing Village (bus #21).

• 🕕 Return to hotel via MTR/bus in the evening.

• 🛏️ Overnight in Kowloon.

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🏰 Day 4 (21 Oct 2025) — Macau City Tour

• 🕖 Early morning transfer to Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal.

• 🕣 Ferry to Macau (~1 hr).

• 🕘 Explore Macau’s highlights:

  • A-Ma Temple

  • Ruins of St. Paul’s

  • Senado Square

  • Na Tcha Temple

  • Venetian Casino

  • Macau Tower (optional observation deck)

• 🕕 Return to Hong Kong by ferry in the evening.

• 🛏️ Overnight in Kowloon.

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🛫 Day 5 (22 Oct 2025) — Departure

• 🕖 Check-out, take Airport Express or Cityflyer bus to Hong Kong International Airport for your onward flight.

🏨 Accommodation (Budget-Friendly)

Recommended Areas:

✅ Tsim Sha Tsui or Mong Kok in Kowloon — these are vibrant, centrally located districts with plenty of budget hotels and street food.

✅ Examples of Budget Hostels/Hotels (~HKD 200–450 per night per person):

• Kowloon Backpackers Hostel

• Cosmic Guest House

• Ah Shan Hostel

• Dragon Hostel

🍜 Famous Street Food & Night Markets in Hong Kong

✅ Ladies Market, Mong Kok — famous for street food like curry fish balls, egg waffles, and stinky tofu.
✅ Temple Street Night Market — more street snacks and souvenirs.
✅ Mong Kok Food Stalls — look for Hong Kong-style French toast, dim sum, egg tarts, roasted

💵 Budgeting & Currency Info

• Currency: Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)

• Exchange Rate : 1 HKD ≈  11 INR

• Average daily expenses (budget traveler):

• Hotel: HKD 200–400 per night

• Food: HKD 100–200 per day

• Local transport (MTR): HKD 50 per day

🌍 Quick Hong Kong Facts

• Climate in Oct: Pleasant, 22°C–28°C, mostly dry.

• Economy:

  • Advanced financial center; high GDP per capita (USD 53,000), among Asia’s wealthiest cities.

  • Major industries: Finance, trade, tourism.

• History:

  • Originally a small fishing village.

  • Ceded to Britain after the First Opium War (1839–1842) under the Treaty of Nanking.

  • Developed into a global port and financial hub.

  • Returned to China in 1997 as a Special Administrative Region under “one country, two systems.”

• Society: Cosmopolitan, multilingual (Cantonese, English), vibrant street life.

✅ Transportation & Travel Tips

• Octopus Card — Buy at airport for seamless travel (MTR, buses, ferries AND shopping).

• MTR — Fast, clean, inexpensive.

 

 Gunjed & Confused : The McCluskiegunj Files

McCluskieganj’s Anglican Church - St John Church

Sarva Dharma Sthal

Stanley Porter's house

Rana's house

Kitty Memsahib

Dasham Falls

Three days. Two valleys. One ghostly Anglo-Indian hamlet. And a journey where every turn whispered stories of a forgotten era…

Day 0 – 14 August 2025,Thursday  

            Howrah (21 10 hrs)→ Ranchi (05:40 hrs) | Kriya Yogi Express (186 15) | 

Day 1 – Friday, 15 August 2025 : Ranchi → Patratu Valley & Falls → McCluskiegunj

Day 2 – Saturday, 16 August 2025 : McCluskiegunj → Netarhat → McCluskiegunj

Day 3 – Sunday, 17 August 2025 : McCluskiegunj → Ranchi→ Dashm Falls→ Jonha Falls→ Ranchi 

Day 3  Kriya Yoga Express (186 16)  (20:00 PM)

Day 4  Howrah (186 16)  (08:45 AM)

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 📌 Day 0 – 14 August 2025,Thursday

  The Midnight Express to Nowhere

 Howrah (21:10 hrs) → Ranchi (~07:40 hrs) | Kriya Yogi Express (18615) - the best train without wasting a day in Office.

After wrapping up at my office, I picked up Mohua from hers at Hastings. On the way to Howrah, we made an unscheduled stop near the High Court to send an “urgent” courier. The building housing the courier office looked like it had auditioned for a role in The Walking Dead — and passed.

Dinner was a safe gamble: Idly @ ₹80 for 2 pieces at the food court in Howrah’s new station building. We stuck to Idly like cautious investors during a stock market crash. The place was clean and—surprisingly—worth it.

At platform no. 22, our train awaited. Thanks to Tatkal, Mohua was in AC2, while I ascended to AC1 to join fellow travelers Sumona and Diptendu.

The adventure began with the rhythmic clatter of wheels as our train sliced through the  darkness of Bengal. What awaited us, however, was McCluskiegunj—a place that feels like it’s caught in a tug-of-war between life and memory, half alive, half a ghost town.

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📌 Day 1 – Friday, 15 August 2025 : Ranchi → Patratu Valley & Falls → McCluskiegunj  

We rolled into Ranchi fashionably late—by 2 hours—at 7:45 a.m. Our first stop was the apartment of Couchsurfer Piyush, where Anjan (proudly Kolkata-made) and Nikhil (freshly exported from Chhattisgarh) had already set up camp, having arrived the previous day. After the essential rituals of freshening up and paying our respects to the loo, we finally left for Patratu Valley at 9:15 a.m. Thanks to our leisurely departure, McCluskiegunj had to make do with only a short cameo appearance in our itinerary.

Patratu’s Curves & McCluskiegunj’s Ghosts : 

Night Stay: McCluskiegunj at the famous "Rana's Country Cottage"  @4500/- for a cottage with 2 rooms, for 5-6 people per day - for 2 days (+91 8420 62 45 56 - Rajesh ) and +91 90062 05320 (Deepak Rana)

Car : The Ertiga AC (6+1 seater, including the driver) from Maa Cab Service (+91 8789 710 832) came at ₹4,200 per day. This covered the driver’s night stay, night charges, food, and toll tax . If you travel more than 200 km in a day, you’ll be billed ₹12 per extra km. And if you’re brave enough to ask for a carrier, that’s an extra ₹300 per day.

Seating arrangement: 1 seat in the front, 3 in the middle, and 2 in the back.

Note: This was our second time taking the Ertiga for a long-distance trip, and we have now decided never again. The car has about as much legroom as an economy-class flight and luggage space that could barely fit a cabin luggage in standing position. Honestly, it’s best suited as a 5+1 (for luggage) + 1 driver setup. 

Ranchi → Patratu Valley 

On the way to Patratu valley , we stopped at a restaurant, Italano - Pool view , where we had brunch.The food was surprsingly expensive for such a small Town.

Ranchi to Patratu Valley is barely 30 km, but the drive felt like a mini adventure in itself. The road snakes through Patratu’s famous serpentine curves. The view reminded me of Purulia Hill Top, only with more horns honking in chorus.

Since it was 15th August, the place was packed—clearly freedom was being celebrated by half of Ranchi right there. After soaking in the view, we headed downhill towards the lake. There’s boating available, but we gave it a miss, because of time constraint.

Next stop: Then we visited Patratu dam adjacent to a Hanuman Mandir . We dropped the idea of climbing dam’s wall to see the Lake, since we were late.

The dam is an impressive structure, but the real drama came when we asked our driver about continuing on to McCluskiegunj. He shook his heads and whispered the dreaded words—“Mine Road.” Translation: potholes big enough to swallow your car. So, with our bones (and suspension) in mind, we wisely turned back towards Ranchi and took the safer detour to reach McCluskiegunj.

McCluskiegunj Bound 

The  110-km drive was a time warp: dense sal forests, crumbling Anglo-Indian bungalows, and eerie signboards . 

History of McCluskieganj 

The ghost of Mini England - by Malcolm Hourigan (he runs a hostel in McCluskieganj and is involved in preserving the history of his hometown)

McCluskieganj, also known as ‘Mini England’, is a small township in the jungles of Jharkhand. Commonly referred to as ‘The Gunj’, McCluskieganj came up in the mid-thirties as a hamlet or ‘Mooluk’ for the Anglo-Indian community. Ernest Timothy McCluskie, an Anglo-Indian a rich property dealer from Kolkata (then Calcutta), approached the erstwhile King of Ratu (who used to rule this part of Chotanagpur) for a 10,000-acre land to establish a settlement for the Anglo-Indian community, a place where they could call their homeland.The Colonisation Society of India Ltd. was formed in 1933 under Companies Act 2013 and the Head Office was 22 Park Street, Calcutta. The Company will be, however, run like a Co-operative.  There were around 400 such families who had decided to settle here. He was granted the land on a perpetual lease which was registered in 1932/33.  

"Things, however, did not go that well for Ernest Timothy McCluskie as he died in the year 1935 which is just two years after the establishment of McCluskieganj."

More than 400 Anglo-Indian families from across the country chose McCluskieganj to settle down. Surrounded by forests and rivers, the town was barely 65 km from Ranchi, the summer capital of Bihar. The Anglo-Indians lived in their high- roofed bungalows with beautiful flower gardens and guava and mango trees. They lived a very British life and loved food, fashion, and music. They partied a lot and enjoyed their lives.

This continued for almost two-and-a-half decades. However, the Anglo-Indian community gradually realised that there were no sustainable livelihood opportunities in McCluskieganj. Also, the placed lacked in terms of education and healthcare. Gradually, people started moving out of McCluskieganj. Many moved to other parts of the country, while some families moved abroad. Some left their bungalows to their servants, some sold them and some abandoned their homes. Over the years, many bungalows were bought off by locals. Many remain in ruins.

Today, with only a few Anglo-Indian families remaining, it’s a serene tourist destination known for its British-era bungalows, lush forests, and tranquil rivers like the Dugadugi and Chatti.

The place was considered a ‘ghost town’ for many years until 1997. Alfred George de Rozario, an Anglo-India from Patna and one of the distinguished members and well-known personalities in Patna, opened Don Bosco Academy in McClukieganj. It was a reputed institute and many students from beyond the neighbourhood came to study in Don Bosco. It gave an opportunity for many families in McCluskieganj to open hostels for these outside students. It was Rozario’s deliberate strategy of not having any lodging facility for students at Don Bosco. The hostels were to be run by the Anglo-Indian families in the town from their residences. This provided the Anglo-Indian families a promising livelihood option.

Gradually, things started changing. People started buying houses and setting up small businesses. Today, there are two flourishing English medium schools and an Inter College in McCliskieganj. The narrow mud roads have been converted into broad, tarred roads which connect nearby districts resulting in more settlers who fall in love with the place while traveling through. The government has declared McCluskieganj a tourist attraction which is helping the economy of the place to grow. There are a few guest houses and restaurants here which are normally full of visitors from across the globe.

Earlier, there was a time when people would not dare to step out after 5 pm. They would sleep by 7-7:30 pm. But now the roads are well-lit. There are Naxals in the region, but they have never bothered the Anglo-Indians. They don’t bother the tourists, either.

On the flip side, land prices have shot up and because of the widespread development, the beauty of the place is getting diluted, but these changes were necessary.

It’s disheartening though that not many Anglo-Indian families are left in the town now. The present-day McClus­kieganj is a shadow of its former self. People know very little about the Anglo-Indians who lived here once, and there are not many who can tell them interesting stories from the past.

The Anglo-Indian Identity crisis

The Anglo-Indians spread across the country have been fighting the battle for recognition for decades. Back in the day, the British wouldn’t treat them as equals. They would not mix with the community at parties, marriages, and functions. Even in school, the children were not treated as equals. What’s worse, the Anglo-Indians were looked down upon by the Indians as well. In August 1947, when the British were leaving, the Anglo-Indians were left in the lurch. They were not welcome in Britain; the UK did not even offer to take them back. They were looked at with suspicion by the Indians, too. Even after so many decades, we are still searching for our identity. In 2019, the Cabinet approved a proposal to end the constitutional provisions that guarantee the reservation of two seats for the Anglo-Indians in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Anglo-Indians are not even identified as a separate category in the Census survey.

Anglo-Indians don’t know what their rights are. They don’t fight for their rights. We don’t approach the government for anything. We should have got special rights because we are a minority community. We are usually clubbed with Christians. While buying properties, if we don’t mention that we are Christians, they consider us as Adivasis. It then becomes difficult to sell land. We are not converted Christians, we are the original Christians. Even the Adivasis fight for their rights, but Anglo-Indians don’t.

I have had a long association with McClus­kieganj. My father was employed at Ghatotand, a division of Tata Iron and Steel Company. It was about 120 kms from McCluskieganj and we used to visit the town for vacations. From my great-grandfather’s side, we had many bungalows here, but as time passed, they kept selling them. From the maternal site, we had one house, but there was no one to take care of it. Gradually, the outsiders started buying land and bungalows. Presently, someone else is living in my bungalow. In order to get the possession back, I will have to fetch age-old documents and pursue a legal battle.

All said and done, McCluskieganj is a beautiful nostalgic place. Anglo-Indians can buy land for cheap. The land where I am right now, I bought it for Rs 1 lakh in 2006. It was an old house built in 1948. It needed a little modification. I opened a student hostel in 2010. I wanted to open a syari (rest house), like the ones they have at the railways stations. My mother still lives in McCluskieganj, but she hardly goes out. She steps out only when she has to attend events like birthday parties.

It feels as if somewhere down the line, the Gunj and the Anglo-Indians were forgotten. The town is no longer a ‘Mini-England’. It’s just a tag that has remained.

(Source:https://www.outlookindia.com/national/mccluskieganj-the-ghost-of-mini-england--magazine-271759)

Why Visit McCluskieganj ?

Colonial Charm: Step into history with McCluskieganj’s colonial-era bungalows—some lovingly preserved, others creaking under nostalgia, and quite a few converted into cozy guest houses. It’s like time-traveling.

Natural Beauty: The town is blessed with rolling hills, leafy trails, and postcard-perfect picnic spots like the Dega Degi river and the Jhunjhuniya Waterfall. 

Peaceful Escape: McCluskieganj is tailor-made for weekend getaways. The rustic vibe, sleepy streets, and blissfully low crowds offer a rare luxury—silence. (City folks may take a while to get used to it.)

Historical Significance: Once dreamed of as an Anglo-Indian settlement, McCluskieganj still whispers tales of its past through landmarks like St. John’s Cathedral and countless anecdotes that made their way into books and films. Think of it as history class, but outdoors and without homework.

Why Visit: McCluskieganj is a jackpot for history buffs, nature lovers, and anyone craving a tranquil, offbeat escape. It’s charming, peaceful, and just quirky enough to make you wonder why you didn’t come sooner.

Orientation

McCluskieganj itself is made up of three settlements — Lapra, Hesalong, and Konka.

• The station area, lined with most of the shops, is called Lapra.

• If you’re coming from Barkakana, the station just before McCluskieganj is Khilari. The road branching off from Khilari leads to the village of Hesalong, which comes alive every Wednesday and Friday with its bustling weekly market.

• From the station, if you walk a little and turn right, a red-soil-and-stone track takes you to Konka village. Along this path stand sprawling bungalows with red-tiled roofs, surrounded by huge gardens and dense forests of sal, teak, and palash. Wildflowers bloom here in abundance. It is a solitude that is both profound and intoxicating — nature wrapping you in silence

Majid was insisting that original name was Lapra. 

In some parts of McCluskieganj lie the humble settlements of the simple and cheerful Oraon tribes. Their lands are reserved exclusively for them—ordinary outsiders cannot buy here. The Oraons, poor yet smiling, with their ebony-dark skin and unpretentious ways, eke out a living by farming small plots scattered across the rough soil and hill slopes of the region.

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Check-in at the Homestay 

We reached our resort at 1500 hrs, stomachs growling like restless wolves. The resort manager had already called us while we were still in Ranchi to remind us about lunch. We ate quickly, and by 1615 hrs we were ready for our grand tour of McCluskieganj. It is surely one of the best places to stay in McCluskieganj. It is huge area amdist the lap of nature.

McCluskieganj: An Afternoon of Churches, Cakes, and Cinematic Guides

Enter our guide: Majid Ansari. Not just any local guide, but one with an IMDb credit to his name—he acted in Konkona Sen Sharma’s gem of a film “Death in the Gunj.” If McCluskieganj had a celebrity resident, Majid was it. The other celebrity resident is Kitty Memsahib. 

Sacred Heart Church

We met Majid near the railway fatak, and our first stop was the Sacred Heart Church. The gate was closed, so two of us, with the agility of overgrown teenagers, climbed over. Instead of being thrown out for trespassing, we were welcomed by a smiling nun of tribal origin, who opened the door and showed us around. She radiated such positive vibes that we briefly wondered if climbing gates should be our new strategy for meeting nice people.

Opposite the church stood a charmingly derelict bungalow, where the priest, Father Yubert Beck, resides. He came here recently form Ranchi. We met him for a few minutes—a man of quiet dignity, living in a house that had clearly seen better days, but carried its colonial charm with grace.

McCluskieganj’s Anglican Church - St John Church

Our first destination was the Anglican Church. Of course, it was closed. But, right next door, a local family lived, and—plot twist—one of them works near Sumona’s house !  We were told the Church opens at 7 am only on Sundays—a detail that would have been useful before we left the resort hungry.

Don Bosco Academy

Next, we headed to Don Bosco Academy. No, not the Don Bosco of Kolkata fame—this was McCluskieganj’s own version, with a fascinating backstory. We first met Ms. Yovnne DCruz, a music teacher with a warm smile and an even warmer heart. She lost her husband, but the legacy of her brother Alfred George de Rozario lives on. Her brother invited her to stay here. Alfred, a distinguished Anglo-Indian from Patna, founded this Don Bosco Academy. Unlike other schools, it deliberately had no hostels. Why? Because Alfred wanted local Anglo-Indian families to run hostels from their own homes, giving them a reliable livelihood. A masterstroke of community economics disguised as school policy.

Ms. DCruz graciously invited us into her home inside the school premises (where the primary section, Classes 1–4, operates). To our delight, she served us homemade cake and fruits! Her house was filled with warmth, family photos, and even images of Hindu gods and goddesses—a beautiful picture of McCluskieganj’s cultural fusion. Her two daughters (out of 3) live nearby and all teach at the secondary section of Don Bosco, making it a true family-run academic Institute.

Hermitage / Roza Villa

From there, we strolled over to the small sign which says "Hermitage", the residence of Dennis Meredith, just opposite the Academy. You take the lane and a small gate appears on the left. A dog barks in the distance and tall trees that have creepers that shield the view. The garden hasn’t been tended to in a long while. We met her daughter Karen Meredith, who proudly shared that one of her sisters had married a Bengali—proof that McCluskieganj’s Anglo-Indian story has been happily mixing cultures for decades. "Everyone will tell you in McCluskieganj that Dennis doesn’t like to talk, that he lives in the past with motors and machines that date back to the 1960s, and after people left, he became a recluse....His mother was an Adivasi and his father moved here after his retirement from the iron ore mines in Jharkhand. His father bought two houses on 8.36 acres of land. “It was only Rs 7,500,” he says. Dennis was the only son and when his father died, he returned to the Gunj after working in Asansol.

https://www.outlookindia.com/national/dennis-meredith-the-recluse-of-mccluskieganj-living-in-the-past-news-274114

We took anothe route to come out of the house/Bungalow -where is is written- Rosa Cottage. So is it Hermitage or Roza Villa? It is a jig saw puzzle which needs to be unearthed !

Sarva Dharma Sthal

Our cultural immersion continued at the Sarva Dharma Sthal, a unique spot where a temple, mosque, church, and gurdwara stand shoulder to shoulder, symbolizing unity in diversity. If only world politics could take a few notes from McCluskieganj.

Bungalow of Mrs. Kearney - who ran the Flurys of Gunj !

By now, dusk had fallen, but Majid had one more stop for us—the bungalow of Mrs. Kearney. Majid’s father, once a daily wage laborer, had arrived here to work in coal mines. Later, Mrs. Kearney employed him as a housekeeper. She and her husband managed the Highland Guest House near the station, and she famously ran a bakery. The bread and cakes she baked were wrapped in newspaper and delivered by Majid’s father to homes in the town. (Take that, modern food-delivery apps!)

Mrs. Kearney’s character even appeared in “Death in the Gunj.” Today, her bungalow, painted in a cheerful green, is inhabited by Majid’s two wives and their many children. Inside, new furniture has replaced the old, though the aura of history lingers. Majid himself, the man with a foot in cinema and another in heritage tours, now divides his time between guiding visitors like us and hanging around the railway station.

If McCluskieganj is a half-forgotten chapter of India’s history, Majid is its unofficial narrator—sometimes serious, sometimes humorous, always unforgettable. 

https://www.outlookindia.com/national/meet-canteen-majid-the-memorykeeper-of-mccluskieganj-news-274099 

📌 Day 2 – Saturday, 16 August 2025 : McCluskiegunj → Netarhat → McCluskiegunj  

McCluskieganj to Netarhat: The Day of Skipped Breakfasts, Vanishing Friends & Rotten Pears

We left our resort at 08:30 hrs, stomachs growling in protest. Breakfast was running late, and so were we—so we decided to sacrifice our poor aloo parathas in the interest of tourism. In the meantime Mohua had a talk with the owner of Rana's Country Cottage, Deepak Rana and we promised to visit her 104 years old mother, next day.

Stop 1: 

First stop: Stanley Porter’s house — currently in the proud possession of the Paswan family.

Once upon a time, the Paswans served the Porters, and now, in a twist that would make history professors chuckle, they own the very bungalow they once worked in. Poetic justice, Jharkhand edition! 

This story is so cinematic that even Lok Sabha TV couldn’t resist — the family has been properly documented in one of their documentaries (link already exists, so no fake news here !).

Now, about Death in the Gunj: the film shows Mrs. Kearney’s bakery as if it were this bungalow. Sorry, Mr. Director — nice try, but factually that’s incorrect. Mrs. Kearney may have baked cakes, but she definitely didn’t do it in Porter’s living room.

Stop 2: 

⁠Right next to Stanley Porter’s house stood an abandoned bungalow, and inside we discovered some graffiti—proof that even in McCluskieganj, artists prefer free walls over expensive canvases. 

Stop 3:  Buddhadeb Guha’s House

Next, we paid homage to the old house of the famous writer Buddhadeb Guha. The place now belongs to Mr. Amit Mitra from Ranchi and is in glorious dereliction—picture cracked walls, peeling paint, and a caretaker who seems to be the last man standing between the house and complete collapse. The name of the chowkidar is Rameshwar .

Budhadeb Guha wrote Ektu Ushnotar Jonnyo, based on this town of Anglo-Indian habitat.

While we explored, Anjan suddenly disappeared. After frantic phone calls, it turned out he’d wandered off to explore Mr. Ganguly’s Bungalow nearby. 

Moral of the story: never take your eyes off a Bengali in heritage property—vanishing is guaranteed.

Having recovered Anjan, we hit the road to Netarhat. On the way, we stopped at a roadside eatery called Bhola Restaurant and consoled our starved souls with hot idlis at ₹60 a plate.

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McCluskieganj → Netarhat

After a fog-kissed, monkey-patrolled drive of about 3 hours, we reached Netarhat—proudly called “Jharkhand’s Shimla”—at around 1500 hrs. The road reminded me of Tripura’s hills with a dash of Sevoke Road, minus the Teesta but plus a lot of curious rhesus macaques.

Lunch at Netarhat Forest Bungalow

First order of business—lunch. Highly recommended. The bungalow is about 1.3 km from the main car parking (Tourist Map: Point 7). If you’re thrifty, you can also grab lunch at the car parking for ₹60, but the Forest Bungalow offers better views (and no honking horns). It also has a watchtower—perfect for spotting clouds, and fellow tourists pretending to be photographers.

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Sights in Netarhat

• Pear Orchard – Wrong season. No pears in sight. We did find a few rotten pears on the ground, which we picked up with great nostalgia, as though they were relics from a lost civilization.

• Upper Ghaghri Falls – Let’s just say… not every waterfall is Niagara.

• Netarhat Lake - it was possible to do boating in the lake, but we skipped it, due to death of time. The road to Magnolia Point was lined with tall pine trees and dense sal forest.

• Magnolia Point (Sunset Point) – The main attraction. Unfortunately, it was less “romantic sunset” and more “crowded mela.” The place was chock-a-block with local people, snack vendors, clouds blocking the view, and trees plus lamp posts photobombing every shot. Sunset? Meh. 

Please note if you want to stay in Netarhat, then Mountail Eco Resort is probably is the best. It is 100 metres from Forest Bungalow.

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Return to McCluskieganj

We ended the day with a simple dinner of dal fry and roti at a roadside eatery, then dragged ourselves back to the resort. By the time we reached, it was 11:15 hrs. Exhausted but satisfied, we collapsed into our beds, dreaming of better pears and less crowded sunsets.

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📌 Day 3 – Sunday, 17 August 2025 : McCluskiegunj → Ranchi→ Dasham Falls→             Jonha Falls→ Ranchi 

Rana's Country Cottage

As it turned out, Deepak Rana (better known in family circles as Bapi Mama) is my brother-in-law’s uncle. Quite a lineage he comes from — his father hails from the Royal Family of Nepal, while his mother, now a sprightly 104 years old, belongs to the Royal Family of Tripura. Yes, you read that right — 104, alive, kicking, and with a memory sharp enough to put Google to shame. She also happens to be the sister of my brother-in-law’s grandmother, which means the family tree needs more than one blackboard to diagram. Deepak Rana's father was a Colonel - he was posted in Ranchi, before settling in Gunj.

To add to the royal connections, they’re related to none other than the legendary musician Sachin Dev Burman and Moon Moon Sen’s husband. The matriarch still insists on walking to the dining table on her own — no royal palanquin required. Their house is exquisitely decorated, practically a museum of artefacts.

We chatted with them for a while, enjoying both their stories and their hospitality. This residence forms part of the Rana family’s country house complex, though their section is firmly marked as “Private Property” — as if the artefacts and royal anecdotes didn’t make that obvious enough!

Mrs. Kearney’s house

We began the day by revisiting Mrs. Kearney’s house, since our first attempt on Independence Day ended in darkness (and no, not the metaphorical kind).

Among younger residents Nelson Paul Gordon alias Bobby Gordon, 48 runs a guest house and a boys hostel for a living near Mrs. Kearney’s house. 

Bobby's grand-parents William and Nancy Gordon were one of the early settlers who came to McCluskieganj in 1946. Noel Gordon, their son, a prominent figure in the town was deeply attached to McCluskiegunj and lived here till his death in 2015. Noel's wife Nomita Gordon lives with his son Bobby Gordon and his wife and three kids. 

Old world charm may have gone but this is our land and we have cherished memories here, said Bobby Gordon and rued "unfortunately no one paid any attention to McCluskieganj. Gordon said his father was deeply attached to McCluskiegunj and did not leave the place for anything.

The Most Photographed Person of McCluskieganj

Next, we set out to meet the legend herself — Kitty Texeira, born of Portuguese and Welsh descent, aka “The Most Photographed Person of McCluskieganj.” We handed her ₹200 for sweets for her grandchildren — proof that “cash gifts” still beat “UPI” when it comes to grandma diplomacy. 

Kitty’s life could fill a Netflix series:

• Her mother, Marjorie Roberts, born in Shillong to a Welsh father, married a man of Portuguese descent from Goa named Texeira. Like most Anglo-Indians we met, Portuguese bloodlines seemed to run thick in the Gunj.

• Kitty was born in 1952. The Texeiras lost their savings in the shares in the company - The Colonisation Society of India Ltd -  that ran the Gunj and tragedy struck again with her father’s death.

• Marjorie, a Shakespeare-reading, English-author-devouring matriarch, shielded Kitty fiercely — even, they say, with a gun. After Marjorie’s passing in 1988, Kitty’s life took its own unconventional turns. Kitty couldn’t attend school and She started selling fruits along with other tribal women. I would catch a train and reach Barka-kata platform and sell fruits and return...Sometimes she used to go by evening and came back in morning.....when the electric engine came she stopped going and instead would go to colliery areas like Bachra, Khalari and Dakra. Kitty is McCluskieganj’s very own travelling vegetable startup long before Swiggy Instamart !

• She recalled how when she was 17 her grandfather and father died and mother promised huge property to any Anglo-Indian boy to take care of Kitty but they all left and how she married an unlettered tribal / Adivasi man already married - who used to "waste her money" on drinks. Her husband died in January 2016. 

• Kitty Teixeira lives with her large family of 3 daughters, a son-in-law, a son, five kids, prized goats, dogs, hens and cocks and speaks fluently in English, Hindi and tribal dialect.

• She even acted in Konkona Sen Sharma’s film Death in the Gunj. 

• If McCluskieganj had an icon, Kitty would be on the postage stamp.

(You can read her fascinating profile here: Outlook – Kitty Texeira)

Nakta Pahad

After saying goodbye to Kitty, we drove past Nakta Pahad on the way to Netarhat, which is one of the last few places (apart from Graveyard and Aparna Sen's in-laws house)  in McCluskieganj, we have not conquered !

Sarna Restaurant

On the way to Dasham Falls, we stopped at the famous Sarna Restaurant, known for its mutton curry (₹200 per plate). 

Picture this: you walk in expecting a small dhaba, but instead find yourself in what looks like a massive wedding banquet hall with rows of diners feasting. It is air-conditioned and part of it sits on open tarmac. 

The food? A solid 6.5/10, though the experience gets a full 10 for drama.

Bonus: We even passed by M.S. Dhoni’s bungalow. No sight of Captain Cool himself. 

Dasham Falls 

Often called the crown jewel of Jharkhand’s waterfalls. We reached at 3:30 PM, enjoyed the misty spray, and then made the hard choice between Jonha Falls (550 steps) and Hundru Falls (750 steps). Since we value our knees, Jonha won.

Jonha Falls

We reached around 5 PM, though technically the last entry is 4:30. Somehow, with charm (or sheer stubbornness), we managed to slip in. The falls were magnificent, roaring down the rocks — a reward for our step-count negotiations. We found that 550 steps is quite doable. Even Mohua went with me.

Finally, it was time to return. We had planned to stop at the Ranchi Press Club for a drink and adda, but time ran out. Mohua detoured to her Kolkata neighbour’s house (now relocated to Ranchi), after dropping the rest of us at the Ranchi Railway Station.

Dinner was at the IRCTC canteen in Ranchi Station — surprisingly neat, decent food. A perfect end to three packed days.

📍 Mileage report: 775 km in 3 days. 

Kriya Yoga Express (186 16)  (20:00 PM)

As the train pulled away, I scribbled in my journal: "McCluskiegunj doesn’t haunt you. You haunt it."

📌 Day 4  – Monday, 18 August 2025 :  HWH 0720 hrs

We reached Kolkata 1 hour 25 minutes late and reached home by taking Metro.

source : 

1. https://www.outlookindia.com/national/mccluskieganj-the-ghost-of-mini-england--magazine-271759)

2.https://www.outlookindia.com/topic/mccluskieganj 

3. https://www.outlookindia.com/culture-society/in-love-with-the-ganj-weekender_story-275195

4. https://indianvagabond.com/2020/02/24/mccluskieganj-weekend/

5.https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/travel/indias-mini-england-mccluskieganj-a-paradise-lost/articleshow/97007575.cms?from=mdr

6. Movie Death in the Guj - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg3BjEqym4g

7. Documentary on McCluskieganj by LokSabha TV - https://youtu.be/OBWdOO5hj8Y?si=q5UlhpmvDnnSQSuV

8. Who is a Anglo Indian ?  https://youtu.be/qrATz2o1FBU?si=m911GJGNP2JP9MJ2

9. https://mccluskiegunj.blogspot.com/search/label/gordon%20hostel

England , Wales and Scotland Tour - 2025

26.09.25 (Fri) Kolkata > Doha : Doha > Gatwick ✈️ >Pinsbury Park (Rs 61,591 with return fare per person)

Departure Time (03 15 hrs) CCU - Qatar Airways 

 Arrival Time (06 35 hrs) DOH 

 Departure Time (08 15 hrs) DOH - Terminal N - Qatar Airways 

 Arrival Time (13 25 hrs) Gatwick Airport London North (LGW)

By National Express (~£10-£15)/ Thameslink Train (~£12-£15) / Southern Train (~£15-£18) /Gatwick Express (£20-£25)

 

27.09.25 (Sat) London > Oxford > Stratford - upon - Avon & Cotswolds (with Samrat)- Night Halt at London

28.09.25 (Sun) London (Victoria) > Cardiff > Bristol > Bath Night Halt at London 

Departure Time (01 00 hrs) - London Victoria - SDG / (07 00 hrs) London Victoria - MDG - National Express

Arrival Time     (05 40 hrs) - Cardiff                - SDG / (10 00 hrs) Bath                   - MDG 

 https://maps.app.goo.gl/Dn81yj3yKyppFJbf8 - Cardiff Tour 

 .......................x............................. 

 Departure Time (09 15 hrs) - Cardiff - SDG  - Flix Bus

 Arrival Time      (10 40 hrs) - Bristol - SDG 

                          AND 

 Departure Time (00 00 hrs) - Bath - MDG 

 Arrival Time (00 00 hrs) - Bristol - MDG 

 .......................x............................. 

 Departure Time (20 00 hrs) - Bristol (All)  - National Express

 Arrival Time (22 45 hrs) - Londn (All) 

29.09.25 (Mon) London - Big Ben>West Minster Abbey>House of Parliament (meet Mita) - Night Bus to Edinburgh (from London Victoria Coach Staiton) 

 Departure Time (23 59 hrs) London Victoria Coach Stn - Flix Bus 

 Arrival Time (08 15 hrs - 30.9) Edinburgh Bus Stn 

30.09.25 (Tue) Edinburgh (from Edinburg Bus Station - St Andrew Square) > Walking tour - Night Halt at Edinburgh 

01.10.25 (Wed) Edinburgh > Day Tour of Scotland : Loch Ness , Highlands, Glencoe - Night Halt at Edinburgh 

Departure Time (07 30 hrs) Castle Terrace outside NCP Park, Edinburgh EH1 2EW (Timberbush) 

 Arrival Time (08 05 hrs) 

02.10.25 (Th) Edinburgh > Day Tour of Scotland Tour : St Andrews & the Fishing Villages of Fife >Edinburgh 

Departure Time (0930 hrs) Gate J & GateK, Edinburg Bus Station,St Andrews Sq EH1 3DQ (Rabbie's) 

Arrival Time (00 00 hrs) 

Night Bus to Machester (from Edinburg Bus Station - St Andrew Square) 

 Departure Time (22 00 hrs) Edinburg Bus Station, Elder Street - National Express 

Arrival Time (04 00 hrs) Manchester Coach Stn, Chorlton Street 

 03.10.25 (Fri) Manchester>York>Manchester - Day Tour to York (Flix bus with return tkt) - Night Halt at Manchester 

Departure Time (06 50 hrs) Manchester Shudehill Interchange - Flix Bus 

Arrival Time (09 00 hrs) York Memorial Gardens - Leeman Road 

Departure Time (18 24 hrs) York Stop RJ, Opposite Rail Station Road - National Express 

Arrival Time (21 30 hrs) Manchester Coach Stn, Chorlton Street 

04.10.25(Sat) Manchester>Windermere & Lake Distric tour > Manchester 

Departure Time (08 15 hrs) Coach Parking Bays, Store Street,Manchester M1 2WD (Rabbie's) 

Arrival Time (00 00 hrs) 

 Night Bus to London 

Departure Time (23 59 hrs) Manchester Shudehill Interchange -Flix Bus 

Arrival Time (06 25 hrs) London Victoria Coach Stn 

05.10.25 (Sun) London>City tour of Baker Street, Greenwich >London - Night Halt London (meet Mita) 

 06.10.25 (Mon) London>Canterbury Tour >London - Night Halt London 

Departure Time (08 30 hrs) Victoria Coach Station (Evan Evans Tours) 

Arrival Time (19 00 hrs) Victoria Coach Station 

 Night Bus to Gatwick 

Departure Time (23 59 hrs) Victoria Coach Station - National Express 

Arrival Time (01 45 hrs-7/10) Gatwick Airport London North (LGW) 

07.10.25 (Tue) London Victoria (National Express)>Gatwick >Doha : Doha CCU 

 Departure Time (09 00 hrs) LGW - Qatar Airways 

Arrival Time (19 00 hrs) DOH 

Departure Time (18 40 hrs) DOH - Qatar Airways 

 Arrival Time (02 20 hrs) CCU

Step-by-Step: From UK Visa Website to VFS for Biometric Appointment

1. Start on the official UK Government Visa Website

Go to: https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor/apply-standard-visitor-visa
Choose the appropriate visa type — e.g., Standard Visitor Visa

2. Create an Id & Fill in the Application

• Complete the online visa application form (e.g., Visa Application Form VAF).

• Upload basic information, travel history, employment, accommodation in UK, etc. You can change it n number of times, but once submitted, you cannot change it. If you wait too long, then you will be logged out. In that case you have to log in again, but your data will be saved till the last entry made. So in other words you fill up in multiple days.

• You have to upload the documents online. If you opt for lounge facility, by paying Rs 5000 ~ more, then you dont have to upload it.

• Pay the visa fee online by card (for a standard 6-month tourist visa, approx. GBP 115).

3. Submit the Application Form

Once done, submit the form. You'll receive a confirmation email with a GWF number (your reference number).

4. Redirect to VFS Global for Appointment

After submission, check the email and the system automatically redirects you to the VFS Global website.

6. Choose Appointment Centre

Select Kolkata as your Visa Application Centre (located at: VFS Global Services, Rene Tower, Kasba, Rajdanga Main Road, Kolkata 700107)

7. Choose a Time Slot and Optional Services

Here’s where it gets tricky. You will be offered optional services like:

• Premium Lounge. For this you have to pay Rs 5000 ~ extra.

• SMS updates

• Document scanning at the centre

• Often, available time slots are shown only for lounge customers, making it feel like a subtle push toward paying extra. I forced to apply for lounge, since the time slot for free service was not readily available. As a result I did not upload the scanned documents.

8. Pay for Optional Services (if selected) : You’ll be asked to pay for any selected services in INR. This is separate from the visa fee already paid.

9. Print the Appointment Letter : After confirming your slot, download and print your appointment letter. This is mandatory for entry into the VFS office.

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📌 Documents to Carry to VFS Kolkata for UK Tourist Visa

• Appointment letter (from VFS site)

• Printed UK visa application form with barcode (PDF from gov.uk)

• Passport (original + all old passports if available)

• Photograph (as per UKVI specs; though they usually take biometric photo at VFS). It was not required for me, since I opted for Lounge facility.

• Cover letter explaining your travel plan and personal background (to The High Commissioner, British Deputy High Commission, 1A, Ho Chi Minh Sarani,  Kolkata - 700071, West Bengal, India  )

• Flight booking 

• Hotel bookings for the stay in UK

• Bank statements (last 6 months, stamped preferably)

• Income Tax Returns (last 2-3 years)

• Salary slips (if applicable)

• Employer NOC / Leave letter (if employed)

• Property documents or financial proof (optional but helpful)

• Travel insurance 

NB: Unlike Schengen visa, the the UK visa form was filled up at https://www.gov.uk/apply-to-come-to-the-uk.

Youtube link on how to apply UK Visa - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBBVATB8nuc

                                                                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QrL2_aeim4

                                                                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4u7Ef9ZKrw

Day 1: Friday, September 26 – Arrival in London

          13:25 – ✈️ Arrive at Gatwick Airport

          

 1️⃣Cheapest Option: 🚌 National Express Coach (~£10-£15)

• Time: ~1.5-2 hours (depends on traffic).
• Route: Gatwick North/South Terminal → Victoria Coach Station.
• Tickets: Book in advance for lower fares.
• Pros: Cheapest, comfortable seats, luggage storage.
  
  https://book.nationalexpress.com
  

2️⃣ Budget-Friendly & Faster: 🚆 Thameslink Train (~£12-£15)

• Time: ~30-40 minutes.
• Route: Gatwick → London Bridge / Blackfriars / St. Pancras.
• Tickets: Buy online or at the station (cheaper with Railcard).
• Pros: Direct, frequent trains, cheaper than Gatwick Express and runs whole night

        https://ticket.thameslinkrailway.com

3️⃣ Mid-Range Speed & Cost: 🚆 Southern Train (~£15-£18)

• Time: ~35-45 minutes.
• Route: Gatwick → London Victoria.
• Tickets: Slightly cheaper than Gatwick Express.
• Pros: Decent speed, more frequent than coaches.

• https://www.southernrailway.com/

4️⃣ Fastest but Expensive: 🚆 Gatwick Express (£20-£25)

• Time: ~30 minutes.
• Route: Non-stop Gatwick → London Victoria.
• Tickets: Book online for discounts.
• Pros: Fast, comfortable.
• Cons: Expensive!

• 14:00 – 🚆 Transfer to Central London (Paddington)

       https://www.gatwickexpress.com/

Airbnb - Eerke - 21 Stapleton Hall Road,N4 3QE - https://goo.gl/maps/HWMZKnDWieKkqSr46
Tube

Victorian terraced house - it is 8-10 minutes walk from Zone 2 transport hub (Finsbury Park - next stop is Arsenal). It has easy direct access to the Victoria Stn at the centre by Tube (Victorai line/ light blue line - https://maps.app.goo.gl/MkUSTXwepxuFF3Rn7 ) in 23 minutes

or to Victoria Stn by Blue line/Piccadilly line Tube - https://maps.app.goo.gl/RGNWsuchfaKCfPLXA

Bus

There is also Finsbury Park Station (Stop C - Bus Stop - W3/W/210) -  from where take bus 73  and Alight at Marble Arch Station / Park Lane (Stop 14). From Marble Arch, walk (~10 mins) to Victoria Station : Total time: 50–60 minutes

Airport

There is direct trains to Heathrow / Gatwick airports and also to Stansted airport /Luton airport with one change.

To Luton and Stansted there is also a coach option to Golders Green.

• 15:30 – 🏨 Check-in at accommodation.

• 16:00 – 🚶 Visit Notting Hill & Portobello Market (Great for a relaxed walk & iconic sights. shuts down at 6pm)

• 18:00 – 🚶 Explore Camden Market (Unique shops, street food, & nightlife vibes - shuts down at 6pm. So can enjoy the vibes and the eateries around the Camden Lock after 6pm and not bother about shops. Would suggest ending the day at Camden).

• 19:30 – 🍽️ Dinner in Soho or Camden

• 21:00 – 🌇 Visit Sky Garden (Pre-book free ticket) OR London Outernet (Space Show, Free & Indoors)

• 22:30 – 🏡 Return to accommodation

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Day 2: Saturday, September 27 Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon & Cotswolds >Night Bus to Edinburgh from London

In order to enter the colleges at  Oxford and Cambridge, it is necessary to purchase tickets. As it will be the start of the new academic year, this will be a very busy time. Age theke arrange korte hobe judi kono specific college dekhte Chai

https://www.rabbies.com/en/england-tours/from-london/day-tours/oxford-traditional-cotswold-villages-day-tour?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Oxford University & Cotswolds & Windsor Castle - (Book with Rabbis Tour Co.)

 

  07:00 – 🚆 Train from London to Oxford (~1 hour, ~£6-£15 with advance booking).

  08:00 – 🚶 Meet Kitty Jethima & Novo, quick Oxford visit (Radcliffe Camera, Christ Church).

  10:00 – 🚐 Join a Cotswolds small-group tour from Oxford (e.g., Cotswold Exploring / Go Cotswolds, ~£60-£80).

  16:30 – 🚆 Train from Oxford to Stratford-upon-Avon (~1 hour).

  17:30 – 🚶 Explore Shakespeare’s birthplace (quick visit, optional entry ~£20).

  19:00 – 🚆 Train from Stratford / Oxford to London (~2 hours).

Skipping Windsor Castle – It’s expensive (£30) and logistically difficult.

https://www.rabbies.com/en/england-tours/from-london/day-tours/oxford-traditional-cotswold-villages-day-tour?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Day 3: Sunday, September 28 – Cardiff Tour & Bath Visit

https://www.viator.com/tours/London/Cardiff-Day-Trip-from-London/d737-8754P12?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Time	Activity	Duration	Notes
07:00	🚆 Train from London Paddington to Bath Spa	~1 hr 15 min	Great Western Railway (GWR), first train at 05:23, frequent departures
08:15	🚶 Arrive in Bath, walk to Roman Baths	10 min	Short stroll from station
08:30	🏛️ Visit Roman Baths	~1 hr	Entry: ~£25
09:30	🚶 Quick visit to Bath Abbey, Pump Room & Royal Crescent	~1 hr	Self-guided exploration
10:30	🚆 Train from Bath Spa to Cardiff Central	~1 hr 5 min	Direct train, book advance for best fare
11:45	🚶 Arrive in Cardiff, start sightseeing	10 min walk from station
12:00	🏰 Explore Cardiff Castle	~1 hr	Rich history, Norman keep
13:00	🚶 Walk to Cardiff Bay & The Senedd (Welsh Parliament)	~30 min	Great waterfront views
13:45	🏛️ Optional: National Museum Cardiff	~45 min	Free entry, skip if short on time
14:30	🍽️ Quick meal to save time	~30 min	Grab a bite before heading to Bristol
15:00	🚆 Train from Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads	~50 min	Book in advance (£7-£15)
15:50	🚶 Arrive in Bristol, start sightseeing	Short walk from station
16:00	🖼️ Explore Bristol’s Street Art (Banksy Murals) OR Arnolfini Arts Centre	~1 hr	Choose one
17:15	🚶 Walk to Arnos Vale Cemetery (Raja Ram Mohan Roy's Tomb)	~15 min	Closes at 5 PM
18:00	🚆 Train from Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington	~1 hr 40 min	Direct GWR train
21:00 - 22:00	🏡 Arrive back in London, rest	-	Long but rewarding day!

https://www.viator.com/tours/London/Cardiff-Day-Trip-from-London/d737-8754P12?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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Day 4: Monday, September 29 – – Walking Tour of Central London 

• 08:00 – 🚶 Big Ben & Westminster Abbey (Opens at 9 AM) ; see the Houses of Parliament and walk the Westminster Bridge a bit. Then go inside the Abbey (ticketed - Visit inside for 1 hour, £27)

• 10:00 – 🚶 Walk to Buckingham Palace for Changing of the Guard (10:45 AM)

• 11:30 – ⛪ St. Paul’s Cathedral (£20) - need not enter unless absolutely want to. It’s nice but expensive. From the St. Paul’s  Cathedral cross the road and walk over the Millennium Bridge to the other side. Views of Cathedral from the  bridge are beautiful. See the Tate Modern and Globe Theatre from outside and then go to Borough Market. 
• 12:15 – 🍽️ Lunch at Borough Market...from there walk towards more London places and then walk over the Tower Bridge 
• 13:30 – 🏰 Tower of London (£29.90) & Tower Bridge....worth entering. It closes at                      5.30 pm.
• 15:00 – 🚶 Houses of Parliament (Outside Only) & London Eye (Optional Ride : London Eye not worth  a ride and can be seen from Westminster Bridge)

• 16:00 – 🚶 Trafalgar Square → Leicester Square → Piccadilly Circus → Covent Garden (Then enter Fortnum and Mason. Then either walk through Old and New Bond Street to Oxford Street or back up to Regent Street and on towards Oxford Street)

•  18:00 – 🚶 Oxford Street 
• 18: 30 - Soho (can be entered through Carnaby Street off Regent Street. See the facade of Liberty store, it’s beautiful)

• 19:30 – 🍽️ Dinner in Soho (Red Light area)

• 21:30 – 🌇 Visit The Shard ( Not worth going back towards Shard which is near London Bridge and Borough market. Will be able to see from there)
• 
  

    23:59 – 08: 15🚌 Overnight Flix bus to Edinburgh from Victorial Bus Station - flixbus.com

FlixBus coaches offer free Wi-Fi, power outlets, air conditioning, and toilets onboard.

# nationalexpress.com is also a good option

## Alternative option - The time taken to reach Edinburgh from London depends on the mode of transport:

• 1. Train (Fastest & Comfortable)
• Duration: ~4 hours  * Route: London King's Cross → Edinburgh Waverley
• Cost: Starts from £30 (advance booking), can go up to £150+
• Operator: LNER (London North Eastern Railway -booking via LNER website/app))

• 2. Flight (Fastest but includes airport time)
• Airports: London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, or Luton → Edinburgh Airport
• Cost: £30–£150 (budget airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, British Airways)
• Several overnight bus services from London to Edinburgh, primarily operated by National Express, FlixBus, and Megabus. These services typically depart from London Victoria Coach Station and arrive at Edinburgh Bus Station.

Day 5: Tuesday, September 30 – Scotland : Edinburgh Walking Tour 

07:00 – 🏡 Check-in & freshen up

09:00 – 🚶 Walk along the Royal Mile, explore historic streets.

09:30 – 🏰 Visit Edinburgh Castle (£19.50, ~1.5 hours).

11:00 – 🥃 Scotch Whisky Experience (optional tasting)

11:30 – 🌉 Walk down Princes Street (shopping & views)

12:00 – 🌿 Visit Dean Village via Johnnie Walker Building & Stockbridge

13:00 – ⛪ Explore St. Giles’ Cathedral & Greyfriars Kirkyard

14:00 – 🎨 Visit the Scottish National Gallery (free, ~1 hour)

15:30 – ⛰️ Walk up Arthur’s Seat (optional) or visit Holyrood Palace.

17:00 – 🛍️ Explore Grassmarket & Victoria Street (Harry Potter inspiration)

19:00 – 🍽️ Dinner at a Scottish pub near Waverley Station

21:00 – 🏡 Return to accommodation.

Optional Tour

If the walking tour ends before 2 pm, take a train to go to Glasgow (50 min by Train)

Day 6: October 1 –  Day Tour  of Scotland Tour :  Explore Highlands, Glencoe, Loch Ness 

 Timberbush Tours: Departure Time: 8:00 AM   Return Time: Approximately 8:30 PM   Price: From £56.00

 timberbush-tours.co.uk

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The three tours—Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands / St Andrews & the Fishing Villages of Fife / and Rosslyn Chapel & the Scottish Borders — cover different regions of Scotland, so there is minimal overlap. 

Rosslyn Chapel kintu made famous by Dan Brown. It is very close to Edinburgh, most likely taxi koreo jao jai. St Paul’s Ba Westminster Abby dekha pore kintu kichu impressive lagbe na. Rosslyn Chapel was built over a century after the destruction of the Templar Order (jeta Dan Brown book ta connection dekhai)

Here’s how they compare:

Tour	Key Destinations	Region	Overlap
Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands	Loch Ness, Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Great Glen, Highland villages	Scottish Highlands – quite dramatic	No overlap with the other two
St Andrews & the Fishing Villages of Fife	St Andrews, Anstruther, Falkland, East Neuk fishing villages	Kingdom of Fife - highlights coastal fishing   villages and historic St Andrews	No overlap with the other two

Conclusion: Each tour explores a distinct part of Scotland:

Suggestion:

• If you only have time for one, go for Loch Ness & Glencoe for a classic Scottish experience.
• If you have two days, add St Andrews & Fife for a contrast between the Highlands and the coast.

Drop Isle of Skye is very far and a day trip won’t really allow you to see anything.

Go for Rabbie's Tours (rabbies.com) or Timberbush Tour (timberbush-tours.co.uk). Timberbush is slightly cheaper than Rabbies in all these tours.

Day 7: October 2 – Day Tour  of Scotland Tour- II : St Andrews & the Fishing Villages of Fife > Manchester

• Timberbush Tours: Departure Time: 9:00 AM   Return Time: Approximately 6:00 PM
• Price: From £53.00

• 21:00 – 🏨 Freshen up.

• 22:00 – 04:00🚍 Overnight bus to Manchester by bus by National express from Edinburgh Bus Station

These buses are comfortable and equipped with amenities like reclining seats, Wi-Fi, and charging points.

# Megabus - Megabus also offers budget-friendly overnight services 

Day 8: Friday, October 3 : Manchester > York  >Manchester

Time Activity Duration Notes 06:00 🚆 Train from Liverpool Lime Street to York ~2 hrs First train around 05:20-06:00 08:00 🚶 Arrive in York, walk to York Minster ~10 min Quick refreshment stop if needed 08:15 ⛪ Visit York Minster ~1 hr Entry: ~£11, explore stunning Gothic architecture 09:15 🚶 Explore The Shambles & Medieval York ~45 min Walk through historic streets, visit Shambles Market 10:00 🚶 Walk a section of York City Walls ~45 min Start near Bootham Bar for best views 10:45 🏛️ Visit York Castle Museum ~1.5 hrs Immersive exhibits on York’s history 12:15 🏰 Explore Clifford’s Tower ~30 min Climb up for panoramic city views 12:45 🍽️ Lunch at a Local Pub or Tea Room ~1 hr Try Betty’s Tea Room or The Golden Fleece 13:45 🚶 Relaxing Walk Along the River Ouse ~1 hr Enjoy the scenic riverfront 14:45 🚂 Visit the National Railway Museum ~1.5 hrs Free entry, see famous locomotives 16:15 ☕ Final tea/coffee break & wrap-up ~30 min Optional based on time left 16:45 🚆 Train back to Manchester ~2 hrs Adjust timing based on preference 19:00 🏡 Arrive back in Manchester & Rest

If possible visit the Railway Museum as well. 

Day 9: Saturday, October 4 – Day Tour to Lake district from Macnhester

https://www.rabbies.com/en/england-tours/from-manchester/day-tours/windermere-lake-district-1-day-tour

• 07:30 – 🚐 Full-day Lake District tour (Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere)(Rabbie’s, £50-£70)

• 17:00 – 🚆 Return to Manchester

• 23:59 –  Night bus

https://www.rabbies.com/en/england-tours/from-manchester/day-tours/windermere-lake-district-1-day-tour?utm_source=chatgpt.com

When planning a visit to the Lake District, selecting the right base can significantly enhance your experience. Ambleside and Keswick are two of the most recommended towns for visitors, each offering unique advantages.

Ambleside:

• Central Location: Situated at the northern tip of Lake Windermere, Ambleside provides easy access to various parts of the Lake District.
• Transportation: Well-connected by bus services, making it convenient for travelers without a car.

Keswick:

• Scenic Beauty: Located near Derwentwater, Keswick is surrounded by picturesque landscapes, ideal for nature lovers

Both towns are excellent choices, but Ambleside slightly edges out due to its central location and accessibility, especially for first-time visitors.

Tour Options in the Lake District: The Lake District offers a variety of tours catering to different interests:

1. Scenic Tours: Highlights: Explore multiple lakes, picturesque villages, and panoramic viewpoints e.g. "Ten Lakes Spectacular" by Mountain Goat Tours.
2. Literary Tours: Highlights: Visit sites associated with literary figures like William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter e.g. "Beatrix Potter's Favourite Countryside" by English Lakes Tours.

 Value-for-Money Tour Companies: 

1. Mountain Goat Tours : Established in 1972; Competitive rates, with half-day tours starting around £29 and full-day tours around £45. Mountain Goat Tours is often highlighted for its affordability and quality service.
2. English Lakes Tours: Slightly higher priced with half-day tours approximately £60.

## I’m saying they drop the Lake District. A day trip anyway doesn’t do it justice and Highlands is a bit of the same, esp. on a short trip.

23:59-0625 - Take a night bus from Machester Shudehill Interchange to London (Victoria) by Flix bus

The night buses are primarily operated by National Express and FlixBus.

For a comprehensive comparison of schedules, prices, and booking options, platforms like CheckMyBus can be useful.

checkmybus.com

 Day 10: Sunday, October 5 – Canterbury Tour

Option 1: Self-Guided (By Train)

05:00 – 🚆 Bus / Train from Liverpool to London xxxxx Station

06:00 – 🚆 Keep luggage at London Hotel

07:30 – 🚆 Train from London St. Pancras → Canterbury West (~55 min)

08:30 – ☕ Breakfast in Canterbury

09:00 – ⛪ Visit Canterbury Cathedral (~1.5 hours, £17)

10:30 – 🚶 Explore the Canterbury Historic Riverfront & Westgate Gardens

11:30 – 🏛️ Canterbury Roman Museum (optional, ~45 min)

12:30 – 🍽️ Lunch at a traditional pub (try The Old Weavers or The Parrot)

13:30 – 🏰 Optional side trip: Train to Dover (30 min) for Dover Castle & White Cliffs

17:00 – 🚆 Return to London (1 hour)

18:00 – 🏡 Arrive in London.

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Option 2: Guided Tour (Includes Leeds Castle/Dover)

If you book a Rabbie’s or Evan Evans tour, they typically include:

• Canterbury Cathedral
• Leeds Castle OR White Cliffs of Dover
• Greenwich (sometimes included)

## Canterbury and Dover. Both make sense.

##  Once back in London, rest and go to Little Venice. 

Btw Piu stays at Reading . They are quite hospitable. 

Bath to that side of Cornwall is about 3 hours 15 minutes journey by train. Bus (or coach as they say here) o thakbe I’m sure. If they want, they could easily spend just a day in Cornwall - not do the Eden project but the other towns and then add half a day to London.

St Austell Truo Polperro Fowey (Cornwall) Plymouth

I think this (Cornwall) is not doable, instead of Cornwall, for lack of time, it is better to do this day tour to Canterbury. 

Day 11: Monday, October 6 – Final Sightseeing in London

Time	Activity	Duration	Notes

07:30

🚶 Visit Baker Street (221B Sherlock Holmes Museum)         from outside

~15 min

Quick photo stop

07:45

🚶 Walk to Lord’s Cricket Ground & Regent’s Park

~45 min

Enjoy a morning stroll

08:30

🚇 Take Tube to British Museum

~30 min

Closest station: Tottenham Court Road

09:00

🏛️ Explore British Museum (Free)

~1.5 hrs

Must-see exhibits: Rosetta Stone, Egyptian Mummies

10:30

🚶 Walk to Embankment Pier & Take a Ferry to Greenwich

~45 min

Thames Clipper ferry for best views

11:15

⏳ Explore Greenwich

~1.5 hrs

Visit Royal Observatory, Prime Meridian Line, & Cutty Sark

12:45

🚇 Take DLR & Tube to Kew Gardens

~45 min

Greenwich → Kew Gardens Station

13:30

🌿 Explore Kew Gardens

~1.5 hrs

Famous for its glasshouses & treetop walkway

15:00

🚇 Take Tube to Little Venice

~40 min

Kew Gardens → Warwick Avenue Station

15:40

🌊 Relax at Little Venice

~1 hr

Enjoy the canals, cafes, and houseboats

16:45

🚇 Take Tube to Harrods for Shopping

~30 min

Warwick Avenue → Knightsbridge

17:15

🛍️ Final Shopping at Harrods

~1 hr

Luxury shopping & souvenirs

18:30

🚇 Take Tube to Brick Lane for Dinner

~30 min

Famous for Indian & Bangladeshi cuisine

19:00

🍽️ Dinner at Brick Lane

~1.5 hrs

Try Aladin or Dishoom

20:30

🚇 Return to Accommodation

-

Well-paced, full day in London

22:00

Pinsbury

- Victoria Coach Station

23:59-01:45

Victoria Coach Station-London Gatwick Airport.

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Day 12: Tuesday, October 7 – Departure from London

• 09:00 – ✈️ Flight back home.

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Budget Hotel – Premier Inn , Travelogue and YMCA

Cheap Budget Tour operator – 

1. Rabbie’s , Timberbush

 rabbies.com  /   timberbush-tours.co.uk

• Value: Known for knowledgeable guides and well-crafted itineraries, providing excellent value for the price.

2. MacBackpackers:

• Overview: Caters to the 18-39 age group, focusing on budget-friendly multi-day tours with hostel accommodations.
• Pricing: Tours average around (approximately £70) per day.

tourradar.com

3. Heart of Scotland Tours:

• Overview: A smaller company offering intimate group sizes for a more personalized touch.
• Pricing: Competitive rates, with day tours typically starting around £50.
• Value: Praised for engaging guides and comprehensive itineraries.

Recommendations:  For Budget-Conscious Travelers, Timberbush Tours offers some of the most affordable day tours without compromising on quality.