Day 01: Delhi
Company representatives will receive you on arrival
at the international airport in Delhi late in the night
or midnight. Transfer to your hotel. Relax.
DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires
is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend
of the past and the present. It is a perfect introduction
to the composite culture of an ancient land. A window
to the kaleidoscope - that is India.Overnight
will be at Delhi.
Day 02 : Delhi - Ranthambore:
By Train 400 km in 6 hr
Transfer to the station for train to SAWAI MADHOPUR
after breakfast. Reach and transfer to the resort. Evening
free at the resort and you can relax or watch some slides
on the tiger. Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, at the junction
of the Aravalis and the Vindhyas, is a unique example
of natural and historical richness, standing out conspicuously
in the vast, arid and denuded tract of eastern Rajasthan,
barely 14 kilometers from Sawai Madhopur. It spreads
over a highly undulating topography varying from gentle
to steep slopes; from flat topped hills of the Vindhyas
to the conical hillocks and sharp ridges of the Aravalis,
from wide and flat valleys to narrow rocky gorges. Overnight
at resort.
Day 03: Ranthambore
A full day game viewing inside the jungle. (Two safaris)
Overnight at the resort.
Day 04: Ranthambore
- Bharatpur: Keoladeo Ghana National Park By Road 400
km in 6 hr
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed to Bharatpur.
Just 176 km from Delhi is a very special
wilderness - the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, one of
the finest water-bird sanctuaries in the world. The
Maharaja of Bharatpur artificially created the lake
and wetland in the 19th century. By building small dykes
and dams and diverting water from an irrigation canal,
he converted this low-lying area into a fine wild fowl
shooting preserve. In a few years, the new wetland surrounded
by marginal forests was able to support thousands of
water birds. Reach and check in at the hotel. Proceed
on RICKSHAW for viewing the birds. RICKSHAW PULLERS
have been trained by the forest department in bird watching
and are knowledgeable. Return
to the lodge in the evening and relax. Overnight
at Bharatpur.
Day 05: Bharatpur - Agra: By
Road 55 km in 1 hr
Early morning RICKSHAW RIDE at the Bird Park. Breakfast
at hotel. Proceed to Agra.
AGRA: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar
and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra
into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire
- giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}.
Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting
edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow
galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm
that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains.
It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects
its Mughal heritage most conspicuously. A walk down
the narrow bustling streets of the city will introduce
the visitor to the wafting aroma of Mughlai cuisine.
Reach Agra. Check in at hotel. Overnight
will be at Agra.
Day 06: Agra - Umaria (Bandavgarh):
By Overnight train
Proceed to visit Taj after breakfast. Enjoy battery
van ride to the Taj.
TAJ MAHAL: Little needs to be said about
this architectural wonder which is always the soul raison-de-etre
for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan,
the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful
wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be
completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect
Ustad Isa. Apart from it's stunning design balance and
perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly
for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and
some of the best inlay work ever seen.
Proceed for sightseeing to the AGRA
FORT - Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565
AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced
within is the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is
a major tourist attraction. Visit Itmadullah's Tomb
built by Empress NOOR JEHAN in memory of her father
(The interiors of which are considered better than the
Taj). Transfer to station for
train to UMARIA. Overnight will be on train.
Day 07: Arrive at Bandavgarh
Reach UMARIA and transfer to Bandavgarh. Reach and enjoy
breakfast. Bandavgarh is a new
National Park with a very long history. Set among the
Vindhya hills of Madhya Pradesh with an area of 168sq
miles (437sq km) it contains a wide variety of habitats
and a high density of game, including a large number
of Tigers. This is also the White tiger country. These
have been found in the old state of Rewa for Many years.
Bandavgarh is justifiably famous for
its Tigers, but it has a wide range of other game. The
undergrowth is not as dense as in some northern terai
forests, but the best time to see the park inhabitants
is still the summer months when water becomes more scarce
and the undergrowth dies back. A full day game viewing
inside the jungle. (Two safaris).
Day 08: Bandavgarh
A full day game viewing inside the jungle. (Two safaris)
Trip to the Bandavgarh Fort: The oldest
fort in India - considered to be more than 2500 years.
One-hour trek up the fort is worth the effort. The charm
of this trek lies in discovering these monuments in
the jungle, unspoiled and unexplored. Some of the statues
lie off the main path and so it is best to take a guide.
Apart from the avatars, well worth seeing are three
small temples of around the 12th century. These temples
are deserted but the fort is still used as a place of
worship. Kabir Das, the celebrated 16th century saint,
once lived and preached here. Overnight at the resort.
Day 09: Bandavgarh - Kanha:
By Road 255 km in 6 hr
After breakfast drive to Kanha.
This is the place that has been described
by RUDYARD KIPLING in his great book "The Jungle
Book". Located in the Mandla district of Madhya
Pradesh, Kanha National Park is a tiger reserve that
extends over an area of over 940 square km. A horseshoe
shaped valley bounded by the spurs of the Mekal presents
an interesting topography. Steep rocky escarpments along
the edges offer breathtaking views of the valley. Realizing
the danger on the Tiger population in the country, the
Government started the "Project Tiger" at
Kanha and in 1974 the area was declared a Tiger reserve.
The park is also the habitat of the high ground Barasingha.
Reach in the afternoon and relax at the resort. Overnight
at the Kanha Resort.
Day 10: Kanha
A full day game viewing inside the jungle. (Two safaris)
Overnight at the resort.
Day 11: Kanha - Nagpur
Proceed to Nagpur by surface & stay overnight.
Day 12: Nagpur
Flight to Delhi. Spend day doing last minute shopping
and transfer to airport for flight home.
