Day 1 : Arrive Delhi.
Arrive Delhi by an International flight. Welcome, meeting and assistance on
arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Delhi - The capital of India, is a fascinating city with
complexities and contradictions, beauty and dynamism, where the past
co-exists with the present. Many dynasties ruled from here and the city is
rich in the architecture of its monuments. Delhi is not only the present
metropolis of India but also a Necropolis. Because of its location, being on
the banks of the river Yamuna, many cities have risen and fallen over the
last five millenniums.
Overnight in Delhi TAJ PALACE / IMPERIAL
Day 2 : Delhi
Full day tour of the city.
Morning : Visit the Old City of Delhi to see the historic
Red Fort and the Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque from the outside.
See the colourful bazaar of Chandni Chowk and take a cycle rickshaw ride
through the back streets of Old Delhi to get a first hand experience of the
hustle and bustle of this traditional city. This ride through the small
by-lanes will be most fascinating. Return to the hotel for lunch or eat at
an interesting restaurant in town.
Afternoon : Visit New Delhi, seeing the Qutab Minar, a
tower of victory built in the 12th century and India Gate - the war
memorial. Drive past the Rashtrapathi Bhawan, the residence of the President
of India, the houses of Parliament and the Government Secretariat buildings.
Overnight in Delhi TAJ PALACE / IMPERIAL
Day 3 : Delhi - Sawai Madhopur or Ranthambore
Morning transfer to the Railway station to board the train for Sawai
Madhopur.
Leave Delhi for Sawai Madhopur by Golden Temple Mail (0755/ 1310 hrs).
Meeting and assistance on arrival at Sawai Madhopur Railway station and
transfer to the Lodge.
Ranthambore : With an area of 400 sq. km encompassing
rocky hill crests which descend to open valleys between the Aravalli and
Vindhya ranges, dotted with water pools and fruit trees, this park gets its
name from the thousand year old fortress, which looms above the forest. Well
known for the diurnal activity of tigers, Ranthambore is a very special and
unusual area where a natural present meets a historical past. Sambar,
cheetal, chinkara, nilgai and languor. The elusive leopard and tigers are
found in this reserve with tourists standing a very good chance of seeing
tigers during the day.
[ The Park is closed from 01 July till 30 September ]
Dotted across the landscape are the crumbling ruins of its past glory, be
it chatris or cupolas, like palaces or old guard posts, all of which
reinforce the magical and ethereal quality of this great wilderness.
Lunch at the lodge, visit the sanctuary by Jeep with an English speaking
Naturalist.
Dinner and overnight in Ranthambore TIGER DEN RESORT
Day 4 : Sawai Madhopur or Ranthambore
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the lodge. Morning and afternoon visit the
sanctuary by Jeep with an English speaking Naturalist. Dinner and overnight
in Ranthambore TIGER DEN RESORT
Day 5 : Sawai Madhopur or Ranthambore
Breakfast,
Lunch and Dinner at the lodge. Morning and afternoon visit the sanctuary by
Jeep with an English speaking Naturalist. Dinner and overnight in
Ranthambore TIGER DEN RESORT
Day 6 : Sawai Madhopur or Ranthambore - Jaipur
Morning drive to Jaipur (170 kms). This journey is over very good roads,
through rural Rajasthan and would take about 3 hours.
On arrival check into the hotel.
Jaipur - the capital of Rajasthan, is colour washed pink
- the colour associated with hospitality in Rajput culture. This Pink City
of fairy tale palaces, rugged fortresses perched on barren hills and broad
avenues, is picturesque. The first planned city of its time, Jaipur is
encircled by a formidable wall.
Overnight in Jaipur JAI MAHAL PALACE / THE TRIDENT
Day 7 : Jaipur
Morning proceed on an excursion to Amber Fort with an Elephant ride upto
the top of the Fort. Drive past Hawa Mahal, known popularly as the Palace of
Winds, is a facade built for the Ladies of the Royal household in the 19th
century. The Amber Fort, the capital of the erstwhile State of Jaipur until
1728 is perched on a hill. It has halls of Public and Private audience, a
Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors) various marble palaces which are marvelous
examples of ancient Rajput architecture. The Temple of Amba (Mother
Goddess), the patron deity of the Royal family is at the entrance to the
palace. Ride an elephant to ascend the hill on which the Fort is situated.
Return to the town in the afternoon enroute visiting the City Palace - the
former royal residence built in a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal styles
which houses a museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani costumes and
armoury of the Mughals and Rajputs, including swords of different shapes and
sizes with ornate handles. It has an art gallery with an excellent
collection of miniature paintings, carpets, royal paraphernalia and rare
astronomical works in Arabic, Persian, Latin and Sanskrit. Also visit the
Jantar Mantar - an astrological and astronomical observatory built by
Maharaja Jai Singh in the 18th century, which is remarkable for its accuracy
even in the present times.
Overnight in Jaipur JAI MAHAL PALACE/THE TRIDENT
Day 8 : Jaipur - Bharatpur
Morning drive to Bharatpur (176 kms). On arrival, check into the hotel.
Bharatpur is popular for its bird sanctuary - the Keoladeo Ghana National
Park - finest in Asia, in which over 400 species of water birds. The
sanctuary covers an area of 40 sq. km of swampy, lightly wooded terrain that
was once the private hunting and shooting preserve of the Maharaja of
Bharatpur. Today it is the protected breeding ground for many species of
birds and also the home of migratory birds, especially of the Siberian
Crane, that spends its winter here. Colonies of cormorants, spoonbills,
storks, egrets, herons, pelicans, ibis and grey herons can be spotted all
over the park, besides a fairly rich habitation of deer and snakes. [The
best time to visit the park is from October though March] The park can be
explored either by cycle rickshaws (the drivers are all very capable
naturalists) or by boats on the lake.
Late Afternoon : Visit the Sanctuary by boats - an
excellent way to see the birds and watch the spectacular sunset.
Overnight in Bharatpur LAXMI VILAS PALACE / BHARATPUR FOREST LODGE
Day 9 : Bharatpur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra
Morning
: Visit the Bharatpur Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary by cycle rickshaws
(the rickshaw drivers are all very capable naturalists).
Afternoon drive to Agra enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri (12 kms)
Fatehpur Sikri - This exquisite city built by Akbar the Great in 1569, in
red sandstone, with its forts, palaces and mosques was abandoned 14 years
after its creation due to political reasons. The Diwan-i-am - a vast
courtyard in which the emperor gave daily public audience; Diwan-i-khas - a
large quadrangle which contained all the major functions of the Palace,
Pachisi court, the Emperors private living quarter, Jodha Bhai’s
Palace, Mariam’s Palace, Birbal’s Palace, Hawa Mahal and Panch
Mahal are some of the important buildings of this residential complex. The
Friday Mosque and the exquisite tomb of Sheik Salim Chisti are in the
religious grounds set aside in a separate enclosure adjacent to the secular
buildings.
Continue drive to Agra after visiting Fatehpur Sikri (49 kms). On arrival,
check in to the hotel.
Agra - is famous as the home to one of the Seven Wonders
of the World - the Taj Mahal. The architectural splendour of the mausoleums,
the fort and the palaces in Agra is a vivid reminder of the opulence of the
legendary Mughal Empire. Agra was their capital for nearly a hundred years
from 1564. A pleasant town, with a comparatively easy pace, Agra is known
for its superb inlay work on marble and soapstone by artisans who are
hereditary crafts persons. The city is also famous for its carpets, gold
thread embroidery and leather shoes. Overnight in Agra THE TRIDENT / JAYPEE
PALACE
Day 10 : Agra - Umaria (Bandhavgarh)
Morning : Proceed on a city tour of Agra. Visit the Agra
Fort, built by three Mughal Emperors starting from Akbar the Great in 1565
AD, which is a masterpiece of design and construction. Within the fort are a
number of exquisite buildings including the Moti Masjid, Jahangir’s
Palace, Khas Mahal and the Sheesh Mahal, Diwane-i-Am, Diwane-i-Khas and
Musamman Burj, where Emperor Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal Emperor, died a
prisoner. Later visit the Taj Mahal - the inimitable poem in white marble.
Built over a period of 22 years, by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1630,
for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains, it is one of the
seven modern wonders of the World.
[ The Taj is closed on Friday ]
Afternoon : Transfer to Railway station to board the
train for Umaria. Leave Agra for Umaria by Utkal Kalinga Express at 1540hrs.
Overnight enroute on board the train
Arrive Umaria at 0600 hrs. A quiet little village that is gently awakening
to the sounds of birds and cows. Arriving at this village, nestled in the “buffer
zone” of the Bandavgarh National Park, is an experience in itself.
Meeting on arrival by our jeep from the lodge, transfer to the Bandhavgarh
(45 kms), driving through rural Madhya Pradesh and through the forests, with
a good possibility of seeing wildlife. On arrival, check in at the Lodge.
The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is relatively high. The
possibility of spotting Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Leopard and Tiger is very
good. The park is also densely populated with animals like the Chital
(Spotted Deer), Sambar, Barking Deer, Nilgai (Blue Bull), Chowsingha (Four
Horned Antelope) and is rich in bird life.
[The Park is closed from 01 July till 30 September]
The terrain is rocky, rising sharply from the swampy and densely forested
valley. The finest of these hills is Bhadhavgarh which is bounded by great
cliffs and eroded rocks. The Bandhavgarh Fort, believed to be 2000 years
old, stands at the highest point. There is a temple at the fort that can be
visited by jeeps. Scattered throughout the park, particularly around the
fort, are numerous caves containing shrines with ancient Sanskrit
inscriptions. The ramparts of the fort provide a home for vultures, blue
rock thrushes and crag martins.
Lunch at the Lodge and visit the sanctuary by Jeep with an English speaking
Naturalist. Dinner and
overnight in Bandhavgarh TIGER’S DEN RESORT
Day 11 : Arrive Umaria - Bandhavgarh
Arrive
Umaria at 0600 hrs. A quiet little village that is gently awakening to the
sounds of birds and cows. Arriving at this village, nestled in the “buffer
zone” of the Bandavgarh National Park, is an experience in itself.
Meeting on arrival by our jeep from the lodge, transfer to the Bandhavgarh
(45 kms), driving through rural Madhya Pradesh and through the forests, with
a good possibility of seeing wildlife. On arrival, check in at the Lodge.
The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is relatively high. The
possibility of spotting Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Leopard and Tiger is very
good. The park is also densely populated with animals like the Chital
(Spotted Deer), Sambar, Barking Deer, Nilgai (Blue Bull), Chowsingha (Four
Horned Antelope) and is rich in bird life.
[The Park is closed from 01 July till 30 September]
The terrain is rocky, rising sharply from the swampy and densely forested
valley. The finest of these hills is Bhadhavgarh which is bounded by great
cliffs and eroded rocks. The Bandhavgarh Fort, believed to be 2000 years
old, stands at the highest point. There is a temple at the fort that can be
visited by jeeps. Scattered throughout the park, particularly around the
fort, are numerous caves containing shrines with ancient Sanskrit
inscriptions. The ramparts of the fort provide a home for vultures, blue
rock thrushes and crag martins. Lunch at the Lodge and visit the sanctuary
by Jeep with an English speaking Naturalist. Dinner and overnight in
Bandhavgarh TIGER’S DEN RESORT
Day 12 : Bandhavgarh
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the Lodge. Morning and afternoon game drives
into the sanctuary. We can also arrange an excursion to see the imposing
fort that is located inside the sanctuary. This Fort, or “Garh”,
from which the park gets its name, is fascinating and involves a relatively
easy climb to the temple located on its summit, dedicated to Lord Rama. The
view from here is equally fascinating. Dinner and overnight in Bandhavgarh
TIGER’S DEN RESORT
Day 13 : Bandhavgarh
Breakfast and Lunch at the Lodge. Morning and afternoon visit the sanctuary
by Jeep with an English speaking Naturalist. (check out time 1200 noon).
Late evening drive to Umaria to board the train for Delhi. Leave Umaria for
Delhi by Utkal Kalinga Express at 2200 hrs Overnight enroute on board train
Day 14 : Bandhavgarh - Umaria -Delhi
Breakfast and Lunch at the Lodge. Morning and afternoon visit the sanctuary
by Jeep with an English speaking Naturalist. (check out time 1200 noon).
Late evening drive to Umaria to board the train for Delhi. Leave Umaria for
Delhi by Utkal Kalinga Express at 2200 hrs Overnight enroute on board train
Day 15 : Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi at 1330 hrs. Meeting and assistance upon arrival at New Delhi
Railway station and transfer to the hotel. (Room to be provided for Day Use
till departure). Evening: We shall provide Farewell Dinner at a nice
restaurant in the town. After the Dinner, transfer to the Airport to board
the flight for abroad.
Day 16 : Depart Delhi
Leave Delhi by an International flight.
