Destinations:-
Delhi - Ranthambore - Bharatpur - Agra - Umaria - Bandavgarh - Kanha -
Jabalpur
Duration:- 12 DaysDay
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 - perhaps the best place in the world to sight
a tiger in the wild. The Ranthambhore National Park has had more Tiger sightings
than any other National Park in the country. It has come to be known as "The
land of the Tiger", where most of the documented footage of this majestic
beast has been recorded. The National Park is bound by the rivers Chambal in
the south and Banas in the north.
Ranthambhore forest is of tropical dry deciduous type, further classified
as Dhok climax forest because of the predominance of Dhok (Anogeissus pendulla)
found nearly everywhere.
A haven for a multitude of wild animals, the Park boasts of playing host to
tigers, leopards, the elusive caracals, hyenas, sloth bears, wild boars,
crocodiles and so on. Besides, there are over 300 species of birds, from the
majestic Crested Serpent Eagle to the exotic Golden Oriole.
Tiger, at the apex of the food chain, lord over the kingdom in a subtle way.
Solitary by nature, it operates in stealth. Therefore tiger sightings,
frequent as they are, are always a matter of chance. However, even evidences
of tiger's activities are very exciting.
The other kinds of cats found in Ranthambhore are Leopard (Panthera pardus),
Caracal (Felis caracal), Leopard Cat (Felis bengalensis), Fishing Cat (Felis
viverrina)
and
the Jungle Cat (Felis chaus). Besides the big cats, the other large predators
found in Ranthambhore include Sloth Bear, Striped Hyena, Wolf, Wild dog (or
Dhole), Jackal, Indian Fox, Palm Civet, Small Indian Civet, Common Indian Mongoose,
Small Indian Mongoose, Ratel (or Honey Badger), Marsh Crocodile and the Indian
Python.
Overnight at resort.
Day 03 Ranthambore:
A full day game viewing inside the jungle. Overnight at the resort.
Day
04: Ranthambore - BharatpurKeoladeo 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.
Commonly referred to as Bharatpur, the Park is a delight for bird
watchers. Over 375 species of birds are found here and raised paths,
camouflaged by babul trees and undergrowth make viewing easy. A quiet ride
by boat in the early hours of the morning is also unforgettable experience.
Every year Bharatpur waits with bated breath for the arrival of
the Siberian cranes. There are only two wintering places for this rare
species one in Iran and the other Bharatpur and these beautiful birds with
their distinctive red beaks and facial patches, fly over 6400 km from their
summer retreats.
Colorful kingfishers, graceful pelicans rare Siberian cranes and Trans- continental
fliers - the migratory water - fowl are amongst the 375 species of birds found
in the Keoladeo National Park. The most spectacular nesting is that of the egrets,
storks, herons and cormorants, which make over 10,000 nests every year. This
makes outstanding bird havens of the world. The park covers an area of 28.73km.
There are large herds of the nilgai, chital, wild boar and fear cows in addition
to a few herds of sambar.
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. Reach Agra. Check in at hotel. Overnight will be at Agra.
Day 06: Agra - Umaria
(Bandavgarh) Proceed to visit Taj after breakfast. Enjoy
battery van ride to the Taj.
TAJ MAHAL: 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.
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. Transfer to
station for train to UMARIA. Overnight will be on train.
Day 07: Arrive at Bandavgarh
Reach UMA
RIA
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.
There are 32 hills
in this part of the park, which has a large natural fort at its center. Over
half the area is coverd by Sal forest although on the upper slope it is
replaced by mixed forest of sal, saj, dhobin, and saja. Winter temperatures
(Nov-mid-February) vary from almost freezing at night to around 68 degree
Fahrenheit in the daytime. Summer nights are also cooler than the daytime
temperatures, which rise to 104 degree Fahrenheit. This park is closed
during the breeding season, which coincides with the monsoon (July-October).
Rainfall in the park averages 50 inches (120cm) per year.
At
independence Bandavgarh remained the private property of the Maharaja until
he gave it to the state for the formation of the National Park in 1968.
After the park was created poaching was brought under control and the number
of animals rose dramatically. Small dams and water holes were built to solve
the problem of water shortage. The Tigers in particular prospered and the
1986 extension provided much needed forest to accommodate them.
Bandavgarh is justifiably famous for its Tigers, but it has a wide range of
other game. 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.
Day 08: Bandavgarh:
A full day game viewing inside the jungle.
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. Apart from the avatars, well worth seeing
are three small temples of around the 12th century. The natural ramparts of
the fort give breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside. The staff
of the resort carries your lunch while you are busy negotiating the trek to
the fort. Overnight at the resort.
Day 09: Bandavgarh - Kanha By Road 255 km
in 6 hr
After breakfast drive to Kanha. This is the plac
e
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. 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.
Patient watching should reward the visitor,
with a sight of Indian Fox, Sloth bear, Striped hyena, Jungle cut, Lepord,
Mouse Deer, Chausingha or four horned antelope, Nilgai, Ratel and Porcupine
Kanha has some 200 species of birds.
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. Overnight at the resort.
Day 11: Kanha - Jabalpur - Delhi By Road
180 km in 4 hr By Overnight Train
Proceed for the morning safari into forest. Proceed to JABALPUR after lunch.
Reach and board overnight train to Delhi.
Day 12: Delhi
Reach and check into hotel for the day. Spend day relaxing at the hotel or spending
time at local markets. Transfer to the airport in time for flight home.
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