Day 1:KOLKATA - DIBRUGARH
Morning arrive Dibrugarh from Kolkata by flight
. Afternoon explore the riverbank of the Brahmaputra
- ferries etc.
Overnight you will be staying in a Plantation Property
-Tea Bungalow located a few miles outside Dibrugarh,
off the Dibrugarh -Tinsukia road.
Day 2:DIBRUGARH - NAMDAPHA
Early morning take a leisurely stroll amidst the
tea bushes. Later depart for rugged journey into
Arunachal Pradesh to Miao (200 kms/5 hrs). En-route
visit the Handicrafts Centre of the Tibetian Community
near Miao. Meet forest officials and Wildlife staff
at Miao. Drive onward to Namdapha National Park
to stay at Deban overnight in a forest lodge inside
the park.
Day 3:NAMDAPHA
After an early breakfast trek to Firmbase (13kms/5hrs).
One can see the Hoolock Gibbon (Only ape found in
India) and magnificent Indian Great Pied Hornbill
enroute. Evening enjoy the excellent view and bird
life of Namdapha River. See the diverse fauna and
flora available. Overnight you will be in the forest
guest house.
Day 4:NAMDAPHA
Early morning trek to Hornbill Camp (8kms/4h). Namdapha
is a Ornithologists' paradise with a great variety
of avian life in this park. Overnight camping Hornbill
jungle Camp.
Day 5:NAMDAPHA
Morning trek to Bulbulia (2kms/1h) and return to
Hornbill. Afternoon explore the area around Hornbill
camp to enjoy the floral and faunal diversity of
Namdapha.
Day 6:NAMDAPHA
Trek to Haldibari and explore the area. Trek back
to Deban (25 kms/7 hrs). Overnight you will be at
Forest lodge in Deban.
Day 7:NAMDAPHA - DIGBOI
Early morning transfer by surface to Digboi(120
kms/3 hrs) via the Stilwell Road to Ledo. At Digboi
visit the 2nd World War Allied Forces Cemetery and
the Oil Museum of the Oldest operating Oil Refinery
in the World.
Overnight you will be at the Tinsukia hotel or a
tea bungalow.
Day 08:TINSUKIA
Early morning transfer to Dibru Saikhuwa National
Park (17 kms/30 mins) for a full day exploration
and birwatching inside the park.
During the river crossing of the Brahmaputra by
boat, we may see river ducks
and birds. The Park has sandy, grassy banks where
bird watching is normally
done. Return to Tinsukia. Overnight at Hotel
Day 09:TINSUKIA-JORHAT
Morning transfer by surface to Jorhat (212 kms/7
hrs). On arrival you will check into your hotel
for overnight stay.
Day 10:JORHAT-MAJULI
Transfer to Neematighat and and board on to the
boat to ferry on the Brahmaputra to Majuli Island.
(About 2 hours) Visit the temple in Majuli and later
return to Jorhat. Overnight at hotel
Day11:MAJULI - NAGALAND - MON
Drive into Mon (Nagalang) 180 km. 8 hrs drive. Situated
at altitude of
897m.Mon is home of the Konyak tribe. We need to
avoid Mon and go to Mukokchong straightway. Two
days consecutively these people cannot drive for
8 hours. Overnight at Hotel/Government Guest House
Day 12: MON - MUKOKCHONG
Drive to Mokochung140km approx. 8hrs drive. This
picturesque town, altitude
1325 metres, is the cultural center of the Ao tribe.
Overnight at Hotel/Government Guest House
Day 13: MUKOKCHONG - KOHIMA
Drive to Kohima 162km via Wokha 8 hrs to 9 hrs drive.
Is it not possible to drive via Longkhum village
to shorten the drive a bit. Kohima the capital of
Nagaland is situated at an altitude of 1444 mts.
A beautiful town with
panoramic views. If time permits, visit to Bara
Basti one the most populous
tribal villages in Asia, World War Cemetery, Museum,
emporium, and Local
market etc. Overnight in hotel
Day 14: KOHIMA - KAZIRANGA
Morning transfer by surface to Wild grass Resort
in Kaziranga National Park (Assam) via Dimapur.(150km;7
hrs).
Stay at the Wild Grass Lodge for three nights.
(Modest jungle lodge- one of the best available
in the resort)
With an accommodation of 21 rooms, Wild Grass Lodge
is situated by a stream in the paddy fields and
forest. The lodge has the facility of arranging
elephant rides and walks through the forest and
tea plantations.
Day 15:Wild Grass Resort Kaziranga
National Park
Early morning enjoy the elephant ride.
Afternoon enjoy the game drives.
Kaziranga National Park, situated in the northeastern
state of Assam, is one of the most picturesque wildlife
parks in India. The natural habitat of the one-horned
rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), Kaziranga lies on
the southern banks of the Brahmaputra River, northeast
of Assam's capital Guwahati. The predominant vegetation
is a mixture of tall grasslands and riverine forests.
There are many marshes, interconnecting streams
and ox-bow lakes, known locally as 'bheels' or 'bils'.
To the south of the park lie the Mikir hills which
rise to over 1,000 metres elevation. Kaziranga wildlife
sanctuary is famous for its Indian Rhinoceros population
which is estimated at about 1500 and is by far the
best place to see them in India. (this species in
unique to the subcontinent, with the second largest
population of 400+ found in Chitwan, Nepal). Other
large mammals include the Water Buffalo, Swamp Deer
and Gangetic Dolphin. The park may be explored by
riding elephant or 4-wheel drive motor vehicles.
There are several watch towers. The nearby Panbari
Reserve Forest is the best place to see the Hoolock
Gibbon. The riverine habitat consists primarily
of tall, dense grasslands interspersed with open
forests, interconnecting streams and numerous small
lakes or 'bheels'Apart from being the home of the
one-horned rhino, it is also the natural habitat
of wild buffaloe, wild boar, elephants, Barasingha
leopard, tiger, hoolock gibbon, capped langur, rock
python, monitor lizard, various species of eagles,
partridge, bar-headed geese, whistling teal, the
highly endangered Lesser Florican, herons, pelicans
and water fowls.
Day 16: Wild Grass Resort Kaziranga
National Park
Morning and afternoon enjoy the game drives. Overnight
at resort.
Day 17: Wild Grass Resort Kaziranga
National Park
Morning and afternoon enjoy the game drives. Overnight
at resort.
Day 18: Kaziranga NP- Guwahati
In the morning transfer by surface to Guwahati (5-6
hrs) On arrival check in to Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok.
A Government approved three-star hotel, Hotel Brahmaputra
Ashok is located on the banks of River Brahmaputra,
23 kms from the Guwahati airport and one km from
the railway station. This centrally air-conditioned
hotel has a multi-cuisine restaurant and a bar.
Each air-conditioned room has the facility of a
telephone, television and a private bathroom with
bath and/or shower and toilet.
Day 19:Guwahati
Morning go for a guided sightseeing tour in Guwahati
covering Nabagraha Temple, Basistha Ashram, State
Museum, Zoo cum Botanical garden, Hajo and local
shopping center.
Capital of the state, Guwahati is on the banks of
the Brahmaputra River. It has many ancient Hindu
temples but its main importance is as a gateway
to the northeast and the wildlife reserves.
Day 20:Guwahati - Delhi
Morning you will be transferred by surface to the
airport in time to board your flight (S2112;1540:1825)
to Delhi. Upon arrival to Delhi you will be met
and transferred to hotel Uppal's Orchid for rest
and wash. Later you have assisted transfer to IGIA
for flight to London.
Extension
Kaziranga NP- Kolkata via Guwahati
In the morning transfer by surface to Guwahati (5-6
hrs) in time to board your flight 9W207 (1205:1315
Daily). Met upon arrival and transfer to hotel Taj
Bengal for overnight stay.
Taj Bengal is situated 25 kms from the airport in
the lush green Alipore, the elite residential area
of Calcutta, and within easy reach of the city centre.
A Government approved five-star deluxe hotel, Taj
Bengal has 229 rooms including 12 suites. The hotel
has a shopping arcade, health club, an outdoor pool,
four restaurants and a bar. Each air-conditioned
bedroom has a telephone, television and a private
bathroom with bath and/or shower and toilet.
Day 21:Kolkata - Sunderban Biosphere
Reserve/National Park
Morning we will be transfered by surface to SonaKhali.
(3 hrs)
Arrive at the Jetty and transfer to boat. Briefing
by the naturalist. Cruise to Sudhanyakhali watchtower
through creeks, canals and mangroves.
Afternoon visit to Sajnekhali watch tower and Mangrove
Interpretation centre. Anchor for the day.
Overnight we will be on boat.
Day 22:Sunderban Biosphere Reserve/National
Park
Morning we will be birding while cruising through
the creeks and later we will go for village tour.
Later we will go for a cruise to Bagna and Burir
Dabri watchtower.
Evening local cultural show in village Bali with
local cusine.
Later we cruise back to anchoring point.
Overnight we will be on boat.
Day 23: Kolkata
Morning creeks cruise by manually oared country
boat for about an hour.
Later we cruise to Dobanki and Netidhobani watchtower.
Afternoon we cruise back to Sonakhali. Met upon
arrival and transferred to Hotel Taj Bengal
Overnight at hotel.
Day 24:Kolkata
Early morning go for an optional urban bird-watching
tour to Botanical Gardens with Prakriti Samsad the
local partner of Important Bird Area India program.
Later in the day go for a city sightseeing and shopping.
Calcutta is a city of glaring contrasts: a curious
blend of the old and the new, partly feudal, partly
born out of growing urbanization, partly un-definable.
It is a medley of the east and the west, a graft
of a European city imposed on the Asian scape that
gives Calcutta its bewildering charm, confusion
and excitement. Being just about 300 years old,
Calcutta hardly has many great historical monuments.
Perhaps, the oldest remembered is the site where
the Kalighat Temple now stands. Today Calcutta is
the largest city in India with a population over
10 million and boasts of India's first ever Metro
rail system. It is a city that shocks on first impression
but eventually the visitor falls in love with it.
The sightseeing of the city includes a visit to
the Victoria Memorial, Calcutta's most imposing
and monumental dream in marble opened by the Prince
of Wales in 1921 and often called the "Taj"
of the British Raj, St. Paul's Cathedral and the
Indian Museum, the largest in India, with one of
the best collections of Indian art. Evening optional
boat ferry on the river Ganges. Overnight at hotel
Day 25: Kolkata - London
Morning transfer by surface to NSBIA in time to
board.
Please note that the above tour can also be modified
so as the extension will include Darjeeling or Kalimpong
if that is required. Please also note that the manjuli
part of the tour can also be arranged at the end
of the tour from Guwahati.I hope that this itinerary
though rather late will suffice the need. I do apologise
for the delay but the extreme nature of the itinerary
makes the cross checking part which is essential
very delayed.
