From Tropical rain forests to the snowy heights of the Himalaya, India's varied environment is home to the vast range of wildlife, including the Royal Bengal Tiger, which thrives in some of the world's most stunning National Parks, we cover on this action packed journey, in addition to the wealth of wildlife, the journey also offers the opportunity to visit the famous temples at Khajuraho, magnificent Taj Mahal and the Forts and Havelies of Jaipur.

DAY 01 DELHI
Arrive Delhi from your home country by midnight. Garland welcome, assistance and transfer to hotel. O/n Hotel.

DAY 02 DELHI TO KANHA
Morning free to relax, afternoon tranfer to H.Nizamuddin railway station to board express train to Umaria at 12:50 hrs. O/n Train.

DAY 03 KANHA
Arrive Umaria at 06:16 hrs in the morning, transfer to hotel in Kanha. Morning free to relax, afternoon explore the Kanha National Park by jeep safari with naturalist guide.

Romanticised by Kipling in his book, Kanha National Park is among the most spectacular, protected wildlife reserves of the world. The 1,945 sq. km National Park has been compared to N'Gorongoro National Park of Tanzania. However like its African cousin, Kanha is not a volcanic crater though the surrounding hills are a result of geographically ancient volcanic activity. Above all Kanha is far greener and more densely wooded than N'Gorongoro. It is one of the largest and best monitored Parks in the subcontinent and definitely one of the best places in the world to see the critically endangered tiger in the wild.

The great sal forests of Kanha National Park, stretching across Maikal hills of Satpura range, have given birth to many jungle adventures especially the much-loved English classic by Rudyard Kipling - The Jungle Book. Kipling based his tale on the wildlife of Kanha in the late 19th century and thus Kanha is also known as 'Kipling Country'. The grassy plateaux, wooded hills and valleys of Kanha are home to the legendary Sher Khan the Tiger, loveable Baloo the Bear, wise Bagheera the Panther and the dreaded Rock Python Kaa. Besides them several great and small mammals, reptiles and birds inhabit the Park including the largest ox in the world - the Gaur.

The National Park is particularly notable, besides the tiger, for a 300lb, brown, large-antlered, hard-hoofed deer because of which the foundation of conservation and protection was laid in the Maikal hills. Even more zealously protected in Kanha is the southern or Central Indian race of the Swamp Deer - the Hard-ground or the Branderi Barasingha.

Birdlife of the region is equally astounding and more than 350 avian species have been recorded here with the possibility of sighting yet new races, thus giving the avid birdwatcher great scope for new discoveries. Mynas, Bush Chats, Kingfishers, Treepies, Orioles, Lapwings, Falcons, Kites, Owls, Vultures and various other species of our flying friends will provide unlimited hours of pleasure to those who choose to seek them.

DAY 04 KANHA
Morning and afternoon explore the National Park with naturalist guide. Rest of the day visit to local villages at Kanha National Park, after lunch to visit Tribal Villages, peoples generally are quite welcomming. It is amazing to see how the people depend on these jungles and live completely harmony with the wildlife of this Kipling Country. O/n Jungle Resort.

DAY 05 KANHA
Morning and afternoon gameviewing in the park with naturalist. O/n Jungle Resort.

DAY 06 KANHA TO BANDHAVGARH
Morning explore the park with naturalist. Proceed to Bandhavgarh (about 245kms/07hrs), through the lovely countryside to Bandhavgarh National Park. Upon arrival, check into the hotel. Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Jungle Resort.

DAY 07 BANDHAVGARH
Bandhavgarh is truly one of India's magnificent wildernesses with a relative abundance of tigers and an imposing Fort a top a plateau which dates back to 300 AD. However its true claim to international fame is the discovery of white tigers by the Maharaja of the princely state of Rewa, in 1951. Unfortunately white tigers are not found in the wild state anymore and survive only in the various zoos around the world. The progeny of the white tigers captured by the Maharaja can be seen at the National Zoological Garden in New Delhi.
The Park covers an area of around 448km2 and although the National Park was constituted in 1968, this area has been a centre of human activity and settlement for over 2000 years. Legend has it that the fort at Bandhavgarh which lends its name to the National Park and literally translated means "Brother's Fort" (Bandhav = brother; Garh = fort), was given to Lakshman by his brother Lord Rama, hero of epic Ramayana, to keep watch over Lanka, ruled by the demon king Ravana. At one time around 10th-14th century AD, this region was ruled by the Chandela dynasty, which built the famous temples of Khajuraho.

Presence of adequate water-bodies, grasslands and dense forests make Bandhavgarh an ideal habitat for the animal life of the region. 25 varieties of mammals inhabit the jungles of Bandhavgarh and Nilgai, Chowsingha, Chinkara, Wild Boar, Jackal, Wild Dog, Fox, Porcupine, Ratel and three species of deer - Chital, Sambar and Barasingha - may be seen in the Park, along with the Leopard and the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Nearly 250 species of birds have been spotted inside the Park which include Hornbills, Leafbirds, Woodshrikes, Drongos, Fantails, Bee-eaters, Parakeets and Flycatchers, to name a few. As the Park is relatively new this checklist is not exhaustive and keen birdwatchers have ample scope of discovering more birds and adding to the current list.

Morning and afternoon explore the National Park by jeep with naturalist. O/n Jungle Resort.

DAY 08 BANDHAVGARH TO KHAJURAHO
Morning explore the park with naturalist, afterthat drive to Khajuraho (about 240 kms/ 07 hrs), through fascinating rural scenery of Madhya Pradesh. Upon arrival, check into the hotel. Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.

DAY 09 KHAJURAHO TO AGRA
Morning after breakfast guided visit to the Chandela Hindu temples, which represent some of the finest examples of temple architecture in northern India. The remaining temples have been beautifully restored and are in excellent condition. Visit the Kandariya Mahadeva, the Chatrabhuj, Parswanath and Ghantai temples, each remarkable for its beautiful design and architecture. Afternoon transfer to airport to board flight to Agra by CD 7408 at 16:50 - 17:30 hrs. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel. Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.

DAY 10 AGRA
After breakfast, visit India's most celebrated monument the Taj Mahal, built as a monument of eternal love by Shah Jahan to the bride Mumtaz, the Taj Mahal looks amazingly graceful from almost any angle. It was built over a period of 20 years by 20,000 laborers and craftsmen and displays superb craftsmanship. The close up details of the Taj Mahal is as exquisite as the overall architectural design, with semi-precious stones and beautiful patterns covering the marble surface, We continue our sightseeing to Red Fort (Agra Fort) and Itmad-ud-Daulah also known as Baby Taj. Afternoon free to relax. O/n Hotel.

DAY 11 AGRA TO BHARATPUR
Morning after breakfast drive to Bharatpur (about 60 kms/ 02 hrs), journey bringing us first to the Deserted Sand Stone building of Akbar at Fatherpur Sikiri, continue to Bharatpur to stay in Delightful Heritage hotel.

Punctuated by the incessant "chatter, whistle and cheep" of innumerable species of birds, the wetlands of Keoladeo present a scene of raucous calm. Once the hunting preserve of the Bharatpur royalty, this exceptional ecosystem is now one of the finest bird sanctuaries on planet Earth, which has been declared a Ramsar Site, as well as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Keoladeo National Park was previously known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary and lies 174 km from Delhi and only 50 km from Agra. If Taj Mahal is "rhapsody in marble" then definitely Keoladeo is a "ballad of birds".

Located at the confluence of Gambhir and Banganga rivers and spread over 29km2 of shallow lakes and woodlands, Keoladeo National Park provides shelter to over 300 avian species, particularly during winter when the resident numbers multiply as a result of migrants. The freshwater swamp with the picturesque Kadam trees, stands of Acacia and profuse aquatic vegetation, is a habitat of various living organisms, which serve as food for the different species of animals.

Two-thirds of the birds listed in Keoladeo are land birds while one-third of the species are water birds. Pintails, teals, mallards, pochards, geese, coots, storks, curlews and sandpipers can be seen in the lake; the heronry at Keoladeo is indeed one of the finest in the world, with 14 species nesting and breeding in the Park. The woodlands and pastures are alive with the gambolling of bulbuls, babblers, sunbirds, sparrows, parakeets and orioles while the skies are set on fire by the birds of prey like the eagles, hawks, harriers, falcons, buzzards and vultures. However the rarest bird, which visits Keoladeo National Park from faraway Siberia is the globally threatened Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus); in fact these wetlands are the only wintering area of the western population of this beautiful, endangered bird.

But all is not "feather and crow" in Keoladeo. Non-feathered members of this largely feathered fraternity are mammals such as the Wild Boar, Sambar, Nilgai, Chital, Mongoose, Otter, three species of wild cats, Civets, Jackals and also the gigantic Rock Pythons that live beyond the Temple of Keoladeo in the heart of the Park.
Afternoon visit to the Park by Cycle Rickshaw with Naturalist. OVERNIGHT IN HOTEL.

DAY 12 BHARATPUR
Morning and afternoon explore the bird sanctuary by Rikshaw ride with naturlist. Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.

DAY 13 BHARATPUR TO RANTHAMBORE
After an early breakfast drive to Ranthambore National Park (about 235kms/06hrs) through colouful Rajasthani villages. Upon arrival, check into the hotel.

Ranthambhore National Park is an awesome reminder of the great jungles that once clothed Central India; its horizon marked by a thousand-year-old fort, which stands in stoic silence, keeping eternal vigil over the magnificent forests sprawled in its shadow. This fort was once the centre of a Hindu kingdom and bears the scars of several wars and military sieges.

The 400km2 Ranthambhore National Park famous for its tigers was the hunting ground of the Kachhwaha rulers of Jaipur and has a rich plant and animal life. Its dry deciduous jungles were amongst the first nine National Parks to be brought under Project Tiger in 1973. Some 450 species of plants provide sustenance to its herbivores that are hunted for food by the carnivores, thus keeping the circle of life in motion.

The 22 species of mammals listed here include the Leopard, Sloth Bear, Hyena, Jungle Cat, Caracal, Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Indian Hare, Wild Boar and Mongoose besides its prime attraction - the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Nearly 300 species of birds have been recorded here and the Park's avifauna includes - Painted Stork, Black Stork, White-necked Stork, Spoonbill, Bonelli's Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Grey Partridge, Painted Partridge, Sandgrouse, Spurfowl, Common Peafowl, Pheasant-tailed Jaçana, Great Indian Horned Owl, Indian Treepie, Paradise Flycatcher, and Stork-billed Kingfisher among others.

Prehistoric looking Marsh Crocodiles can be seen in and around the lakes that dot the rugged countryside of this extraordinary National Park and more than a dozen varieties of reptiles are found in the forests of Ranthambhore.
Afternoon explore the park by jeep with naturalist. Dinner and overnight in Resort.

DAY 14 RANTHAMBORE
Early morning and evening jeep safari to view wildlife with Naturalist. Afternoon visit to the Fort or just relax by the pool. Breakfast, Lunch , Dinner and overnight in Resort.

DAY 15 RANTHAMBORE
Early morning and evening jeep safari to view wildlife with Naturalist. Afternoon visit to the Fort or just relax by the pool. Breakfast, Lunch , Dinner and overnight in Resort.

DAY 16 RANTHAMBORE TO JAIPUR
Early morning jeep safari, after breakfast drive to Jaipur (about 167kms/4hrs), check into the hotel. Afternoon visit City Palace, still inhabited by Jai Singh's descendants is a superb fusion of Rajput and Mughal architecture. A city within a city, it includes the Govind Deo Temple, the Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory and the Maharaja's museum with his personal collection of weaponry, miniature paintings, royal attire and jewellery. On the periphery of the Palace stands the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, an elaborate pink sandstone façade behind which the ladies of the court used to watch the daily goings on in the street below. Rest of the day at leisure or to stroll around the colourful Rajasthani Bazaar. O/n Hotel.

DAY 17 JAIPUR TO DELHI
Morning after breakfast we visit Amber, ascending by elephant to see the 16th century hilltop fortress - Palace and its richly decorated apartments. Ascend to the ancient Rajput capital of Amber, this fort palace was begun by Raja Man Singh and used by the Rajputs as their stronghold until Sawai Jai Singh II moved to the newly created Jaipur. You will visit the palace and its many intricate chambers and hallways, which has breathtaking views of the Jal Mahal (Water palace) below. Afternoon drive to Delhi (about 260kms/05 hrs), upon arrival straight transfer to int'l airport to board flight to your home country.

DAY 18 DELHI
Early morning board your int'l flight.