WILD & WILDERNESS
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.
India