Destination :Delhi - Kanha -Jaipur - Ranthambhore- Agra- Bharatpur
Duration:13 Nights/14 Days

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 JABALPUR Morning free to relax, afternoon transfer to Nizamuddin railway station to board express overnight train to Jabalpur at 14.30hrs. O/n Train.

DAY 03 JABALPUR TO KANHA
Arrive Jabalpur at 05.50hrs, transfer directly to Kanha (about 165kms/05hrs), check into the hotel.
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 Shere 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.

Afternoon explore the park with naturalist by jeep. O/n Hotel.

DAY 04 KANHA
Morning and afternoon gameviewing in the park with naturalist. Rest of the hours free to relax. O/n Hotel.

DAY 05 KANHA
Morning and afternoon gameviewing in the park with naturalist. Rest of the hours free to relax. O/n Hotel.

DAY 06 KANHA TO JABALPUR TO AGRA
Morning after breakfast drive to Jabalpur to board our overnight express train to Agra at 15.00 hrs. O/n Train.
DAY 07 AGRA
Arrive Agra at 06.10hrs, transfer to hotel. Morning free to relax, afternoon, 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. Also visit RED Fort, Akbar began Agra Fort in 1565, with additions of the citadel being made through to the time of Akbar's grandson, Shah Jahan (Kind of the World). The forts have fine views of the Taj across the River Yamuna, and consists of Deewani - Aam(hall of public ordinances) and Deewan- Khass (the hall of Private ordinances). Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.

DAY 08 AGRA TO BHARATPUR
Morning after breakfast drive to Bharatpur (about 60kms/02hrs), journey bringing us first to the Deserted Sand Stone building of Akbar at Fatherpur Sikiri, continue to Bharatpur to stay for overnight.

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. O/n Hotel.

DAY 09 BHARATPUR TO RANTHAMBORE
Early morning drive to Ranthambore (about 265kms/06hrs) through the colorful Rajasthani villages.

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 gameviewing in the park with naturalist. O/n Resort.

DAY 10 RANTHAMBORE
Early morning and afternoon jeep safari to view wildlife with Naturalist. Afternoon visit to the Fort or just relax by the pool. O/n Resort.

DAY 11 RANTHAMBORE TO JAIPUR
Early morning jeep safari, after breakfast drive to Jaipur (about 167kms/04hrs), check into the hotel. Rest of the day free to relax or to stroll around the colourful Rajasthani Bazaar. O/n Hotel.

DAY 12 JAIPUR
Jaipur, built in 1727, was the dream of the brillian ruler Jai Singh. It has retained its reputation as one of the formost cities in India planned and executed in a manner that draws accolades from modern town planners. Jaipur is known as the pink city, because many buildings are still washed pink, the traditional colour of welcome, which was originally introduced to honor the visit of the Prince Albert in 1856.

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 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. O/n Hotel.

DAY 13 JAIPUR TO DELHI
Morning after breakfast drive to Jaipur (about 260kms/05hrs), check into the hotel.
Perhaps there is no other capital city in the world so steeped in history and legend as the Indian capital, Delhi. It was the magnet that drew the Mongols, Turks, Persians, Afghans, Mughals and Finally the British. All of whom contributed to its glorious but turbulent history. The fascination with Delhi was such that even though it was abandoned many times, its rulers returned to it again and again rebuilding it at least seven times.

Afternoon drive to Old Delhi Tour (half day) : Shah Jahan founded the city of Shahjanabad, now referred to as Old Delhi, in 1648. The famous Red Fort in the heart of Old Delhi was once the most opulent fort of the Mughal Empire and it boasts the Diwan-I-Am, Hall of Private Audience. Opposite the fort is the Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in the world, built by Shah Jahan to dominate his city. Sightseeing to Red Fort, Jama Masjid Mosque & Humayuns tomb. Late night transfer to int'l airport to board flight to your home country.

DAY 14 DELHI
Early morning board flight to your onward destination.