Duration : 14 Nights / 15 Days
Destinations Covered : Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Amber Fort -
Fatehpur Sikri - Varanasi - Bagdogra - Kanha National Park
Day
01 : Arrival Delhi Met upon arrival and assisted transfer to the
Hotel for one night. Afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of Old and New
Delhi. Overnight at the hotel.
DELHI - The Old
and the New Delhi is really two distinct cities.
Old Delhi
plushes with the energy, colour, hustle and bustle of the thronged bazaars
and is laced by a maze of narrow lanes, which twist and turn between tall,
leaning houses full of the sights, sounds and aromas of the Indian
sub-continent.
In Old Delhi you will see the famous Red Fort,
surrounded by shops, and bazaars (built by Emperor Shah Jehan - the builder
of Taj Mahal), the Jama Masjid mosque, with its tapering minarets and
wonderful marble domes, Chandni Chowk (Old Delhi's business nerve centre),
the hurly-burly of everyday Indian life all around you and chattering
voices.
As a complete contrast, New Delhi stands, in formal
splendour, like a lone sentry guarding an outpost of a long-gone empire .It
is a city of wide boulevards, which offers ever-changing perspectives of
Lutyen's landscaped city. It is a city rich with formal parks and you will
see the magnificent Parliament Building and the Rashtrapati Bhawan (the
official residence of the President of India in the 330 acres of land and
designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens), once awe-inspiring residence of the British
Viceroys and now the Presidential Palace, the Raj Ghat (cremation site of
Mahatma Gandhi), India Gate (a majestic 42 mts high arch, built as a
memorial to the Indian Soldiers killed in World War I), Qutab Minar (the
72.5 mts high tower dating back to 13th century and one of the greatest
bequest of Islamic Culture), Humanyun's Tomb (built in the 16th century and
architecturally the fore runner of the Taj Mahal has its Mughal Architecture
at its graceful best) and the Birla Mandir (a large Hindu Temple built in
1938).
Day 02 : Delhi - Khajuraho
Early morning assisted transfer to the airport in time to connect flight to
Khajuraho. Afternoon sightseeing tour of the Khajuraho temples for which the
area is justly famous. Overnight at the hotel.
Khajuraho
A thousand years ago, this was the seat of the Chandela Kings who built 85
temples, of which 22 remain in eloquent testimony to the glory of the reign.
The famous Chandela Dynasty Temples built between 950 and 1050 AD
immortalised in stone is a wealth of sensuous and erotic sculptures, an
exquisite depiction of human life and emotions, equating passion with
spiritual union. The sculptures considered most perfect figures achieved in
stone, depicts Gods and Goddesses and amorous couples.
Day 03 : Khajuraho - Bandhavgarh Morning drive to Bandhavgarh
National Park (250 kms) from Khajuraho (approx 5 hrs driving time).
Afternoon enjoy an excursion in Bandhavgarh National Park which has a
reputation for good tiger viewing and varied bird life. Overnight at the
Lodge.
Bandhavgarh This is a small
National Park: compact and full of game. The density of tiger population at
Bandhavgarh is highest known in India. Other main wild beasts include
leopard, sloth bear, gaur, Sambar, Chital, Muntjac, Nilgai, Chinkara, Wild
Pigs. There are more than 250 species of birds. The common ones are little
Grebe, Egret, Lesser Adjutant, Sarus Crane, Black Ibis, Lesser Whistling
Teal, White Eyed Buzzard, Black Kite, Crested Serpent eagle, Black Vulture,
Common Peafowl, Red Jungle Fowl, Dove, Parakeet, Kingfisher and Indian
Roller. Reptilian fauna include Cobra, Krait, Viper, Ratsnake, Python,
Turtle and a number of Lizard varieties including Varanus.
Day 04 : Bandhavgarh National Park Morning enjoy a game drive of
the Bandhavgarh National Park. Afternoon free for a nature walk around the
lodge. Overnight at the lodge.
Day 05 :
Bandhavgarh - Kanha National Park Morning drive to Kanha National
Park (325 kms from Bandhavgarh National Park - approx 7 hrs driving time).
Upon arrival check-into Wild Chalet Lodge for a two night stay. Afternoon
enjoy a game drive of the Kanha National Park. Overnight at the lodge.
Kanha National Park Kanha is a Sal and
Bamboo forest, rolling grasslands and meandering streams stretch over 940 sq
kms in dramatic natural splendour. This is original Kipling country, of
which he wrote so vividly in his Jungle Books. The same abundance of
wildlife species exist today in Kanha National Park, which forms the core of
the Kanha Tiger Reserve created in 1974 under Project Tiger. The park is the
only habitat of the rare hardground Barasingha. Kanha has some 22 species of
mammals. Those that are easily spotted are: three striped palm Squirrel,
Common Langur, Jackal, wild pig, Chital or spotted Deer, Barasingha or swamp
Deer, Sambar and Blackbug. Less commonly seen species are: Tiger, Indian
Hare, Dhole or Indian wild Dog, barking deer and Indian Bison or Gaur,
Indian Fox, sloth Bear, striped Hyena, Jungle Cat, Panther, Mouse Deer,
Chausingha or four horned Antelope, Nilgai or blue Bull, Ratel and Indian
Porcupine. Very rarely seen are: wolf, Chinkara, Indian Pangolin, the
smooth Indian otter and the small Indian Civet.
Day 06 : Kanha National Park Morning game viewing in Kanha National
Park. Afternoon is at leisure. Overnight at the lodge.
Day 07 : Kanha National Park - Jabalpur - Agra Depart by surface to
Jabalpur Rail Terminal, which is 230 kms from Kanha National Park (approx 5
hrs drive) in time to connect your Train to Agra.
Day 08 : Agra Afternoon enjoy sightseeing tour of
the city including a visit to the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort and the Tomb of
Itamud-ud-daula. Overnight at the hotel.
Agra
The Taj Mahal truly is one of the wonders of the world, and you will see it
at its best - at sunset - just when the light, playing on the marble of the
tomb and the reflections in the stillness of the waters, presents this
incredible building in all its beauty, majesty and splendour. The Taj Mahal
is a monument of love built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjehan in 1630 for his
Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. For twenty-two years
20,000 men laboured day and night to build this masterpiece, which has held
the world awe struck ever since. Shah Jehan was imprisoned by his son in the
magnificent fort at Agra. Here you will see the art and crafting of the
white marble that has made the area so famous, the Pearl Mosque, the halls
of Public and Private Audience, and finally the tomb of Itmad-ud-daula built
by the Empress Noorjehan in the memory of her father.
Day 09 : Agra - Ranthambore Depart by surface to Ranthambore,
which is 249 kms from Agra (approx 6 hrs driving time), visiting the
deserted Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri enroute, which was built by Emperor
Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after fifteen years due to scarcity of water.
See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, the Tomb of Salim
Chishti, the Panch Mahal & the other palaces. Upon arrival check into
the Tiger Moon Resort at Ranthambore for 02 nights. Afternoon enjoy a game
drive into the Ranthambore Park. Overnight at the Lodge.
Ranthambore One of the most exciting parks with Tiger sightings at
its best, dotted with Lakes and Ponds around which wildlife abounds. The 410
sq kms park is covered with Dhok, Ronj, Salai, Ber and Palm trees. Besides
Tigers the park provides a fine habitat for Sambar, Leopard, Nilgai, Sloth
bear, Jackal, Marsh Crocodile, Chital, Nilgai, the occasional rare caracal
and a very rich variety of birds (300 species)
Day 10 : Ranthambore In the morning enjoy a game drive in to the
park. Afternoon at leisure. Evening again enjoy a game drive into the park.
Overnight at the lodge.
Day 11 : Ranthambore -
Jaipur Depart by surface to Jaipur, which is 166 kms from
Ranthambore (approx 4 hrs driving time). Upon arrival at Jaipur check into
your hotel - Samode Haveli. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 : Jaipur Morning excursion to the Amber Fort, which is
ascended on an elephant back. Afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of Jaipur.
Amber Fort Amber, built by Man Singh,
embodies the Rajput belief that the fort symbolises the strength of the
King. Its commanding view, sheer walls and rock face, and the curved route
that leads to the palaces within, all point to concern with security and
defence. The fort is mirrored in Maota Lake, which stands adjacent to the
Dilaram Garden. The private apartments begun by Man Singh in the 17th
century combine Hindu and Mughal styles and the Sheesh Mahal (Hall of
Mirrors), its walls covered with tiny mirrors, becomes a dazzling fantasy
with the light of a single match. Visit the Jag Mandir or the Hall of
Victory, glittering with mirrors, Jai Mahal and the Kali Temple.
Jaipur - city sightseeing Jaipur is blessed with a wealth of
wonders. Here you will see the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) with its
incredible facade of balconies and pierced screens, the Jantar Mantar (the
Observatory), and the Maharaja's City Palace. Jaipur is a city of pink, and
you will be enchanted by the light playing upon the buildings, creating
shadows and highlighting every nuance of the architecture.
Day 13 : Jaipur - Delhi Depart by surface for Delhi, which is 260
kms from Jaipur (approx 6 hrs driving time).
Day 14 : Delhi Full day is at leisure and or for independent
activities. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 15 :
Departure Delhi Transfer to Indira Gandhi International Airport in
time to connect your flight for onward destination.
Cities
in Rajasthan
