Bird Watching Holidays
DAY 01 DELHI
Arrive Delhi from your home country by midnight. Garland welcome, assistance
and transfer to hotel. O/n Hotel.
DAY
02 DELHI
Morning after breakfast we drive towards Okhla barrage, here we can easily
see 80 or more species of birds. Afternoon leisurely visit to Baha'I Temple
(Lotus Temple) - architecturally it is a remarkably striking building, constructed
in 1980 - 81. It is built out of white marble and in the characteristic Baha'I
temple shape of a lotus flower - 45 lotus petals form the walls - which internally
creates a feeling of light and space. Drive towards south direction to visit
Qutb Minar, which is 73 m high and consists of five storeys. Lateron we drive
to visit India Gate - this war memorial is situated at the eastern end of
Rajpath. Designed by Lutyens, it commemorates more than 70,000 Indian soldiers
who died in the First World War. Afterthat visit Rashtrapati Bhavan, once
the Viceroy's House, now is the official residence of the President of India.
Designed by Lutyens, it combines western and eastern styles. Back to hotel
to relax. O/n Hotel.
DAY 03 DELHI TO SAWAI MADHOPUR
Morning free, afternoon transfer to Nizamuddin Railway station to board express
train to Sawai Madhopur at 13.15 - 17.50hrs. Upon arrival, transfer to resort
located on the outskirts of Ranthambore National Park. O/n Resort.
DAY 04 RANTHAMBORE
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.
Morning and afternoon explore the park by jeep with naturalist. O/n Resort.
DAY 05 RANTHAMBORE
Morning and afternoon jeep safari to view wildlife with Naturalist. Rest of
the day visit to the Fort or just relax by the pool. O/n Resort.
DAY 06 RANTHAMBORE TO BHARATPUR
Early morning transfer to Sawai Madhopur railway station to board express
train to Bharatpur at 07.16 - 09.20hrs. Upon arrival, transfer to our delightful
heritage hotel 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 07 BHARATPUR
Morning and afternoon explore the bird sanctuary by Rikshaw ride with
naturlist. Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.
DAY
08 BHARATPUR Morning and afternoon explore the bird sanctuary by
Rikshaw ride with naturlist. Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.
DAY
09 BHARATPUR TO AGRA Morning after breakfast drive to Agra (about
60 kms/ 02 hrs), journey bringing us first to the Deserted Sand Stone
building of Akbar at Fatherpur Sikiri. After visiting Fatehpur Sikri,
continue to Agra to stay for overnight.
DAY 10
AGRA Morning at sunrise, visit to 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.
After breakfast
visit to Agra Fort, On the west end of the Yamuna River, Akbar's magnificent
fort dominates the centre of the city. The outer walls, just over 20 m high
and faced with red sandstone, tower above the outer moat. The fort is
crescent-shaped with a long nearly straight wall facing the river. Proceed
to visit Baby Taj. Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.
DAY
11 AGRA TO DELHI Morning free for your own acitivies, afternoon
drive to Delhi (about 210kms/05hrs) int'l airport to board flight to your
home country by JL 472 at 19.25hrs.
India