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