MUGHALS & WILDLIFE
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.
India