Wildlife
Tours In India Classical
India Tour with Wildlife
Duration : 11 Nights
& 12 Days
Destination Covered : Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Umaria - Bandavgarh - Khajuraho
- Varanasi - Delhi
Day 01 : Delhi
Company
representatives will receive you on arrival at the international airport in
Delhi late in the night or midnight. Transfer to your hotel. Relax.
DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires is now
a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend of the past and the present.
It is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land. A
window to the kaleidoscope - that is India.
Overnight will be at
Delhi.
Day 02 : Delhi - Jaipur Breakfast will be
at the hotel. Proceed to Jaipur.
Reach and check in at hotel.
JAIPUR - The origins of the beautiful city of Jaipur can
be traced back to the eighteenth century, during the reign of Jai Singh II
who ascended the Amber throne in 1699. Jaipur today, epitomizes the spirit
of Rajputana. In-spite of growing into a bustling metropolis, it still
retains its character and history - A beautiful fusion of the yesteryears
and modernity. It is popularly known as the Pink City because of the
extensive use of the locally abundant pink plastered stone, painted so in
honor of the visit of the royal consort of Queen Victoria. Jaipur thrills
the soul with its massive forts, magnificent palaces, exquisite temples and
lush gardens.
Proceed for sightseeing of the city.
CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani
architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the
walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the
City Palace Museum.
JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest
and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in
different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized
astronomical instruments is still in use.
HAWA MAHAL -
The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent
landmark in Jaipur. Their five-storey structures of sandstone plastered pink
encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953
niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal
grandstand for the palace women.
Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day 03 : Jaipur - Agra
By Road : 221 km in 6 hr
Breakfast will be served at the hotel.
Proceed for excursion to
Amber Fort in the outskirts of Jaipur. Elephant ride ascent to the fort.
AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic
Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592,
and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies
an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds
its ultimate expression.
Drive to Agra.
Reach
Fatehpur Sikri after a light lunch break. The deserted, red Sandstone City,
Emperor Akbar built that as his capital and palace in the late 16th century
is an exhilarating experience. It a veritable fairytale city and its "ruins"
are in pristine condition ... it's not hard to imagine what the court life
must have been like in the days of its grandeur. Also visit the Bulund
Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.
Continue towards Agra
and reach by evening. Check in at hotel.
AGRA: Two great
Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of
Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving it the
name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is
caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white
marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that
this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that
modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously. A walk
down the narrow bustling streets of the city will introduce the visitor to
the wafting aroma of Mughlai cuisine.
Overnight stay will be at
Agra.
Day 04 : Agra - Umaria - Bandavgarh
By overnight
train at 1515 hr After breakfast proceed to visit Taj. Enjoy
battery van ride to the Taj.
TAJ
MAHAL: Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder which is
always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah
Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal.
This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by
Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from it's stunning design balance and perfect
symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately
carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen.
Proceed for sightseeing to the
AGRA FORT - Built by the famed
Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone.
Ensconced within is the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major
tourist attraction.
Visit
Itmadullah's Tomb built by
Empress NOOR JEHAN in memory of her father (The interiors of which are
considered better than the Taj).
Take train to UMARIA. Overnight
would be onboard the train.
Day 05 : Bandavgarh
Arrive
early in the morning
Reach
Bandavgarh and check in at hotel.
Bandavgarh is a new National Park with a very long history. Set
among the Vindhya hills of Madhya Pradesh with an area of 168sq miles (437sq
km) it contains a wide variety of habitats and a high density of game,
including a large number of Tigers. This is also the White tiger country.
These have been found in the old state of Rewa for Many years. Maharaja
Martand Singh captured the last known in 1951. This white Tiger, Mohun is
now stuffed and on display in the Palace of Maharaja of Rewa. Prior to
becoming a National Park, the forests around Bandavgarh had long been
maintained as a Shikargah, or game preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa. The
Maharaja and his guests carried out hunting - otherwise the wildlife was
well protected. It was considered a good omen for Maharaja of Rewa to shoot
109 tigers. His Highness Maharaja Venkat Raman Singh shot 111 Tigers by
1914.
There are 32 hills in this part of the park, which has a
large natural fort at its center. The fort's cliffs are 2625 feet (800
meters) high, 1000 feet (300 meters) above the surrounding countryside.
Winter temperatures (Nov-mid-February) vary from almost freezing at night to
around 68 degree Fahrenheit in the daytime. Summer nights are also cooler
than the daytime temperatures, which rise to 104 degree Fahrenheit. This
park is closed during the breeding season, which coincides with the monsoon
(July-October).
Bandavgarh has been a center of human activity
and settlement for over 2000 years, and there are references to it in the
ancient books, the Narad-Panch Ratra and the Shiva Purana. Legend has it
that Lord Rama, hero of the Hindu epic, the Ramayana, stopped at Bandavgarh
on his way back to his homeland after defeating the demon King Ravana of
Lanka. Two monkey architects, who had engineered a bridge between the isle
of Lanka and the mainland, are said to have built Bandavgarh's Fort. Later
Rama handed it over to his brother Lakshmana who became known as Bandavdhish
"The Lord of the Fort". Lakshmana is the particular God of the
fort and is regularly worshipped in a temple there.
Bandavgarh is
justifiably famous for its Tigers, but it has a wide range of other game.
The undergrowth is not as dense as in some northern terai forests, but the
best time to see the park inhabitants is still the summer months when water
becomes more scarce and the undergrowth dies back.
Check in at
the resort and overnight will be at Bandavgarh.
Day
06 : Bandavgarh
A full day game viewing inside the jungle. (Two
safaris)
Overnight at the resort.
Day 07 :
Bandavgarh A full day game viewing inside the jungle. (Two
safaris)
Overnight at the resort.
Day 08 :
Bandavgarh - Khajuraho
By Road : 250km in 8 hr After
breakfast proceed to Khajuraho.
Reach and transfer to hotel.
Situated in the heart of India, in the state of Madhya Pradesh,
Khajuraho is a fascinating village with a quaint, rural ambience and a rich
cultural heritage, honored by the world as India's unique contribution to
human civilization. The Chandela dynasty built eighty-five temples here.
Only twenty remain as embodiments of Indian architectural and sculptural art
at its most evolved state. Even ten centuries after they were constructed,
the temples of Khajuraho reflect an eternal philosophy relevant to mankind.
The temple of Khajuraho is a world heritage site and belongs not just to
India but to the world. The nearby Panna national park is a project tiger
park making the area a unique combination of outstanding cultural and
natural heritage - one of the few millennium destinations of the world.
Explore the village in the evening. Visit SHILPAGRAM. Overnight
will be at Khajuraho.
Day
09 : Khajuraho - Varanasi
By Air
Proceed for a guided tour of the famous temples of Khajuraho
after breakfast.
Transfer in time to airport for flight to
Varanasi. Upon arrival at Varanasi, you will be met and transferred to
hotel.
Varanasi is the World's most ancient living city. Sunrise
on the riveRfront, as seen from a boat, can be spiritually uplifting sight.
Crowded with temples, and its labyrinth of streets, the city attracts the
maximum number of tourists. The religious capital of Hinduism, Varanasi is
the carpet-manufacturing place of India. It was previously known as Kashi -
the city that illuminates. The present name is derived from the fact that
the city is at the confluence of the rivers Varuna and Asi.
Spend night at Varanasi.
Day 10 : Varanasi
Drive
early morning to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat ride on the sacred river Ganges
to see the cremation Ghats and witness the living traditions of one of the world's
oldest and most important religions. (To start at 0500 hrs. for the best lifetime
experience) For you to appreciate this remarkable city, we'll transfer you to
the banks of the River Ganges before the sun rises. Board a boat with your guide
and proceed to the middle of the river, where at sunrise the sight unfolds before
you. Thousands of faithful come daily to the banks to bathe and pray while in
the background, temples and palaces rise in tiers from the water's edge. Then
return for a walk through the cobblestone streets along the banks of "Ganga".
As shops are opening, the place now becomes a beehive of activity as the faithful
are coming and going. Also visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple while returning
to the hotel.
Return for breakfast to the hotel. Proceed for day
guided tour of Varanasi including the Gyanvapi Mosque and Benaras Hindu
University. Overnight will be at Varanasi.
Day 11 : Varanasi - Delhi
By Air
Breakfast will be at the hotel at hotel. Proceed
for sightseeing of SARNATH.
Sarnath - 5 miles out of Varanasi
for a day excursion: One of the holiest Buddhist sites in the world, where
Buddha preached his first Sermon in 590 BC. Witness the ruins of a once
flourishing Buddhist monastery and then visit a fine Museum which houses an
excellent collection of Buddhist art and sculptures found at the site.
Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Reach Delhi and you will be
transferred to hotel.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day
12 : Delhi: Departure
Proceed for a full-day tour of Old & New
Delhi after breakfast.
OLD DELHI - A sightseeing tour of
Old Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the memorial site where
Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India and
the Red Fort - once the most opulent fort and palace of the Moghul Empire.
Enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride from Jama Masjid to Chandni Chowk.
NEW DELHI - An extensive sightseeing tour of New Delhi would
include a visit to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the
ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House,
the President's Residence and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic
Enclave.
Transfer to airport for flight home.
TOUR ENDS