Wildlife
Tours In India
Wildlife Tour of Rajasthan with Classical India
Duration : 11
Nights & 12 Days
Destination Covered : Delhi - Jaipur - Agra -
Umaria - Bandhavgarh - 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