Day 01 Delhi :
Company representatives will receive youon 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 - Corbett National Park :
By Road 250 km in 6 hr Breakfast will be at the hotel. Drive to CORBETT National
Park. JIM CORBETT National Park - One of the greatest National Parks of Asia.
Corbett is five hundred and twenty acres of forests, hills and grasslands,
fed by a frisky river - A bio-diversity that is rich, rare and precious. This
Park is the perfect habitat for the tiger, elephant, hog deer, birds and other
wildlife species that is fast vanishing from the earth.
JIM CORBETT t made his mark in his early life as a soldier and a hunter but
subsequently, dedicated him to the preservation of life - human and wild.
Whenever a man-eater threatened a village, 'Carpet Sahib' was summoned. Moving
on foot for days and weeks, often on steep winding trails, Corbett became
the savior of the simple hill folk of Kumaon and Garhwal. Jim Corbett could
read the jungle signs like an open book. He could decipher a ripple in the
dust of a dry streambed.
A blade of grass caught in the act of springing back from a crushed position.
When stalking, he could use the wind like predators do, to either conceal
or reveal his presence. He could freeze stock-still in mid stride for any
amount of time, just like an animal. He could easily read the sounds of the
animals and could imitate them to perfection. Even the call of a tiger! With
no assistance apart from his vocal chords, he could lure the animal to a face
to face meeting. Two man-eaters shot by him were cornered using this awesome
ability. Jim Corbett, the eighth child of a postmaster, gave up on academics
early, proved his prowess at the gun at the age of 8.
He worked as storekeeper, labor contractor, Captain in World War I, member
of municipal board, and trained soldiers in jungle warfare for World War II,
was awarded the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He shot with his camera and chronicled
his experiences in 8 gripping books. Check in at the resort and relax. Proceed
for an afternoon jungle safari for game viewing. Relax in the evening at the
resort restaurant. Overnight will be at the resort.
Day
03 Corbett National Park
: Enjoy a full day of game viewing inside the jungle. (Two safaris) All
meals will be at the resort and stay overnight will be at Corbett.
Day 04 Corbett - Delhi:
By Road 250 km in 6 hr Breakfast will be at the resort. Proceed for a morning
game-drive into the forest. Drive to Delhi in the afternoon. Reach and relax.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 05: Delhi - Ranthambhore:
By Train 400 km in 6 hr Breakfast will be at the hotel. Transfer to the station
for train to SAWAI MADHOPUR. Reach and transfer to the resort. Evening free
at the resort and you can relax or watch some slides on the tiger. Ranthambhore
Tiger Reserve, at the junction of the Aravalisand the Vindhyas, is a unique
example of natural and historical richness, standing out conspicuously in
the vast, arid and denuded tract of eastern Rajasthan, barely 14 kilometers
from Sawai Madhopur. Get in tune with nature for a luxury holiday in the heart
of the jungle.
Ranthambhore - perhaps the best place in the world to sight a tiger in the
wild. The Ranthambhore National Park has had more Tiger sightings than any
other National Park in the country. It has come to be known as "The land of
the Tiger", where most of the documented footage of this majestic beast has
been recorded.
It spreads over a highly undulating topography varying from gentle to steep
slopes; from flat topped hills of the Vindhyas to the conical hillocks and
sharp ridges of the Aravalis, from wide and flat valleys to narrow rocky gorges.
An important geological feature the 'Great Boundary Fault' where the Vindhya
plateaus meet the Aravali hill ranges meanders through the Reserve.
The National Park is bound by the rivers Chambal in the south and Banas in
the north. Overnight will be at resort.
Day 06 Ranthambhore:
Wake up early morning and leave for your safari into the National Park. Track
the tigers and other wildlife through the morning. Return to the resort /
lodge by 1000 in the morning and have breakfast.
Freshen up and either spend time at the pool or visit the town. You could
also go for a nice visit to the temple on top of the fort.
In the afternoon have lunch and then leave again for you afternoon safari.
The safari will be till evening 1700 - 1800 hr and then return to the resort
/ lodge. Dinner will be at the resort and retire early for the night. Overnight
will be at Ranthambhore.
Day 07 Ranthambhore - Bharatpur:
Keoladeo Ghana National Park
By Road 200 km in 5 hr Proceed to Bharatpur after breakfast. Keoladeo Ghana
National Park is one of the finest water-bird sanctuaries in the world. The
Maharaja of Bharatpur artificially created the lake and wetland in the 19th
century. By building small dykes and dams and diverting water from an irrigation
canal, he converted this low-lying area into a fine wild fowl shooting preserve.
In a few years, the new wetland surrounded by marginal forests was able to
support thousands of water birds.
Commonly referred to as Bharatpur, the Park is a delight for bird watchers.
Over 375 species of birds are found here and raised paths, camouflaged by
babul trees and undergrowth make viewing easy. A quiet ride by boat in the
early hours of the morning is also unforgettable experience. The cacophony
is unbelievable as painted storks, open bills, spoonbills, egrets, cormorants,
white ibis and multitudes of others, tend their young. Jacanas with their
iridescent colors and elegant tail feathers and purple moorhen can be seen
delicately treading over the floating vegetation.
Every year Bharatpur waits with bated breath for the arrival of the Siberian
cranes. There are only two wintering places for this rare species one in Iran
and the other Bharatpur and these beautiful birds with their distinctive red
beaks and facial patches, fly over 6400 km from their summer retreats. Colorful
kingfishers, graceful pelicans, rare Siberian cranes and Trans - continental
fliers - the migratory water - fowl are amongst the 375 species of birds found
in the Keoladeo National Park. The most spectacular nesting is that of the
egrets, storks, herons and cormorants, which make over 10,000 nests every
year. This makes outstanding bird havens of the world. The park covers an
area of 28.73km.
The story of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is incomplete without an account of
the migratory waterfowl. The most prominent waterfowl coming to this park
are bareheaded and greyleg geese. Ducks also create a lot of fluttering in
the lakes. The ducks usually found here are pintail, widgeon, common shelduck,
shoveler, garganey, teal, etc.
Attracted by the influx of the waterfowl the predatory birds-tawny eagles,
spotted eagles short-toed eagles imperial eagles and fishing eagle also arrive.
They all form the apex of the biological pyramid of the sanctuary and complete
the avian food chain of the ecosystem.
There are large herds of the nilgai, chital, wild boar and fear cows in addition
to a few herds of sambar. Reach and check in at the hotel. Proceed on RICKSHAW
for viewing the birds. RICKSHAW PULLERS have been trained by the forest department
in bird watching and are knowledgeable. Return to the lodge in the evening
and relax. Overnight will be at Bharatpur.
Day
08 Bharatpur - Agra:
By Road 55 km in 1 hr Enjoy the early morning RICKSHAW RIDE at the Bird Park.
Proceed to Agra after lunch and a boat ride at the park if there is enough
water. Reach and check in at the 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 will
be at Agra.
Day 09 Agra - Umaria - Bandhavgarh:
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 its 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 10 Bandhavgarh:
Arrive early in the morning Reach Bandavgarh and check in at hotel. Bandavgarhis
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
toaround 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. Check in at the resort. During the day enjoy a safari into the
National park. In the evening you would enjoy a joyride on an elephant. Overnight
will be at Bandavgarh.
Day 11 Bandhavgarh:
Enjoy the full day at the Park taking two safaris. All meals will be at the
resort.
Overnight will be at the resort.
Day
12 Bandhavgarh:
Enjoy two safaris at the park and all meals will be at the resort. Take a
trip to the Fort of Bandavgarh. This is the oldest fort in India - considered
to be more than 2500 years. One-hour trek up the fort is worth the effort.
The charm of this trek lies in discovering these monuments in the jungle,
unspoiled and unexplored.
Some of the statues lie off the main path and so it is best to take a guide.
Apart from the avatars, well worth seeing are three small temples of around
the 12th century. These temples are deserted but the fort is still used as
a place of worship. Kabir Das, the celebrated 16th century saint, once lived
and preached here. The natural ramparts of the fort give breathtaking view
of the surrounding countryside. The fort still belongs to the Maharaja of
Rewa and permission is required to visit it.
However permission is available locally and no trip to Bandhavgarh is complete
without making an effort to climb up the fort. The staff of the resort carries
your lunch while you are busy negotiating the trek to the fort. Overnight
will be at the resort.
Day 13 Bandhavgarh - Kanha:
By Road
255 km in 6 hr Drive to Kanha after breakfast and the morning safari. This
is the place that has been described by RUDYARD KIPLING in his great book
"The Jungle Book". Located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha
National Park is a tiger reserve that extends over an area of over 940 square
km.
A horseshoe shaped valley bounded by the spurs of the Mekal presents an interesting
topography. Steep rocky escarpments along the edges offer breathtaking views
of the valley. Realizing the danger on the Tiger population in the country,
the Government started the "Project Tiger" at Kanha and in 1974 the area was
declared a Tiger reserve. The park is also the habitat of the high ground
Barasingha. In 1930s, the Kanha area was divided into two sanctuaries - Hallon
and Banjar of 250kms to 300kms each. Though one of these was subsequently
disbanded .The area remained a protected one until 1947.
Depletion of the tiger population in the year that followed led to the area
being made an absolute sanctuary in 1952. Patient watching should reward the
visitor, with a sight of Indian Fox, Sloth bear, Striped hyena, Jungle cut,
Lepord, Mouse Deer, Chausingha or four horned antelope, Nilgai, Ratel and
Porcupine Kanha has some 200 species of birds.Watchers should station themselves
in the hills, where the mixed and bamboo forests harbour many species and
in the grassy forest clearings.
Water birds can be seen near the park's many rivulets and at Sarvantal, a
pool that is frequented by water birds and the area in front of the museum.
Reach in the afternoon and relax at the resort. Overnight will be at Kanha.
Day 14 Kanha:
Enjoy the full day at the Park taking two safaris. All meals will be at the
resort.
Overnight will be at the resort.
Day 15 Kanha - Jabalpur:
By Road
250 km in 5 hr
Jabalpur - Delhi:
By overnight trainProceed for the morning safari into park. Proceed to Jabalpur
after lunch. Reach and take train to Delhi. Overnight will be on train.
Day 16 Delhi - Next destinatio
n: Arrive in the morning and check into hotel for the day. Spend day relaxing
at the hotel or spending time at local markets. Breakfast will be at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport in time for flight home with sweet memories of the
wildlife tour of India.
