Today you will arrive at Delhi’s International Airport. Following customs, immigration formalities and baggage collection, local representative will meet you as you EXIT the ARRIVALS TERMINAL building and transfer you to your hotel. Accommodation booked on Immediate Occupancy.
India’s capital and a major gateway to the country, contemporary Delhi is a bustling metropolis, which successfully combines in its folds - the ancient with the modern. Amidst the fast spiraling skyscrapers the remnants of a bygone time in the form of its many monuments stand as silent reminders to the region’s ancient legacy. The first impressions for any visitor traveling in from the airport are of a specious, garden city, tree-lined with a number of beautiful parks.
Upon arrival at the hotel, you will be accorded with a Traditional Welcome. Welcoming guest is an age-old tradition. ‘Atithi Devobhava’ - treat your guest as if he were God. Indian hospitality can be savored immediately as one arrives at the hotel. The guest’s forehead is anointed with the traditional red ‘tika’ which is considered auspicious along with garlanding. Relax with a non-alcoholic welcome drink following which proceed to check in at your room.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03 DELHI
After buffet breakfast in the hotel, Proceed for full day sightseeing tour of Delhi and Old Delhi
Tour starts with visit to Old Delhi - Old Delhi is a world all in its own. As you meander through the bustling galis (streets) of this Mughal nerve-centre of old, is difficult to imagine that way back in 1648, Emperor Shah Jahan’s daughter Jahanara built up the area only to pander to her father’s fetish for grandiose processions, Here you will see the Jama Masjid, built in 1650 AD, and one of the largest mosques in India. Drive through the fabled Chandni Chowk (literally, 'Silver Street'), once the most opulent perfume market of India, but now a bustling market, good for hunting down old and new silver and gold from jewellers whose forefathers served the emperors.
Tour the Red Fort (closed on Mondays), dating back as far as 1639-48 AD, and built by Emperor Shah Jahan, who also built the Taj Mahal. Visit Raj Ghat where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated following his assassination in 1948. Continue visit to India Gate.
Continue tour of the New Delhi - New Delhi was planned and built by the British in the 1920s and is characterized by Sir Edwin Lutyen's monumental architecture. You will visit Humayun's Tomb, aptly called the predecessor of the Taj Mahal because of its ornate Mughal style of architecture, later perfected in the Taj Mahal.Continue drive to 12th century Qutab Minar, considered one of the most perfect towers in the world, measuring 72 meters high. Nearby, amidst the ruins of the Quwwat ul Islam Mosque stands the iron pillar, which is over 1500 years old and seemingly immune to rust. Drive through the city viewing the government buildings, President's House and Parliament House. Also Visit India Gate & drive pass Govt building
Overnight at hotel
Day 04 DELHI – JAIPUR (260 Km – 5 hrs) BY: SURFACE
After breakfast drive by surface to Jaipur - Jaipur's past is never too far from hand. The city of victory, Jaipur presides over the fascinating desert state and its people: surrounded by rugged hills, each crowned by a formidable fort; and beautiful palaces, mansions and gardens dotted throughout its precincts. The palaces and forts of yesteryear that were witness to royal processions and splendour are now living monuments, accepted quite naturally into the lifestyles of the people of the "pink city". Except for the busy traffic of bicycles, cars and buses, little seems to have changed. There is a timeless quality to Jaipur's bazaars and its people. With its historical past, Jaipur revives legends of the ancient Rajputs. The dresses of the women and the turbans of the men add colour to this fascinating city.
Upon arrival assistance and check in at your hotel.
After noon Among the highlights to be seen while touring Jaipur include the City Palace, which is an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. The palace museum houses collections of rare manuscripts, armoury, costumes, carpets and miniature paintings. Walk to the adjacent Jantar Mantar or Astronomical Observatory made by the Maharaja of Jaipur, built in 1726 and is one of the five such astronomical wonders built by Sawai Jai Singh and makes accurate predictions even to this day.
You will stop and see the `Palace of Winds’, otherwise known as Hawa Mahal. It is really an elaborate facade behind which the ladies of the court used to watch the daily goings on in the street below. It is extremely intricate in its pink sandstone carving. The cool wind blows through its facade of windows and latticed screens through which the queens of the court once viewed the streets of the city. You will also have the opportunity to wander about the local markets
Evening at leisure.
Overnight at hotel
Day 05 JAIPUR – RANTHAMBORE
Morning after breakfast you will be driven just outside Jaipur to the ancient capital of Amber to see the fabulous Amber Fort.
Maharaja Mansingh, Mughal Emperor Akbar’s most successful General, started the construction of Amber Fort in the 17th century. Before the City Palace was constructed in Jaipur, Amber was the seat of power. An elephant /Jeep will spare you the trouble of reaching up to the fortress (Elephant ride is subject to availability) Once on top, stroll through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls. Many of the rooms have delightful wall paintings, with precious stones and mirrors inlaid in the walls.
Most fascinating, perhaps, is the Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors) where a single lamplight is reflected in the many mirrors, lighting up the room. Come back to your hotel after your excursion.
Afternoon checkout and depart for Ranthambore.
Upon arrival assistance and transfer to hotel.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 06 RANTHAMBORE
Ranthambore was the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur. Among the most famous of their hunting parties was the one organized for Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1961. Ranthambore is famous for its tigers. Here, more than in any other park or sanctuary in India, tigers are now encountered in broad daylight. Besides tiger, Ranthambore has a large variety of animals and it is also a bird watcher's delight.
Ranthambore is possibly the best place to see tiger in the wild and in the open. Other predators in the park are leopard, marsh-crocodile, jungle cat and hyena. Tigers hunt openly in the daylight and in the 1986 census, 40 were recorded in the core area of 158 sq Kms of the park. The park also has a large population of jackal, sambar, chital and Nilgiri. Ranthambore has sounders of wild boar; Indian hare and mongoose are sometimes seen on the edge of the water. The park also has abundant bird life including Bonelli's eagle, the crested eagle, Great Indian horned owl, gray partridge, painted partridge and tree pie paradise. The flycatcher, pheasant-tailed jacana, painted stork, spoonbill, white-necked stork and spur-fowl are also all found here.
Morning and evening game-viewing safari at Ranthambore National Park in canters
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 07 RANTHAMBORE – BHARATPUR (Surface)
Today early morning you will explore the Jungle to see the Tiger by Canter.
Come back to your hotel for the breakfast. Later check out and depart for Bharatpur.
Upon arrival check in at hotel.
Afternoon proceed for bird watching by rickshaw at Bharatpur Bird Century.
Return back. Evening at leisure.
Overnight at hotel.
DAY 08 BHARATPUR – FATEHPUR SIKRI – AGRA (54 Km / 2 hrs)
Morning proceed for Bird watching. Return back to hotel. After breakfast proceed for Agra by Surface. Enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted red sandstone city, built by the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the late 16th century. It was abandoned soon after it was built when the local wells went dry and it remains today in much the same condition that it was over 300 years ago. It is complete with palaces and mosques and used to be a town larger than London when it was originally constructed. Now it is an extraordinary place to wander around with its buildings in near perfect condition.
Upon arrival in Agra Check in at your hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
DAY 09 AGRA – KANHA (By Train)
Agra in terms of ambiance is still associated with its Mughal period. The Mughals besides being great rulers were also great builders and they preserved their best architectural wonders for Agra & its neighborhood. It has many wonderful monuments and the Taj Mahal, the greatest of them all, is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture at its best. The massive but elegant Agra Fort, the delicate artistry of Itimad-ud-daulah’s tomb, the magnificent Taj and Akbar’s deserted capital, Fatehpur Sikri, are each unique and outstanding.
Morning proceed to visit the Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays). Midway Tonga’s “horse carriages” would be waiting for you and will drop you at the gates of the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal is everything that has been said about it and more. Taking 22 years and 20,000 men to build, the white marble was quarried 200 miles away and was transported to the site by a fleet of 1000 elephants. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, in mid 17th century, the Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world. Though the Taj appears to be amazingly perfect from almost any angle, it is the close-up marble inlay work, which is really astounding. You will have ample time to view and be mesmerized by this outstanding piece of architecture.
Later proceed for tour of Agra Fort - the seat and the stronghold of the Mughal Empire under successive generations. This was the seat of Mughal rule and administration and the present structure owes its origins to Akbar who erected the walls and gates and the first buildings on the eastern banks of Yamuna River.
Shah Jehan added the impressive quarters and the mosque while Aurangzeb added the outer ramparts. Visit its Hall of Public Audience and its Royal Pavilions.
ITMAD-UD-DAULAH – To the north of Agra fort, on the opposite bank of the Yamuna, is the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas Beg, Jehingir’s wazir, also known as Itmad-ud-daulah. The tomb is also referred to as the ’baby Taj’, as it was the very first Mughal structure to be totally built from marble and make extensive use of pietra dura.
Evening in time transfer to Railway station to board train for Jabalpur .
DAY 10 JABALPUR – KANHA (By Surface) - 165 Km – 4 hrs
Morning arrive at Jabalpur. Upon arrive al assistance and proceed for Kanha.
Upon arrival check in at hotel.
Afternoon game viewings at Kanha National Park
Spread over a massive area of 1945 sq. km, Kanha is in the heart of Kipling Country, the setting of the Jungle Book. It offers a great diversity of wildlife. Chances of seeing the Indian Bison here are much better than Bandhavgarh. You also might spot a pack of Dholes - the Indian Wild Dog, also known as the whistling hunters, Dholes are known for their perseverance in hunting down their quarry. Kanha is also the last refuge of the Swamp Deer (Hard Ground), only 400 or so survive in the wildlife and all of them are to be found in Kanha.
KANHA NATIONAL PARK and Tiger Reserve is considered one of Asia's finest protected areas and probably the best place in the world to see tigers in the wild. Tracts of Kanha have been a wildlife sanctuary since 1933. In 1955, 318 sq km was declared a National Park and in 1973, 940 sq Kms became one of the first nine Project Tiger Reserves.
Kanha was expanded in 1976 - the National Park now has a core area of 940 sq km and a buffer zone of 1005 sq km.
Overnight at the hotel
Overnight at hotel.
DAY 11 KANHA
Morning & afternoon game viewings at Kanha National Park
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 12 KANHA
Morning & afternoon game viewings at Kanha National Park
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 11 KANHA - BHANDAVGARH ( 250 km – 6 hrs)
Morning game viewings at Kanha National Park.
Later depart for Bhandvagrh by surface
Upon arrival assistance and check in at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
The reserve is named after the highest hill in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh has been an excellent habitat of tiger and is known for the highest density of tigers in the world. Considering the importance and potentiality of the National park, it was included in the Project Tiger Network in 1993. The adjoining Panpatha Sanctuary too was declared as a part of the Reserve.
During these drives you stand a very good chance of seeing the Lord of the Indian Jungle the tiger. This magnificent striped cat was almost hunted down to extinction by 1970 after having numbered over 40,000 at the turn of the century. Thanks to the efforts of Project Tiger looking after reserves like Bandhavgarh, there is now a fighting chance for the beast to survive into the next Century.
A relatively small park, Bandhavgarh is one of the smallest tiger reserves holding such a large population of tigers (49 according to the 1997 census). Set in rugged terrain with many hills, the forested area is interspersed with savanna like areas known as Chaurs.
These wildernesses support a rich variety of wildlife that includes Tiger, Leopard, Gaur (Indian Bison), Sloth Bear, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Chowsingha (Four horned Antelope), and Wild Pigs etc. It has also rich birdlife.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 14 BHANDAVGARH
Morning and evening game viewing in Canter.
Overnight at hotel
DAY 15 BHANDAVGARH - KHAJURHAO ( 5 hrs )
Morning fame viewing. Later after breakfast depart for Khajuraho.
Upon arrival assistance and check in at hotel.
In the realm of architecture, Khajuraho holds a unique position. The temples here were built between 950 and 1050 A.D. by the Chandela dynasty, which claims descent from the Moon God and a mortal, Hemavati, with whom the god fell in love. The Chandelas built 85 temples and some 22 survive today. Architecturally the temples have some unique features. Although famous for erotic depictions, these form only a small part of the wealth of the site. Taken in totality, the sculptures of Khajuraho depict the everyday life of the people and the court in the 10th and 11th centuries. Khajuraho is not something that can be described in words; it has to be experienced.
Upon arrival proceed for check-in at your hotel
Later in the afternoon proceed for sightseeing tour of Eastern and Western Group of Temples
Visit the world famous Khajuraho Temples, built by the Chandela kings between 950 AD and 1050 AD. These temples became famous for their exquisite carving and erotic sculptures. The sculptures, which were rediscovered by an English soldier in 1839, are said to portray the rite of creation in which both body and soul are involved. Of the original 85 temples, only 22 now survive. The most important are the Chaunset Yogini Temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, the Mahadev Temple, the Chitragupta or Bharatji Temple with its lovely image of 11-headed Vishnu, the Vishvanath and Nandi Temples, the Lakshmana Temple and Kandaria Mahadev Temple, which is the largest, being dedicated to Shiva.
Overnight at the hotel
DAY 16 KHAJURHAO – DELHI ( BY Flight)
Morning free to relax. In time transfer to airport to board your flight for Delhi.
Departure Khajurhao : 1355 hrs
Arrival Delhi : 1645 hrs via Varanasi
Upon arrival assistance and transfer to hotel.
Time for Last minute shopping.
Overnight at hotel.
DAY 17 DELHI DEPRATURE ( BY Flight)
Check out time Noon hrs
In time transfer to airport to board your flight for onward destination.
