Tour itinerary:-

This 13 – day india tour covers four indian exceptional national parks along with legendary taj mahal, this journey will take you deep inside the tiger territory in all parks. You will spend your morning and afternoon searching for tiger and other amazing species and sight incredible birdlife.

Activities:-  

A walking tour through the narrow lanes of old delhi’s famous market

Rickshaw ride in old delhi
sunset or sunrise visit to the taj mahal
private & exclusive jeep safari at all national parks.

All zones are

Day 01 (friday taj mahal closed)

Delhi – agra

By surface: 210 km 4 hrs

Arrivals at new delhi international airport our company representative will receive you and give you transfer for agra by surface.

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 mughali cuisine.

Reach at agra check in hotel.

After lunch 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).

Overnight stay will be at hotel.

Day 02: Agra – jhansi – khajuraho (en- route orchha)

Early in the morning proceed for the sightseeing of taj mahal.

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. After visiting the taj mahal drive back to the hotel and have breakfast.

Transfer to the railway station for board train to jhansi, reach at jhansi then drive to khajuraho en-route visit orchha.

Orcha: – is a small hamlet in the state of madhya pradesh but once the capital of the formidable bundela kings in medieval times. Attractions include raj mahal, jahangir mahal, rai praveen mahal, ram raja temple, chaturbhuj temple, and laxmi narayan temple.

After explore orchha proceed to khajuraho, check- in hotel. Relax

Overnight stay will be at hotel

Day 03: Khajuraho – bandhavgarh

By surface 240 km 5 hrs,

After breakfast full day tour of khajuraho explore all group of temples and sarnath,

Khajuraho: – once the great capital of chandela, now a quiet town, khajuraho temples here were built during the chandela period from 950 to 1050 ad. Almost intriguing as the sheet beauty and the size of the temples is the question of why and how they were built here as khajuraho is isolated, 1000 years ago as it is even today. The temples are superb examples of indo-aryan architecture and depict images of gods and goddesses, warriors and musicians, real and mythological animals and in great detail – women and sex. Explore the western temple.

After visit khajuraho attractions drive to bandhavgarh, reach at bandhavgarh. Check – in hotel.

Bandhavgarh national park is one of the wild life sanctuaries in the indian state madhya pradesh. The national park is situated at 197 km away north-east of jabalpur. This wild life park derived its very name from an ancient fort in the area. Bandhavgarh national park belongs to the vindhyan mountain ranges of central india and it boasts to have the highest density of tiger population in the country. Now there are about 46 to 52 tigers one can spot here.

The thick forest of bandhavgarh national park sits in a bowl encircled by cliffs and wooded vindhyan mountains, and its plains have a number of grass and reed covered wetlands where kingfishers dive and egrets sit poised, hunch-backed, in the shallows. Up above, vultures nestle in holes in the sheer cliffs.

Dinner and overnight stay at resort (b, l, d)

Day 04: Bandhavgarh

Enjoy a full day game viewing inside the jungle. (two safaris, shared & by 4×4)

Overnight will be at the resort.  (tala zone)

Day 05: Bandhavgarh

Enjoy a full day game viewing inside the jungle. (two safaris, shared & by 4×4)

Overnight will be at the resort. (b,l,d)  (tala zone)

Day 06: Bandhavgarh – kanha

By surface: 250 km 5 hrs,

Early morning safari and after breakfast drive to kanha national park reach at kanha check in. Rest of the day for leisure.

Kanha national park: – kanha tiger reserve comprises parts of the mandla, balaghat, kwardha and dinodor districts for the indian state of madhya pradesh. It is located in the malkal hills of the satpura hill range kanha is internationally renowned for its rich floral and faunal attributes. The reserve is an excellent interspersion of the dadars grassy expanses, dance forest and riverine forest. It is very rich in floral largely due to the combination of land forms and soil types apart from the most character of the region. The rich habitat diversity of the reserve supports abundant animal communities and the lesser life forms; the reserve is the sanctum sanctorum of typical central indian fauna. Kanha has distinguished itself in saving the endangered central indian barasingha (cervus duvauceli branderi) from extinction and harboring the only population of this deer species in the world. Phen wildlife sanctuary (phen wls) in the north east of kanha has been made the mini satellite core of the reserve.

Overnight stay will be at resort (b, l, d)

Day 07: Kanha

Enjoy a full day game viewing inside the jungle. (two safaris, shared & by 4×4)

Overnight will be at the resort. (b,l,d)

Day 08: Kanha

Enjoy a full day game viewing inside the jungle. (two safaris, shared & by 4×4)

Overnight will be at the resort. (b,l,d)

Day 09: Kanha – pench

By surface: 150 km 3 hrs

Early morning safari and then drive to pench, reach and check in to the resort.

Pench national park, nestling in the lower southern reaches of the satpura hills is named after pench river, meandering through the park from north to south. It is located on the southern boundary of madhya pradesh, bordering maharashtra, in the districts of seoni and chhindwara.pench national park, comprising of 758 sq kms, out of which a core area of 299 sq km of indira priyadarshini pench national park and the mowgli pench sanctuary and remaining 464 sq km of pench national park is the buffer area.

The main entrance of the pench national park is at turia which is 12 kms from khwasa. Khwasa lies on the nagpur jabalpur nh-7. This park, which nestles in the lower southern regions of the satpura hills, is named after the pench river, flowing through it. The vegetation is dominated by trees like teak, saja, bija, lendia, haldu, dhaora, aonla and amaltas. Dazzling white kullu trees scattered around the forest, stand out in the various hues of green. It also has a reservoir which attracts birds in winter. Chital, sambar, neelgai are commonly seen grazing on the open sites on roadsides and banks of river & reservoir. Jackals can be widely seen along with pack of wild dogs. Herds of gaur can be spotted near streams and bamboo patches, more common during summer months. There are tigers and leopards, but they are mostly visible on river banks and roads in summer. The park has 210 species of birds, including migratory ones. Pea fowl, red jungle fowl, crimson breasted barbet, bulbul, racket tailed drongo, magpies and the whistling teal.

Evening for jeep safari at pench national park.

Overnight stay will be at resort. (b, l, d)

Day 10: Pench

Enjoy a full day game viewing inside the jungle. (two safaris, shared & by 4×4) Overnight will be at the resort. (b,l,d)

Day 11: Pench – nagpur – delhi:

Flight is also an options.

By surface: 167 km 3 hrs,

After breakfast drive to nagpur for boarding overnight train to delhi.

Overnight at train.

Day 12: Delhi arrival

Upon arrival our company representative will receive you and transfer to the hotel.

Delhi: – the capital of kingdom and empires is now a sprawling metro police 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.

After relax a bit proceed for the sightseeing of delhi:

Delhi – capital for many ancient and medieval empires. The city of delhi was built on the banks of the yamuna river and the history of delhi dates back more than 3000 years. Indraprastha according to legends was the old capital of delhi and founded by the pandavas in the times of the mahabharata 1500 b.c. And was located near the old fort. Today the city is a unique blend of old and new which is very evident in the two parts – old delhi and new delhi the latter mainly built by the british.

10 a.m. Castle and king’s car and guide will report to the hotel and provide sightseeing of old delhi visiting the red fort – built by emperor shah jahan in 1638 of the mughal dynasty. Opposite the red fort is the jama masjid – the mosque also built by shah jahan and is the largest in india. A rickshaw ride through the market place of chandni chowk (moonlit square) will be provided through the narrow lanes famous for its small silver stores, antique, indian saree shops. Incense and ‘ittar’ (the raw form of perfume products) and the ancient bird hospital. Also visit the kinari bazaar (bridal market) and the spice market both of which offer a wonderful photo-opportunity.

Drive past the india gate and presidential palace area (photo stops) known as raj path (kings way) is a wonderfully planned wide boulevard with ornamental ponds on each side and trees that are now more than 100 years old that the british had planted to give shade in the summer and are pollen free. An integral part of lutyen’s delhi – at the eastern end of rajpath is india gate – 42 meter high stone memorial constructed to commemorate who died in the north eastern frontier (towards afghanistan) and nearly 85000 names are inscribed on the walls.  At the far west side of the boulevard is rastrapati bhawan (presidential palace) – the home of the former viceroy of india and now the residence of the president of india. The building was completed in 1929 and is an interesting blend of both mughal and western architectural styles (visit inside the palace is not permitted due to security reasons).

Also visit mahatma gandhi’s residence where he was assassinated and is now an interesting museum based on mahatma gandhi’s life and ideology.

Stop for lunch at one of Delhi’s fine restaurants. Castle & king recommends the following:

  • Bukhara at the Sheraton (Indian barbeque and perhaps India’s finest restaurant)
  • Olive beach at the diplomat hotel – stylish Italian restaurant
  • Spice route at the imperial hotel (southeast Asian food)
  • Ego Thai (friends colony for Thai food)
  • Olive (a fashionable bar and restaurant serving Italian and Mediterranean food)
  • ‘taipan’ is the Chinese restaurant at the Oberoi or Oberoi 360 which is a world cuisine restaurant.
  • The Veda restaurant in Connaught place. (Indian)
  • The 1911 gardens of the imperial hotel.

It is recommended to make table reservations and do advise the driver/guide your preference and he will arrange for the same. (lunch on direct payment).

After lunch sightseeing of new Delhi will be arranged to visit Qutab Minar (13th century) built by the slave dynasty king Qutab-ud-din-aibaq. After visiting Qutab Minar stop at the statue of Mahavir (Jain sect) which is perched on a hill near the Qutab minar and offers very nice view of the area. Drive past the chattarpur temple complex – the largest Hindu temple complex in Delhi where all the different types of Indian temple architecture (ancient and modern) can be seen.

Evening visit the Humayun’s tomb at sunset which is a wonderfully preserved Mughal monument. Late in the evening proceed for the farewell dinner, after the dinner transfer to the hotel.

Overnight will be at the hotel.

Day 13: Delhi – home

After breakfast our company representative will give you transfer to the international airport for the flight to home with sweet memories of india.

End of the tour