Duration: 17 Nights / 18 Days
Destinations: Delhi - Jaipur - Ranthambore - Bharatpur - Agra - Khajuraho - Bandhavgarh - Kanha - Nagpur - Mumbai
Day 01 : Depart North America
Day 02 : Arrival Delhi
A warm welcome awaits you at Delhi International Airport by Worldwide Adventures representative and you are transferred to hotel. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 03 : Delhi
In the morning, city tour of Old Delhi, explore the Red Fort with its pearl mosque and exquisite audience halls. See Jama Masjid mosque with its marble domes and splendour minarets, Raj Ghat (where Gandhi was cremated), the Ashoka Pillar and mile long Chandni Chowk Bazaar where craftsmen sell their wares. Afternoon you will visit New Delhi, a city designed and built by the British in the 1920s. It is a city of wide boulevards, impressive Government buildings, green parks and gardens. See the buildings of British, many of which were built by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the Qutab Minar and Emperor Humayun’s Tomb. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 04 : Delhi - Jaipur
Morning drive to Jaipur. On arrival check in at the hotel. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 05 : Jaipur
Ride by elephant high up to Amber, a spectacular fortress - palace, protecting a complex of palaces, temples, exquisite marble and mirror in laid halls and apartments. Jaipur is called "PINK CITY" since a great deal of the older part of it is built of the old city is called the "HAWA MAHAL". It is a high and intricately carved wall behind which women of the court were sequestered while watching processions. Also see the city palace, which house an excellent collection of Rajasthani costumes, miniatures and an armoury of Rajput weapons. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 06 : Jaipur - Ranthambore (Approx. 157 Kms. – 3 hrs.)
Morning drive to Ranthambore. The Ranthambore Tiger Sanctuary is one of the fine examples of the WWF’s ‘Project Tiger’ conservation efforts. On arrival check - in at hotel. Overnight at Lodge
Day 07 : Ranthambore
Full day to explore the park. Overnight at Lodge
Day 08 : Ranthambore
RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK: - Nestled in the Aravali hills, in the midst of the arid plains and denuded tracts of Rajasthan in north India, lies Ranthambore, a haven for the adventure seeker and the wildlife watcher. 410 km. of desert ecology speckled with dhok, ronj, salai,ber and palm trees boast some of the best wildlife sightings Asia has to offer. This is where belts of dry deciduous forest with ancient banyan and peepul trees and suddenly give way to lush green oasis. And three major lakes – Rajbaugh, Milak talao and Padam talao – serve as watering holes for the herbivorous and carnivorous creatures that inhabit this national park studded as it is with Rajput pavilions and palaces and the imposing Ranthambore fort. Among the animals, birds and reptiles that can be spotted in Ranthambore are the tiger – the star attraction for sure – the leopard, sambar, blue bull, chital, chinkara, hyena, jackal, fox, caracal, jungle cat, ratel, sloth bear, langur and wild boar.
Over 300 species of bird – like peafowl, parakeets, partridges, storks, egrets, flycatchers, eagles, owls and migratory varieties in the winter months that include the black eagle, greylag goose ruddy shelduck, pintails can be seen. This morning we have a jungle safari by open canter. Return back to hotel for breakfast. After having lunch, we have another jungle safari by open canter. Overnight at Lodge.
Day 09 : Ranthambore - Bharatpur - Agra (Appx. 238 kms. – 6 ½ hrs.)
(Keoladeo National Park open at 0630 hrs. till 1800 hrs.)
Morning drive to Agra via Bharatpur. Bharatpur is India’s most famous wetland, situated in a natural shallow depression at the western edge of the Gangetic plains. Essentially a manmade landscape, the Maharajah of Bharatpur had in the 1700s created the original lagoons and bunds to attract waterfowl for shooting. It is designated as a wetland of global importance under the Ramsar Convention and a World Heritage site. A total of 400 species of birds have been recorded, most famous of which is the Siberian Crane. We have lunch at Chandra Mahal Haveli before driving to Agra. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 10 : Agra
The morning tour features a visit to Agra Fort, which is a paradigm of the architectural styles of the Mughal Emperors. In the evening, enjoy the ambience around the world’s greatest monument to love, the “Taj Mahal”, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, Queen Mumtaz Mahal. Begun in 1632, completion of the white marble edifice required the work of twenty thousand people for twenty-one years. Overnight at Hotel
Day 11 : Agra - Khajuraho
In the morning we fly to Khajuraho, the religious and political capital of the Chandela Dynasty, between the 9th and the 13th centuries. The sculptures of the temples of Khajuraho are ensconced in wall niches. Provocative maidens, dancers, musicians and embracing couples adorn these buildings of worship, which are masterpieces of Indian Art. Overnight at Hotel
Day 12 : Khajuraho - Bandhavgarh
Early morning drive to Bandhavgarh. Situated in the Vidhya hill ranges, it is an undulating area of forests and open grasslands. The park has tiger, barking deer, spotted deer, sambar, nilgai, chausingha, chinkara, guar, wild boar, jackal, sloth bear, leopard, and varied bird life. Subject to permission, we will visit the fort, which belongs to Rewa’s royal family. The carvings in the fort and the spectacular view from the top, will be worth the climb. Overnight at Lodge
Day 13 : Bandhavgarh
Today we have a full day of jungle activities. Overnight at Lodge.
Day 14 : Bandhavgarh - Kanha
This morning we drive to Kanha. Located in the eastern end of the Central Indian Himalayas, the park covers an area of 940 sq. km. Of particular interest during our stay, will be sightings of the magnificent gaur, the strikingly beautiful blackbuck, the hard ground barasingha and the ever-present langur. In all, some 22 species of large mammals are regularly found within the park and the bird life is equally impressive. Overnight at Lodge.
Day 15 : Kanha
Full day jungle safari, on elephants Overnight at lodge.
Day 16 : Kanha - Nagpur - Mumbai
Drive to Nagpur and transfer to Nagpur airport to connect evening flight for Bombay. On arrival at Bombay airport, you will be transferred to hotel. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 17 : Mumbai
In the morning we boat across Mumbai Harbour to Elephants Island. We visit the cave temples, which date back to the 8th century BC, and are dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. In the afternoon we tour the Prince of Wales Museum, the Gateway of India, and the bustling Crawford Market. Late evening transfer to airport for flight home.
Day 18 : Depart Mumbai
Transfer to Mumbai International airport to connect flight back home.
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