Best of Tiger Reserve
Destination : Delhi
- Corbett - Dhikala - Ranthambore - Sawaimadhopur - Bharatpur - Bandhavgarh
- Agra
- Kanha - Pench - Nagpur - Umaria - Mumbai.
Duration : 17 Days 16 Nights
DAY 01 ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive at Delhi
You will be met on arrival and transferred to The
Imperial Hotel for two nights.
DAY 02 DELHI
Enjoy a sightseeing of Old Delhi in the morning.
(Including Red
Fort, Jama Masjid and the bazaars of Chandni Chowk)
Note: Red
Fort is closed on Mondays.
Old Delhi pulses with the energy and
colour, the hustle and bustle of thronged bazaars and is laced by a
maze of narrow lanes which twist and turn between tall, leaning houses
full of the sights, sounds and aromas of the Indian sub-continent. In
Old Delhi you will see the famous Red Fort surrounded by shops, and
bazaars (built by the Emperor Shah Jehan the builder of Taj Mahal),
the Jama Masjid mosque with its tapering minarets and wonderful marble
domes, Chandni Chowk (Old Delhi's business nerve center), the
hustle-bustle of everyday Indian life all around you and chattering
voices.
Enjoy a sightseeing of New Delhi in the
afternoon.
(Including Qutub Minar, Humayun's tomb and Lutyen's
buildings)
New Delhi stands in formal splendour,
like a lone sentry guarding an outpost of a long-gone empire. It is a
city of wide boulevards, which offers ever-changing perspec¬tives
of Lutyen's landscaped city. It is a city rich with formal parks and
you will see the magnificent Parliament Building and the Rashtrapati
Bhawan (the official residence of the President of India in the 330
acres of land and designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens), once the
awe-inspiring residence of the British Viceroys and now the
Presidential Palace, India Gate (a majestic 42-mts high arch, built as
a memorial to the Indian Soldiers killed in World War I), Qutub Minar
(the 72.5 mts high tower dating back to 13th century and one of the
greatest bequests of Islamic Culture), Humayun's Tomb (built in the
16th century and architecturally the fore runner of the Taj Mahal, has
Mughal Architecture at its graceful best).
DAY 03 DELHI
CORBETT
Drive from Delhi to Corbett, approx six and half hours
drive.
Check in at your hotel Hideaway for two nights.
Afternoon enjoy game drive to the
Corbett National Park by jeep.
Corbett is Indias first national park
and one of its finest. It is notable not only for its rich and varied
wildlife and birdlife but also for its scenic charm and magnificent
sub-montane and riverain views. The park comprises the broad valley of
Ramganga River backing onto the forest-covered slopes of the Himalayan
foothills.
There is an immensely rich flora 110
species of trees, 51 species of shrubs, 33 species of bamboos and 27
species of climbers. The valley floor is covered with tall elephant
grass, lantana bushes and patches of Sal & Sheesham. The fauna is
as rich as the flora. The park has always been noted for its tigers,
which are seen quite frequently. There are leopards too but they are
seldom seen. In all there are over 50 species of mammal alone. Corbett
is a bird-watcher's paradise with over 600 species, and since the
creation of the Kalagarh Dam on the Ramganga River, large numbers of
waterfowl have been attracted here.
DAY 04 CORBETT
DHIKALA CORBETT
Enjoy an excursion to the Dhikala Forest
Lodge.
DAY 05 CORBETT DELHI
Before breakfast take a guided walk with one of the
naturalist to learn about flora and fauna.
After breakfast drive
to Delhi, approx six hours drive.
Check in at The Imperial hotel
for overnight stay.
Rest of the day is at leisure.
DAY 06 DELHI SAWAI
MADHOPUR RANTHAMBHORE
You will be transferred to New
Delhi railway station to board the train Golden Temple Mail to Sawai
Madhopur
Air-conditioned first class 0755:1305 hours
You will be met on arrival and driven to
Ranthambhore, approx thirty five minutes drive.
Check in at Sher
Bagh for two nights.
Afternoon enjoy a game drive to the
National Park by jeep or canter (subject to availability)
DAY 07 RANTHAMBHORE
Morning and afternoon enjoy a game drive to the National
Park by jeep or canter (subject to availability).
Ranthambore National Park, Sawai
Madhopur spread over an area of 392.59 Kms of forest with so many
Waterfalls, Lakes, Kunds, is one of the famous parks for the Tiger.
Population of park includes Chital, Sambhar deer, Blue Bull and
Chinkara, besides other mammals and a variety of bird life.
Ranthambore fort located inside the park is rich in archeological
monuments. It has 7 large gates situated on a high and large hill,
which is a protected monument, by the Archaeological Survey of India.
There are very famous temples of God Ganesh and (Trinetri) & Maa
Kali inside the fort.
DAY 08 RANTHAMBHORE
SAWAI MADHOPUR BHARATPUR
You will be transferred to Sawai
Madhopur railway station to board the train Golden Temple Mail to
Bharatpur
Air-conditioned first class 1250:1528 hours
You
will be met on arrival and transferred to The Bagh hotel for overnight
stay.
Afternoon visit to the Keoladeo National Park by cycle
rickshaw and walk.
The Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur is
a World Heritage Site. Located in eastern Rajasthan (50 kms from
Agra), it was artificially created by a planned system of canals,
embankments and sluices, as a private wildfowl shooting preserve by
the Maharaja of Bharatpur in the 1850s. Now a National Park, Keoladeo
attracts thousands of migratory birds during the winter months, which
fly in from Central Asia, Siberia or China to escape the severe cold
and restricted daylight hours of their homelands. It is one of the
finest waterfowl reserves in the world: over 350 species of birds have
been spotted here. October to February is the recommended period for
visiting Keoladeo as the park fills up with the migratory birds.
August-October breeding season is also interesting.
DAY 09 BHARATPUR AGRA
Drive from Bharatpur to Agra approx six hours drive
visiting Fatehpur Sikri enroute.
The deserted Mughal city of
Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after
fifteen years due to scarcity of water. Here you will see the graceful
buildings including the Jama Masjid, the Tomb of Salim Chishti, the
Panch Mahal & the other palaces.
The attractions in
Fatehpur Sikri are Jama Masjid a beautiful building containing
elements of Persian and Hindu Design. The main entrance is through a
54-metre high Buland Darwaza, the Gate of Victory, constructed to
commemorate Akbars victory in Gujarat. The Hawa Mahal (Palace of the
Winds) is a projecting room with walls made entirely of stone
latticework. Birbal Bhavan, built either by or for Raja Birbal,
Akbars favourite courtier, this small palace is extremely elegant in
its design and execution. Hiran Minar (Deer Minaret) is said to have
been erected over the grave of Akbars favourite elephant. Panch Mahal
This amusing little five-storied palace was probably once used by the
ladies of the Court and originally had stone screens on the sides. The
lower floor has 56 columns, no two of which are exactly alike.
Later enjoy a sightseeing tour of Agra city.
(Including Taj
Mahal and Agra Fort)
Note: Taj Mahal is closed on
Fridays
A sprawling industrial town, Agra is situated 204
kilometres from Delhi. Agra was established in 1475 by Badal Singh and
came into its own when Sikander Lodhi of the Lodhi dynasty chose it
for his capital because of its proximity to the Yamuna. Babur defeated
the Lodhis to capture not only Agra but also to lay the foundation of
the Mughal Empire. Places of interest in Agra include the most
extravagant monument, Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.
You will be
transferred to Agra Cantonment railway station to board the train
Kalinga Utkal Express to Umaria
Air-conditioned second class
1615:0615* hours
Overnight on train
*arriving next morning
DAY 10 ARRIVE UMARIA
BANDHAVGARH
Upon arrival you will be driven to
Bandhavgarh, approx half an hour drive.
Check in at your hotel
Camp Mewar for two nights.
Enjoy game drive to the Bandhavgarh
National Park by jeep.
DAY 11 BANDHAVGARH
Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives to the National
Park by jeep.
Bandhavgarh National Park with an area of 105 sq
km is in the Vindhya hills of Madhya Pradesh. There are 32 hills in
the park, which has a large natural fort at its center. The forts
cliffs are 2625 feet (800 meters) high, 1000 feet (300 meters) above
the surrounding countryside. Over half the area is covered by Sal
forest although on the upper slope it is replaced by mixed forest of
sali, saj, dhobin, and saja. The marshes support a vast grassland
savanna. Before becoming a National Park in 1968, it was the game
preserve of the Maharajas of Rewa, a place close by where the White
tiger (Albino) originated. Though it involves quite a journey, it has
a wide variety of game. Its main wild beasts are tiger, leopard, sloth
bear, gaur, sambar, chital, muntjac, nilgai, chinkara, wild pigs. The
flowering and fruit trees attract woodland birds, which include green
pigeon, jerdons leaf bird, crested serpent eagle and variable hawk
eagle. There are also interesting cave shrines scattered around the
park.
DAY 12 BANDHAVGARH
KANHA
Drive to Kanha, after having morning game drive to
the National Park, approx five hours drive.
Check in at Kipling
Camp for two nights.
Rest of the day is at leisure.
DAY 13 KANHA
Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives to the National Park by jeep.
Kanha is one of India's largest and most remote national parks,
covering 1945 sq km of forest and lightly wooded grasslands. An
extensive network of rivers and streams supports it. The setting of
Kiplings Jungle Book , Kanha National Park has an excellent variety
of wildlife including Leopards, Chital, Sambar, three striped palm
squirrel, common langur, jackal, wild pig, chital or spotted Deer,
Barasingha or swamp Deer, (The park is the only habitat of the rare
hardground Barasingha), Blackbug. Indian Hare, Dhole or Indian wild
dog, barking deer, Indian Bison or Gaur, Indian Fox, sloth bear,
striped hyena, Jungle Cat, Panther, Mouse Deer, Chausingha or four
horned antelope, Nilgai or blue bull, Ratel, Indian Porcupine, wolf,
Chinkara, Indian Pangolin, the smooth Indian otter, small Indian
Civet. And most famously, the tiger. It's possible to make
elephant-back excursions into the park in the early morning and
evening to see tigers. Although wildlife can be seen throughout the
season, sightings increase during the hotter months of March and
April, because the animals move out of the tree cover in search of
water. The park is closed from July to October.
DAY 14 KANHA PENCH
Drive to Pench after having morning game drive, approx
four hours drive.
Check in at Pench Jungle Lodge for two nights.
Afternoon enjoy a game drive to the National Park by jeep.
DAY 15 PENCH
Pench National Park is a part of the Project Tiger network of special
reserves. Pench is one of the most accessible tiger reserves in the
country, just 90 kilometres (1 hour and 30 minutes) north of Nagpur.
The Reserve is located in the southern reaches of the Satpura hill
range in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts in the Madhya Pradesh
State of India. The terrain is undulating, with most of the area
covered by small hills, steeply sloping on the sides. The description
of its natural beauty, richness in flora and fauna has appeared in
numerous wildlife books dating back to the 17th century. Books written
in the 19th and early 20th century by famous naturalists like Captain
J. Forsyth and Rudyard Kiplings Jungle Book explicitly present the
detailed panorama of natures abundance in this tract. As the prey
concentration is high along the Pench river tigers usually inhabit
this belt. Leopards, though, generally operate in the peripheral areas
but are occasionally seen in the deep forests also. Jungle cats are
commonly seen. Leopard cats, small Indian civets and palm civets are
common but seen rarely.
Morning and afternoon enjoy a game drive
to the National Park by jeep.
DAY 16 PENCH NAGPUR MUMBAI
Early morning you will be transferred by surface
to Nagpur airport for flight to Mumbai, approx two hours drive.
9W 112 0855:1010 hours; operational daily
You will be met on
arrival and transferred to your hotel where the day room is booked for
you.
DAY 17 DEPARTURE MUMBAI
You will be transferred to Mumbai International
Airport for your flight back home.
END OF SERVICES
HOTEL DESCRIPTION
THE IMPERIAL NEW
DELHI
5 star
deluxe period hotel.
Built in the 1931, the hotel has an
unconventional style and design. It is a mixture of Victorian and old
colonial with a playful dosage of art deco. The Colonial rooms with
high ceilings, classy restaurants and permanent in-house art galleries
are quite appealing. Located in the heart of the city amidst beautiful
landscaped gardens, the hotel has been refurbished and upgraded to one
of the best and most sought after hotels in Delhi.
? Each air-conditioned room has the
facility of a telephone, television and attached private facilities.
? Swimming Pool
? Shopping Arcade.
? Health Club
? One multi-cuisine restaurant, 3-specialty restaurant and 1 coffee
shop.
? 2 Bars
? 20 kilometers from the airport
? 2
kilometers from railway station
CLARIDGES CORBETT
HIDEAWAY - CORBETT
Standard grade resort
Claridges Corbett Hideaway is concealed
in the thick of a mangrove.
Fact sheet:
Location: 300 kilometres from Delhi; 5 kilometres
from Corbett National Park; 3 kilometres from Ramnagar railway station
" 40 Air-conditioned rooms with
telephone, refrigerator and attached private facilities
"
Swimming pool
" Tennis court
" Poolside Bar
"
Massage facility
" Thatched outdoor restaurant
"
Library
" Souvenir shop
SHER BAGH RANTHANBHORE
Eco-friendly tented camp with modern amenities
Voted amongst the top 101 eco-friendly
camps in the World by the Tatler Hotel Guide 2002, Sher Bagh is
situated at the edge of the Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan.
It is set amidst trees on a private estate, overlooking a valley along
its northern periphery. Twenty-minute drive from the main entrance of
the reserve, the camp consists of 12 luxurious bedroom tents with
attached verandahs and bathrooms, a dining tent, a cafe and lots of
verdant spaces. The tents are raised on a concrete platform and are
custom made. The attached bathrooms are permanent with running hot and
cold water. There is 24-hour electricity at the camp.
THE BAGH, BHARATPUR
Set in an expanse of 12 acres, The Bagh has fourteen rooms located in
three different residential complexes.
Fact sheet:
"
Air-conditioned rooms with television and attached private facilities
" Restaurant
" Coffee shop
" Bar
"
Library
" Gym (to be operational by 1 October 2004)
"
Swimming Pool (to be operational by 1 October 2004)
HILTON TRIDENT AGRA
A unit of prestigious Oberoi group of Hotels
The Trident, Agra built of the red stone reminiscent of the
Mughal era is a few minutes walk from the world famous Taj Mahal and
presents an ideal base and relaxed ambience from which to explore the
world heritage site. The elegant row rise hotel is situated in six
acres of beautiful gardens.
Fact Sheet
" It has 138 elegantly furnished rooms
" Multi- Cuisine
Restaurant
" Swimming pool
" Beauty Salon
"
Health Club
" Telephone, television, mini bar and private
attached facilities in every room
Location: Airport 12
kilometers: Railway Station 10 kilometers, 4 kilometers from Taj
Our comments: Though rated as five star, the hotel can be best
described as a first class modern hotel with good service back up.
CAMP MEWAR BANDHAVGARH
Jungle resort with modern facilities
The camp is set in a thick bamboo and
wooded ten acres plot. The camp derives its name from the Ketkiya
stream flowing out of the park along its edge. The camp comprises of 4
cottages, 5 tents and 3 wood-thatch huts.
Fact sheet:
"
The cottages are close together overlooking grassland. The cottages
have a dressing area and a bath.
" The five tents and three
huts have a six-foot verandah encompassing them. The tents are
constructed areas with a canvas canopy for a tented effect.
"
The dining area is simple, airy, and open to all sides, thatched
elevated area with dining at one end and a comfortable seating area at
the other.
KIPLING CAMP, KANHA
Established in 1982 close to the western entrance of Kanha National
Park, Kipling Camp is a simple and comfortable resort. It is also home
to TARA, the much-loved elephant who starred in Mark Shands best
selling epic, My Travels on an Elephant . Selected volunteers from
abroad are annually given the opportunity to learn about Indian
Wildlife, while helping management staff to look after the guests.
The focal point of the camp is the
Shamiana, where the guests enjoy indoor and outdoor dining, making
it an ideal place for the guests to mingle with fellow wildlife
enthusiasts or simply pick up a book and relax. The cottages at the
camp are eco-friendly with attached private facilities.
PENCH JUNGLE CAMP
- PENCH
Pench Jungle Camp is spread in an area of 15
acres of mature forest, in Madhya Pradesh. The Camp provides a tent
accommodation. Each tent is housed on a permanent platform and offers
an elegant twin room setting along with ample seating space both
inside and on private balcony enabling you to enjoy the view of the
camp and its natural jungle environment.
|
