Complete India Wildlife And Sightseeing Tour

All Of The Major Sights Of India With Kanha And Bandhavgarh Reserves

This is a ‘big tour’ of India combining visits to the famous wildlife  reserves of Madhya Pradesh in Central India followed by a tour of the major historic sights of North India.

Arrive at Delhi and spend a day sightseeing in the capital city. An internal flight takes you Nagpur, and the magnificent sal and bamboo forests of Kanha National Park – one of the largest wildlife reserve in India.

Onwards to Bandhavgarh National Park, which has India’s greatest density of tigers. You will be unlucky not to see one here!

To the north are the great temples at Khajuraho, with their beautiful and erotic rock carvings. An express train takes you to Agra, and the world famous Taj Mahal that can be visited at sunset.

Jaipur, the ‘Pink City’ of Rajasthan is a glorious testament to the Rajput Maharajah’s of yesteryear who had riches that are still beyond imagination. Finish your visit to Jaipur with an Elephant Back ascent to the top of the astounding Amber Fort.

Recommended For: Anyone who wishes to combine a visit to India’s premier wildlife reserves as well as the main historic and cultural sights. Best suited to those who do not mind  travelling bumpy roads in search of great wildlife!

 

Day 01

Depart UK

Depart UK – Overnight flight.

 

Day 02

Delhi

The Manor  

Rickshaw Ride Through Old Delhi
A Cycle Rickshaw Ride through the popular markets of Chandni Chowk is a great introduction to your first day in India. At one end is the huge Jama Masjid mosque (1656) and nearby are the enormous walls of The Red Fort Of Delhi (1639) the last seat of the powerful Mughal Emperors.

Drive Through Lutyens Imperial New Delhi
The vast imperial administration of India was housed in Sir Edwin Lutyens impressive buildings of New Delhi, including Viceroy's House (Rashtrapati Bhavan) and The Parliament House (Sansad Bhavan). India Gate is one of Delhi's most famous landmarks.

A great way to sample the ambience of the colonial era would be to stop for tea at the lovely Imperial Hotel or Claridges.

Sights Of Southern Delhi
Two of Delhi’s prime UNESCO World Heritage Sights are Emperor Humayun's Tomb (1570) and the Qutub Complex, dominated by the Qutub Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world (239 ft),

If you plan your day carefully you can also if you wish, see Rajghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi, as well as new landmarks of Delhi such as the Akshardham, Lakshmi Narayan and Lotus temples.

 

Day 03 - Day 05

Kanha

Chitvan Jungle Lodge

DAY 03
INTERNAL FLIGHT FROM DELHI – NAGPUR  
Take a morning flight to Nagpur and travel to the jungles of Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh.

DAY 04: AM + PM JEEP SAFARIS
DAY 05: AM + PM JEEP SAFARIS

Kanha National Park
The Sal and Bamboo forests of Kanha are the jungles that Rudyard Kipling described so vividly in his Jungle Book. The national park covers a huge area of 1009 square miles in dramatic natural splendour. The park has a significant population of Royal Bengal Tiger (about 130 individuals), Leopards, The Sloth Bear, Barasingha and Indian Wild Dog (Dhole). The rare Indian Wolf can be found in the far east part of the park.

Kanha abounds in meadows or maidans, which are open grasslands that have proved especially important for the survival of Barasingha or Swamp Deer. The most abundant prey species for the large predators is the Spotted Deer and Sambar. The Chousingha and the Nilgai (Blue Bull), though rare, can also be found in Kanha.

Other commonly observed mammals include the Common Grey Langur, Rhesus Macaque, Golden Jackal, Bengal Fox, Striped Hyena, Wild Boar and Indian Bison (Gaur). Smaller mammals include Smooth-Coated Otter, Honey Badger, Small Indian Civet, Indian Gray Mongoose, Ruddy Mongoose, Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat, Indian Spotted Chevrotain, Indian Pangolin, Indian Porcupine and Indian Hare. The Indian Jungle Fowl, which is the ancestor of domestic hens, is common.

 

Day 06 – Day 08

Bandhavgarh

Camp Mewar

DAY 06
Travel Through Madhya Pradesh To Bandhavgarh
It’s going to be a rather bumpy ride through rural roads to get to the legendary Tiger reserve of Bandhavgarh.

DAY 07 AM + PM JEEP SAFARIS
DAY 08 AM ELEPHANT BACK SAFARI + PM JEEP SAFARI

Bandhavgarh is a small park of 400 square km spread over the Vindhya Hills in Madhya Pradesh, consisting of steep ridges, undulating, forest and open meadows. The great attraction here is that the density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is probably the highest known in India. There is a saying about the reserve that "In any other park, you are lucky if you see a tiger. In Bandhavgarh, you are unlucky if you don't see (at least) one."

The reserve also has a large biodiversity. Tigers and Leopards feed on plentiful Spotted Deer, Sambar and Wild Boar. There are also Nilgai, Chausingha and Chinkara along with Indian Bison (Gaur) and Sloth Bear.

Most visitors to Bandhavgarh enthuse about the Elephant Safaris that are the best for wildlife viewing. Elephant safari trips are organized for tiger tracking early in the morning. The elephants used are extremely well trained and looked after by good Mahouts. Gliding softly through the undergrowth you get a real sense of adventure and a feel of the silent jungle all around you.

Bandhavgarh National Park was the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja Of Rewa and is where the famous White Tigers of Rewa were discovered in the mid 20th Century.

 

Day 09

Khajuraho

Jass Radisson

The Temples Of Khajuraho
Khajuraho is now India’s second most visited tourist attraction. A day’s road journey from Bandhavgarh brings you to this site, full of remarkable medieval temples, graced with some of the most exquisite sculptures in the country.

A very atmospheric Son Et Lumière Show (Sound And Light) in the evening is a perfect introduction to the impressive creations at Khajuraho.

 

Day 10

Khajuraho

Jass Radisson

Guided Visit To The Eastern Group Of Temples
A detailed visit to see the Eastern Group Of Temples the next morning  includes the well documented erotic statues and carvings of many of the Khajuraho temples.

Built in the hundred years between 950 and 1050 AD the Khajuraho temples were constructed by the mighty warrior kings of the Chandela Rajput dynasty in a truly inspired burst of creativity. Only 22 temples survive of the 85 that were originally built.

 

Day 11

Agra

The Trident Agra

Orchha
A road journey from Khajuraho takes you to Orchha a princely state of Central India on the Betwa River.

The huge palace-fort of the 16th century Bundela rulers includes the exquisite Jehangir Mahal, a tiered palace crowned by graceful ‘chhatris’ which is a singularly beautiful specimen of Hindu architecture. Numerous cenotaphs or chhatris dot the vicinity of the fort and the Betwa River.

BY EXPRESS TRAIN FROM JHANSI TO AGRA
JHANSI - AGRA SHATABDI EXPRESS - 1730- 2000 HRS

Board the afternoon train from the nearby railway junction at Jhansi to Agra. This will be a fine chance to experience a classic Indian Train Journey through the Northern Plains - one of the ‘must-do’s’ for anyone planning a holiday in India.

 

Day 12

Agra

The Trident Agra

The Tomb Of Itmad Ud Daulah (1622)
A lovely surprise in Agra is this delightful tomb of a nobleman that is often called the ‘mini’ Taj Mahal.

Private Guided Tour Of The Red Fort At Agra
The huge red sandstone walls of the Red Fort Of Agra enclose a vast palace that was the seat of power of the Mughal Emperors for almost two centuries.

Emperors Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jahan all adorned the fort with fairytale buildings in various architectural styles including the Jahangir Palace, the Khas Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas and the Sheesh Mahal (The Glass Palace).

Akbar’s Tomb At Sikandra
The impressive tomb of Akbar The Great (1612) lies conveniently on the roadside on the outskirts of Agra.

BY EXPRESS TRAIN FROM JHANSI TO AGRA
JHANSI - AGRA SHATABDI EXPRESS - 1730- 2000 HRS

Board the afternoon train from the nearby railway junction at Jhansi to Agra. This will be a fine chance to experience a classic Indian Railway Journey through the Northern Plains - one of the ‘must-do’s’ for anyone planning a holiday in India.

 

Day 13

Jaipur

The Trident Jaipur

The Amazing Beauty Of The Taj Mahal
Possibly the most famous building in the world - the Taj Mahal (1631), lies overlooking the River Yamuna. Its difficult not to be awe-struck by its sheer beauty especially as you get only occasional glimpses until you see it head on from the entrance pavilion. Emperor Shah Jahan built this as a mausoleum to enshrine the body of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is possible to visit the Taj early in the morning for sunrise, otherwise  late afternoon is another opportunity to watch its many moods with the fading light.

Fatehpur Sikri
Not too far from Agra lies the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri (1570), the brief capital of Emperor Akbar. It was abandoned suddenly after only 15 years so Fatehpur Sikri stands untouched and perfectly preserved. Fatehpur was the royal residence with ornate courtyards and pavilions, while Sikri was the religious area with the ivory coloured tomb of Salim Chishti (Salim Chisti Ka Mazar) built within the grounds of the Jama Mosque.

Laxmi Vilas At Bharatpur
The Laxmi Vilas Palace (1887) is an ideal place to have lunch on the way to Jaipur.

 

Day 14

Jaipur

The Trident Jaipur

Jaipur
The old Pink City of Jaipur is the capital of one of the original princely states of the Rajputs. Seven gates into the old city remain, one of which leads into Johari Bazaar - the famous jewellers' market that has the best selection of precious stones in India.

Private Guided Tour Of Jaipur City Palace
The fabulous wealth of the rulers lies on display at the vast City Palace built by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728. There are museums and galleries that display armaments, royal costumes and two huge silver urns, the largest in the world, that the Maharaja took to Britain on a visit in the late 19th Century.

The Palace of the Winds or Hawa Mahal (1799) is Jaipur’s most photographed attraction, on a busy shopping street.. The Jantar Mantar (1734) is a fascinating astronomical observatory that is also well worth visiting.

 

Day 15

Delhi Near Airport

Svelte Hotel

The Fabulous Amber Fort And Palace
Magnificent Amber (pronounced Amer) lies just outside Jaipur and has a fairytale setting in the rocky Aravali mountains of Rajasthan.

The sheer vertical walls of Amber Fort (1592) rise from a rocky outcrop. You can climb to the top by Elephant Back in regal style. The majestic Jaigarh Fort is picturesquely framed above in a spectacular chain of walls and battlements.

The palaces inside Amber Fort are some of the most beautiful and intricate in the whole of Rajasthan, a lovely fusion of Hindu and Mughal architecture.

 

Day 16

Depart Delhi

Depart India – Daytime flights arrive back in UK the same day.

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