The geological history of the Indian sub-continent has produced an incomparable diversity of eco-systems. These include the world’s highest mountains, arid deserts, great flood-plains, cloud forests, swamps and scrub - lands. Some Indian jungles are thick and dense: predators as well as their prey Depend on stealth, camouflage and surprise rather than numbers or speed. For this reason, tracking these animals is an unforgettable thrill.
 
 

Day 1: Delhi - Corbett: Half-day train journey and drive across the sprawling, densely populated state of Uttar Pradesh. Board the efficient and comfortable train to Dehra Doon. We travel the world's second largest railway system. It shall be an unforgetable experience, as we get aquainted with yet another world within the gigantic kaleidoscope of India. As we traverse the gigantic state of Uttar Pradesh,  we will notice how closely agriculture and small scale industry can co-exist. Those of us who take pleasure in observing Life in all its comic diversity shall find plenty to occupy us during this journey. On arrivalat Dehra Dun, drive into the foothills of the Himalayas, ascending into the magic world of Corbett Wildlife Reserve, the area made internationally famous by Jim Corbett's book,  'The Maneaters of Kumaon'. Day 2 & 3: Corbett : Two days to explore the jungle on elephant back and by jeeps. Stretched over the foot hills of the central Himalayas, Corbett provides a wide range of habitat. With elevations from 1312 ft. to 3970 ft., Corbett is spread across a large valley with three thickly forested ridge systems running roughly parallel through it. The Ramganga river and the 16 sq. mile Ramganga lake are the focal points of wildlife activity. Large numbers of migrant birds, two species of crocodiles, herds of majestic elephants and other smaller animals come here to drink. The mighty Mahseer river fish is a famous angler’s challenge. Over 50 mammal, 580 bird and 25 reptile species are listed at Corbett, incl Day 4: Corbett - Delhi: Half -day day drive and train journey. Met on arrival in Delhi and transfer to hotel.uding the healthy tiger population for which it is so famous.

Day 5: Delhi - Ranthambhor Wildlife Reserve:
9 AM - 1 PM: Guided city tour of Old Delhi. Today, we will explore the magnificent Red Fort, built at the zenith of the Mughal empire in India. The centuries-old international market-place that sprawls at its feet is still one of Delhi’s most important commercial hubs: Chandni Chowk, or “Moonlight Square”. Later, we shall ride on cycle-rickshaws through the bustling silver market and the wholesale spice market. The sounds, smells and colors of the bazaar, and the throngs of people who animate it makes this an unforgettable spectacle. Our last stop in Old Delhi shall be the elegant Jumma Masjid, the largest mosque in Asia. Its mammoth spaces are suffused with an ambience of peace, tranquility and beauty. We shall  lunch at the venerable “Moti Mahal “ Restaurant in Old Delhi, credited with being the accidental inventor of the now world-famous “Tandoori Chicken”.

After lunch, we head back to the hotel to freshen -up and check out. Transfer to New Delhi station for the train to Sawai Madhopur, our gateway to Ranthambhor Tiger Reseve.

Dep. New Delhi Station at 1630.  Arr. Sawai Madhopur Station at 2215
Met on arrival and transfer to our Jungle Lodge, about 40 minutes drive.

Day 6: Ranthambore Wildlife Reserve:
At Ranthambhor, ruins and scars of ancient battles are scattered all over the forest. Sambar deer and Chinkara antelope as well as crocodiles share the shallow waters of its pristine lake, surrounded by lightly forested hills that harbor a score of other species. All seem to be on a jungle watch against swift and inevitable attacks by the 40 -odd tigers that roam free in Ranthambhor. Early morning and again in the afternoon,  we have 3 to 4 hour excursions into the jungle in open jeeps. To find a tiger in the wild needs all the skills of the hunter, as we follow pug-marks and alarm calls from other animals. The evening around the fireplace at the lodge shall recall the great hunting stories from the time of the maharajahs and the British “Raj’.

Day 7: Ranthambhore - Jaipur (Drive 4-5hr):
PM: Half-day drive to Jaipur. Approaching Jaipur, we drive past stretches of golden sand and low, rocky hills dotted with tiny fortresses. Occasional camel-drawn carts share the road. Their riders wear the colorful turbans and fierce mustaches of the fabled Rajput clans.

Day 8: Jaipur:
AM: Guided Tour. High above the city, the towers and domes of the Amber Fort are reminiscent of scenes from some fairy tale. We shall ascend to the fort atop gaily decorated elephants, as did the Maharajah’s of yore. Within the fort walls lies an assortment of buildings famous for their intricate mirror inlays - the Hall of Mirrors, Kali’s Temple, palaces with latticed windows and beautifully sculpted arches and pillars.

Later, we shall have time for shopping in the exotic local markets. For centuries, Jaipur has been the heart of the Indian Gems & Jewelry industry. In addition, Jaipur has developed an enviable position as a center for exquisite block-printing on cotton and other materials. We shall have the opportunity to see master craftsmen at work at leading factory outlets.

PM: City Tour: The City Palace is still the residence of the Jaipur family, and its museum displays a fabulous collection of paintings, carpets, jewelry and arms. We will also visit the Jantar Mantar (Royal Observatory), and the Hawa Mahal, or “Palace of the Winds”. This is a multi-storied, intricately latticed facade of pink sandstone, designed for the pleasures of the ladies of the royal court. From here they could look out upon the quaint bazaars that still thrive around the palace, without exposing themselves to the prying  stares of the commoners. Later, we shall explore the same colorful bazaars on foot. Here we may have memorable encounters with the descendants of those commoners, many still living in their ancestral “havelis” along the main market street. The sheer variety of the items that are sold off the street is  fascinating, ranging from the mundane to the exotic, or even the simply baffling.

Day 9: Jaipur- Bharatpur (Keolodeo Bird Sanctuary):
AM: Drive to Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in the state of Rajasthan. Arrive in time for
lunch. PM: Excursions in the  sanctuary on bicycles by cycle-rickshaws and by boat. The  Keoladeo Ghana or Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is one of the most spectacular bird sanctuaries in India,  nesting indigenous water- birds as well  as migratory water birds and  water-side birds.The Siberian Crane is found here along with hundreds of Barheaded Geese, Pintails, Shovelers and other waterbirds. The Snake Bird, the Large Indian Darter, Adjutant Storks, Spoonbills and Heron fill the air with a constant rustle of wings. On misty evenings a magical silence descends over the water, shattered occasionally by shrill calls from Grey Partridge or Parakeet. We explore the sanctuary by boat and on bicycles.

The sanctuary is also inhabited by sambar, chital, nilgai (Indian deer species) and wild boar. Over 350 species of birds find refuge in the shallow lakes and woodland which makes up the park. A third of them are migrants, many of whom spend their winters in Bharatpur, before returning to their breeding grounds as far away as Siberia and Central Asia. Migratory birds at Keoladeo include as large a bird as the Dalmatian pelican, which is slightly less than 6 ft. long, and as small a bird as the Siberian disky leaf warbler, which is the size of a finger. Other migrants include several species of cranes, pelicans, geese, ducks, eagles, hawks, shanks, stints, wagtails, warblers, wheatears, flycatchers, buntings, larks, pipits, etc.

Day 10: Bharatpur- Fatehpur Sikri - Agra:
AM: Half-day drive to Agra, enroute visiting the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri.
Fatehpur Sikri is a perfectly preserved ghost town, built  between 1570 and 1585. The original capital of the Mughal empire was situated here, but was later abandoned due to lack of an adequate water supply. The deserted city boasts several elegant palaces and mosques.

PM: We spend the afternoon and early evening at the Taj Mahal, the magnificent monument to an emperor’s love for his queen. At Agra, the Mogul Emperor Shah Jehan presented the world it’s most  magnificent monument to conjugal Love. A colossal, perfectly proportioned mass of marble, the Taj Mahal is literally a jewel. It was  fashioned over 17 years by 20,000 craftsmen & laborers. From a distance, it seems to float, like a  fantastic mirage, upon the banks of the River Yamuna.

Day 11: Agra - Khajuraho (Flight):
AM: Departure transfer to the airport for a short flight to Khajuraho. Met on arrival and transfer to your hotel.  PM: Guided tour of the Khajuraho Temples. At Khajuraho, the mighty Chandela kings built 85 temples from about 950 AD to 1000 AD. The few that have survived represent an unparalleled fusion of architecture, sculpture, religion, philosophy, and even ribaldry. Both sublime and sensual, the sculpture of Khajuraho venerates the Creator as well as a wonderful life of celebrations, dancing - and Loving. Here, handsome lovers are eternally frozen in stone in the most plastic postures of sensual love.

Day 12: Khajuraho - Bandhavgarh Wildlife Reserve:
AM: Day drive to Bandhavgarh. Arrive and check-in at the Jungle Lodge.

Day 13: Bandhavgarh Wildlife Reserve:
AM & PM: Game rides in jungle by jeeps and elephnats:  The Bandhavgarh forest was the property of the Maharajah of Rewa till 1968, when it was declared a  National Park. Small dams and water holes have been  built to ensure year-round water, and this has led to an abundence of vegetation supporting large herds of deer and other animals.  Tigers in particular prospered because of these changes.The most effective way to search for Tigers here is on elephant back, as they can take you up steep rocky hills and along marshy river beds where vehicles cannot reach.

Day 14: Bandhavgarh - Kanha Wildlife Reserve (Drive):
AM: Apx. 8  hour drive to Kanha across the heart of Madhya Pradesh. Arrive and check into the Jungle lodge.

The jungles of  Kanha harbor a score of species. Large herds of Cheetal and  Barasingha deer graze cautiously while Rhesus Monkeys and Langur keep watch from the trees above. All  seem to internet on a Jungle Watch  against the swift and  inevitable attacks of the tigers that roam free in Kanha. Each morning and afternoon, we shall have 3-4 hour excursions into the jungle by jeeps. To find a tiger in the wild needs all the skills of the hunter, as we follow pug-marks and alarm calls from other animals.

Day 15 and 16: Kanha Wildlife Reserve:
AM & PM: Game rides in jungle.

Day 17: Kanha - Nagpur (Drive) / Nagpur - Delhi or Bombay (Mumbai) (Flight):
AM: Apx. 6 hours drive to Nagpur airport for your flight to Delhi or Bombay. Met on arrival and assisted in connecting with your onward flights/s

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