Best of India With the Tiger

Delhi - Jaipur - Ranthambore Tiger Reserve - Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra - Umaria - Bandhavgarh National Park - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Delhi

Day 01. Arrive Delhi

On arrival at the airport our representative will you at the airport arrival lounge, and will provide you transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02. Delhi

Morning after breakfast full day city sightseeing tour Old Delhi & New Delhi. In the evening return to the hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Old Delhi - the 350-year-old walled city was built by Emperor Shah Jehan in 1648 as his capital. Opposite the fort are the black and white onion dome and minarets of the Jama Masjid, the most elegant mosque in India. Raj Ghat is worth a visit where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948.

New Delhi - the new capital designed by Sir Edward Lutyens. An interesting drive in the one passing through the impressive Rajpath from the World War I memorial arch, the India Gate towards the Presidential Palace. Visit Humayun's Tomb built in 1565 AD, Safdarjung's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, 72 meters high and the most curious antique, the uncorroded Iron Pillar, which dates back to the 4th century AD.

Day 03. Delhi - Jaipur (270 km)

Morning after breakfast drive to Jaipur, On arrival check in at the hotel. In the evening city sightseeing tour of the pink city visit, including the massif City Palace, Jantar Mantar (Natural Observatory), Hawa Mahal (The Palace of winds). Overnight at hotel.

Jaipur, the picturesque capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur, is color washed pink - the color associated with hospitality in Rajput culture. Built in 1727 A.D. by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, Jaipur displays a remarkable harmony and architectural splendor. The ancient heart of the Pink City still beats in its fairy-tale palaces, rugged fortresses perched on barren hills and broad avenues that dot the entire city. The only planned city of its time, a formidable wall encircles Jaipur. There is a timeless appeal to Jaipur's colorful bazaars where one can shop for Rajasthani handlooms and trinkets. Beautiful laid out gardens and parks, attractive monuments and marvelous heritage hotels, once the residence of Maharajas, are worth admiration. Not to mention the ambling camels and cheerful people in multi-hued costumes make your trip to the pink city a memorable one.

Day 04. Jaipur - Ranthambore (180 km)

Morning an excursion tour to Amber fort. At a short distance of 11 kms . from Jaipur, the Amber Fort complex stands amidst wooded hills overlooking the Delhi-Jaipur highway, with its forbidding ramparts reflected in the still waters of the Maota Lake below. One of the finest examples of Rajput architecture, it was the ancient capital of the Kachhawah rulers. The original palace was built by Raja Man Singh and additions were made later by Sawai Jai Singh.

Within the palace are the Diwan-e-Aam or the "Hall of Public Audience", the Diwan-e-Khas or the "Hall of Private Audience" and the Sukh Niws where a cool breeze blows across channels of water for the purpose of air-conditioning. Here are the private chambers of the queens with windows having latticed screens so that the ladies could watch the proceedings of the royal court in privacy. There is also the Jai Mandir or the "Temple of Victory", with its famed Sheesh Mahal, the scintillating "Hall of Mirrors". In the afternoon drive to Ranthambore National Park. On arrival check in at the wildlife resorts. Overnight at resorts.

Day 05. Ranthambore National Park

Morning and evening game drive to the national park. Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, at the junction of the Aravalis and the Vindhyas, is a unique example of natural and historical richness, standing out conspicuously in the vast, arid and denuded tract of eastern Rajasthan.

Ranthambore national Park : It spread over 400 sq kms of dry deciduous forest. A perfect natural habitat for tigers, and is set in the Aravalli and Vindhya hills, dotted with pavilions and dominated by a hilltop fort. Ranthambore was one of the hunting preserves of the former rulers of Jaipur and because of this the Maharajas ensured the environment was preserved and the forest and their inhabitants well protected. It has a good population of tiger and their prey species, and has been declared a "Project Tiger" reserve. Wildlife includes blue bull, black buck, spotted deer or cheetal, wild boar, a large variety of bird species and, if very lucky, the rarely seen leopard.
Overnight will be at resort.

Day 06. Ranthambore National ParkTiger Tours

Morning and afternoon game drive in to the national park for wildlife viweing. Overnight stay at resort.

Day 07.Ranthambore National Park / Bharatpur (200 km)

Morning after breakfast drive to the Bharatpur national park. On arrival check in at the hotel. In the afternoon bird watching tour to the sanctuary. In the evening enjoy rickshaw ride. Overnight at hotel.

The famous Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary which is a wonder of the natural world and no less worth seeing than the marble mausoleum of the Taj. Here over 350 species of birds find refuge in the 29 sq kms of shallow lakes & wood lands of the park. A third of them are migrants many of whom spend winter in Bharatpur before returning to their breeding grounds as far away as Siberia and Central Asia.

Day 08. Bharatpur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra (70 km)

After breakfast drive to Agra, enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri. Drive to the impressive sandstone fortress of Fatehpur Sikri was built in the 16th century and only occupied for a few years before being abandoned, leaving the buildings in virtually perfect conditions. On arrival in Agra, check into the hotel.

Day 09. Agra / Umaria

visit the Taj Mahal at dawn, Taj is the mausoleum of Empress Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved spouse of Shah Jahan, who died in 1630. The Taj complex comprises a forecourt, a lofty entrance, a charming formal Mughal garden with canals and a central tank with a series of fountains, the tomb proper, and an attached mosque on the west and its symmetrical counterpart on the east. The Taj is remarkable for its perfect proportion and rich pietra dura, with minute details executed with great skill. The building, often styled "a dream in marble" is said to have taken at least 22 years (1631-1653) to build.
In the afternoon transfer to the railway station to board the train for Umaria. Overnight on board.

Day 10. Umaria - Bandhavgarh (35 km)

Morning arrive Umaria on arrival meet at the station with our representative and transfer to the Forest resort. Morning free at leisure, in the afternoon we will take you for the safari into the national park. Overnight stay at Forest resort.

Bandhavgarh National Park: Bandhavgarh National Park is spread at vindhya hills in Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh National Park consists of a core area of 105 sq km and a buffer area of approximately 400 sq km of topography varies between steep ridges, undulating, forest and open meadows. Bandhavgarh National Park is known for the Royal Bengal Tigers. The density of the Tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known. in India.

Bandhavgarh National Park was the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa and at present is a famous natural hub for White Tigers. White Tigers, now a major attraction around the world's zoos, were first discovered in Rewa, not far from here. The terrain is broken, with rocky hill ranges, running roughly east west, interspersed with grassy swamps and forested valleys. Bandhavgarh National Park is one of the finest national park in the India and has the distinction of harboring the highest concentration of tigers per unit area of forest. The Bandhavgarh National Park is spread over on area of 448 sq km with a cross area of 105 sq km. At the center of the park is the bandhavgarh hill, rising 811 meters above sea level and surrounding it are a sloping valleys, These valleys end in small, swampy meadows locally known as "bohera".

Bandhavgarh was declared a national park in 1968. Since then many steps have been taken to retain Bandhavgarh National Park as an unspoilt national habitat for a variety of wildlife peculiar to the area. These includes gaur (Indian bison), sloth bear, leopard, porcupine, wild boar, sambhar and spotted deer, among others and of course, the tiger.

Day 11. Bandhavgarh National ParkTiger Tours

Morning and evening drive into the national park for wilderness experience. Overnight stay at resort.

Day 12. Bandhavgarh National Park

Morning and evening jeep/elephant safari to the national park to explore the wildlife. Overnight stay at resort.

Day 13. Bandhavgarh / Khajuraho ( 275 km)

Drive to Morning after breakfast at the resort drive to Khajuraho. On arrival check in at the hotel. In the afternoon visit the famous Erotic temples. The legendary temples of Khajuraho are an incomparable experience. Acknowledged as one of the world's greatest artistic wonders. Temple dedicated to the Hindu pantheon of Gods are covered in carvings that are a paean to life and love. Built within a short span of a hundred years by the Chandela Rajputs, the 10th century temples lay forgotten until they were discovered in the present century. Of the 85 original temples, 22 have survived till today. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14. Khajuraho - Varanasi

Transfer to the airport to board the flight for Varanasi, on arrival check in at the hotel. In the afternoon temple tour of Varanasi. Overnight at hotel.

Varanasi or Banaras is one of the oldest cities of India. This city has found place in the Buddhist scriptures as well the epic of Mahabharata. In Pali language Varanasi was called Banarasi hence it got the name 'Banaras'. Varanasi is also called 'Kashi' or the city of spiritual light. Kashi is the place where Shiva and Parvati stood when the "time started ticking".

This ancient city of India is located on holiest river of India--Ganga. This relation is unique and has attracted thousands of pilgrims. One theory also goes that Varanasi is located on the land between the river Varuna and Assi hence the name Varanasi.

Day 15. Varanasi / Delhi / Departure

Morning enjoy boat cruise on the holy Ganges. In the afternoon transfer to the airport to board flight for Delhi. On arrival transfer to the hotel for fresh - n - up. Late in the afternoon transfer to the international airport time to board flight for onward destination.

Tour and Services Ends.

Best of India With the Tiger (Tour Highlight )

Delhi	Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Raj Ghat, India Gate, Parliament House, President House, Jantar Mantar, Birla Temple, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar.
Jaipur	City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Johri Bazaar.
Ranthambore	Jeep / Canter Safari in the National Park, See the Tigers.
Bhartpur	Rickshaw Ride.
Agra	Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal.
Bandhavgarh	Jeep / Elephant Safari in the National Park.
Khajuraho	Architecture of Khajuraho.
Varanasi	Boating in Holy Ganges, Temple Tour.