Day 01 : Arrive Delhi.
Arrive
Delhi by an International flight. Meeting and assistance on arrival at Delhi
Airport and transfer to the hotel. On arrival, check in to the hotel room.
Delhi - the capital of India, is a fascinating city with
complexities and contradictions, beauty and dynamism, where the past
co-exists with the present. Many dynasties ruled from here and the city is
rich in the architecture of its monuments. Delhi is not only the present
metropolis of India but also a Necropolis. Because of its location, being on
the banks of the river Yamuna, many cities have risen and fallen over the
last five millenniums. Overnight in Delhi.
Day 02 : Delhi
Morning full day tour of the city. Visit to the Old City of Delhi to see
the historic Red Fort and the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque from the
outside. See the colourful bazaar of Chandni Chowk and take a cycle rickshaw
ride through the back streets of Old Delhi to get a first hand experience of
the hustle and bustle of this traditional city. This ride through the small
by-lanes will be most fascinating.
Return to the enroute doing a tour of New Delhi visiting the Qutab Minar, a
tower of victory built in the 12th century and India Gate - the war
memorial. Drive past the Rashtrapathi Bhawan, the residence of the President
of India, the houses of Parliament and the Government Secretariat buildings.
Overnight in Delhi.
Day 03 : Delhi - Jaipur
Morning drive to Jaipur ( 280 kms/ 5 ½ hours ). Assistanc eon arrival
and check in to the room.
Jaipur - the capital of Rajasthan, is colour washed pink
- the colour associated with hospitality in Rajput culture. This Pink City
of fairy tale palaces, rugged fortresses perched on barren hills and broad
avenues, is picturesque. The first planned city of its time, Jaipur is
encircled by a formidable wall. Check into the hotel, rest of the afternoon
at leisure for independent activities. Overnight in Jaipur.
Day
04 : Jaipur
Morning - excursion to Amber Fort with Elephant ride upto
the Fort. Drive past Hawa Mahal, known popularly as the Palace of Winds, is
a facade built for the Ladies of the Royal household in the 19th century.
The Amber Fort, the capital of the erstwhile State of Jaipur until 1728 is
perched on a hill. It has halls of Public and Private audience, a Sheesh
Mahal (hall of mirrors) various marble palaces which are marvelous examples
of ancient Rajput architecture. The Temple of Amba (Mother Goddess), the
patron deity of the Royal family is at the entrance to the palace. Ride an
elephant to ascend the hill on which the Fort is situated.
Afternoon - city tour visiting the City Palace - the
former royal residence built in a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal styles
which houses a museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani costumes and
armoury of the Mughals and Rajputs, including swords of different shapes and
sizes with ornate handles. It has an art gallery with an excellent
collection of miniature paintings, carpets, royal paraphernalia and rare
astronomical works in Arabic, Persian, Latin and Sanskrit. Also visit the
Jantar Mantar - an astrological and astronomical observatory built by
Maharaja Jai Singh in the 18th century, which is remarkable for its accuracy
even in the present times. Overnight in Jaipur
Day 05 : Jaipur - Ranthambhore
Morning drive for Ranthambore (166 kms/ 3 hours). On arrival, check in at
the lodge.
Ranthambore - With an area of 400 sq. km encompassing
rocky hill crests which descend to open valleys between the Aravalli and
Vindhya ranges, dotted with water pools and fruit trees, this park gets its
name from the thousand year old fortress, which looms above the forest. Well
known for the diurnal activity of tigers, Ranthambore is a very special and
unusual area where a natural present meets a historical past. Sambar,
cheetal, chinkara, nilgai and languor. The elusive leopard and tigers are
found in this reserve with tourists standing a very good chance of seeing
tigers during the day. Dotted across the landscape are the crumbling ruins
of its past glory, be it chatris or cupolas, like palaces or old guard
posts, all of which reinforce the magical and ethereal quality of this great
wilderness. Lunch and Dinner at the lodge. Afternoon visit the sanctuary on
Jeep. Overnight in Ranthambore.
Day 06 : Ranthambore
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the lodge.
Morning and afternoon visit the sanctuary on Jeep with an English speaking
Naturalist. Overnight in Ranthambore.
Day 07 : Ranthambore
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the lodge.
Morning and afternoon visit the sanctuary on Jeep with an English speaking
Naturalist. Overnight in Ranthambore.
Day
08 : Ranthambore - Bharatpur - Agra
Early morning proceed on a game drive. Return to the hotel for Breakfast.
Late morning transfer to the Railway station to board the train for
Bharatpur. Leave Ranthambore for Bharatpur by Golden temple mail (1300/ 1535
hrs). Meeting and assistance on arrival at Bharatpur railway station and
transfer to Agra hotel, en route visiting Fatehpur Sikri (15kms).
Fatehpur Sikri - This exquisite city built by Akbar the
Great in 1569, in red sandstone, with its forts, palaces and mosques was
abandoned 14 years after its creation due to political reasons.
The Diwan-i-am - a vast courtyard in which the emperor
gave daily public audience; Diwan-i-khas - a large quadrangle which
contained all the major functions of the Palace, Pachisi court, the Emperors
private living quarter, Jodha Bhai's Palace, Mariam's Palace, Birbal's
Palace, Hawa Mahal and Panch Mahal are some of the important buildings of
this residential complex. The Friday Mosque and the exquisite tomb of Sheik
Salim Chisti are in the religious grounds set aside in a separate enclosure
adjacent to the secular buildings. Continue drive to Agra (40 kms). On
arrival, check in to the room.
Agra - is famous as the home to one of the Seven Wonders
of the world - the Taj Mahal. The architectural splendour of the mausoleums,
the fort and the palaces in Agra is a vivid reminder of the opulence of the
legendary Mughal empire. Agra was their capital for nearly a hundred years
from 1564. A pleasant town , with a comparatively easy pace, Agra is known
for its superb inlay work on marble and soapstone by artisans who are
hereditary crafts persons. The city is also famous for its carpets, gold
thread embroidery and leather shoes.
Day
09 : Agra
Morning proceed on a tour of the city visiting Visit the Agra Fort, built
by three Mughal Emperors starting from Akbar the Great in 1565 AD, which is
a masterpiece of design and construction. Within the fort are a number of
exquisite buildings including the Moti Masjid, Jahangir's Palace, Khas Mahal
and the Sheesh Mahal, Diwane-i-Am, Diwane-i-Khas and Musamman Burj, where
Emperor Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal Emperor, died a prisoner. Visit the Taj
Mahal - the inimitable poem in white marble. Built over a period of 22
years, by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1630, for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal
to enshrine her mortal remains, it is one of the seven modern wonders of the
World. Overnight at hotel in Agra.
| [ The Taj is
closed on Fridays ] |
Day10 : Agra - Nagpur by train.
Morning at leisure for shopping/independent activities. Evening transfer to
Agra railway station for Gondwana Express departing for Nagpur. Overnight on
board.
Day 11 : Nagpur - Pench
Arrive Nagpur at 0805 hrs. Upon arrival you are met and transferred to
Pench Jungle Camp. Lunch at the Camp. Evening game drive into the park.
Overnight at Pench.
Day 12 : Pench
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the Lodge. Morning and afternoon visit the
sanctuary on Jeep/ elephant with an English speaking Naturalist. Overnight
at the Camp.
Day 13 : Pench
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the Lodge. Morning and afternoon visit the
sanctuary on Jeep/ elephant with an English speaking Naturalist. Overnight
at the Camp.
Day14 : Pench - Nagpur - Delhi/Mumbai
After an early breakfast, leave for Nagpur at 0630 hrs in time for flight
to Mumbai/Delhi.
