In terms of wildlife riches, eastern India is not far behind other parts of the country. Sates like Assam, Bihar, and West Bengal are famous for their national parks and sanctuaries. Exotic environs and the diversity of animal species make a wildlife trip to eastern India worthwhile. The Manas Tiger Reserve, located in the foothills of the Himalayas and the Sundarbans National Park, spreading over 54 islands is known for its abundant and rare flora and fauna. The Hazaribagh National Park and the Palamu Tiger Reserve in the state of Bihar also invite a good number of travellers from all across the world.
Duration: 14 Nights / 15 Days
Destinations: Delhi – Jaipur – Ranthambhore – Agra – Umaria – Bandhavgarh – Umaria – Delhi – Rishikesh – Delhi
Day 01: Arrival in Delhi
On arrival in New Delhi, a representative from Shantanu Cultural Trails will receive you from New Delhi International Airport and transfer you the hotel.
Delhi: the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend of the past and the present. It is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land. A window to the kaleidoscope – that is India. Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi Sightseeing
Post breakfast, embark on a guide city tour of Delhi covering the attractions of Old Delhi and New Delhi as well. Sightseeing in Delhi covers Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Rajghat, Chandani Chowk, India Gate, President House, Parliament House, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Birla Temple, etc. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the hotel.
Day 03: Delhi – Jaipur
Have a relaxed breakfast at the hotel. Later, drive to Jaipur—the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Lovingly known as the Pink City, Jaipur is a prominent tourist destination in Rajasthan and India as well. On arrival in Jaipur, you will be transferred to the hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the hotel.
Day 04: Jaipur Sightseeing
Post breakfast, proceed for a morning excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride ascent to the fort.
Amber Fort Palace – Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Man Singh I in 1592 started the construction. It was completed by his descendent – Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds its ultimate expression. Continue city sightseeing.
City Palace – A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple, and the City Palace Museum.
Jantar Mantar – This is the largest and the best-preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.
Hawa Mahal – The ornamental facade of this “Palace of Winds” is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. It is a five-storey structure of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women. Relax in the evening. Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day 05: Jaipur – Ranthambore National Park
Post breakfast, proceed to Ranthambhore. Reach and get transferred to the resort. Evening free at the resort and you can relax or watch some slides on the tiger.
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, barely 14 kilometers from Sawai Madhopur. Get in tune with nature for a luxury holiday in the heart of the jungle. It spreads over a highly undulating topography varying from gentle to steep slopes; from flat-topped hills of the Vindhyas to the conical hillocks and sharp ridges of the Aravalis, from wide and flat valleys to narrow rocky gorges. An important geological feature is the ‘Great Boundary Fault’ where the Vindhya plateaus meet the Aravali hill ranges and meander through the Reserve. The National Park is bound by the rivers Chambal in the south and Banas in the north. Tiger, at the apex of the food chain, lord over the kingdom in a subtle way. Solitary by nature, it operates in stealth. Therefore tiger sightings, frequent as they are, are always a matter of chance. However, even evidence of the tiger’s activities is very exciting. Proceed for an evening tiger safari into the park. Dinner will be served at the resort and relax for the night at the resort.
Day 06: Ranthambore National Park
Wake up early morning and leave for your safari into the National Park. Track the tigers and other wildlife through the morning. Return to the resort/lodge by 1000 in the morning and have breakfast. Freshen up and either spend time at the pool or visit the town. You could also go for a nice visit to the temple on top of the fort. In the afternoon, have lunch and then leave again for your afternoon safari. The safari will be till evening 1700 – 1800 hr and then return to the resort/lodge. Dinner will be at the resort and retire early for the night. Overnight will be at Ranthambhore.
Day 07: Ranthambore – Agra
Drive to Fatehpur Sikri after breakfast. The deserted, red Sandstone City, which Emperor Akbar built as his capital and palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating experience. It is a veritable fairytale city and its “ruins” are in pristine condition … it’s not hard to imagine what the court life must have been like in the days of its grandeur. Also visit the Buland Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world. Continue drive after sightseeing to Agra. Reach and check-in at the hotel.
Agra: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shahjahan, transformed the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire – giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously. A walk down the narrow bustling streets of the city will introduce the visitor to the wafting aroma of Mughlai cuisine. Dinner and overnight will be at the hotel.
Day 08: Agra – Umaria – Bandhavgarh
By overnight train at 1515 hr
After breakfast, proceed to visit the Taj Mahal. Enjoy a battery van ride to the Taj Mahal complex.
Taj Mahal: Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder which is always the dream of every tourist visiting Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens, and some of the best inlay work ever seen.
Proceed for sightseeing to the AGRA FORT – Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced within is the picture-perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction.
Visit the Itmad-Ud-Daulah Tomb built by Empress Noor Jahan in memory of her father (The interiors of which are considered better than the Taj). Take the train to UMARIA. Overnight would be on board the train.
Day 09: Bandhavgarh National Park
Arrive early in the morning. Reach Bandhavgarh and check-in at the hotel. Bandhavgarh is a new National Park with a very long history. Set among the Vindhya hills of Madhya Pradesh with an area of 168sq miles (437sq km) it contains a wide variety of habitats and a high density of game, including a large number of Tigers. This is also the White tiger country. These have been found in the old state of Rewa for Many years.
Maharaja Martand Singh captured the last known in 1951. This white Tiger, Mohun is now stuffed and on display in the Palace of Maharaja of Rewa. Prior to becoming a National Park, the forests around Bandhavgarh had long been maintained as a Shikargah, or game preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa. The Maharaja and his guests carried out hunting – otherwise, the wildlife was well protected. It was considered a good omen for the Maharaja of Rewa to shoot 109 tigers. His Highness Maharaja Venkat Raman Singh shot 111 Tigers by 1914.There are 32 hills in this part of the park, which has a large natural fort at its center.
The fort’s cliffs are 2625 feet (800 meters) high, and 1000 feet (300 meters) above the surrounding countryside. Winter temperatures (Nov-mid-February) vary from almost freezing at night to around 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime. Summer nights are also cooler than the daytime temperatures, which rise to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Bandhavgarh is justifiably famous for its Tigers, but it has a wide range of other games. Check in at the resort and spend the whole day in tiger and wildlife tracking. All meals will be in the resort. Overnight will be at Bandhavgarh.
Day 10: Bandhavgarh National Park
Enjoy a full-day game viewing inside the jungle. (Two safaris)
Bandhavgarh Fort: Bandhavgarh Fort The oldest fort in India – is considered to be more than 2500 years. One-hour trek up the fort is worth the effort. The charm of this trek lies in discovering these monuments in the jungle, unspoiled and unexplored. Some of the statues lie off the main path and so it is best to take a guide. Apart from the avatars, well worth seeing are three small temples from the 12th century. These temples are deserted but the fort is still used as a place of worship. Kabir Das, the celebrated 16th-century saint, once lived and preached here. The natural ramparts of the fort give a breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside. The fort still belongs to the Maharaja of Rewa and permission is required to visit it. However, permission is available locally and no trip to Bandhavgarh is complete without making an effort to climb up the fort. The staff of the resort carries your lunch while you are busy negotiating the trek to the fort. All meals will be in the resort. Overnight will be at the resort
Day 11: Bandhavgarh National Park
Enjoy a full-day game viewing inside the jungle. (Two safaris) All meals will be in the resort. Overnight will be in Bandhavgarh.
Day 12: Bandhavgarh – Umaria – Delhi
By overnight train at 1600 hr. Spend the morning at the National Park and breakfast will be at the resort. Proceed to the station after lunch for the train to Delhi. Overnight will be on the train.
Day 13: Delhi – Rishikesh
By Road, 250 km in 6 hr. Reach Delhi in the morning and after freshening up leave for Rishikesh by surface. Rishikesh is just 45 minutes from Haridwar and a well-known place for RIVER RAFTING, ASHRAMS, YOGA & MEDITATION.
Rishikesh: represents the Gateway to the Himalayas in the Tehri-Garhwal region of Uttar Pradesh. It abounds in natural splendor. The spectacle of the Ganga rushing through the Himalayan foothills is an awesome sight. Several temples dot the banks of the Ganga at Rishikesh. Rishikesh is located at a height of about 1360 feet above sea level. It is believed that several yogis and sages lived and practiced penance here. Rishikesh represents the site where Vishnu vanquished the demon Madhu.
Tapovan on the other bank of the Ganges houses a temple to Lakshmana. It is believed that Lakshmana carried out penances here. It is also believed that his brother Bharata meditated here, and there is a temple to Bharata here. Also seen here are the Swargashram and the Geeta Bhavan temples.
The Lakshman Jhula, a 450 feet long suspension bridge was built in 1939. A newer bridge the Ram Jhula has been added recently. The Ganga abounds in fish. Offerings of puffed rice are made to these creatures. The freshness of the air, the sound of flowing water, the scenic beauty of the region, and the distant sound of bell chimes create an unforgettable experience for those that visit this ancient pilgrimage town. 12 km away from Rishikesh is located the Nilkanth Mahadeo temple at a height of about 5000 feet, commanding spectacular views of the region. Book Your Tour Stay in Rishikesh and visit the ASHRAMS and enjoy the River Ganges. Overnight will be at the riverbank camp in Rishikesh.
Day 14: Rishikesh
Spend the whole day rafting in the white waters of the Ganges. All meals will be in the camp. Overnight will be in the camp.
Day 15: Rishikesh – Delhi – Departure
By Road, 250 km in 6 hr. Proceed to Haridwar after breakfast.
Haridwar: located in the foothills of the Himalayas, represents the point where the Ganga reaches the plains. Haridwar is an ancient pilgrimage site, held in reverence for centuries. The Chinese pilgrim Hyuen Tsang who visited India in the first millennium CE, describes Haridwar as Mayura, on the eastern banks of the Ganges. Several temples and ashrams dot this town and a visit to Haridwar is like stepping in a totally different world. Legend has it that Bhagiratha brought the Ganges into the earth and into this point where his ancestors were burnt to ashes by the curse of the sage Kapila. Kapilastaan, a spot in Haridwar is pointed to as Kapila’s hermitage. Haridwar was once known as Gangadwara.
Continue drive to Delhi and reach by evening. Enjoy the farewell dinner and share your experiences. A representative from Shantanu Cultural Trails will transfer you to the airport for connecting flight to your home destination.
