| CALL OF
JUNGLE |
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Review:
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This itinerary is combination of cultural
exploration and wildlife encounters. While we have a close look at
various cultures: ancient, medieval and Modern. Mughal and Rajput
highlights at Agra and Jaipur, famous erotic temples of Khajuraho.
Medieval town of Orcha and the eternal city of Varanasi.
The antiquity of
Varanasi can be traced back at least the middle of first millennium B.C.
At the same time we visit some of the best National parks (wildlife
sanctuaries). Sariska, Ranthambore and Bandhavgarh are among the best
wildlife sanctuaries which are natural habitats of various species
including that of Tiger, and the Bharatpur's birds paradise. |
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Ref: |
CJW. |
Duration: |
21 Days |
Season: |
Sep - Apr |
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Itinerary: |
Delhi
- Sariskar - Jaipur - Ranthambore - Bharatpur - Agra -
Orcha - Khajuraho - Bandhavgarh - Rewa - Varanasi - Delhi |
DAY
01. ARRIVE
DELHI
Morning
arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel. Afternoon combined guided
tour of Old and
New Delhi includes Jammia Masjid Mosque, Cycle rickshaw
ride through Chandni chowk, Red Fort, drive through India Gate
and Parliament house. And finally explore Qutab Minar and
Humayuns Tomb.
DAY
02. DELHI
– SARISKA Drive 239 Km
Morning depart a nd drive to Sariska, formerly built as park
for hunting by a local maharaja. This Tiger reserve is over
800 sq. km. in size, largely made up of wooded hills, grassy
valleys and surrounded
by barren mountains. Besides Tiger, the reserve habitat Leopard,
Sloth Bear,Caracal,
Mongoose
and many more. Bird’s population includes White
Blacked Vulture, Quail
and Bee Eater etc. Afternoon game drive. Overnight hotel.
DAY
03. SARISKA
- JAIPUR Drive 111 Km
Morning a short drive to Jaipur, en-route visit Amber
fort,
built by Maharaja Man Singh (1592 -1615 AD.) climb up to fort
out on ornamented elephants to advance the massive gates and
the monuments. Arrive Jaipur and check in at Hotel. Afternoon
visit Hawa
Mahal
constructed
in 1799. This five storey building, overlooking the main
street of the bustling old city, is a stunning example of
Rajput artistry, with pink, delicately honeycombed sandstone
windows. City
Palace,
in
the heart of the old city, the outer wall was built by Jai
Singh, but other additions are much more recent, some dating
from the start of the 20th century. Jantar
Mantar
an
observatory begun by Jai Singh in 1728. The Jaipur observatory
is the largest and best preserved of the five he built and was
restored in 1901and
Market.
DAY
04. JAIPUR
– RANTHAMBORE
Morning depart and drive to Ranthambore. Arrive and check in
at hotel / tourist lodge for three nights.
DAY
05 & 06. IN
RANTHAMBORE
Ranthambore blends history of Rajput velour with scenic
natural beauty and is an ideal gateway for  a quiet holiday.
Even though in ruins, its palaces, temples and cenotaphs are
well worth a visit for a romantic stroll into Rajasthan's
valorous past. It has been a witness to the rise and fall of
many rulers and a series of battle scenes. Ranthambore is one
of the best Tiger reserves in India spread over 410 sq. km.
There are 40 tigers in this park with good chances of sitting.
It was one of the favorite hunting areas of Jaipur Maharajas.
This park also has a large population of Panthers, which are
the second largest predators of the forest, marsh crocodiles
are found around the lake and other predators here are hyenas,
jackals, jungle cats even caracal to have been recorded.
Sambar, chital, nilgai, wild boar, chinkara are among the
other animals found here. Ranthambore is also rich in bird
life, which include bonelli’s eagle, crested serpent eagle,
great Indian horned owl, gray partridge, sandgrouse, quail and
many more.
DAY
07. RANTHAMBORE
– BHARATPUR Drive 210
Km
Morning depart and drive to Bharatpur to visit
Keoladeo Ghana
National Park, once the shooting reserve of royalty,
and most spectacular water bird Sanctuary, a wonder of the
natural world populated with 350 species of birds including
number of immigrants from Central Asia and Siberia. This
national park is situated at 370 Mt. above sea level, beside
is the wet land for which it is famous, contains various other
habitats from woodland, scrub and pasture to denuded saline
patches. Of
the remnants of the royal past remains the marvelous Bharatpur
Palace housing a rich repository of a large number of ancient
exhibits that date back to the early 15th century.
DAY
08. BHARATPUR
– AGRA Drive 56 Km
Morning
explore the bird sanctuary by cycle rickshaw. Later in the
morning drive to Agra, en route visit the abandoned city of
Akbar at Fatehpur Sekri.
Arrive Agra and check in at hotel for two nights.
DAY
09. IN AGRA
Full day to explore the Taj
Mahal “the
poetry on marbles”, Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula
built over the years 1622 and 1628 by
Nur Jahan, the favorite queen of Jahangir in the memory
of her father. Afternoon explore the Agra
Fort built
by emperor Akbar as his citadel over the year of 1565 - 73 AD.
DAY
10. AGRA –
JHANSI Train JHANSI –
ORCHA Drive 16 Km
Transfer to Agra railway station in time to board Jhansi bound
train, arrive Jhansi and drive to Orcha. Arrive and check in
at hotel for overnight. Orcha is situated at the banks of
river Betwa, is a medieval city of Bundela rulers (16th
and 17th century) retain much of their pristine
perfection.
DAY
11. ORCHA
- KHAJURAHO Drive
170 Km
After breakfast depart and drive to Khajuraho. Arrive and
check-in at hotel for two nights.
DAY
12. IN
KHAJURAHO
Full
day to explore the famous Temples
of Khajuraho (built in 950-1050 ad) the India’s
unique gift to the world, representing as they are paean to
life, to love, to joy; perfect in excursion and sublime in
expression. Life in every forms and mood has been captured in
stone.
DAY
13. KHAJURAHO
- BANDHAVGARH Drive 210
Km
 Drive
to Bandhavgarh wildlife sanctuary. This national park
(spread over 448 sq. km.) is the habitat of different
forms of wild life such as Deer,
Panther, Samber,
Wild Boar and Bison.
The sanctuary is equally rich in bird life, boasting over 200
species. Arrive and check in at lodge / hotel for three
nights.
DAY
14 & 15. IN
BANDHAVGARH
Two
full days to enjoy various Game drives by jeeps.
DAY
16. BANDHAVGARH
– REWADrive 115 Km
Morning depart and drive to Rewa, a typical Indian town.
Arrive and check in at hotel.
DAY
17. REWA –
VARANASI Drive 235 Km
Morning
depart and drive to Varanasi, holy pilgrimage center for
Hindus with old temples and cremations Ghats. Arrive and check
in at hotel.
Varanasi,
or Benaras, (also known as Kashi) is one of the oldest living
cities in the world, prominence in Hindu mythology is
virtually unrivalled. Mark twain, the English author and
litterateur, who was enthralled by the legend and sanctity of
Benaras, once wrote: "Beneras is older than history,
older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice
as old as all of them put together ". According to the 'Vamana
Purana', the Varuna and Assi rivers originated from the body
of Primordial person at the beginning of time itself. The
tract of land lying between them is believed to be 'Varanasi',
the holiest of all pilgrimages. The word 'Kashi' originated
from the word 'kas' which means to shine. Steeped in tradition
and mythological legacy, Kashi is 'original ground' created by
Shiva and Parvati upon which they stood at the beginning of
time.
DAY
18. IN
VARANASI
Early
morning (at sunrise) boat trip to witness ritual bathing,
later stroll through the narrow streets , full of beautiful
temples and colorful shops. Afternoon visit Sarnath, it is the
site where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon "Maha-Dharma-Chakra
Pravartan" (in Buddhist terminology, 'turned the wheel of
the law') after his enlighten. Sarnath is one of the richest
in Buddhist antiquities ranging date from the times of Ashoka
down to the 12th century AD. Ashoka built here the
Dharmarajika stupa and near it erected a pillar surmounted by
the magnificent capital of four adorsed lions, which today
forms the national emblem of India.
DAY
19. VARANASI
– DELHI Night
Train
Morning
orientation tour of the city.
Afternoon transfer to Varanasi railway station in time
to board an overnight train for Delhi.
DAY
20. ARRIVE
DELHI
Morning
arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure
for personal exploration.
DAY
21. DEPARTURE
Transfer
to airport for onward / homeward journey.
|
Name
of the Sanctuary / Park |
Area
sq. km |
Season |
Main
Wildlife |
| Desert
National Park |
3126 |
All
year |
Desert
cat, Fox, Caracal Gazelle and birds. |
| Keoladeo
Ghana National Park |
28 |
All
Year |
Waterffowl,
Black Buck, Cheetal, Neelgai, Sambar, Cat, Jungle
Cat, Mangoose and Pythons. A water bird sanctuary
famous for nesting colonies of Storks, Egrets and
Cranes. |
| Sariska
National Park |
498 |
Nov
– Jun |
Tiger,
Panther, Jungle Cat, Clivets, Sambar, Porcupine,
Neelgai, Four Horned Antelope. |
| Ranthambore
National Park |
392 |
Oct
– Jun |
Tiger,
Panther, Sloth Bear, Civet, Sambar, Chital, Chinkara,
Muggar (Crocodile). |
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