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Temples and Tigers
14 nights
An expedition through India’s most unique wildlife parks – Ranthambore, Banghavgarh and Kanha, combined with inspiring historic sites and ancient temple cities.
Holiday idea
| Day 1 | Arrive Delhi. Delhi is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. Having been the capital of several empires in ancient India, many ancient monuments, archaeological sites and remains of national importance have been erected in its history. The Mughals built a section of the city (now known as Old Delhi) that served as the capital of Mughal Empire for a long period. During the British Raj, New Delhi was built as an administrative quarter of the city. New Delhi was declared the capital of India after India gained independence from British rule in 1947. As the seat of the Government of India, New Delhi houses important offices of the federal government, including the Parliament of India. Old Delhi, in sharp contrast with the modern, glistening towers and the broad, sweeping avenues of New Delhi, remains a dense mixture of colours, textures and sounds that have endured over centuries. Overnight in Delhi. |
| Day 2 | City tour of old and new Delhi. Overnight in Delhi. |
| Day 3 | Morning drive to Jaipur. Built in 1727 AD by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, Jaipur is the capital city of Rajasthan. Also known as the Pink City due to its pink painted buildings, Jaipur is the only planned city of its time. A formidable wall encircles breath-taking palaces and broad avenues, overlooked by rugged fortresses perched atop the barren hills. Close by, the Amber Fort, with its mirrored chambers and formal perfume gardens, can be reached by riding the steep track on the back of an elephant. Overnight in Jaipur. |
| Day 4 | Morning excursion to Amber Fort. Afternoon city tour of Jaipur. Overnight in Jaipur. |
| Day 5 | Morning drive to Ranthambore. Overnight in Ranthambore. |
| Day 6 | Visit to the Ranthambore National Park. The 392 sq. km. park is made up of dry, deciduous forests stretching over an undulating terrain of the Aravalli and Vindhyan mountain ranges. Tigers roam freely and can be seen at close quarters. Ranthambhore has a large number of deer, monkeys, wild boar and peafowl and also a population of leopard, hyena, jackal, jungle cat and sloth bear. Overnight in Ranthambore. |
| Day 7 | Morning, board a train for Bharatpur. Later drive to Agra en route visiting Fatehpur Sikri. Agra is famous as being home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Taj Mahal. Built by Emperor Shah Jehan in memory of his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal, this extravagant monument, completed in 1648, took 20,000 craftsmen 18 years to build. The architectural splendour of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces in the city are vivid reminders of the opulence of the legendary Mughal empire, of which Agra was the capital in the 16th and early 17th centuries. Overnight in Agra. |
| Day 8 | Morning board train for Jhansi. Later drive to Khajuraho en route visiting Orchha. A calm, green oasis, this small town of just 8000 inhabitants is a respite from big cities and dusty plains. Constructed during the Chandela period, Khajuraho's famous temples, with their intricate and erotic carvings are one of the outstanding achievements of Indian art. The Khajuraho group of monuments has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Khajuraho temples were built over a span of a hundred years, from 950 to 1050 AD. Overnight in Khajuraho. |
| Day 9 | Morning visit to view the western group of temples in Khajuraho. Afternoon drive to Bandhavgarh. Deep in the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India lies the Project Tiger park of Bandhavgarh. Covering an area of 105 square kilometres, it is bordered by a small village where the lodges and camps are located. The park terrain is a mixture of sal forest, bamboo, dominated by a huge natural rock fortress towering overhead. Overnight in Bandhavgarh. |
| Day 10 | Visit the Bandhavgarh National Park for a game drive. The Park is home to tigers, sloth and wild pigs as well as other animals. At the Elephant Camp within the park you can track tigers on elephant back, providing a unique way to see the tigers up close. Overnight in Bandhavgarh. |
| Day 11 | Visit the Bandhavgarh National Park again for a game drive. Overnight in Bandhavgarh. |
| Day 12 | Drive to Kanha. Although Rudyard Kipling never visited Kanha, his inspiration for the Jungle Book came from here. The park covers almost 2,000 square kilometres and has two access gates, Mukki and Kisli. In the centre of the park is a peak with forested slopes leading up to the summit. A natural history museum located here is well worth a visit, with video displays introducing the park's ecosystem. Around 230 bird species have been recorded, including Warblers, Indian Roller, Black Ibis and Parakeets. There are large areas of grassy meadow, ideal hunting grounds for the park's indigenous tigers and wild dogs. Overnight in Kanha. |
| Day 13 | Early morning and late afternoon games drive to the Kanha National Park. Overnight in Kanha. |
| Day 14 | Early morning and late afternoon games drive to the Kanha National Park. Overnight in Kanha. |
| Day 15 | Morning drive to Nagpur to board flight for Mumbai or Delhi. Evening transfer to International Airport to board flight back home. |
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