Elephant and Tiger Tour
Duration: 15 Days
Places to visit: New Delhi – Corbett – New Delhi – Jaipur – Ranthambhore – Bharatpur – Agra – New Delhi
Itinerary
Day 1. Arrive in New Delhi
On arrival at the airport in New Delhi you will be received by a Nature Safari India representative and taken to your hotel. Overnight at hotel in New Delhi.
Day 2. Delhi – Corbett
After breakfast drive to Corbett National Park, 260 km/6 hrs. On arrival check into hotel. Evening bird watching at a river close to the hotel. Overnight at hotel in Corbett National Park.
Day 3. Corbett
Morning and afternoon game drives, meals and overnight at hotel.
Corbett National Park is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand and was named after Jim Corbett who played a key role in its establishment. It is the oldest National Park in India and was established in 1936 as the Hailey National Park to protect the Bengal tiger which is now considered as an endangered species. Due to the location of the Park in the foothills of the central Himalayas, both Himalayan and peninsular flora and fauna is found in the Park.
Day 4. Corbett
Morning and afternoon game drives, meals and overnight at hotel.
Along the banks of the Ramganga river, north east of Delhi, in the foothills of the Himalayas, is the 520 sq km of the Corbett National Park. Tourism activity is only allowed in selected areas of the Corbett Tiger Reserve. In recent years the number of people coming here has increased dramatically. Presently, every season more than 70,000 visitors come to the park from India and other countries. In 1957, it was finally named as Corbett National Park in honour and memory of the late Jim Corbett, the legendary hunter, naturalist-turned-author and photographer who had helped in setting up the Park and demarcating its boundaries.
Day 5. Corbett – New Delhi
Morning visit to the National Park and later drive to New Delhi, 260 km/6 hrs. Overnight at New Delhi.
Day 6. New Delhi – Jaipur
After breakfast drive to Jaipur, 250km/5 hrs and check in to the hotel.
Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is known as the pink city. Pink is the colour for hospitality in Rajput culture and hence the old Jaipur, including the entire market area, is coloured pink. It is the first planned city of its era and keeper of the largest cannon in the world, named Jaiwan. Overnight in Jaipur.
Day 7. Jaipur
In the morning proceed on an excursion to the Amber Fort with an Elephant ride up to the top of the Fort. Drive past Hawa Mahal, known popularly as the Palace of Winds, 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) and various marble palaces which are marvellous 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.
Return to the town in the afternoon en route 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 8. Jaipur – Ranthambhore
After breakfast drive to Ranthambhore, 180km/3hrs. Check in to your hotel in time for lunch. Afternoon safari to Ranthambhore National Park. Dinner and overnight in Ranthambhore.
The land of the Bengal tiger, Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan is spread over 392 sq km, bordered by rocks and ridges. The Park is famous for the Wildlife Sanctuary by the same name where one can experience the rendezvous of wildlife, history and nature. At the centre of the Park is the 10th-century Ranthambhore Fort and scattered nearby are ancient temples and mosques. The lakes are filled with crocodiles and aged, huge turtles. The ruins and remains of the past give Ranthambhore a unique soothing appeal. Besides tigers there are more than 300 species of birds in the Park. It is an exceptional place where history and mother-nature entwine to present a stunning sight.
Day 9. Ranthambhore
Morning and afternoon safaris. All meals and overnight in Ranthambhore.
During the day visit the famous Ranthambhore Fort, a unique Rajput fort. It is a massive enclave but perhaps the only fort which is not visible from a long distance. Mughal Emperor Shah Alam gave it as a gift to Sawai Madho Singh I of Jaipur in 1754 AD and it was maintained as a private hunting reserve. Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh have stayed here.
The Archeological Department took it over in 1964. It is 1578 ft above sea level and 750ft from the ground. Total area of the Fort is about 7 miles. There is no driveway up to the Fort, just the stairs. There are three big artificial lakes up in the Fort.
Day 10. Ranthambhore
Morning and afternoon safaris. All meals and overnight in Ranthambore.
Day 11. Ranthambhore – Bharatpur
Morning safari. After breakfast drive to Bharatpur, 210 km/5 hrs. Check into hotel. Evening visit to the Bird Sanctuary. Overnight in Bharatpur.
Keoladeo Ghana National Park, commonly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is a home to more than 400 species of water birds. The Park is one of the finest and is an ideal habitat for the birds. The lightly wooded and swampy terrain is widely spread over 29 sq km. This bird sanctuary was once a private shooting and hunting preserve for the Maharaja of Bharatpur. Today it is a protected breeding ground for various bird species. The Park is also the winter home for many migratory birds. One can spot colonies of cormorants, spoonbills, storks, egrets, herons, pelicans, ibis and grey herons. The ideal time to visit the bird sanctuary is from October until March.
Day 12. Bharatpur – Agra
Morning visit to the Keoladeo Ghana National Park by cycle rickshaws. Later drive to Fatehpur Sikri and on to Agra, 56km/45 mins. Overnight in Agra.
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 a 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.
Day 13. Agra – New Delhi – Mumbai
Morning sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal and later city tour of Agra.
Agra is famous as the home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World – 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. (The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays).
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.
Visit the Agra Fort, built by three Mughal Emperors starting from Akbar the Great in 1565, 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.
Afternoon drive to New Delhi, 230 km/4 hrs, to board a flight to Mumbai in the early evening. On arrival in Mumbai check in to hotel. Overnight at Mumbai.
Day 14. Mumbai
Mumbai in Maharashtra state, is a culturally diverse city and important for the nation’s financial success. Once a cluster of seven islands on the west coast of India, occupied by a fishing community, a series of reclamations led to the development of modern Bombay. The city was renamed Mumbai in 1995. Mumbai has a deep natural harbour which handles more than half of India’s passenger traffic and a large amount of cargo. Mumbai is a city which never sleeps. It has attractive shopping arcades, exciting sport activities, night clubs, theatres, music, restaurants and picturesque sights. The fast-paced life has given rise to many roadside fast-food outlets. Mumbai is home to the world famous Hindi film industry known as Bollywood, which is one of the biggest entertainment industries in the world.
Day 15. Fly back home
Morning free for leisure activity and later transfer to international airport to board a flight back home.
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