CENTRAL INDIA WILDLIFE SAFARI Delhi – Kanha – Bandhavgarh – Panna – Agra - Jaipur - Delhi 12 Nights/13 Days Passionate for adventure TOUR OVERVIEW If you are a wildlife enthusiast, or simply want to discover the rich wildlife of India, this itinerary is for you: live the thrilling adventure of spotting the royal Bengal Tiger, and enjoy the spectacular view of other animals and birds in three National Parks. In between safaris, discover the beautiful architectural ruins of Orchha, and finish your trip with a visit to the stunning Taj Mahal. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS DELHI: Discover the long and fascinating history of the cosmopolitan capital city with its rich array of monuments. KANHA: Go on a tribal tour in Kanha to discover the customs of local people and reconnect with nature. BANDHAVGARH: Go on a morning safari to witness the beautiful sunrise panorama and the rich wildlife of Bandhavgarh National Park. PANNA: Go on a jeep safari and take a boat ride on Ken River and soak in the scenic beauty of the National Park. AGRA: Visit the magnificent Taj and the legendary Red Fort of Agra. JAIPUR: Admire the ancient town planning system of Vastushastra and the visit the Amber fort. DAY BY DAY DAY 01: ARRIVE IN DELHI Welcome to India! On arrival at Delhi Airport, you will be greeted by our guide in the arrival hall, who will escort you to your hotel and assist you in check-in. You may choose to travel around or spend the day at leisure depending upon your arrival time. Delhi is a melting pot of religions, cultures, age-old customs and modern trends. It owes its cosmopolitan culture and architectural style to the diverse legacies of the Mughals and the British. In the Old City, the influence of Mughal art and architecture is still evident in the narrow lanes lined with havelis, mosques and food stalls serving authentic Mughlai cuisine. In contrast, Imperial New Delhi created by the British is comprised of spacious, tree-lined boulevards and noteworthy buildings. Today, dotting the landscape also is the Delhi metro, nightclubs and shopping malls. Overnight, stay at hotel. 2 DAY 02: DELHI Embark on a sightseeing tour of Delhi. The tour starts with exploring the historical attractions of Old Delhi. Discover the iconic Red Fort spread over an area of 2 km, travel around the bustling market of Chandni Chowk, visit India’s largest mosque, Jama Masjid, and savour the authentic Mughlai cuisine. Also visit Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi's cremation site memorial. Later, proceed to Qutb Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that houses the world’s tallest brick minaret – Qutab Minar. Then, move to Humayun’s Tomb, the first garden-tomb in the Indian subcontinent and the inspiration for several monuments including the Taj Mahal. Delhi takes a new dimension at dusk. Get mesmerized by the spectacular view of Delhi adorned with lights. Enjoy a drive pass India Gate and Embassy Lane. Overnight, stay at hotel. DAY 03: DELHI – JABALPUR - KANHA The day takes you to Kanha National Park, a tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh, the heart of India. Since the National Park is around 1000 km from Delhi, board a flight to Jabalpur, the nearest airport to Kanha. On arrival, drive 170 km (approximately 4 hours) to reach Kanha. Kanha National Park is popular for Bengal tigers but it owes its fame to Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book”. The lush forests, vast pastures and ravines along with the wild animals such as the tigers, sloth bears, pythons and elephants inspired the author. It won’t be wrong to say that every animal character of the book is based on the inhabitants of the park. Kanha National Park is also known for its large population of antelopes and deer including the rare swamp deer (barasingha). 3 On arrival in Kanha, check-in at hotel and spend the day at leisure. Overnight at hotel. DAY 04: KANHA Start the day early in the morning to explore Kanha National Park. Traverse through the pristine landscape of the sal and bamboo forests to spot the tiger, leopard, barasingha, barking deer, jackal, gaur, sloth bear, black buck, fox, hyena, jungle cat, porcupine, civet and Indian wild dog. Seeing wild animals in their natural habitat is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience. The first jeep safari starts early in the morning before breakfast and the second is in the afternoon. Both safaris last approximately three hours. In between game drives you can opt to relax at your hotel or discover The Kanha Museum inside the park. In the evening, visit Bamini Dadar, popularly called the “Sunset Point”, for a divine sunset view. Overnight, stay at hotel. DAY 05: KANHA After spending the morning in the jungle of Kanha and exploring its flora and fauna, it’s time to discover the culture of Gondi and Baiga tribes near Maikal Hills. The semi-nomadic tribes used to live in the villages located inside the Kanha National Park before the launch of Project Tiger, a conservation programme to protect the tigers from extinction and provide them shelter in their natural habitats. Travel around Narna village, an eco-village near Kahna. Here, houses are made of mud and dried chaff, walls and floors are decorated with traditional tattoos and motifs and people still practice organic farming. Walk around the village to discover the customs of local people and reconnect with nature. Spend the evening at leisure or go for an evening safari. Overnight, stay at hotel. 4 DAY 06: KANHA- BANDHAVGARH In the morning, depart from Kanha and drive to Bandhavgarh National Park, located 240 km (approximately five hours) from Kanha. Sprawling over 105 km2, Bandhavgarh National Park is a tiger reserve and is home to some world renowned tigers such as Charger and Sita who is one of the world’s most photographed tigers. Bandhavgarh has the highest density of tiger population in natural surroundings in India. There is a saying about the park that goes: "In any other park, you are lucky if you see a tiger. In Bandhavgarh, you are unlucky if you don't see (at least) one." With rich bio-diversity, the park is a breeding ground for a large population of leopards, cheetals, sambars, barking deer and stripped hyenas too. On arrival in Bandhavgarh, check-in at hotel. Travel around and discover the mythological stories connected with the area. Overnight, stay at hotel. DAY 07: BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARK Today, go on a morning and afternoon safari to explore Bandhavgarh National Park and its rich wildlife. Before the sun rises, embark on a morning safari and witness the beautiful sunrise panorama. It is the best time for bird-watching and capturing the views of birds flying at eye-level. The park is home to more than 200 avifaunal species, including heron, painted stork, vultures, white breasted kingfisher, hawk eagle, crested serpent eagle and pairs of sarus cranes. Safari at Bandhavgarh National Park revolves around spotting the tigers and other animals. Sidhbaba temple and Chakradhara meadow are the regions where tigers are spotted the most, while Gopalpur region is ideal for bird-watching. Also, discover the ancient structures, statues and caves inside the park. Overnight, stay at hotel. 5 DAY 08: BANDHAVGARH – KHAJURAHO – PANNA Early morning, check-out of the hotel and drive to Khajuraho, 210 km (approximately four hours) from Bandhavgarh. Khajuraho is famous worldwide for temples with erotic sculptures. Built during the Rajput Chandela dynasty (10th – 13th century), Khajuraho Group of Monuments are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Originally there were 85 temples dedicated to Hinduism and Jainism but only 20 temples could withstand the test of time. Discover the temples and their art work symbolising the four goals of life – dharma, kama, artha and moksha. After exploring Khajuraho, continue driving to Panna, 50 km (approximately one hour) away. Time permitting, visit Panadava Falls. The Falls owe their name to the legend of Pandava brothers who visited them during their exile. On arrival in Panna, check-in at hotel, and the rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight, stay at hotel. DAY 09: PANNA NATIONAL PARK Spend the day exploring the wildlife at Panna National Park. Start with a morning safari, then take some rest and later embark on an afternoon safari. Panna National Park is also a tiger reserve in India. Though the Park bagged the Excellence Award in 2007 as the “best maintained” National Park of the country by Tourism Ministry of India, it continues to be one of the better parks. Tigers are no doubt the major attraction of Panna. Other frequently sighted animals here include the sambhar, cheetal, langoor, wildboar, jackal, chinkara and chausingha. Cascading through the forests of Panna, the Ken River is home to crocodiles and vultures that can be easily spotted here. Between game drives, you can take a boat ride on Ken River and soak in the scenic beauty of the National Park. Overnight, stay at hotel. 6 DAY 10: PANNA – ORCHHA – JHANSI – AGRA Early morning, check-out from the hotel and drive to Jhansi, 250 km away (approximately five hours) to board an evening train to Agra. En route, visit Orchha. Just 15 km away from Jhansi, Orchha is a quaint town dating back to 16th century. The place justifies its name as Orchha literally means “hidden place”. The beautiful monuments tell the sagas of battles between the kings and emperors. Orchha Fort Complex, Jahangir Mahal, Chaturbhuj Temple and Laxminarayan Temple are a must-see. Later, continue your drive to Jhansi railway station for your train to Agra. No visit to India is complete without experiencing the bustle of Indian railway stations and the travel on an Indian express train.