| Thursday 1st February Fly this evening from London Heathrow to Delhi.
Friday 2nd February Arrive at Delhi in the morning and clear customs and immigration. Meet the local guide and transfer by coach to the hotel. Overnight: DELHI (D)
Saturday 3rd February After breakfast depart for a tour of Old & New Delhi. In New Delhi drive past the 12th century 230 feet high Qutab Minar, gracefully hand-carved for its entire height of 234ft, the imposing Lakshmi Narayan temple, Humayus Tomb, India Gate (memorial to the India army soldiers who died in the World War), the Rashtrapati Bhavan (formerly the viceroy's residence) and the parliament House. Later continue to Old Delhi. See the Raj Ghat, memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, the Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India. Spend some time in Chandni Chowk to savour the ambience of a crowded oriental bazaar. Overnight: DELHI (BD)
Sunday 4th February Depart after breakfast for the drive to Jaipur with a stop en route for an included lunch at the historic Neemana Fort. Continue afterwards on the drive to Jaipur. Arrive at the hotel to check in in the late afternoon.
Overnight: JAIPUR (BLD)
Monday 5th February Depart after breakfast for a morning excursion to Amber Fort. Amber is a classic, romantic Rajasthani Fort Palace. The rugged, time-ravaged walls of the Fort may not look beautiful from the outside, but the interior is a virtual paradise. Miniatures painted on the walls depict hunting and war scenes, apart from festivals. Precious stones and mirrors are embedded into the plaster. Inside the Fort visit the Jag Mandir or the Hall of Victory. Inside the Jag Mandir is the famed Sheesh Mahal - a room with all the four walls and ceiling completely embedded with glittering mirror pieces, which were specially imported from Belgium during that period.
In the afternoon there will be a city tour of the pink city of Jaipur
The half day city tour begins with a visit to the Maharaja's City Palace, the former Royal residence, part of it converted into a museum. A small portion is still used by the Royal family of Jaipur. Built in the style of a fortified campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh in area of the city. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion known as Armoury Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers. The royal families of Jaipur once used most of these weapons. Later visit the Jantar Mantar, which is the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world. Situated near the gate of the city palace, the observatory has 17 large instruments, many of them still in working condition. Overnight: JAIPUR (BD)
Tuesday 6th February Depart after breakfast for the morning drive to Ranthambore. Arrive by lunch time to check in at your Forest Lodge. In the afternoon there will be a drive into the Sawai Madhopur National Park : Rajasthan's first project Tiger reserve and named after a 1000-year old fort which stands in the park . It provides an ideal habitat for the stately sambar, the largest of all Asiatic deer. Many birds inhabit the park, including woodland, ground and water species as well as the rare red jungle fowl and several varieties of eagles. The waters are home to marsh crocodiles and pythons. Overnight: RANTHAMBORE (BD)
Wednesday 7th February Today there will be two visits to the Sanctuary, one in the early morning and another in the late afternoon. The middle of the day will be free to rest and relax, enjoy a swim and have lunch with is included. Overnight: RANTHAMBORE (BLD)
Thursday 8th February Today there will be an early start to transfer to Ranthambore railway station to board the train for Bharatpur, the Jan Shatabdi Express departing at 7.07 am and arriving at 9.22am. There will be a packed breakfast on the train. On arrival at Bharatpur transfer to the hotel, where lunch will be included. In the afternoon there will be a visit to in Keoladeo Ghana Birds Sanctuary for a rickshaw ride with your naturalist guide. About 350 species of birds have been sighted in the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park), about 150 of them migrate to the sanctuary from as far away as China and Siberia arriving in the October – March period. The sanctuary covers 30 square Kms of low-lying marsh-land and is connected by paths sand canals running through the park which make for pleasant walks, richshaw or canoe rides. There are also animals like the nilgai (blue-bull), sambhar and chital and also the monitor lizard which have found their haven in the park. Overnight: BHARATPUR (BLD)
Friday 9th February There will be an early morning visit the Bird sanctuary by cycle Rickshaw with a naturalist guide. Afterwards return to the hotel for breakfast. Later on drive to Agra visiting Fatehpur Sikri en route. Located 40 km from Agra, the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, in honour of the great Saint Sheikh Salim Chisti who blessed Akbar and prophesized the birth of three sons to the heirless Emperor. Akbar used Fatehpur Sikri as his capital and the city was fully occupied for 14 years but slowly became deserted and ruined after Akbar left the city. Scarcity of water was the prime factor for the abandonment of this beautiful city. Visit the remarkably well-preserved, graceful buildings within the 'Ghost City' including the Jama Masjid, tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal Palace and other palaces that speak of the grandeur and splendour of the Mughal empire at the height of its power. Depart afterwards for Agra. On arrival check in at the hotel Overnight: AGRA (BD)
Saturday 10th February There will be a morning sightseeing tour of Agra, the city of the Taj., which includes a visit to the world famous Taj Mahal & Agra Fort. The world famous Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan in 1560 in memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned from white marble that stands testimony to the skill of 20,000 craftsmen brought together from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and who took 17 years to complete this 'Love Poem in Marble'. (Friday closed). Later visit the Agra fort containing the halls private and public audiences and other palaces. Shah Jahan spent years of confinement at the hands of his son Aurangzeb, looking wistfully at the Taj Mahal from the Fort. Overnight: AGRA (BD)
Sunday 11th February In the morning transfer to the railway station to board the Jhansi Shatabdi Express train, departing at 8.15am and arriving at 10.40am.On arrival in Jhansi transfer to Khajuraho with lunch included en route at Orcha. Check into the hotel on arrival at Khajuraho Overnight: KHAJURAHO (BLD)
Monday 12th February There will be a morning visit to the Western Group of Temples, the most important temple being the Kandariya Mahadeo Temple-dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the largest and most typical of the Khajuraho temples. Visit the Chaunsat Yogini Jain Temple-dedicated to the 64 "Yoginis" or attendants of Goddess Kali. This temple stands apart from the rest. Also see the Chitragupta or Bharatji Temple with a lovely sculpture of Lord Vishnu in his 11-headed form. The sculptures that adorn the temples, carved in stone depict gods, goddesses and amorous couples. The afternoon will be free to relax Overnight: KHAJURAHO (BD)
Tuesday 13th February There will be an early morning drive to Bandhavgarh National Park by car, (4 persons per car). Covering 448 sq. km., Bandhavgarh National Park is situated in Shahdol district among the outlying hills of the Vindhya range. At the centre of the park is Bandhavgarh hill, rising 811 meters above sea level. Surrounding it are a large number of smaller hills separated by gently sloping valleys There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds. Common Langurs and Rhesus Macaque represent the primate group. Carnivores include the Asiatic Jackal, Bengal Fox, Sloth Bear, Ratel, Gray Mongoose, Striped Hyena, Jungle Cat, Leopard and Tiger. The artiodactyls frequently sighted are Wild Pigs, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Chausingha, Nilgai, Chinkara and Gaur. Mammals such as Dhole, the small Indian Civet, Palm Squirrel and Lesser Bandicoot Rat are seen occasionally. Among the herbivores, Gaur is the only coarse feeder.This is a small National Park; compact, yet full of game. The density of the Tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India. Arrive at Bandhavgarh and check in at your Forest Lodge. Overnight BANDHAVGARH (BD)
Wednesday 14th, Thursday 15th & Friday 16th February The next three days will be devoted to drives in this marvelous Sanctuary where there are very chances of seeing tiger. Lunch and dinner will be in the hotel each day. Overnights: BANDHAVGARH (BLD)
Saturday 17th February There will be a last early morning visit to the sanctuary. After an early lunch, leave for Katni railway station to board the overnight train for Delhi. The Gondwana Express departs at 5.10pm There will be a packed dinner on the train, accommodation will be in air-conditioned 2-tier sleeper cabins, bedding is provided. Overnight on board the TRAIN. (BLD)
Sunday 18th February The train will arrive at Delhi at 7.25am. On arrival the local guide will meet the group assist with the transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure until in the evening it is time to assemble for the farewell dinner at the Kebab Factory Restaurant at the Radisson hotel Overnight: DELHI (BD)
Monday 19th February Morning free at the hotel until it is time to depart for check-in at the airport for the flight home departing for London Heathrow at mid-day. (B)
Tuesday 20th February Arrive London Heathrow at 5.05pm local time. End of services. Tour Cost | Price per person | Twin/Double | £1,895.00 | Single Supplement | £520.00 |
- International and domestic flights and taxes
- Overnight train Katni-Delhi in AC 2-tier sleeper cabins
- 16 nights hotel accommodation, 4-5 star category rating
- Breakfast daily, 8 lunches, 17 dinners (as indicated by BLD)
- Private AC coach transportation for duration of trip
- Train services – Ranthambore-Bharatpur, Agra-Jhansi Katni-Delhi
- Sightseeing tours and admissions as indicated in itinerary
- Entrances to National Parks
- Services of English-speaking national guide.
- Local guides in Bharatpur, Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh.
- Services of local representative for airport arrival/departure
- Services of Stita tour manager
- Porterage service of one suitcase per person at hotels and railway Price Includes
How to Book To make a booking, please call us on 01242 515 712 or click on our Booking Details. |
| 
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg){kind=small}
Please