Wildlife & Birds
of North India
Duration:
15 Nights / 16 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Corbett - Delhi - Ranthambhore
- Bharatpur - Agra - Umaria - Bandhavgarh - Kanha - Jabalpur - Delhi
Day 01 Delhi : Company representatives
will receive youon arrival at the international airport in Delhi late in the night
or midnight. Transfer to your hotel. Relax. DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and
empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend of the past and
the present. It is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient
land. A window to the kaleidoscope - that is India. Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 02 Delhi - Corbett National Park :By Road
250 km in
6 hr Breakfast will be at the hotel. Drive to CORBETT National Park. JIM CORBETT
National Park - One of the greatest National Parks of Asia. Corbett is five hundred
and twenty acres of forests, hills and grasslands, fed by a frisky river - A bio-diversity
that is rich, rare and precious. This Park is the perfect habitat for the tiger,
elephant, hog deer, birds and other wildlife species that is fast vanishing from
the earth.
JIM CORBETT t made his mark in his early life as a soldier
and a hunter but subsequently, dedicated him to the preservation of life - human
and wild. Whenever a man-eater threatened a village, 'Carpet Sahib' was summoned.
Moving on foot for days and weeks, often on steep winding trails, Corbett became
the savior of the simple hill folk of Kumaon and Garhwal. Jim Corbett could read
the jungle signs like an open book. He could decipher a ripple in the dust of
a dry streambed.
A blade of grass caught in the act of springing back
from a crushed position. When stalking, he could use the wind like predators do,
to either conceal or reveal his presence. He could freeze stock-still in mid stride
for any amount of time, just like an animal. He could easily read the sounds of
the animals and could imitate them to perfection. Even the call of a tiger! With
no assistance apart from his vocal chords, he could lure the animal to a face
to face meeting. Two man-eaters shot by him were cornered using this awesome ability.
Jim Corbett, the eighth child of a postmaster, gave up on academics early, proved
his prowess at the gun at the age of 8.
He worked as storekeeper, labor
contractor, Captain in World War I, member of municipal board, and trained soldiers
in jungle warfare for World War II, was awarded the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
He shot with his camera and chronicled his experiences in 8 gripping books. Check
in at the resort and relax. Proceed for an afternoon jungle safari for game viewing.
Relax in the evening at the resort restaurant. Overnight will be at the resort.
Day 03 Corbett National Park: Enjoy a full day of game viewing
inside the jungle. (Two safaris) All meals will be at the resort and stay overnight
will be at Corbett.
Day 04 Corbett - Delhi:By Road
250 km
in 6 hr Breakfast will be at the resort. Proceed for a morning game-drive into
the forest. Drive to Delhi in the afternoon. Reach and relax. Overnight will be
at Delhi.
Day 05: Delhi - Ranthambhore:By Train400 km in 6
hr Breakfast will be at the hotel. Transfer to the station for train to SAWAI
MADHOPUR. Reach and transfer to the resort. Evening free at the resort and you
can relax or watch some slides on the tiger. Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, at the
junction of the Aravalisand the Vindhyas, is a unique example of natural and historical
richness, standing out conspicuously in the vast, arid and denuded tract of eastern
Rajasthan, barely 14 kilometers from Sawai Madhopur. Get in tune with nature for
a luxury holiday in the heart of the jungle.
Ranthambhore - perhaps the
best place in the world to sight a tiger in the wild. The Ranthambhore National
Park has had more Tiger sightings than any other National Park in the country.
It has come to be known as "The land of the Tiger", where most of the
documented footage of this majestic beast has been recorded.
It spreads over
a highly undulating topography varying from gentle to steep slopes; from flat
topped hills of the Vindhyas to the conical hillocks and sharp ridges of the Aravalis,
from wide and flat valleys to narrow rocky gorges. An important geological feature
the 'Great Boundary Fault' where the Vindhya plateaus meet the Aravali hill ranges
meanders through the Reserve.
The National Park is bound by the rivers
Chambal in the south and Banas in the north. Overnight will be at resort.
Day
06 Ranthambhore:
Wake up early morning and leave for your safari into the
National Park. Track the tigers and other wildlife through the morning. Return
to the resort / lodge by 1000 in the morning and have breakfast.
Freshen up
and either spend time at the pool or visit the town. You could also go for a nice
visit to the temple on top of the fort.
In the afternoon have lunch and
then leave again for you afternoon safari. The safari will be till evening 1700
- 1800 hr and then return to the resort / lodge. Dinner will be at the resort
and retire early for the night. Overnight will be at Ranthambhore.
Day
07 Ranthambhore - Bharatpur:Keoladeo Ghana National Park
By Road
200
km in 5 hr Proceed to Bharatpur after breakfast. Keoladeo Ghana National Park
is one of the finest water-bird sanctuaries in the world. The Maharaja of Bharatpur
artificially created the lake and wetland in the 19th century. By building small
dykes and dams and diverting water from an irrigation canal, he converted this
low-lying area into a fine wild fowl shooting preserve. In a few years, the new
wetland surrounded by marginal forests was able to support thousands of water
birds.
Commonly referred to as Bharatpur, the Park is a delight for bird
watchers. Over 375 species of birds are found here and raised paths, camouflaged
by babul trees and undergrowth make viewing easy. A quiet ride by boat in the
early hours of the morning is also unforgettable experience. The cacophony is
unbelievable as painted storks, open bills, spoonbills, egrets, cormorants, white
ibis and multitudes of others, tend their young. Jacanas with their iridescent
colors and elegant tail feathers and purple moorhen can be seen delicately treading
over the floating vegetation.
Every year Bharatpur waits with bated breath
for the arrival of the Siberian cranes. There are only two wintering places for
this rare species one in Iran and the other Bharatpur and these beautiful birds
with their distinctive red beaks and facial patches, fly over 6400 km from their
summer retreats. Colorful kingfishers, graceful pelicans, rare Siberian cranes
and Trans - continental fliers - the migratory water - fowl are amongst the 375
species of birds found in the Keoladeo National Park. The most spectacular nesting
is that of the egrets, storks, herons and cormorants, which make over 10,000 nests
every year. This makes outstanding bird havens of the world. The park covers an
area of 28.73km.
The story of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is incomplete without
an account of the migratory waterfowl. The most prominent waterfowl coming to
this park are bareheaded and greyleg geese. Ducks also create a lot of fluttering
in the lakes. The ducks usually found here are pintail, widgeon, common shelduck,
shoveler, garganey, teal, etc.
Attracted by the influx of the waterfowl
the predatory birds-tawny eagles, spotted eagles short-toed eagles imperial eagles
and fishing eagle also arrive. They all form the apex of the biological pyramid
of the sanctuary and complete the avian food chain of the ecosystem.
There
are large herds of the nilgai, chital, wild boar and fear cows in addition to
a few herds of sambar. Reach and check in at the hotel. Proceed on RICKSHAW for
viewing the birds. RICKSHAW PULLERS have been trained by the forest department
in bird watching and are knowledgeable. Return to the lodge in the evening and
relax. Overnight will be at Bharatpur.
Day 08 Bharatpur - Agra:By
Road
55 km in 1 hr Enjoy the early morning RICKSHAW RIDE at the Bird Park.
Proceed to Agra after lunch and a boat ride at the park if there is enough water.
Reach and check in at the hotel. AGRA: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah
Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital
of the Mughal Empire - giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}.
Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting edifices,
of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that
irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains.
It
is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously.
A walk down the narrow bustling streets of the city will introduce the visitor
to the wafting aroma of Mughlai cuisine. Overnight will be at Agra.
Day
09 Agra - Umaria - Bandhavgarh:By overnight train at 1515 hr After breakfast
proceed to visit Taj. Enjoy battery van ride to the Taj. TAJ MAHAL: Little needs
to be said about this architectural wonder which is always the soul raison-de-etre
for every tourist's visit to Agra.Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble
memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be
completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart
from its stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly
for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work
ever seen.
Proceed for sightseeing to the AGRA FORT - Built by the famed
Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced
within is the picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction.
Visit Itmadullah's Tomb built by Empress NOOR JEHAN in memory of her father (The
interiors of which are considered better than the Taj). Take train to UMARIA.
Overnight would be onboard the train.
Day 10 Bandhavgarh:Arrive
early in the morning Reach Bandavgarh and check in at hotel. Bandavgarhis a new
National Park with a very long history. Set among the Vindhya hills of Madhya
Pradesh with an area of 168sq miles (437sq km) it contains a wide variety of habitats
and a high density of game, including a large number of Tigers.
This is
also the White tiger country. These have been found in the old state of Rewa for
Many years. Maharaja Martand Singh captured the last known in 1951. This white
Tiger, Mohun is now stuffed and on display in the Palace of Maharaja of Rewa.
Prior to becoming a National Park, the forests around Bandavgarh had long been
maintained as a Shikargah, or game preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa. The Maharaja
and his guests carried out hunting - otherwise the wildlife was well protected.
It was considered a good omen for Maharaja of Rewa to shoot 109 tigers.
His Highness Maharaja Venkat Raman Singh shot 111 Tigers by 1914. There are 32
hills in this part of the park, which has a large natural fort at its center.
The fort's cliffs are 2625 feet (800 meters) high, 1000 feet (300 meters) above
the surrounding countryside.
Winter temperatures (Nov-mid-February) vary
from almost freezing at night toaround 68 degree Fahrenheit in the daytime. Summer
nights are also cooler than the daytime temperatures, which rise to 104 degree
Fahrenheit. This park is closed during the breeding season, which coincides with
the monsoon (July-October). Bandavgarh has been a center of human activity and
settlement for over 2000 years, and there are references to it in the ancient
books, the Narad-Panch Ratra and the Shiva Purana.
Legend has it that
Lord Rama, hero of the Hindu epic, the Ramayana, stopped at Bandavgarh on his
way back to his homeland after defeating the demon King Ravana of Lanka. Two monkey
architects, who had engineered a bridge between the isle of Lanka and the mainland,
are said to have built Bandavgarh's Fort. Later Rama handed it over to his brother
Lakshmana who became known as Bandavdhish "The Lord of the Fort". Lakshmana
is the particular God of the fort and is regularly worshipped in a temple there.
Bandavgarh is justifiably famous for its Tigers, but it has a wide range of
other game. Check in at the resort. During the day enjoy a safari into the National
park. In the evening you would enjoy a joyride on an elephant. Overnight will
be at Bandavgarh.
Day 11 Bandhavgarh: Enjoy the full day at
the Park taking two safaris. All meals will be at the resort.
Overnight will
be at the resort.
Day 12 Bandhavgarh: Enjoy two safaris at
the park and all meals will be at the resort. Take a trip to the Fort of Bandavgarh.
This is the oldest fort in India - considered to be more than 2500 years. One-hour
trek up the fort is worth the effort. The charm of this trek lies in discovering
these monuments in the jungle, unspoiled and unexplored.
Some of the statues
lie off the main path and so it is best to take a guide. Apart from the avatars,
well worth seeing are three small temples of around the 12th century. These temples
are deserted but the fort is still used as a place of worship. Kabir Das, the
celebrated 16th century saint, once lived and preached here. The natural ramparts
of the fort give breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside. The fort still
belongs to the Maharaja of Rewa and permission is required to visit it.
However
permission is available locally and no trip to Bandhavgarh is complete without
making an effort to climb up the fort. The staff of the resort carries your lunch
while you are busy negotiating the trek to the fort. Overnight will be at the
resort.
Day 13 Bandhavgarh - Kanha:By Road
255 km in 6 hr
Drive to Kanha after breakfast and the morning safari. This is the place that
has been described by RUDYARD KIPLING in his great book "The Jungle Book".
Located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha National Park is a tiger
reserve that extends over an area of over 940 square km.
A horseshoe shaped
valley bounded by the spurs of the Mekal presents an interesting topography. Steep
rocky escarpments along the edges offer breathtaking views of the valley. Realizing
the danger on the Tiger population in the country, the Government started the
"Project Tiger" at Kanha and in 1974 the area was declared a Tiger reserve.
The park is also the habitat of the high ground Barasingha. In 1930s, the Kanha
area was divided into two sanctuaries - Hallon and Banjar of 250kms to 300kms
each. Though one of these was subsequently disbanded .The area remained a protected
one until 1947.
Depletion of the tiger population in the year that followed
led to the area being made an absolute sanctuary in 1952. Patient watching should
reward the visitor, with a sight of Indian Fox, Sloth bear, Striped hyena, Jungle
cut, Lepord, Mouse Deer, Chausingha or four horned antelope, Nilgai, Ratel and
Porcupine Kanha has some 200 species of birds.Watchers should station themselves
in the hills, where the mixed and bamboo forests harbour many species and in the
grassy forest clearings.
Water birds can be seen near the park's many
rivulets and at Sarvantal, a pool that is frequented by water birds and the area
in front of the museum. Reach in the afternoon and relax at the resort. Overnight
will be at Kanha.
Day 14 Kanha: Enjoy the full day at the Park
taking two safaris. All meals will be at the resort.
Overnight will be at
the resort.
Day 15 Kanha - Jabalpur:By Road
250 km in 5
hr
Jabalpur - Delhi:
By overnight trainProceed for the morning safari into
park. Proceed to Jabalpur after lunch. Reach and take train to Delhi. Overnight
will be on train.
Day 16 Delhi - Next destination: Arrive in the
morning and check into hotel for the day. Spend day relaxing at the hotel or spending
time at local markets. Breakfast will be at the hotel. Transfer to the airport
in time for flight home with sweet memories of the wildlife tour of India.
Wildlife &
Birds of North India, Wildlife Tours - Reservation Form
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