Wildlife & Birds of North India
Duration : 17 Nights / 16 Days
Destination 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 Train
400 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, Indian Wildlife Tours
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