On arrival at Delhi Airport (Indria Gandhi International) you will be met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel to settle in, rest and acclimatise after your international flight.
Delhi sightseeing
Delhi is a vibrant city rich in culture, architecture, beautiful gardens and human diversity. Its history is reflected in its magnificent monuments, museums and galleries. The city comprises two contrasting yet harmonious parts, Old Delhi and New Delhi.
Old Delhi was the capital of Muslim India from the twelfth to the nineteenth centuries, while New Delhi was created by the British Raj and replaced Calcutta as the capital in 1931. We split this day into two halves, first a morning visiting the sights and sounds of the old town, followed by an afternoon trip to experience new Delhi, accompanied by a private guide.
After breakfast you will be picked up by your guide and driver for a morning sightseeing around Old Delhi, including:
Jama Masjid: This highly decorative Mosque is the largest Mosque in India. Built in1658, it has two 40 metre high minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble.
Chandni Chowk: The bustling oriental bazaar built in 1650. Here you’ll hop on a rickshaw for a ride around the maze-like streets and alleys, taking in the sights, sounds and aromatic smells of the historical spice market which is still operating today.
Red Fort (Exterior): The red sandstone walls of the massive Red Fort stretch some two kilometres, rising 33 meters above the clamour of Old Delhi.
Raj Ghat: This marks the place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated after being assassinated in 1948. Set in a lovely garden on the banks of the Yamuna River
Lunch
Your afternoon tour of New Delhi includes:
Qutab Minar: An excellent example of Afghan architecture, with a 73 metre hand carved “tower of victory”.
Humayun’s Tomb: Built in 1565 AD this striking and beautiful tomb’s design evolved into the Taj Mahal.
After breakfast at the Hotel, we will transfer to the airport for your mid-morning flight from Delhi to Jabalpur. You are required to show your flight booking together with your passport to enter the Airport building. At busy times there can be a queue. Your baggage allowance is 15kgs for checked-in bags and 7kgs for hand luggage.
On arrival we will transfer to cars for the transfer to your Lodge. The drive time is approximately 5 hours with short comfort break stop. On arrival at the lodge, time to settle in before dinner - meeting for pre-dinner drinks and snacks after which dinner will be served.
Kanha National Park, situated amidst dense bamboo forests, the stately groves of Sal and the Rolling Meadows. Other than the Tiger, Kanha National Park has an excellent variety of wildlife including Leopards, Chital, Sambar, three striped palm squirrel, common langur, jackal. Known as Sunset Point, this is one of the most beautiful areas of the park, from where a spectacular sunset can be watched. The dense luxuriance of Kanha's forests can be seen from here. Animals that can be sighted around this point are typical of the mixed forest zone: sambar, barking deer, gaur and four-horned antelope. Kanha also has some 200 species of birds.
To enter the airport buildings you will be required to show your flight ticket and passport.
There is a drive from the Lodge to the entrance of the Park and you may need to wrap up due to windchill in an open jeep. Your passports are required to be shown at entry for every game drive.
Enjoy morning and evening game drives within the Tiger Reserve. Game drives are the best way to experience wildlife and wild habitats. Safaris are conducted by qualified and experienced naturalists in open, four passenger, 4x4 Gypsy (jeeps).
Breakfast is taken in the Park at a rest area, with lunch and dinner being served at the lodge.
There is a drive from the Lodge to the entrance of the Park and you may need to wrap up due to windchill in an open jeep. Your passports are required to be shown at entry for every game drive.
Enjoy morning and evening game drives within the Tiger Reserve. Game drives are the best way to experience wildlife and wild habitats. Safaris are conducted by qualified and experienced naturalists in open, four passenger, 4x4 Gypsy (jeeps).
Breakfast is taken in the Park at a rest area, with lunch and dinner being served at the lodge.
There is a drive from the Lodge to the entrance of the Park and you may need to wrap up due to windchill in an open jeep. Your passports are required to be shown at entry for every game drive.
Following your breakfast, check out and drive to Bandhavgarh National Park.
Bandhavgarh is spread at vindhya hills in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Bandhavgarh consists of a core area of 105 sq km and a buffer area of approximately 400 sq km of topography varies between steep ridges, undulating, forest and open meadows. Bandhavgarh is one of India's most scenic national parks. The dramatic landscape features tropical forests and woodlands and steep rocky hills with flat grasslands in the valleys below. This forested is renowned for the Royal Bengal Tigers. The density of the Tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India. Other than tiger, you can also sight, leopard, jackal, jungle cat, wild boar, sloth bear, nilghai and sambhar.
Arrive Bandhavgarh, check in the lodge & enjoy your lunch.
Later proceed for Afternoon Game Drive by Exclusive Gypsy (4x4 Jeep).
Visit to the National Park. Its steep cliffs, rocky hills covered with 44,884 hectare of dense Sal and bamboo forests make it an ideal terrain for tigers. Other than tiger, you can also sight, leopard, jackal, jungle cat, wild boar, sloth bear, nilghai and sambhar. There are two types of monkeys common in the park-the rhesus macaque and the black faced langur. Bandhavgarh attracts many migratory birds in the winter months, including the birds of prey like the steppe eagle and a variety of wildfowl.
Dinner at the Lodge.
For the Airport, please note that at the airport you will be required to carry your own passport and boarding card as there are separate security scanners for male and female passengers (female passengers are scanned with a handheld device behind a curtain by a female security officer). A drink and snack are included in your flight ticket with additional snacks to purchase if required.
Morning and Evening game drives in the Tiger Reserve. Game drives and all meals included.
As well as Tigers Bandhavgarh National Park has an excellent variety of wildlife including Leopards, Elephant, Chital, Sambar, three striped palm Squirrel, common Langur and Jackal.
Breakfast is taken in the Park at a rest area, with lunch and dinner being served at the lodge.
There is a drive from the Lodge to the entrance of the Park and you may need to wrap up due to windchill in an open jeep. Your passports are required to be shown at entry for every game drive.
Enjoy morning and evening game drives within the Tiger Reserve. Game drives are the best way to experience wildlife and wild habitats. Safaris are conducted by qualified and experienced naturalists in open, four passenger, 4x4 Gypsy (jeeps).
Breakfast is taken in the Park at a rest area, with lunch and dinner being served at the lodge.
There is a drive from the Lodge to the entrance of the Park and you may need to wrap up due to windchill in an open jeep. Your passports are required to be shown at entry for every game drive.
Early morning, check out (Packed Breakfast) and straight drive to Jabalpur airport in time to catch your flight back to Delhi (approximately 4.5 hrs). Your baggage allowance is 15kgs for checked-in bags and 7kgs for hand luggage. You will then fly back to Delhi, arriving in the afternoon. Transfer to your airport hotel.
To enter the airport building you will need to show your valid flight ticket and passport.
Please note that at the airport you will be required to carry your own passport and boarding card as there are separate security scanners for male and female passengers (female passengers are scanned with a handheld device behind a curtain by a female security officer). A drink and snack are included in your flight ticket with additional snacks to purchase if required.
Following breakfast, check out and drive to Agra.
Agra was the capital of the Afghan King Sikandar Lodhi’s empire from 1501. It passed to the Mughal’s soon after and in 1526 Emperor Babar transformed Agra, giving it a unique character and beauty. A great patron of the arts, he made changes to the culture and life-style of his people, which in turn brought forth some of the finest craftsmen, artists, statesmen, warriors and nobility ever seen in this part of India. Over the next few centuries Agra witnessed a rise in pomp and pageantry under the rule of three great Mughal monarchs - Emperors Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. All lavished their love and riches on this fabled city, making it one of the great centres of art, culture, learning and commerce.
Arrive Agra & check in at your hotel. Afterwards proceed for Agra Sightseeing includes visit to Agra Fort, Itmad-Ud-Daulah Tomb & Taj Mahal by Sunset.
Agra Fort was built principally as military establishments by Akbar in 1565. However, it was partially converted into a palace during Shah Jahan’s reign. Though Akbar built the original structure, his grandsons made many additions. This powerful fortress encompasses the imperial city of the Mughal rulers within its 2.5-kilometre enclosure walls.
Itimad-Ud-Daulah This is the first example of Mughal architecture using marble. It was built by Empress Nur Jahan, in memory of her father Ghias-Ud-Din Beg, between 1622 and 28. She was daughter-in-law of Emperor Akbar, and he the grandfather of Mumtaz Mahal. A graceful building much smaller than the Taj Mahal is also the first example in Mughal architecture of a building faced entirely in marble. The in-lay work is exquisite.
Taj Mahal, which was built by Shah Jahan between 1631 to 1653 in memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned from white marble and in-laid with precious and semi-precious stones. It stands testimony to the skill of some 20,000 craftsmen brought together from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy, and who laboured for 22 years to complete this ‘Love Poem in Marble’. (Closed on Fridays).
Overnight in Agra
Early morning, you will have an opportunity to admire Taj Mahal’s beauty at the Sunrise from Mehtab Bagh (Moonlight Garden) WITHOUT GUIDE. Mehtab Bagh (meaning moonlit garden) is the best place in Agra to see the Taj Mahal. It provides the most satisfying view of the monument without the crowd. You can take a perfect photo of the marble mausoleum.
It’s built in the traditional Charbagh style of Mughal gardens. And it’s believed that Shah Jahan got Mehtab Bagh designed in a way so he could admire the Taj Mahal from here. Today, Mehtab Bagh is a popular view spot. It’s also a delight for nature enthusiasts. You can find scores of blooming flowery plants and shrubs. An umpteen variety of fruit trees has also been planted inside the garden to mirror its royal past. Agra Development Authority has developed a perfect point on the bank of river Yamuna near Mehtab Bagh to have a panoramic view of Taj Mahal.
Return to the hotel and enjoy your breakfast.
Later check out and drive back to Delhi.
Arrive Delhi, check in at your hotel and spend concluding night at ease.
After breakfast, transfer to the International Airport in the for check-in for homeward flights, or for those wishing to add an extension trip your guide will pick you up from your hotel.
Remember to have your flight ticket to hand as you cannot enter the airport without a valid flight ticket.
