India's Forts, Palaces & Tigers

Welcome to India! As you arrive at Delhi’s International Airport you will be met and transferred to the Oberoi Delhi Hotel for two nights.

The Oberoi reflects the city’s spirit in a harmonious blend of tradition and contemporary sophistication. Located close to the city center near business, commercial and shopping districts, the luxury hotel overlooks Delhi Golf Club on one side and the heritage site of Humayun’s Tomb on the other.

After breakfast this morning you will be taken for a guided sightseeing tour of Old Delhi, starting with rickshaw ride in Chandni Chowk, which was once the grandest of markets in India. Even though today Chandni Chowk appears choked with congestion, it retains its historical character. You will then visit the Jama Masjid, the Friday congregational mosque, known as the largest and most glorious mosque in India. It was the last architectural extravaganza of the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan, built in the year 1656 AD.

After lunch you will drive through Lutyen’s Delhi, driving past Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate and the Old Secretariat. You will also see the Qutub Minar, a tower that, at 72.5 meters high, is the world’s tallest brick minaret. Construction commenced in 1193 under the orders of India’s first Muslim ruler Qutab-ud-din Aibak. The Qutab Minar is notable for being one of the earliest and most prominent examples of Indo-Islamic architecture and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Your final stop of the day is another UNESCO World Heritage Site – Humayun’s Tomb, a complex of buildings built as the Mughal Emperor Humayun’s tomb in 1562. It was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It was also the first structure to use red sandstone at such a scale.

Today your adventure starts with a drive to Agra (approximately 3 ½ hours). The city of Agra flourished under the patronage of the emperors Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan and attracted artisans from Persia and central Asia. Agra is where Emperor Shah Jahan engraved his immortal love for his Empress in the marble Taj Mahal. Agra is still famous for handicrafts products such as inlay work on marble, carpets, jewelry, zari and embroidery work.

On arrival you will check in to the Oberoi Amarvilas Hotel. The hotel is located just 600 meters from the magnificent Taj Mahal. After you have settled into your hotel you will visit the red sandstone Agra Fort, renovated and converted into a palace during Shah Jahan’s time, and reworked extensively with marble and pietra dura inlay.

Late in the afternoon into evening when the light is perfect for photography, you will visit the Taj Mahal to see this magnificent site at sunset. Considered to be one of the most elegant and harmonious buildings in the world, the Taj Mahal is the manifestation of the wealth and luxury of Mughal art as seen in its architecture, garden design, painting, and calligraphy.

This morning you will have an opportunity to see the exquisite Taj Mahal at sunrise. You will then return to the hotel for breakfast and then embark on a unique adventure – a 5-hour car journey on Indian roads to Jaipur stopping at the ancient abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri for a quick visit. Fatehpur Sikri is a fine example of a Mughal walled city with defined private and public areas and imposing gateways. Its architecture, a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles, reflects Akbar’s secular vision as well as his style of governance.

Later continue your drive to Jaipur, where modernity and tradition exist side by side. The walled city, vibrant with colors, houses the City Palace, an astronomical observatory and a bustling bazaar where artisans fashion puppets, silver jewelry, lac bangles and other handicrafts in their workshops.

Upon arriving in Jaipur you will check into the Oberoi Rajvilas Hotel for two nights. The hotel is set in 32 acres of landscaped gardens with pavilions and reflection pools that create the romance and grandeur of Rajasthan.

This morning after breakfast you will be met and taken for a guided sightseeing tour of Amber Fort. The stunning Amber Fort was built all in white marble and red sandstone and was the ancient citadel of the ruling Kachhawa clan of Amber, before the capital was shifted to present day Jaipur. Amber Fort is known for its unique artistic style, blending both Hindu and Muslim (Mughal) elements, and its ornate and breathtaking artistic mastery.

You will then enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of the City Palace, Observatory Tower and Hawa Mahal. The City Palace is a wonderful combination of Mughal and Rajput forms of architecture is now partly a museum housing miniature paintings, manuscripts, Mughal carpets, musical instruments, royal costumes and weapons, giving invaluable insight into Jaipur’s royal past. Observatory Tower contains instruments that are still used today to forecast the weather and the turns of nature. Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds is the focal point of the city of Jaipur and is a five-story high Baroque-like structure built to enable the veiled ladies of the harem to observe the street scenes below and remain unnoticed.

After your tour of Jaipur you will take a 45 minute drive to Kukas Village in the Amber Forest Valley where beautifully decorated elephants await your arrival with a beautiful wooden howdah that has decorative brass motifs. Here the elephant and his mahout welcome guests and the safari starts. Each elephant carries two persons. The route winds through the riverbed, at times camouflaged by elephant grass. The elephants then take a route through a series of farms and fields and a few quiet villages tucked away in the countryside. This excursion lasts approximately 30 to 45 minutes. Afterwards you can enjoy dinner at a private farm in Dera Amer; then you will return to Jaipur for the night.

This morning you depart to Udaipur (an approximate 4-hour drive). Delicate, feminine and elegant, Udaipur is known by many names – City of Sunrise, Jewel of Mewar and City of Lakes. Undoubtedly one of India’s most romantic cities, it nestles between the glassy waters of its famous lakes and the ancient Aravalli Hills. Although it is one of Rajasthan’s largest cities, modern Udaipur manages to retain a charming small town vibe.

You will check into the Oberoi Udaivilas Hotel on the banks of Lake Pichola. The Oberoi Udaivilas captures all the romance and splendor of a royal era.

Today you will enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Udaipur starting with the City Palace, the house of the maharajas of Udaipur. A pearl of marble and vibrant mosaics, it is marvelous example of the attention to detail and the exemplary workmanship of the Rajasthani artisans. You will also visit the Crystal Gallery that has an extraordinary collection of objects including a crystal bedroom set and after that visit the Jagdish Temple & Sahelion Ki Bari.

You will then drive 45 minutes north of Udaipur to Eklingji. It is a complex of 108 ancient temples. These architectural marvels are incised out of sandstone and marble. This evening back in Udaipur you will take a boat tour of Lake Pichola which is fringed with temples and ghats (steps). In the centre of the lake is Jag Mandir Island, which commands magnificent views of the City Palace.

After breakfast you will be transferred to the Jodhpur airport for your fight to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi you will be met and transferred to the Trident Gurgaon Hotel for one night.

This morning after breakfast, you will be met by our representative and transferred to the airport for your flight to Raipur. On arrival in Raipur, you will be met by your guide and transferred by road, approximately 5 hours, to Kanha National Park and Banjaar Tola Tented Camp, where you will spend your final four nights on your India safari.

Prime tiger wilderness, Kanha National Park was one of the first areas to be protected under Project Tiger, aimed at preserving this magnificent animal, and remains a renowned conservation area. This picturesque reserve boasts the ideal habitat for both tigers and their prey species. Lush sal and bamboo forests are interspersed with vast grassy meadows known as maidans, while the Banjaar River, which forms the park’s south-western border, provides a steady water source for the abundant wildlife. A huge population of various deer and antelope, including the extremely rare barasingha, supports a large number of tiger, leopard, jackal and wild dog.

Banjaar Tola Kanha Tented Camp overlooks the lush forests and grassy meadows of Kanha. Admire stunning river views from the privacy of your own verandah or share the experiences of the day on dramatic decks facing the Banjaar River.

Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in Kanha National Park.

Today you will be transferred by road to the Raipur airport for your flight to Delhi where you will connect with your flight home.