Arrive Mumbai at 2145 hrs by Air Asia Flight XT-852.
On your arrival, after clearing Immigration, you will be met by a Mysteries of India’s representative who will escort you to your hotel.
Mumbai (formerly Bombay), the gateway to India in the days of the British Raj, is today India's commercial capital. The city dates back to around the first century A.D., when the area consisted of seven islands separated by the sea. In 1661 the Portuguese presented the port and islands of Bombay to the British, and in 1668 the East India Company leased all of the islands from the British Government for £10.00 in gold per year.
On independence in 1947 the Bombay presidency became Bombay state, and subsequently Bombay became the state capital of Maharashtra. Today Mumbai is a fascinating crossroads of the east and west where the sophistication and technology of the first world is combined with the eastern ability to sell almost anything against a backdrop of oriental colour and scent. Besides being the major port, Mumbai is the most cosmopolitan, fastest moving, affluent and industrialized city in India. It is India's financial, commercial and industrial centre, and the centre of the film industry (Bollywood).
Early morning, check out and transfer to the airport for your flight to Nagpur.
Mumbai / Nagpur
Air India AI-627 0601 0715 Economy class
On your arrival in Nagpur, you will be met and driven to Pench National Park.
Pench National Park became the 19th Project Tiger Reserve in 1992. The Park nestles in the southern slopes of the Satpura Hills in central India. The park is rich in wildlife, with its fine habitats dominated by a fairly open canopy of mixed forests with considerable shrub cover and open grassy patches. The undulating topography supports a mosaic of vegetation ranging from moist, sheltered valleys to open, dry deciduous forest.
Check in at the lodge.
Afternoon game drive by SHARED Gypsy. (This means that you may be with other guests from the Taj Hotel)
Afternoon game drives in the park. The area is especially known for large herds of gaur (Indian bison), cheetal, sambar, nilgai, wild dog and wild pig. The key predator is tiger followed by leopard, wild dog and wolf. Other mammals include sloth bear, chousingha, chinkara, barking deer, jackal, fox, palm civet, small Indian civet, jungle cat, hyena, and porcupine.
PENCH NATIONAL PARK
Morning and afternoon game drives by SHARED Gypsy.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the lodge.
Overnight in Pench
After breakfast, check out and drive to Kanha National Park.
Kanha National Park is one of India's largest and most remote wildlife habitats, covering 940 sq km of forest and lightly wooded grasslands. An extensive network of rivers and streams support its sal and bamboo forests, rolling grasslands and prolific variety of flora and fauna. A dramatic natural splendour forms the core of Kanha, designated a National Park in 1976.
Since 1955 a series of stringent conservation programmes for the protection of the park's flora and fauna has given Kanha its deserved reputation for being one of the finest, best administered, National Parks in Asia.
Check in at the lodge.
Afternoon game drive by SHARED Gypsy.
An afternoon drive through sal and bamboo forests, and across rolling meadows, in search of tiger, leopard, chital, sambar, three-striped palm squirrel, common langur, and jackal.
Kanha also has some 200 species of birds.
At Sunset Point, one of the most beautiful areas of the park, a spectacular sunset can be seen.
Lunch and dinner at the lodge.
Overnight in Kanha
KANHA NATIONAL PARK
Morning drive by SHARED Gypsy.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the lodge.
Afternoon is at leisure.
Overnight in Kanha
Note: All National Parks in Madhya Pradesh are closed for evening safaris on Wednesdays.
Morning game drive by SHARED Gypsy.
After breakfast, check out and drive to Bandhavgarh National Park.
Bandhavgarh National Park is located in the Vindhya Hills in the state of Madhya Pradesh. With a diverse variety of habitats it is home to a large cross section of game, including Royal Bengal tigers. Indeed the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is one of the highest in India.
The park comprises a core area of 105 sq km and a buffer area of around 400 sq km. Its topography includes steep ridges, undulating forest and open meadows making it one of India's most scenic national parks.
Check-in at your lodge and the rest of the day is at leisure.
Lunch and dinner at the lodge.
Overnight in Bandhavgarh
Morning and afternoon game drives by SHARED Gypsy.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the lodge.
Overnight in Bandhavgarh
Morning Game Drive in shared Gypsy.
Post breakfast at your lodge, check out and you will be driven to Jabalpur airport in time to catch your flight to Delhi.
AIR INDIA AI9618 DEPARTS JABALPUR 1800 ARRIVES DELHI 2000
On arrival in Delhi you will be met by a representative from Mysteries of India who will escort you to your hotel.
After an early breakfast, check out and you will be driven to Agra.
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Agra was the capital of the Afghan King Sikandar Lodhi’s empire from 1501. It passed to the Mughals 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.
Check into your hotel.
In the afternoon, enjoy Agra sightseeing covering Agra Fort, Itimad-Ud-Daulah and sunset visit to Taj Mahal.
Agra Fort was built principally as a military establishment 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 the daughter-in-law of Emperor Akbar, and the grandfather of Mumtaz Mahal. A graceful building much smaller than the Taj Mahal, it is also the first example in Mughal architecture of a building faced entirely in marble. The in-lay work is exquisite.
Sunset visit : the Taj Mahal 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
After breakfast, check out and drive back to Delhi in time to catch your flight to Udaipur.
SECTOR Delhi / Udaipur AIRLINE Spice Jet FLIGHT NO SG-2637
DEPARTURE 1855 HrsARRIVAL 2020 Hrs CLASS Economy
On your arrival in Udaipur, you will be met by our representative who will escort you to your hotel.
Udaipur, the 'City of Dreams' also known as the Venice of the East, is interspersed with shimmering lakes, marble palaces and fountains. It is often referred to as the most romantic city in India. It was built in traditional Rajput style in 1559 A.D. by Maharana Udai Singh and was originally the capital of the State of Mewar. Its beautiful lake setting, graceful architecture, bustling bazaars and historical past make Udaipur rather special.
Check in at the hotel and spend rest of the evening at leisure (no vehicle for local use).
Overnight in Udaipur
Breakfast at your hotel.
Later proceed for the morning city tour which includes the City Palace & Museum, Jagdish Temple and the Sahelion ki Bari (Garden of the Maids of Honour).
The grand City Palace towers over the Pichola Lake. Maharana Uday Singh initiated its construction and succeeding Maharanas added several palaces to the complex but retained a surprising uniformity to the design. The main part of the palace is now a museum displaying a large and diverse array of artefacts, the Crystal Gallery having a breath-taking collection of crystal.
Jagdish Temple: The exterior and the plinth are covered with superb base reliefs of alligators, elephants, horsemen and celestial musicians rising in tiers. Chanting, bells and music can be heard throughout the day.
Sahelion Ki Bari: Known as the Gardens of the Maids of Honour, and built in the 18th century by Maharana Sangram Singh, these delightful gardens are discreet and in impeccable taste. The fountains of the Sahelion ki Bari function solely by water pressure with no pumps being used.
In the evening, there is an exclusive boat ride on Lake Pichola (1 hr, organised by Taj Lake Palace Hotel)
The boat ride on Lake Pichola cruises the city waterfront, bathing Ghats, and out to Jag Mandir. Lake Pichola derives its name from Pichola Village, which was submerged when Maharana Udai Singh enlarged the lake after he founded the city.
Overnight in Udaipur
Post leisurely breakfast, check out and you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Delhi.
SECTOR Delhi / Udaipur AIRLINE Indigo FLIGHT NO 6E-747 DEPARTURE 1410ARRIVAL 1520 CLASS Economy
On your arrival, you will be met by our representative who will escort you to your hotel.
Delhi, the capital and the third largest city of India, is a fusion of ancient and modern. Standing at the western end of the Gangetic Plain, it is a vibrant city rich in culture, architecture, beautiful gardens and human diversity. Its rich history is reflected in magnificent monuments, in museums and in galleries. It comprises two contrasting yet harmonious parts, Old Delhi and New Delhi.
Old Delhi was the capital of Muslim India from the 12th to the 19th centuries, while New Delhi was created by the British Raj and replaced Calcutta as the capital in 1931. It is India’s main international gateway, and the travel hub of Northern India.
Check in at the hotel & spend rest of the evening at leisure (no vehicle for local use).
Overnight in Delhi
Check out and you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Male.
AIR INDIA
AI 506 DEPARTS DELHI 0945 ARRIVES BANGALORE 1230
AI 1265 DEPARTS BANGALORE 1420 ARRIVES MALE 1545
Room with attached private facilities inclusive of presently applicable taxes. Hotel check-in time is 1400 Hrs and checkout time is 12 Noon.
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis. Except Mumbai, Agra & Delhi on Room with breakfast.
Airport transfers, drives and sightseeing as specified air conditioned Toyota Innova (SUV Type) Vehicle inclusive of representative assistance and porterage at airports
Vehicle on Pick up & drop basis: Nagpur-Pench, Pench-Kanha, Kanha-Bandhavgarh & Bandhavgarh- Katni.
Local English speaking guides/naturalists at monuments/Game Park.
Entrance fee to monuments/Game Park.
03 SHARED Game Drives by Gypsy in Pench National Park.
03 SHARED Game Drives by Gypsy in Kanha National Park.
03 SHARED Game Drives by Gypsy in Bandhvagarh National Park.
01 Time Exclusive Boat Ride at Lake Pichola by Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur.
All sightseeing and excursions as per itinerary.
Train tickets for the sector Katni / Agra in 01st AC Class.
Domestic Flight tickets for Mumbai / Nagpur, Delhi / Udaipur & Udaipur / Delhi in Economy Class.
All currently applicable taxes. (Subject to change as per govt. norms)
International flights. (Own Arrangements)
Travel Insurance.
Visa fee for India & Maldives.
Vehicle & Guide on free days.
Flight, Hotel & transport arrangements in Maldives.
Expenses of personal nature like laundry, telephones calls, hard & soft drinks & beverage
and mineral water etc.
Still and video camera fee at monuments and game parks
Airport departure taxes.
Tips anywhere – to drivers, porters, bellboys, guides & waiters etc
Any items not mentioned in the itinerary and inclusions.
In accordance with our booking conditions, we require clients to have adequate holiday insurance so that you are fully covered against unexpected cancellation charges, medical expenses arising abroad, loss of luggage or money and personal liability claims.
INDIAN VISA – OWN ARRANGEMENTS
All foreigners require a Visa to visit India.
BOOKING DEPOSITS
In order to finalize these arrangements we will need an advance deposit of AUD 450 Per Person. Once your go ahead is received we will start work on confirming your itinerary
