Arrive in Kolkata
After clearing immigration and customs, walk into the Arrivals Hall where you will be met by your local guide transferred to the hotel. Arrive and check-in to the hotel.
Overnight at Hotel (No Meal)
Kolkata
Kolkata, also known as the City of Joy, name comes from the lively and friendly and loving behavior of all the citizens all over the places making the city more lively and enjoyable.
Today after breakfast we will start our day with the visit of British Colonial Area, during the British Colonian Era from 1700 to 1912, when Kolkata (then known as Calcutta) was the capital of British India, Kolkata witnessed a spate of frenzied construction activity of buildings largely influenced by the conscious intermingling of Neo-Gothic, Baroque, Neo-Classical, Oriental and Islamic schools of design. Unlike many north Indian cities, whose construction stresses minimalism, the layout of much of the architectural variety in Kolkata owes its origins to European styles and tastes imported by the British and, to a much lesser extent, the Portuguese and French.
Then visit the Howrah Bridge, this amazing feat of engineering is similar in size to Australia’s Sydney Harbour bridge. It is considered the busiest bridge in the world and everything from pedestrians to bullock carts to push carts to automobiles to bicycles cross every day and the eastern India’s largest flower market with hundreds of stalls and vendors sitting on the ground. Approximately 2000 flower growers from the surrounding areas come daily to sell their flowers and during the wedding season and festivals, that number probably doubles.
Thereafter, visit the Victoria Memorial (Closed on Monday). This marble-white monument is one of the most fascinating landmarks of Kolkata. Here, we will come face to face with miniature paintings and images of Queen Mary, King George V and Queen Victoria. Of special importance are the Queen's dresses, the famous Rosewood piano, the Whispering Gallery in the dome and numerous artillery weapons used in the Battle of Plassey.
Wrap up your day with the visit of Indian Coffee House. Situated in the academic hub of Kolkata, the College Street, the Indian Coffee House has become a favourite destination for hangouts not only for the students of nearby schools and colleges but also the office goers and intellectuals of Kolkata. The history of Coffee House dates back to around 300 years when it was the residence of the great Bengali Philosopher and social reformer Shri Keshab Chandra Sen. Later this place was dedicated to Prince Albert Victor of Wales and was named "Albert hall". During the freedom struggle many swadeshi meetings were held here. In the year 1942, the Coffee Board decided to start a coffee joint from the Albert Hall, and after independence in 1947, the Central Government changed the name to “Indian Coffee House”. In 1958 the management decided to shut down the Coffee House, but the workers association decided to run this place on their own and since then the "Indian Coffe House" is being run by the "India Coffee Board Worker's Co-operative Society Ltd". In the year 1994 The Supreme Court of India recognized Coffee House as a cultural center of India and declared it a Heritage building.
Overnight at Hotel (B)
Kolkata to Guwahati by Flight SG- 3345 at 0925 / 1110 Hrs
Guwahati to Kaziranga by road (Approx. 193 Kms. / 120 Mi. / 4.5 Hours.)
Fly to Guwahati in the morning and drive further to Kaziranga NP, a home to one-horned Indian Rhino, tiger, deer, Asiatic buffalos and rich variety of avifauna.
Overnight at Hotel (B)
Kaziranga National Park
The most prized inhabitant of Kaziranga is the Greater One-Horned Indian Rhinoceros, but the Park is home to as many as 180 different mammals including wild elephant, tiger, deer, Asiatic wild buffalo and a rich variety of birds. We reach the Kohora Mihimukh range of the National Park and are ready to start our morning adventure.
An elephant-back safari is an experience, to search for the elusive rhinoceros, tigers, swamp deer, hog deer and more besides a large number of very interesting birds. The park never ceases to surprise its visitors! (Elephant safari is subject to availability)
After breakfast at a resort in Kaziranga, we drive on to Bagori, the Western Range of Kaziranga and get into the open jeeps for some more wildlife adventure and an extensive coverage of this magnificent park.
Overnight at Hotel (B, L, D)
Kaziranga to Guwahati by Road (Approx. 193 Kms. / 120 Mi. / 4.5 Hours.)
Guwahati to Delhi by Flight SG – 169 at 1550 / 1845 Hrs
Drive to Guwahati airport to board your flight to Delhi, a beautiful blend of medieval and modern.
On arrival, check-in to the hotel.
Overnight at Hotel (B)
Delhi
Today morning proceed to explore the Old Delhi.
Even at the time when Bombay and Madras were mere trading posts and Calcutta was a village of mud huts, Delhi had been the seat of an empire for five hundred years. Through the centuries, eight cities have been built on this site, by the Hindus, the Mughals and the British, each adding their own flavour. Within no time, you can be transported from a sprawling, elegant garden city to the ancient twisting alleyways of Old Delhi.
On the tour of “Old Delhi,” you will head out to explore this exotic locale with its narrow dirt roads, myriads of people and inexpensive and colourful bazaars that keep alive the traditional workmanship for which Delhi has always been famous. Drive past the Red Fort, and visit the Jama Masjid, one of the largest Muslim mosques in India. A bicycle rickshaw would take you into the heart of Chandni Chowk (the silver square - so named because of the silver merchants).
We then drive to the outskirts of New Delhi to explore the Qutab Minar, on the way our guide will point out the Raj-era architecture in the city centre, including the renowned India Gate and Edwin Landseer Lutyens’ and Herbert Baker’s monumental governmental building on Raisina Hill.
Qutub Minar, a victory minaret built by the first invading Persian, Qutab-ud-din, a millennium ago in South Delhi. One of Delhi’s most visited and striking monuments, the 72-meter (230 feet) high tower which majestically over the wide plains of Delhi. It is a victory tower built by the slave king Qutubuddin Aibak and later completed by his successor Iltutmish. The construction of the Qutab Minnar began in the 12th Century and it was completed in the 13th Century. Beautiful calligraphy adorns the magnificent tower, which is covered with intricate carvings and deeply inscribed verses from the Koran. The first three stories are made of red sandstone, the fourth and fifth of marble and sandstone. The tower marked the eastern extremity of the Islamic faith.
Overnight at Hotel (B)
Delhi to Nagpur by Flight by 6 E -135 at 1020 / 1210 Hrs
Nagpur to Tadoba National Park by Road (Approx. 140 Kms. / 89 Mi. / 3 Hours.)
After breakfast, transfer to Delhi airport to connect with flight to Nagpur. Once arrive, drive approx. 3 hour to reach Maharashtra's oldest and largest National Park, the "Tadoba National Park", also known as the "Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve" is one of India's 47 project tiger reserves existing in India. It lies in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra state and is approximately 150 km from Nagpur city. The total area of the tiger reserve is 1,727 Sq.km, which includes the Tadoba National Park, created in the year 1955. The Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary was formed in the year 1986 and was amalgamated with the park in 1995 to establish the present Tadoba Andheri Tiger Reserve. The word 'Tadoba' is derived from the name of God "Tadoba" or "Taru," which is praised by local tribal people of this region and "Andhari" is derived from the name of Andhari river that flows in this area.
Overnight at Hotel (B)
Tadoba Tiger Reserve is a rare jungle jewel amongst India’s leading tiger reserves and national parks. It is affably called the Land of the Tigers, due to its high tiger density. Visitors report frequent tiger and wild dog sightings and, in general, the park offers plenty of opportunities for close encounters of the wildlife kind which also include: Leopard, Sloth Bear, Gaur (Indian Bison), Rusty Spotted Cat, Ratel, Indian Mouse Deer, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Wild Pig, Four Horned Antelope, Flying Squirrel, and more. Over 200 species of birds include the crested serpent eagle, honey buzzard, paradise flycatcher, grey-headed fishing eagle, the shy jungle fowl, and much more.
Explore the national park by morning and afternoon game drives.
Overnight at Hotel (B, L, D)
Tadoba National Park
Tadoba is less commercialized than other leading parks in India and still has a pristine ecosystem. Major flora include: Bamboo, Teak, Ain, Bija, Dhauda, Haldu, Salai, Semal, and Tendu. Bamboo and Teak dominate the tropical dry deciduous flora of this land. Scattered throughout are the lovely kusums and flowering silk cottons, which bloom from late winter to spring. But very unique to Tadoba, and a photographer’s delight, are the ‘ghost trees’ which are very large and have completely white bark! Another special treat at Tadoba is the chance to see sloth bears sleeping peacefully near a waterhole after having their fill of the creamy white flowers off the mahua tree. Once the sweet juices of the tree are digested, it generates alcohol!
Explore the national park by morning and afternoon game drives.
Overnight at Hotel (B, L, D)
Tadoba National Park to Nagpur by Road (Approx. 140 Kms. / 89 Mi. / 3 Hours.)
Nagpur to Mumbai by Flight 6 E – 6936 at 1025 / 1200 Hrs
Today early morning with packed breakfast we leave for Nagpur airport to connect flight for Mumbai.
On arrival, check-in to hotel and rest of the day is free at leisure.
Overnight at Hotel (B)
After breakfast, we begin at the waterfront Gateway of India monument, an impressive 85-feet high arch built by the British in 1924 to serve as a ceremonial entrance to the country. When India gained its independence in 1948, the last British battalion formally passed through the Gateway.
From here take a boat to visit the Elephanta caves (Closed on Monday) which are declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the 6th century A.D. It was the Portuguese who named the caves after the statue of an elephant which is seen close to the landing area. These caves were carved out from a single rock. The most striking statue of Trimurti, Shiva in the three moods as the Creator, the Destroyer and the Preserver is a masterpiece by itself.
Return to the city and visit the Prince of Wales Museum. Founded in the early years of the 20th century, it houses approximately 50,000 exhibits of ancient Indian history as well as objects from foreign lands, categorized primarily into three sections: Art, Archaeology and Natural History. The Museum houses Indus Valley Civilization artifacts, and other relics from ancient India. (Closed on Mondays and national holidays)
Visit from outside, the impressive Town Hall, the most majestic structures among the other heritage buildings in the city of Mumbai. Another wonderful Gothic building is the Chhatrapati Sivaji Terminus, constructed on the site from which, in 1854, ran the first train in India. Designed by William Stevens and completed in 1887, the building looks more like a lavishly decorated palace than something as mundane as a train station.
Overnight at Hotel (B)
Mumbai to Diu by Flight (AI 9623 at 1210/1315hrs. (Mon/Tue/Thu/Sat)
Diu to Gir National Park by Road (Approx. 95 Kms. / 59 Mi. / 2.5 Hours.)
Morning fly to Diu, where a drive takes you to Sasan Gir National park, known for its population on Asiatic Lion and other animals like wild boars, deer and many more.
Overnight at Hotel (B)
Gir National Park
The Gir Forests- the largest compact tract of dry deciduous forests in the semi-arid western part of India is the last abode of the big and regal predator, Asiatic lion an endangered animal species. The sanctuary is internationally acclaimed for successfully saving this precious species from the brink of extinction. It was declared as a sanctuary in 1965. Subsequently out of the 1153.42 sq. km area of the sanctuary, an area of 258.71 sq. km. was declared a National Park. Gir Forests has a topography made up of successive rugged ridges, isolated hills, plateaus and valleys. Besides, being the last abode of Asiatic lions, Gir Forests forms a unique habitat for many mammals, reptiles, birds and insect species along with a rich variety of flora.
Explore the national park by morning and afternoon game drives.
Overnight at Hotel (B, L, D)
Gir National Park to Diu by Road
Diu to Mumbai by Flight (AI-9624 at 1340/1445 – Mon/Tue/Thu/Sat)
Drive to Diu airport to board your flight to Mumbai. Evening is free to explore on your own.
Overnight at Hotel (B)
Mumbai / Udaipur by Flight (6E-746 at 1215/1340 hrs.)
Morning fly to Udaipur, known as the Venice of the East, the city of lakes and one of India’s most romantic destinations.
Udaipur, described as the “City of Sunrise,” standing in a valley amid green hills on the banks of the Lake Pichola.
Enjoy the pleasant boat ride on the Lake Pichola in the evening.
Overnight at Hotel (B)
Udaipur
Today visit the Jadish Temple, the largest and most venerated temple in Udaipur. Built in 1651 A.D. by Maharaja Jagat Singh, the temple is decorated with friezes and enshrines a black stone image of Vishnu. Walk about the Garden of Maidens (Sahelion Ki Bari), which consists of an ornamental lotus pool with delicately carved cenotaphs of black and white marble and soapstone. You can explore the rest of the Maharajah’s City Palace, an imposing edifice of granite and marble, standing atop a ridge overlooking the blue waters of Lake Pichola and the exquisite Lake Palace.
Overnight at Hotel (B)
Udaipur / Jawai (approx. 3 hour drive)
After breakfast, drive to Jawai Bandh, heart of an untrammelled wilderness, where leopards roam wild and free.
Overnight at Hotel (B)
Jawai
Jawai is where the hills throw the moon out and just as soon absorb its glow onto their gorges; where nomadic Rabari herdsmen are as much a part of the earth's tales as the mysterious felines that grace these hills and vanish at will into their folds; where pastoral fields meet and merge with wild grasslands and the swells of the JAWAI Bandh's waters lap at the toes of mighty granite forms; where flamingos flock and cranes in their hundreds dance to springtime sounds.
This morning proceed for a thrill of spotting Leopard, take in the breath-taking natural beauty of the rocky outcrops and surrounding Jawai lake as the palette of colours change during sunrise and sunset. The other animals that could be spotted are wolves, hyenas, nilgai, sloth bear, jackals, hanuman langurs, crocodiles, pythons, chinkara antelopes and jungle cats. Over 207 species of birds visit Jawai area throughout the year, the winter months are specially good for sighting the migratory water birds and damesoille cranes.
Overnight at Hotel (B, L, D)
Jawai to Udaipur (approx. 3 hour drive) / Flight to Mumbai by 6E – 753 at 1515 / 1645 Hrs & Departure
After breakfast, drive to Udaipur airport to board your flight to Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai and connect with flight to onward destination.
END OF ARRANGEMENTS
