India: Forts, Tigers & Temples (15 days)
Depart any day of the week on our journey to India to experience exotic wildlife, cultural splendour and magnificent scenery.
Spend time in Old Delhi marveling at the sites. Continue to Rajasthan visiting the temples, forts, palaces and desert landscapes in Jaipur and Kalakho. We visit Agra and the Taj Mahal before departing on an overnight train journey to Kanha and Bandhavgarh Parks, the country Rudyard Kipling so vividly described in the "Jungle Book". Here we will again search for Indian tiger and a range of birds and wildlife. Our journey then takes us to the fabulous temples of Khajuraho and the pilgrim centre of Varanassi. The trip starts and ends in Delhi.
2013 Departure Dates & Costs
Daily departures based on minimum 2 persons
Tour cost: $ 3,015 USD based on twin
Single supplement $ 985
Includes domestic airfare Khajuraho/Varanasi and Varanasi/Delhi
Can be modified to suit your timeline and interests - ask for details
Itinerary
Day 1 ARRIVE DELHI
After clearing immigration and customs, you step into the receiving area where you will be met by our representative and transferred to the hotel. Arrive and check-in at the Sidharath Hotel for 2 nights.
Day 2 DELHI (B,D)
After breakfast proceed for a full day visit of Delhi.
Sightseeing of Old Delhi includes a visit to the Red Fort, built in 1648 during the reign of Shah Jehan in red sandstone, which gave the fort its name. Jama Masjid is India's largest mosque, built of red sandstone and white marble in the middle of the 17th century. Chandni Chowk (Silver Street), once the imperial avenue down which Shah Jehan rode at the head of lavish cavalcades, is today bustling with shops, stalls and silversmiths' ateliers. Also visit Raj Ghat where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. Post lunch depart on a tour of New Delhi which includes a visit to Qutub Minar and a drive past some of the most important modern buildings in Delhi.
Day 3 DELHI-AGRA (B,D)
Morning after breakfast drive to Agra (200 kms/125 mi/6 hrs with a Lunch Break and Sikandra), stopping en-route at a Midway for lunch on own and Sikandra for sightseeing. Sikandra is named after Sikandar Lodhi. Here stands the Tomb of mighty Akbar. The construction of this mausoleum was started by Akbar himself but was completed in 1613 by his son Emperor Jehangir. Continue drive to Agra where you arrive early in the Afternoon. On arrival in Agra, check-in to the Uttkatsh Villas. Visit the red sandstone Agra Fort, by which stands like a crescent on the banks of the Jamuna river, enclosed forbidding 20-meter high walls, with a 12- meter moat between them. Three successive Mughal emperors - Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jehan - helped create this massive structure which contains Hindu and Muslim architecture
Day 4 AGRA (B,D)
Early morning visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise. One of the highlights of your trip will probably be a visit to to the Taj Mahal, surely the greatest monument to love and one One of the wonders of the modern world. Completed in 1652, skilled craftsmen from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and some 20,000 laborers worked for 22 years to build this edifice, constructed by Emperor Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. Return to the Hote. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 5 AGRA-FATEHPUR SIKRI-KALAKHO (180kms) (B,,D)
After breakfast drive to Kalakho to experience the living cultures of India. En-route stop at Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted sandstone city, which was the glorious but short-lived imperial capital of Akbar, the greatest of Mughal emperors. Lying on a rocky ridge, it is today a haunting complex of empty palaces, forts and mosques. A variety of architectural styles are found, since craftsmen representing many schools were employed. Continue drive to Kalakho. On arrival at Kalakho, check-in at the Dera Lakeview Retreat. Set on the bank of a monsoon lake, this retreat skillfully blends the exotic ambience of an authentic village with luxurious modern facilities. Enjoy a cultural show this evening. Overnight at the Dera Lake View Retreat.
Day 6 KALAKHO-JAIPUR (B,L,D)
In the morning, enjoy a Camel Safari to the neighboring Meena Tribal Village, the colorful Meena tribals live in mud huts with floral and animal designs decorating the walls and floors. Spend sometime interacting with the villagers and experiencing the Living cultures of India. Though friendly, the villagers speak very little English. After Lunch at the retreat drive to Jaipur (Approx 90KM 2.5 hrs drive). On arrival at Jaipur, check-in at the Narain Niwas Palace for 2 nights. Explore the colorful markets of Jaipur in the evening.
Day 7 JAIPUR (B,D)
After breakfast visit the beautiful Hawa Mahal which is one of Jaipur?s major landmarks. The palace is a facade, which is fifty feet in height and a mere one foot in width. The screen allowed the ladies f the palace to have view of the market place below. Hawa Mahal symbolizes Jaipur. Start excursion to the hilltop Fort at Amber, on jeeps/Elephants. The Amer Fort itself owes its construction to three rulers: Raja Man Singh, Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh - and took a full two centuries to build, much of it having been made in the 16th Century. Looking at the splendor of the fortress, one can well imagine why it took so long to complete: it is, to put it simply, exquisite. Later in the afternoon enjoy the sightseeing tour of the city including the City Palace.
Day 8 JAIPUR - BANDAVGARH (OVERNIGHT TRAIN) (B,D)
After Breakfast day at leisure. Explore the local markets on own. In the evening you will be transferred to the Railway station to board the train to Bandavagarh with sleeper car and box dinner. 2182 Dayodaya Express Depart Jaipur at 1725 hrs / Arrive Katni at 0735 hrs next day
Day 9 ARRIVE KATNI AND DRIVE 2 HOURS TO BANDHAVGARH
On your arrival in Bandhavgarh, check in at the Hotel. Evening jeep safari into the Bandhavgarh National Park. Overnight at the Tiger Den Resort for 2 nights. 
Day 10 BANDHAVGARH (B,L,D)
Morning and evening jeep safaris into the Bandhavgarh National Park.
Day 11 BANDAVGARH - KHAJURAHO
In the morning after breakfast check out of the hotel and set off to Khajuraho by road (4hrs drive). On arrival at Khajuraho, check in at the Ramada Hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Later in the evening, we will see the beauty of different dance forms at the Khandariya dance show.
Day 12 KHAJURAHO (B,D)
Early morning, enjoy a visit to the Khajuraho temples (World Heritage site). These temples completed a thousand years of their existence in 1999. The voluptuous sculptures appear to be celestial and alive. The main focus is on woman and varying facets of her life. The temples are clustered in groups in the west, east and the south. They all have the entrance in their eastern side. An architectural marvel - the complex of 85 temples were constructed by the Chandela kings, of them only 22 survive today.
Day 13 KHAJURAHO - VARANASI (B,D)
Breakfast, morning at leisure. Later, we will be transferred to the airport to board the flight to Varanasi. Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the Radisson Hotel. Varanasi has been the religious capital of the Hindu faith since the dawn of history. Known as Kashi in the 7th century BC it constitutes a microcosm of Indian life. The town is one inextricable maze of small streets and alleyways, hiding in disorderly array no less than 2,000 temples and shrines. For the Hindus, Varanasi is the cosmic center of the Universe and there are innumerable temples here. Mark Twain rightly said "Banaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together." In the evening witness the Aarti Ceremony.
Day 14 VARANASI (B,D)
Rise early this morning to enjoy a boat ride down the River Ganges at dawn - An experience to remember. Also take a walking tour of the temples around the ghats. Return to hotel for breakfast. Later embark on city tour of Varanasi visiting temples, Banaras Hindu University and lanes & by lanes of Varanasi.
Day 15 VARANASI-DELHI-DEPARTURE (B,D)
We will be transferred to the airport to board the flight to Delhi.
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel (day use at the Ashok Country Resort). Later, we will be met and transferred to the airport to board the onward flights which depart late at night.
EXTENSIONS IN DELHI AND ELSEWHERE WILL BE HANDLED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.
What our clients say...
"Birgit and I want to that you for all the dreaming and development and drudgery you did to make our southern India and Rajasthan trip such a wonderful success. On this trip, and the other two we spent with you, we have been amazed and pleased not only by your ability to get the nitty-gritty done in good order but with your pleasing, gentle yet strong personality. You have a great combination of flexibility and firmness and seem to accomplish what at first seems impossible. Although the tiger was the "cherry on top", it was still a great trip without it". Robert & Birgit Bateman, British Columbia
