LAND OF VEDAS & TIGERS (16 Days)

This tour takes you to Varanasi the city of many hues & colors, the cuty of handicrafts, the hindu city of Vedas & Purana, Jabalpur the city of marble rocks that rise like cliffs from Narmada, Kanha National park, onward to Bhandavgarh National Park, elephant safari in the park to sight the tiger with sculpture of Khajurao and monument of love the Taj at Agra & the Pink city of jaipur .

You arrive in Delhi we receive you at the airport & transfer you to a hotel After a short break (depending on how you feel ) we embark on our first journey to discover India. Though our mode of transport will be a car but we suggest that you must try out the " Rickshaw" a mode of transport used in small towns and in Old Delhi. This will be a short trip of say 2/3 km from the car park to the Red fort a fort made of red sand stone which once housed the world famous PEACOCK throne of the mughal emperors & from where the British established their sovereignty over India, after this we visit the Jama Masjid mosque(pearl mosque) & the Chandni Chowk streets.Evening we invite you to a ethnic Dinner at the old Hauz Khas village complex overnight stay at the hotel.

Forenoon we can do a little more exploration of Delhi like Qutab Minar or India gate / Presidents estate etc & in the afternoon we take a train from Delhi to Varanasi overnight in train.

Early morning arrive Varanasi the oldest living city in India and one of the worlds most ancient. Previously known as Kashi in the times of Puranas and Vedas. Its also the second most important religious city on the Ganges. After check in and a short break visit the bazar of Benaras which is an experience of a life time even for the Indians living in other cities. Varanasi is a city which cannot be described it can only be experienced. Around sunset take a visit to the ghats (Banks of river ganga) and a boat ride in the Ganges to see the AARTI (culmination of the days prayers with lamps) which are offered to the mother Ganga and left to float in the river. It's a spectacle seen nowhere else in the world. It seems that stars are floating in the river.

Early morning again visit the ghats before sunrise to see people praying to the Sun god another experience of its kind. After breakfast visit Kashi Vishwanath temple the most important temple of Lord Shiva in India Saranath where lord Budha preached his first Sermon. It was here he revealed the eight fold path of Nirvana. 10 km from Varanasi this budhist center has museums, Monastries, Stupas & old shrines. Evening we walk through the streets of Varanasi.

Morning we again take a boat ride in the river breakfast at hotel we check out & drive of to Allahabad a drive of 2 ½ hrs or still do some more exploration of Varanasi. ( The reason that I am putting in Allahabad is because I want you to take a train from Varanasi to Jabalpur which should reach there in the morning. Jabalpur is the place we disembark for Kanha National park. The suitable train leaves in the evening from Varanasi & goes through Allahabad which means we can catch the same train from Allahabad & get a full day either for Varanasi or Allahabad. Allahbad is also an important hindu city where the three sacred rivers meet i.e. ganga, yamuna & the lost Sarswati.) Night after dinner catch the train for Jabal pur.

The train will arrive at Jabalpur early in the morning & we disembark for Kanha. But before we leave for the park we will take a short drive to the Narmada river for a boat ride to see marble rocks after which proceed to Kanha Park in the car which will meet us at the station & will take us to the Resort ( Royal Tiger Resort ) on the out skirts of the Game park. This will be a 5 hours drive. Rest of the day at leisure. Evening a drive in the park. Night around a bonfire & tales of the Jungle.

Early morning a jeep ride into the park for our first meeting with the king of the jungle ( tiger). Afternoon at leisure evening another trip into the park. Overnight at the resort.

Early morning another drive in the park & after breakfast we check out & drive off to another tiger reserve at Bhandhavgarh the place where the first white tiger was found. This is a seven hours drive we will reach the resort / camp in the evening. Overnight at the Resort / camp.

Early morning drive to the park for another date with the lord of the jungle. Afternoon at the resort.evening another sojourn into the park possibly on Elephant back. Overnight at the Resort.

Drive or an elephant ride into the park. After breakfast drive to Khajuraho the citadel of power of the Chandela Kings in 10th &11th century. Khajurao has been declared a World Heritage Site. Though famous for its Erotic temple sculpture Khajurao is much more then just Kamasutra. The question which comes to mind is how could any society approve of such eroticism in a place of worship. To answer this question only a visit to khajurao can do. Overnight at Hotel

Khajurao Early morning we take a drive to Panna national park at a distance of 27 km which apart from tigers is also the home of sloth bear, chowsingha(four horn deer) chinkara(Indian gazelle) the river in the park is also the home of gharials(Indian alligators). Evening explore Khajurao overnight hotel.

Early morning drive into the park and by now I hope you have managed to sight the tiger. Afternoon drive to Jhansi to catch the evening train for Agra arrive Agra at night check into the hotel.

Full day sight seeing at Agra we start from the northern end of Agra. The first visit is to the tomb of emperor Akbar then Itmad-u-dalluh, Agra fort evening Taj. Overnight hotel.

Drive To Jaipur Enroute we visit the ancient city of Fathepur Sikri built by Emperor Akbar as thanks giving for the saint who blessed him with a son. In the afternoon check in to the hotel rest of the day at leisure to explore the streets and bazars of Jaipur. Overnight at hotel.

We visit the city palace, the palace of winds and then proceed to Amer fort the ancient capital of Jaipur built in the 16th century by Raja Man Singh in red sandstone and marble. It has some very interesting apartments like the Sheesh Mahal the glass canopy apartments and Jai Mandir, Sukh Niwas Baodi etc. The highlight of this trip is the elephant ride up the ramparts of the fort just like the maharajas did. After this we visit the Jaigarh fort the armory of the erstwhile state which houses the biggest cannon on wheels in the world. Evening free to roam the streets & bazaar of Jaipur. Overnight at hotel.

Back to Delhi to catch your flight back home.