Taj, Temples & Tigers of Central India

Duration: 09 Nights / 10 Days

Place to visit: New Delhi – Agra – Khajuraho – Bandhavgarh – Kanha – Raipur – New Delhi Fly Back

Day 01: Arrive New Delhi (by flight)
Meet and greet on arrival at New Delhi airport by our representative who will transfer you to the Hotel, assist you in check in at the hotel, handover and explain all travel related documents. Overnight stay at the Hotel.

Day 02: New Delhi - Agra (by road 220 kms/4 hrs drive)
After breakfast drive to Agra 220 kms/4 hrs drive. On arrival check into hotel.

Later proceed to visit the red sandstone AGRA FORT which stands like a crescent on the banks of Yamuna River enclosed by 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. [The Taj is closed on Friday].

Overnight stay at the hotel in Agra

Day 03: Agra – Khajuraho - Bandhavgarh (Flight + 280kms, 5-6 hours drive)
Sunrise proceed to visit the famous white marble mausoleum, The Taj Mahal, which was built in the middle of the 17th century by the Moghul emperor Shah Jehan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Completed in 1652, skilled craftsmen from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and some 20,000 labourers worked for 17 years to build this edifice.

After relaxed breakfast free for leisure activities and later transfer to Agra airport to board a flight to Khajuraho at 1400 hrs to arrive Khajuraho at 1440 hrs.  (Flight operate only on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday) Met at airport and drive to Bandhavgarh national park 280 kms/5-6 hrs drive. On arrival check into resort.

Dinner and overnight stay at the resort

Day 04: In Bandhavgarh
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the Resort. Morning Jeep drives in the park

Bandhavgarh: The national park is mainly known for the density of its tiger population. This is the place where famous White Tigers of Rewa were discovered. The other wild attractions in the park include Leopards, Blue Bulls, Indian Gaur (Bison) Chausingha (Four Horned Antelopes), Spotted Deers, Sambar Deer, Wild Boar, Sloth Bears Fox, Jackals, Wild Dogs, etc. There are at least 22 mammal species and about 250 bird species in the Park. The other animals found in Bandhavgarh are Ratel, Porcupine, Small Indian Civet, Palm Squirrel, Lesser Bandicoot rat, the Jungle Cat, and the shy Hyenas. The reptile population in the park includes Cobras, Kraits, Vipers, Ratsnakes, Pythons, Monitor Lizards and turtles. The two primate species - the rhesus macaque and the Hanuman langur - inhabit Bandhavgarh.

Dinner and overnight at the Resort

Day 05 : In Bandhavgarh
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the Resort. Morning Jeep drives in the park and afternoon visit local tribal village and birdwatching nearby area. (National Park is closed for afternoon game drive)

Bandhavgarh has been a center of human activity and settlement for over 2000 years, and there are references to it in the ancient books, the Narad-Panch Ratra and the Shiva Purana.

The oldest sign of habitation in the park are caves dug into the sandstone to the north of the fort. Several contain Brahmi inscriptions dating from the 1st century B.C. Various dynasties have ruled the fort, for example, the Maghas from the 1st century A.D., the Vakatakas from the 3rd century A.D., From that time onwards Bandhavgarh was ruled by a succession of dynasties including the Chandela Kings Bandhavgarh became more and more deserted until forest overran the area band it became the royal hunting reserve. This helped to preserve the forest and its wildlife, although the Maharajas made full use of their rights. At independence Bandhavgarh remained the private property of the Maharaja until he gave it to the state for the formation of the National Park in 1968. After the park was created poaching and hunting was brought under control and the number of animals rose dramatically. The Tigers in particular prospered and the 1986 extension provided much needed forest to accommodate them.

Overnight at the resort.

Day 06: Bandhavgarh – Kanha (280 kms /6 hrs drive)
Morning game drive to the national park and drive to Kanha national park 280 kms/ 6 hour drive. Carry packed lunch. On arrival check into the Resort. Dinner and overnight at the resort in Kanha.

Day 07: In Kanha
Wake up at 0500hrs, tea coffee with biscuits, and proceed for the morning safari to the National park. Kanha's sal and bamboo forests, rolling grasslands and meandering streams stretch over 940 sq km in dramatic natural splendor which form the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve created in 1974 under Project Tiger. The park is the only habitat of the rare hardground Barasingha (Cervus Duvaceli Branderi).

This is the original Kipling country of which he wrote so vividly in his Jungle Book. Packed breakfast which comes from the Lodge is served at a designated spot and spread on the bonnet of the Safari vehicle. Enjoy your breakfast in the wilderness of Kanha.

Continue your search for the elusive Tiger if you have not yet seen the same, and soak in the fresh, and energizing environment. Return from Safari around 1130hrs. Freshen up, and Lunch is served.

Depart for evening jeep safari Kanha National Park. Return at 6pm from safari. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.

Day 08: In Kanha

Wake up, and get ready for another day of adventure in the National park. The forests of the Banjar valley and Halon valley, respectively forming Kanha's western and eastern halves. By a special statute in 1955, Kanha National Park came into being. Since then, a string of stringent conservation programmes have been launched, for the overall protection of the park's fauna and flora. Kanha boasts of about 38 species of mammals. Some of the inhabitants of this park are the gaur, the largest of the world's cattle; the sambar, the largest Indian deer; and the chausingha, the only four-horned antelope in the world. Other frequent visitors include the Nilgai antelope, the sloth bear, the dhole, or Indian wild dog, and an occasional Leopard. Some 300 species of birds inhabit the park, that includes the storks, egrets, black ibis, raptors, owls, and the red-wattled lapwings.

Depart for evening jeep safari Kanha National Park. Return at 6pm from safari.

Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.

Day 09: Kanha – Raipur – New Delhi
Morning Jeep drive in the park. After lunch drive together to Raipur airport 220 kms /4 hrs drive. Nancy board a flight to New Delhi 1940 hrs to arrive New Delhi at 2135 hrs. Met at airport and transfer hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel in New Delhi

Day 10: New Delhi Fly back home

Morning free for leisure activities and later transfer to International airport to board a flight back home or onward destination 

End of our services

Note: The driving hours given above from one city to another are based on the normal conditions of the roads and may vary. Any break for Food / Tea / Toilets / Sightseeing on the way will take extra time than the above given hours. Kanha and Bandhavgarh National parks the core zones are closed every Wednesday for afternoon jeep safari