Taj, Tribals, Tigers & Leopards
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Introduction
View the rich birdlife of India at the Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary at Bharatpur. Meet the Royal Bengal Tigers at Ranthambhor National Park and the Spotted Leopards at Jawai, with these Big Cats roaming the semi-arid desert lands of Rajasthan. Combining this with a visit to the ancient capital of India - Delhi, the Wonder of the World - The Taj Mahal, The great Palaces and Citadels of Jaipur and Jodhpur. Finally, ending with the Desert Trails in the Thar Desert at Jamba where you stay on-top of a sand dune, meeting the Bishnoi Tribes! These tribals are famous natural conservators of the desert who defend their wild antelopes - the Chinkaras and the Blackbucks with their lives, as their religion teaches them to do so!
Tour Highlights
- Sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi
- Sightseeing tour of Agra
- Two visits of Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary)
- 3 Exclusive Jeep safaris at Ranthambore National Park
- Fort & Palace tour at Jaipur
- 2 Exclusive safaris at Jawai
- Sightseeing tour of Jodhpur
- Jeep Safari on the Dunes at Jamba
- Visit to Bishnoi Tribal village
- Camel/Camel Cart Safari at Jamba
- Visit to Khichan for the Demoiselle Cranes sighting
Destinations Covered
Delhi
The City of GloryDelhi is said to be one of the oldest existing cities in the world, along with Jerusalem and Varanasi. It is the Capital Territory of India and a modern-day citadel that's dotted with ancient monuments.
History and Culture
Legend estimates it to be over 5,000 years old. Over the millennia, Delhi is said to have been built and destroyed 11 times. The oldest alleged incarnation of the city shows up in the Indian mythological epic Mahabharata as Indraprastha.
Agra
The Majesty of the TajAgra is the city of the Taj Mahal, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Agra has three UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort in the city and Fatehpur Sikri on the outskirts of Agra. There are also many other buildings and tombs from Agra's days of glory as the capital of the Mughal Empire.
Bharatpur
The history of Bharatpur dates back to 5th century BC, when the Matsya kingdom flourished here. The Matsyas were allies of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata war. Legends say that the origin of the name Bharatpur is traced to Bharat, younger brother of Lord Ram. Laxman, the other brother, was given the most prestigious position as that of the family deity of the ruling family of Bharatpur. His name also appears in the state seals and coat-of-arms.
Ranthambore
The Great Wildlife Adventure
Jaipur
The Pink CityJaipur is the largest city in Rajasthan and was built in the eighteenth century by Sawai Jai Singh as India's first planned city. Jaipur is a major tourist attraction amongst Indian as well as international travellers. Jaipur is often called the Pink City in reference to its distinctly colored buildings, which were originally painted this color to imitate the red sandstone architecture of Mughal cities. The present earthy red color originates from repainting of the buildings undertaken for a visit by the Prince of Wales in 1876.
Jawai Bandh
The Land of LeopardsThe Jawai hills located in the Pali district of Rajasthan are known as the leopard hills, surrounded by Jawai Bandh and grasslands while the area is enclosed by the Aravali range. Considered among one of the lesser known tourist destinations, this place deserves much more attention than it gets.
Jodhpur
A Rhapsody in BlueLocated on the foothills of a sandstone hillock, the city of Jodhpur seems like an oasis in the vast desert. The city is known by three names as the "Sun City" for the bright, sunny weather it enjoys all year. It is also referred to as the "Blue City" due to the vivid blue-painted houses around the Mehrangarh Fort.
Jamba, Thar Desert
The Serene Desert LandscapeIn the distant reaches and vast expanse of the Thar Desert, far off the beaten tourist trail is the unique village called Jamba. It is located in Phalodi Tehsil of Jodhpur district in Rajasthan, India. This is a perfect place to get away from the big cities and enjoy the solitude of the desert life.
Detailed Itinerary
- Day 1 Arrive Delhi
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Day 2
Delhi
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 colorful bazaars that keep alive the traditional workmanship for which Delhi has always been famous. Drive past Red Fort and visit the Jama Masjid, one of the largest Muslim mosques in India. A bicycle rickshaw will take you into the heart of Chandni Chowk (the silver square - so named because of the silver merchants).
Drive past India Gate, a 42-metre archway built in memory of Indian soldiers killed during the First World War and Rashtrapati Bhawan, built in the early 20th century as the Imperial residence of the Viceroy. Today, it is the official residence of the President of India.
Thereafter, visit the most prominent Sikh Gurdwara, or Sikh house of worship, in Delhi. It was originally a bungalow belonging to Raja Jai Singh, a 17th century Indian ruler. It is open to people of all faiths, castes or creeds. The premises house a sacred pond in which devotees bathe. They believe that this would wash off their misdeeds and thus allow them to attain peace of mind. The 'Langars' or the community kitchen proves to be the ideal example of prodigious hospitality of the Sikhs. Anyone and everyone can have scrumptious meal irrespective of caste, color or class.
Conclude the day by visiting the Delhi's most striking monument, The Qutub Minar, which looms majestically across the wide plains of Delhi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was constructed in 1192 by Qutub-Ud-Din Aibak. Built in red sandstone and marble, it has a height of 72.5 meters (237.8 ft) and contains 379 stairs. A Soaring conical tower, it is an exquisite example of Indo-Islamic Afghan architecture and is the tallest minaret in India.
Overnight at hotel (B)
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Day 3
Delhi To Agra By Road: 220 Kms/ 4 Hour Drive
Agra
Today, after breakfast checkout from the hotel and continue your drive to Agra.
On arrival at the hotel, check-in and relax for the afternoon. Later this afternoon, proceed to visit the “Mehtab Bagh” situated north of the Taj Mahal complex on the opposite side of the Yamuna River, in the flood plains. The garden complex, square in shape, is perfectly aligned with the Taj Mahal on the opposite bank. The most important attraction of Mehtab Bagh is the Taj Mahal itself. This is a unique spot as you can get a picturesque view of The Taj from here.
Overnight at hotel (B)
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Day 4
Agra
Agra
Early this morning, you savour a travel highlight as we embark on a tour of the Taj Mahal, the magnificent tomb of white marble built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz, who had implored her husband to build a monument symbolizing their undying love for each other. Some 20,000 labourers and artisans from around the world spent 22 years constructing what became Mumtaz’s mausoleum, which was begun in 1632. Along with its exquisite symmetry, the Taj features striking examples of pietra dura; a decorative art in which craftsmen embed precisely cut semi-precious stones in marble to form dazzling patterns.
Return to hotel & have breakfast.
Post lunch visit the imposing Red Fort of Agra (also known as Agra Fort), comprising fairy tale palaces, two beautiful mosques, audience halls, pavilions, courtyards, and gardens all surrounded by a massive wall, a moat, and yet another wall. A creative, architectural, and strategic masterpiece, the Fort is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site. In a cruel twist, Emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal and whose grandfather built the original Fort and who also assumed the throne himself, was imprisoned here at the end of his life by his own son – in a room looking out on the Taj Mahal across the river.
Overnight at hotel (B)
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Day 5
Agra To Bharatpur By Road: 60 Kms/ 1 Hour Drive
Bharatpur
Today after relaxed breakfast, checkout from the hotel and drive towards Bharatpur.
On Arrival check-in to the hotel. Post lunch, visit Keolada National Park. A UNESCO World Heritage site – this is the premiere bird sanctuary in India. Keoladeo National Park is a vast bird sanctuary and former royal game reserve in the north Indian state of Rajasthan. South of the ancient city of Bharatpur, the park’s woods and man-made wetlands protect over 350 species of migratory and resident birds, including herons, cormorants and eagles. It was declared a protected sanctuary in 1971. Explore the park on the back of a rickshaw or you can walk around. Return to your hotel later in the evening.
Overnight at hotel (B)
- Day 6 Bharatpur to Ranthambore by train (Jan Shatabdi train no. 02060 at 1450/1713 hrs.)
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Day 7
Ranthambore
Ranthambore
On today’s morning and afternoon game drives, we’re sure to see more game (though tiger and leopard sightings are not guaranteed). One of India’s best known national parks, Ranthambore belongs to India’s ground-breaking Project Tiger, dedicated to preserving and protecting the once plentiful Royal Bengal tigers that roamed the land here. The park’s varied landscape of beautiful lakes, lush grasslands, deep ravines, wooded valleys, and open scrub also features picturesque ruins of old fortifications and the thousand-year-old Ranthambore Fort, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Overnight at hotel (B, L, D)
- Day 8 Ranthambore – Jaipur (Approx. 180 km/4 hour drive)
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Day 9
Jaipur
Jaipur
This was the home of India’s legendary Hindu warriors, whose historic forts, palaces, and gardens lend a timeless quality to this storied region. Called the “pink city” for its buildings of rose-hued sandstone, Jaipur today retains the exquisite symmetry of its original construction, as well as the eight historic gates that protected the city centuries ago.
Full day sightseeing of Jaipur including a visit to the Amber Fort and a photo stop at the Palace of the Winds, the Hawa Mahal in the morning. Visit Amber Fort a UNESCO World Heritage site built by the Kachhawah Rajputs as their capital from 1037 to 1728 and considered the pinnacle of Rajput architecture.
We tour the unoccupied citadel this morning, to admire the fresco-covered portal, the impressive room of mirrors, walls of jewel-encrusted marble, and the royal apartments offering beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding valleys.
We continue on to Jantar Mantar, the incredible open-air Royal Observatory (ca. 1728) housing oversized astronomical instruments and a UNESCO World Heritage site; and City Palace, former residence of the Maharajas of Jaipur, built in the shape of the city itself and now converted to a museum that houses the rulers’ magnificent art collections.
Overnight at hotel (B)
- Day 10 Jaipur – Jawai (Approx. 380 km/7-8 hour drive)
- Day 11 Jawai
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Day 12
Jawai – Jodhpur (Approx. 150 km/3 hour)
Jodhpur
After breakfast, drive to Jodhpur known as the “Blue City”. Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a Rajput chief belonging to the Rathore clan. The city was located on the strategic road linking Delhi to Gujarat. This enabled it to profit from a flourishing trade in opium, copper, silk, sandals, date palms and coffee. The old city is enclosed by a six-mile wall that separates it from the desert sands that stretch for miles on every side; Jodhpur was the ancient capital city of Marwar Kingdom.
This afternoon, will explore the city’s beautiful palace Mehrangarh Fort has been in existence since 1459 and is one of the most astounding constructions and architectural marvels. The towering building has extremely high walls and gates, and the closer it is explored, the smaller you begin to feel! Inside the fort is a network of courtyards and palaces, (including a museum that houses a splendid collection of items from the Maharajas), salvaged to display their long history of warding off attackers.
You can visit the bustling Clock Tower bazaar to get a flavour of this historic city.
Overnight at hotel (B)
- Day 13 Jodhpur - Jamba
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Day 14
Jamba
Jamba, Thar Desert
After breakfast, go 4 wheeling cross-country on dirt and sand roads to continue your exploration of “Jamba-ji’s” land. These excursions introduce you to traditional Rajasthani hospitality, as well as giving you a chance to witness rural Rajasthani life up close. The villages are built with painted adobe walls, and village life continues unaffected by the big cities nearby.
Bishnoi villages are immaculate, scrubbed daily by brightly clad women who are weighted down by silver jewellery and festooned with bangles right up to the length of their arms. By contrast, their tall men dress entirely in white, their large turbans loosely swathed around dark skinned, weathered faces. Return to the retreat for lunch.
Later in the afternoon, we will also have an opportunity to go on a camel cart safari. Return to Resort in time to watch the setting sun light up the desert.
Overnight at hotel (B, L, D)
- Day 15 Jamba – Jodhpur Drive & Fly To Delhi (AI-476 At 1455/1615 Hrs.)
