Wildlife Tour with Taj Mahal

Day 1: Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi. You will be met on arrival and after traditional welcome transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 2: Delhi
After breakfast you will proceed to city tour of Old and New Delhi. This city containing both the spacious, planned New Delhi of late colonial Britain and Old Delhi its bustling and crowded medieval counterpart. Start your tour with a visit to Old Delhi. Built in the first half of the 17th Century by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan , this old city is still a dense network of overcrowded homes, markets and numerous narrow lanes leading towards enormous Red Fort. Take a guided walk through the old city starting from Chawri Bazaar and ending in Chandni Chowk, a bustling thoroughfare of shops (most are closed on Sundays), craftsmen's workshops, mosques and temples.

On the way visit Jama Masjid the largest mosque in India, commissioned by Shah Jehan and completed in 1656. One must be careful of personal possessions when walking through these busy streets. From Chandni Chowk continue to the Red Fort (closed on a Monday) with its imposing appearance and towering entrance. Also visit Rajghat, the cremation place of Mahatma Gandhi and the Qutub Minar complex housing an impressive 13th Century 72m victory tower. In the afternoon drive south to New Delhi designed by British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens in a combination of western and eastern styles. Proceed up to Rashtrapati Bhavan once the Viceroy's abode but now the official residence of the President of India and then across to the eastern end of the Rajpath to the impressive India Gate. This war memorial, designed by Lutyens, commemorates the Indian soldiers who died in the First World War, on the Northwest Frontier and in the Afghan War of 1919 and, most recently, in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971.

Day 3: Delhi - Corbett ( 30 Kms / 7-8 hrs drive)
Early morning drive to Corbett National Park, 300kms north from Delhi, arriving in the afternoon in time for a walk before sunset along the banks of the Ramganga River.

Corbett marked as a national park in 1935, located along the valley of the Ramganga River with the Himalayan foothills to the north. This is India's oldest and most green wildlife sanctuary. Corbett is named after the hunter -turned - conservationist and author Jim Corbett who lived in the area for many years wrote the legendary book 'Man Eaters of Kumaon'. The park encompasses a varied terrain ranging from savannah grasslands to deciduous forests and supports a remarkable variety of wildlife such as elephants, bears, leopards and tigers. It is also noted for its Himalayan flora and an astonishing 600 species of birds.

Corbett visit done generally by jeep safaris. Its highly recommended to carry your own binoculars, a warm fleece, hat and gloves with you, because you may find it cold during winters ( mid October until mid March) when on safari before sunrise and after sunset.

Day 4: Corbett
Take an early morning jeep safari from the Brijrani Gate. Return back to your hotel or lodge.
Late afternoon proceed for your second wildlife jeep safari. There always a different charm of doing early morning and late afternoon safaris because animals and plants react differently due to climatic conditions.

Day 5: Corbett
Early morning and late afternoon wildlife viewing by jeep. Overnight stay at Lodge.

Day 6: Corbett - Delhi (300 Kms / 7-8 hrs drive)
Morning after breakfast drive back to Delhi and checkin at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Day 7: Delhi - Jaipur (265 Kms / 5-6 hrs drive)
Today morning drive to Jaipur- capital city of Royal state of Rajasthan, its also known as the Pink city. On arrival in Jaipur checkin at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Day 8: Jaipur
Today morning drive through the rugged hills that surround Jaipur city to visit Amber Fort a beautiful fort palace with coloured stone inlays, intricately painted murals, palaces, temples and cooling courtyard watercourses. In the afternoon take a guided walking tour through the old city to explore the colourful markets and bazaars before continuing onto the City Palace complex that occupies the centre of Jaipur. Painted pink as a mark of welcome, the City Palace was completed in 1732 and houses the intriguing Armoury Museum and the beautiful Peacock Gate. Nearby is the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds, which forms part of the east wall of the City Palace complex. Built at the turn of the 19th Century this five storied structure with its elaborate façade was built for the ladies of the harem and is best seen from the street outside. Further along is the Jantar Mantar the largest stone observatory in world. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 9: Jaipur - Ranthambore (160 Kms / 4 hrs drive)
Today drive to Jaipur and start your journey to the Project Tiger Reserve at Ranthambore. Covering over 410 sq. kms the reserve runs from the east of the Aravallis to the Vindhya range and is one of the finest tiger parks of its kind in the country. This park was one of the original areas under Project Tiger in 1973 the reserve has recovered much of its natural beauty and large areas of the dry deciduous forest have been restored. Set in a valley dotted with small pools and fruit trees and surrounded by rocky hills Ranthambore provides a perfect wildlife environment. The reserve supports a mixed range of birds, mammals and insects and although the major predator is the tiger, leopards, jackal, hyena and other jungle cats are also present in areas on the park boundaries. Sambar, chital and wild boar thrive in the grasslands and lakeside woods, nilgai antelope and chinkara gazelles are found in drier areas of the park and crocodiles openly bask by the lakes. As with much of India the blend between nature and history is strong at Ranthambore and the 13th Century fort is the focal point of the park.

The Indian Tourism Department has taken over the administration of Ranthambore and in order to protect the environment of the park, entry for individuals is limited to Gypsy 4-wheel drive vehicles which have seats for 5 guests per vehicle. Sole use of the vehicles is no longer an option that can be requested or provided and depending on demand on the day you may have to share the vehicle.

Day 10: Ranthambore
Visit the park at sunrise and sunset by jeep in the company of an expert naturalist. Don't forget to carry your own binoculars , camera and take a warm fleece, hat and gloves with you.
It is reported that there are now approximately only 26 tigers in the whole of this reserve, therefore, you will be very fortunate to spot a tiger at Ranthambore.

Day 11: Ranthambore - Agra (290 Kms / 7-8 hrs drive)
After breakfast drive by your private car with driver to Agra. On the way to Agra stop at Fatehpur Sikri the one time red sandstone capital of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Built during the second half of the 16th Century in honour of a local holy man who had helped, and then prophesised, to Akbar that he would have the three sons and heirs that he so desperately desired, Fatehpur Sikri grew into a city that is still today a reminder of his power, lifestyle and vision. Unfortunately this city was abandoned in early 1600s. Arguments range from political and strategic motives, to lack of a consistent water supply and even the untimely death of a court singer! Afterwards continue your drive to Agra. Checkin at hotel for overnight stay.

Day 12: Agra
Today morning after breakfast visit to the Taj Mahal (closed Friday), a UNESCO world heritage site and the greatest monument of love, built by Shah Jahan as a memorial to his wife Mumtaz. The craftsmanship is outstanding with semi-precious stones inlaid into the marble in beautiful patterns, a process known as pietra dura, whilst the white marble reflects every change in light allowing the Taj to appear to change its hue according to the light and time of day. Later visit Red fort, built in red sandstone, another marvelous example of extra-ordinary mughal architecture. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 13: Agra - Delhi (203kms / 4-5 hrs drive)
Morning continue your drive to Delhi and on the way stop at Sikandra the site chosen by the Mughul Emperor Akbar for his tomb. Akbar died during the construction but his son, Jahangir, completed it in 1613 after considerably altering the original designs. The result is a hugely impressive and imposing 22m high tomb structure four stories high set amongst an enclosed garden. Below ground level is the Tomb of Akbar.
Finally on arrival in Delhi drop at airport for your onward flight.

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