INDIAN BIRDS AND NATURE TOUR
Overview
Tour Description
Duration : 10 Night & 11 Days
Destination : Delhi - Jaipur - Ranthambhore - Bharatpur - Agra
Accommodation : Luxury Hotels / Palaces or Heritage Hotels.
Best Time to Visit : October to June
Journey Type : Group & Private Journey
India is a magnanimous country with diverse natural assets, extensive biodiversity, varied cultural heritage, spellbinding history and breathtaking architecture spanning Hindu, Jain, Mughal and European influences. The Indian Birds and Nature Tour offers the best of nature and culture in India, making it perfect for connoisseurs of nature, lovers of history and architecture and a photographers delight. You will discover the old and the new blend seamlessly in Delhi-the vibrant heart of India. Uncover royal legends in the forts, palaces and monuments of pink city Jaipur. Prepare for an adventurous safari to spot the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger in the open jungles of Ranthambhore National Park. You will have the unparalleled experience of bird watching while riding on a cycle rickshaw in the Bharatpur bird sanctuary, counted among the finest in Asia. And last but not the least, you will visit the most beautiful monument of love, carved out white marble, The Taj Mahal.
This is a suggested tour. It can be tailor-made to suit your requirements. Please contact us for a tailor made tour.
Itinerary
You will get a warm welcome at the Delhi International Airport by our travel counsellor who will then assist you in your hotel transfer and check-in. The multi-ethnic city of Delhi will overwhelm your senses with its buzzing markets, mouth watering local fare and awe-inspiring architecture of old temples and historical monuments. In fact, the city showcases the best of India.
After breakfast you will proceed for a full day sightseeing tour. You will view the majestic Red Fort and Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques of Asia. Take a local cycle rickshaw ride through the colourful bazaars of Chandni Chowk to experience the local culture in the maze like streets of Old Delhi.
In the afternoon behold the soaring Qutub Minar also known as the victory tower and visit the famed archway India Gate : a war memorial. You will also visit Humayun's tomb, a monument with beautiful gardens, said to have been the inspiration for TajMahal. Finally, you will drive around the wide roads and well planned colonial buildings of Lutyen's Delhi past the commanding Rashtrapathi Bhawan, residence of the President of India.
After breakfast, you will enjoy a date with nature at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary near River Yamuna backwaters. Established in 1990, it is home to over 400 species of native birds and about 1,00,000 migratory birds, making it a perfect destination for bird watching. The large area of land is covered with lush green plants and has a stunning lake, making it a perfect backdrop for your nature walk with a well experienced naturalist to see birds.
Later prepare to be dazzled by the magnificent Akshardham Temple. An epitome of Indian spirituality and architecture, it was built in 2005 near the banks of River Yamuna. Akshardham is also in Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple. You will have a leisurely afternoon free to explore the nooks and crannies of Delhi on your own or to simply relax at the hotel.
After breakfast, you will drive 4-5 hours to reach Jaipur where you will be assisted with your hotel check in on arrival. Jaipur is a picturesque city with fairy tale palaces, rugged fortresses perched on barren hills and well planned broad streets which present a marvelous synthesis of architectural influences - Hindu, Jain, Mughal.
All its monuments and buildings are constructed with rose-coloured terra cotta giving it the sobriquet 'Pink City'. The Jaipur bazaars are filled with bangles, textiles, handicrafts and jewellery. Enjoy a leisurely evening unwinding in your hotel.
After breakfast you will leave for a morning excursion to the magnificent Amber Fort where Rajputana history and culture still resonate in its majestic ramparts rising steeply along the contoured hillsides. Here elephants will carry you in stately splendour through high gateways.
In the afternoon, weave through the lively streets of the Jaipur and visit the pink sandstone edifice of Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds, the City Palace with its historical museum and the 18th century observatory, Jantar Mantar.
After an early breakfast, you will drive 3-4 hours to Ranthambhore National Park. On arrival our travel counsellor will assist you in your Hotel/Camp check in.
Ranthambore National Park is one of the biggest and most prominent national parks of the country. It was the former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur and is famous for its most celebrated inhabitants : the Royal Bengal Tigers. Sambhar, cheetal, chinkara, nilgai, languor and the elusive leopard are some other wildlife that have their homes in this reserve. Encompassing hilly crests which descend into valleys between the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges, the park is dotted with water bodies and fruit trees.
Enjoy an adrenaline pumping afternoon safari in a four wheel drive jeep with your private expert naturalist in the forest. Unwind in your Hotel/Camp in the evening.
Note: The park remains closed from 01 July to 15 October.
After a steaming cup of tea/coffee in the morning game you will leave for an adventurous jeep safari with a naturalist to spot a large number of local as well as exotic migratory bird species and the wild animals who live there. After breakfast you can enjoy breathtaking views of the national park from the thousand year old stately Ranthambore Hill Fort, from which the park gets its name.
In the evening you will undertake another jungle excursion into a different region of the park in your exclusive jeep with naturalist. This is done to improve your chances of spotting the Royal Bengal Tiger. You can enjoy a relaxed evening in your Hotel / Camp.
Take adventurous safari's both in the morning and evening with your naturalist to further explore the park and to study the behavioral patterns of animals and birds in their natural habitats. Spend a leisurely evening at the Hotel/Camp.
You will enjoy a serene nature walk around the park at sunrise with the chirping of the birds, accompanied by your naturalist. Later you will check out of the Hotel/Camp after breakfast. You will then be transferred to the railway station to board a train to Bharatpur. On arrival at the Bharatpur Railway Station you will met our travel expert who will assist you in Hotel transfer and check in.
Popularly known as the "Keoladeo Ghana National Park," Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary was the former hunting ground of the ruler of Bharatpur. Today it is recognised as one of the finest birds feeding and breeding grounds for over 400 species of birds and water birds. Colonies of cormorants, spoonbills, storks, egrets, herons, pelicans, ibis and grey herons can be spotted all over the park, besides a fairly rich habitation of deer, wild boars, foxes and snakes. Moreover it has been a winter home for the Siberian Crane, a species on the verge of extinction.
In the afternoon you will driven to the Bird Sanctuary gate from where you can either hike into the sanctuary or enjoy a thrilling rickshaw ride to explore it. You can unwind in the evening at your lodge.
Early morning you will explore the bird sanctuary by rickshaw accompanied by an expert naturalist. Later you will return to the Lodge for breakfast and then check out and drive 1.5 hours to Agra en route visiting Fatehpur Sikri.
The deserted town of Fatehpur Sikri or the "city of victory" is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This famous Ghost town was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 to commemorate the birth of his son and was his capital for a short span of 16 years. Later it was abandoned due to scarcity of water. Visit the fortified city which is a charismatic blend of Indo-Islamic architectural styles and also includes Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other palaces. On arrival in Agra, you will check into your hotel for overnight stay.
The city of Agra stands as the embodiment of royal Mughal splendour, impressive architecture and power. It is on the international map for housing Taj Mahal-one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj Mahal is often described as a 'dream in marble' and an epitome of love.
Early morning, prepare to be enchanted by the glorious Taj Mahal iridescent in the sunrise. Inlaid with jade, crystal and sapphire, it was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal. After breakfast you will visit the massive structure of the Red Fort of Agra along siede the River Yamuna. Later you will drive to the Delhi International Airport to board a flight to your onward destination.
