PALACES AND TIGERS
Palaces and tigers is a combination of the beauty of Indian architecture and wildlife. Experience this unique combination as you travel across different parts of North India.
Your journey starts in Delhi, where you explore both Old Delhi and New Delhi. Visit the Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial in Rajghat, Red Fort, Chandni Chowk Market, Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar and Humayun’s Tomb.
Drive down to Agra, once the capital of the medieval Mughal Dynasty. It is the home to the beautiful Taj Mahal. Also visit the Tomb of Itimaduddaulah and the grand Agra Fort on the banks of river Yamuna.
From Agra, travel west towards Jaipur. After a short visit to the medieval fortress city of Fatehpur Sikri, travel further to Bharatpur. Built by Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri is characterized by a harmonious synthesis of Hindu, Mughal and Persian architectural styles. Bharatpur Wildlife sanctuary is a haven for bird watchers with its amazing varieties of water fowls (mostly winter migrants) like herons, jacanas, cranes, storks and kingfishers.
Travel further to Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary, home to tigers, deer, crocodiles, leopards and many other varieties of waterfowls. Explore the forests through guided nature walks and game drives. After Ranthambore, visit Jaipur, the Pink City of India. Visit the Amber Fort, the City Palace, Jantar Mantar Observatory and the markets of the old city set around Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob’s superb fusion architecture.
In the last leg of your journey, visit Neemrana Fort Palace on the way to Delhi. It is situated on a majestic plateau of Aravalli Hills with its stepped palaces cut into the hillside commanding splendid views from the rooms and terraces.
PALACES AND TIGERS
Day 1 ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive Delhi today, where rooms are held from 12 noon. After clearing Immigrations / Customs formalities, met / transferred to your hotel (The Imperial/The Park)
Day 2 DELHI
Morning tour of Old Delhi, beginning Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat, before visiting the Red fort, followed by a rickshaw ride through the Chandni Chowk market, ending at Jama Masjid. In the afternoon, begin exploring India's historic capital, starting wih New Delhi, also visiting Qutub Minar & the Humayun's Tomb.
Day 3 DELHI / AGRA
After breakfast, drive 120 miles to Agra, once the capital of the medieval Mughal dynasty (Hotel Amarvilas/Trident-Hilton). Principal among the medieval town of Agra is the immortal Taj Mahal, built 17th century AD. Some distance away is the Tomb of Itimaduddaulah and on the banks of the Yamuna River is the grand Agra Fort, which in it's heyday, saw the zenith of the Mughal dynasty. A sunset visit is made to the sublime Taj Mahal.
NB. The Taj Mahal is closed to visitors on Fridays.
Day 4 AGRA / FATEHPUR SIKRI / BHARATPUR
Journey west to Jaipur (140 miles) sightseeing enroute at the Fatehpur Sikri. Built by Emperor Akbar, it is a perfectly preserved ghost city, characterised by a harmonious synthesis of Hindu, Mughal and Persian architectural styles.
Drive to Bharatpur, at a distance of 2 hours. Keoladeo Ghana National Park is one of the world's most famous wetland sanctuaries exhibiting the most bewildering assembly of water fowl, mostly winter migrants and herons, jacanas, cranes, storks and kingfishers. Game viewing and birdwatching is done on foot, by boat and on cycle-rickshaws.
Later afternoon bird viewing.
Day 5 BHARATPUR / RANTHAMBORE
Board the Golden Temple Mail at 10:53 AM to arrive at Ranthambore by 1:00 PM (Vanya Vilas/Khem Vilas). Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary, is a well-known Project Tiger Reserve. Set amidst the Aravalli and Vidhyan hills, majestic Ranthambore Fort as a backdrop, and dotted with ruined temples and pavilions, this 400 square kilometers park of dry deciduous forest is the home of tigers, deer, crocodiles, leopards and many other varieties of waterfowls and waders. Afternoon, game drive into the wilderness of the Park.
Note: Ranthambhore National Park is open to visitors October 01/May 31.
Day 6 RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK
Early morning and late afternoon game drives highlight the day, and the search for various species of game and birds.
Day 7 RANTHAMBORE / JAIPUR
After breakfast, drive 100 miles northeast through rural settlements and scenery to Jaipur, capital of the state of Rajasthan. The remainder of the afternoon is free to luxuriate in the plush surroundings of your hotel (Raj Vilas/Samode Palace).
Day 8 JAIPUR
This morning visit the Amber Fort, ride up to it's hilltop location on elephant back. Also, visit the City Palace and it's clutch of private museums, the Jantar Mantar observatory, and the markets of the old city set around Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob's superb fusion architecture.
Day 9 JAIPUR / NEEMRANA
Continue your journey to Delhi via a halt at Neemrana Fort Palace where you are booked for the night. The Fort Palace situated on a majestic plateau of the Aravalli Hills, its stepped palaces cut into the hillside, command splendid views from the rooms and terraces. In the evening enjoy a drink and your dinner on the ramparts of the Fort.
Day 10 NEEMRANA / DELHI
After breakfast, drive to Delhi (2.5 hours), where a dayroom is provided until the late evening transfer to the airport for Immigrations/Customs formalities (The Imperial/Radisson)
Day 11 DEPART DELHI
Depart Delhi on an onward international flight.
.jpg)
