Culture and Tigers of India

Day 1

Arrive Delhi, the capital city of India

Arrive in India, for your Culture and Tigers of India Tour.

PM

• Arrive Delhi
• Welcome at airport
• Transfer to hotel

Day 2

Day in Delhi

Discover the first city of your Culture and Tigers of India Tour, pacing through Delhi, the city which is as historic as modern, like 2 sides of the same coin!

AM : Sightseeing tour of Old Delhi, includes a visit to

• Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India
• Chandani Chownk, ‘silver street’, one of the largest trading centres of India
• Drive past Red Fort, the place that marked the announcement of India’s freedom from the British Raj
• Raj Ghat, cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi

PM : Sightseeing tour of New Delhi, includes a visit to

• Qutab Minar, a fine example of Indo-Islamic architecture and the worlds tallest minaret
• Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the largest Sikh temple of Delhi, with a gold tomb, still in active worship
• Photo stop at India Gate, the war memorial arch built in honour of the soldiers who died in the second world war
• Drive past President's House, Parliament House and other Government Secretariat Buildings, the most imposing features of Lutyen’s Delhi

Day 3

Drive to Jaipur, the pink capital city of Rajasthan

Proceed to the palatial beauty of your Culture and Tigers of India Tour, with a visit to Jaipur in Rajasthan

AM :

• Drive to Jaipur, check in at your hotel and freshen up.

PM :

• Enjoy a heritage walk in the old city of Jaipur, seeing life along the small alleys and by-lanes. Interact with the local artisans enamelling jewels with local ‘meenakari’ work, along with goldsmiths and silversmiths of the region
• Visit gems, jewels and carpet weaving factories – watch artisans creating unique masterpieces and enjoy haggling for souvenirs in colourful bazaars of Jaipur

Day 4

Day in Jaipur

Cherish the splendour of your Culture and Tigers of India Tour, with a tour of this princely city of Jaipur, which is built in 9 rectangular sectors symbolising 9 divisions of the universe, as per Indian cosmology.

AM :

• Visit the splendid Amber fort, which was built in the 16th century.  An elephant ride (subject to availability) will help you ascend to this hilltop fort. Alternatively, you could choose to walk or drive up to the fort.

PM :

• Photo stop at Hawa Mahal, the palace of winds. This palace consists of long corridors and a decorated facade with its innumerable windows and screened balconies, especially built for the royal women to view processions along the cities main street.
• Visit the City Palace complex, reflecting the architectural exuberance of Jaipur. The complex consists of a variety of museums and a part of the palace is still the royal residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur.
• Visit Jantar Mantar, the ancient astronomical observatory.

Day 5

Drive to Ranthambore, territory of the Royal Indian Tiger

Proceed to Ranthambore for the highlight of your Culture and Tigers of India Tour, for a tête-à-tête with the Royal Indian Tiger.

AM :

• Drive to Ranthambore, acclaimed as one of the best places in the world to photograph tigers in the wild.
• Popular wildlife to be seen at the National Park includes sambar, chital, blue bull, chinkara, langur, wild boar, sloth bear, hyena, jackal, jungle cat, tigers and leopards, and crocodiles around the lake.

PM :

• At leisure in Ranthambore

Day 6

Day in Ranthambore

Experience the thrill of your Culture and Tigers of India Tour, with jungle safaris in the wildlife park.

AM:

• Rise early for a sunrise canter safari to the wildlife park. With the morning dew still settled on trees, take your chance to spot the wildlife stretching out in the dense jungles of Ranthambore.

PM:

• Enjoy an afternoon canter safari to the wildlife park, your second chance for a face to face encounter with the majestic Indian tigers.

Day 7

Drive to Agra, land of the Taj Mahal

Encounter the historic marvel of your Culture and Tigers of India Tour, discovering the Mughal city of Agra, home to the beautiful wonder of the world, the Taj Mahal.

AM :

• Drive to Agra, home the world famous Taj Mahal.

PM :

• Optional: watch a fantastic show “Mohabbat the Taj – The saga of love”, staging the largest replica of the Taj Mahal, and presenting the Taj in its various shades and seasons.

Day 8

Day in Agra; Overnight train to Umaria

Enjoy the epitome of your Culture and Tigers of India Tour, with a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal.

AM:

• Rise early to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the eternal symbol of love, the Taj Mahal. Often referred to as a poem in white marble, Taj Mahal displays the saga of love between Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
• Visit Agra fort, which is built in red sandstone and has magnificent palaces, halls of public and private audience and beautiful gardens.

PM:

• Board your overnight train to Umaria.

Day 9

Arrive Umaria; Drive to Bandhavgarh, the white tiger territory

Enjoy a second encounter with the Royal Indian tiger in Bandhavgarh on your Culture and Tigers of India Tour.

AM :

• Disembark the train and drive to Bandhavgarh, the wildlife park set in the Vindhya mountain range with highest known density of tiger population in India.

PM :

• Enjoy an afternoon jeep safari to the national park and take a close shot of wildlife encounters

Day 10

Drive to Khajuraho, the birthplace of Kamasutra

Continue to the architectural splendours of your Culture and Tigers of India Tour, with a visit to Khajuraho, a UNESCO world heritage site in central India.

AM:

• Rise early for a sunrise jeep safari to the wildlife park. With the morning dew still settled on trees, take your chance to spot the wildlife stretching out in the forests of Bandhavgarh.

PM:

• Drive to Khajuraho, the ancient city famous for its erotic sculptured temples.
• This evening, enjoy the famous cultural dance show of Khajuraho.

Day 11

Fly to Varanasi, the oldest living city in the world

Proceed to the spiritual hub of your Culture and Tigers of India Tour, visiting Varanasi, the oldest living city of the world.

AM :

• Visit the enchanting temples of Khajuraho, with sculptures that draw their inspiration from the ancient art of Kama sutra. Khajuraho Temples were built by the Chandela kings between 950 AD and 1050 AD.
• Catch your flight to Varanasi, the spiritual capital of India (also known as Kashi and Benaras).

PM :

• Arrive Varanasi, check in at your hotel and freshen up.
• This evening, enjoy a rikshaw ride to the ghats to see the grand ‘Aarti’ ceremony conducted everyday at sunset by white-robed priests. The young priests sway in seemingly choreographed movements, worshiping the river goddess with incense, flowers and earthen lamps.

Day 12

DEPARTURE

Bid goodbye to India, as you reach the finale of your Culture and Tigers of India Tour.

AM :

• Enjoy a boat cruise at dawn on the Holy River Ganges. See the ‘bathing ghats’ where thousands of pilgrims pay homage to the Sun God by immersing themselves in the holy water of River Ganges, and the ‘burning ghats’ where cremations are conducted.
• Visit Sarnath, the place where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. Sarnath was a renowned school of learning from 6th century BC to 12th century AD. The Ashoka pillar of Sarnath is the national emblem of India. Visit the ruins, stupa, Buddhist temple and the Sarnath Museum.

PM :

• Catch your flight to onward destination (Delhi or Kathmandu).