Tiger, Taj and Temple Tour
13 Nights / 14 Days
Destinations Covered
- Day 01: Arrive New Delhi (Flight)
- Day 02: New Delhi – Agra (Drive 220 kms/04-hour drive)
- Day 03: Agra – New Delhi (Drive 220 kms/04-hour drive)
- Day 04: New Delhi – Raipur – Kanha (Flight + 210 kms/06-hour drive)
- Day 05 - 06: At Kanha National Park
- Day 07: Kanha - Bandhavgarh (Drive 280 kms/06-hours)
- Day 08 – 09: At Bandhavgarh National Park
- Day 10: Bandhavgarh – Khajuraho (Drive 280 kms/06-hours)
- Day 11: Khajuraho – Varanasi (Drive 200 kms/04-hours + flight)
- Day 12: In Varanasi
- Day 13: Varanasi – New Delhi (Flight)
- Day 14: New Delhi – Onward
Tour Overview
India, a name synonymous with the presence of Royal Bengal Tigers, architectural vistas and spirituality, brings to you the Tiger, Taj and Temple Tour. This Tiger Safari India Tour along with a hint of culture and heritage is sure to leave you spell bound. It covers the Sal and Bamboo forests of Kanha and Bandhavgarh National Park in Central India with a little detour to the erotic temples of Khajuraho closer to Panna National Park. Later, one also gets the opportunity to engulf in the sanctity of the evening Ganga Aarti on the Varanasi Ghats (Benaras), followed by a boat ride in the morning on the serene and calm river.
What you will experience on this tour
Experience the best of Indian wildlife safari tours that includes the Royal Bengal Tigers, Asiatic Lions, Black Leopard, Indian Leopards, Snow Leopards, Red Panda, Asian Elephants, and a plethora of reptile and bird species, with experienced naturalists while you stay at the best-selected premium wildlife lodges and hotels.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive in New Delhi
On your arrival at the New Delhi International Airport, you will me met and received by our representative. They will take you to your hotel, assist you with a smooth check in, hand over and explain all travel related documents and ensure you’re well taken care of. Overnight stay at the hotel in New Delhi.
Accommodation: The Roseate House, Aerocity or similar
Day 02: New Delhi – Agra (Drive 220 kms/04-hour drive)
After breakfast drive to Agra. Later proceed to visit the red sandstone Agra Fort, which stands like a crescent on the banks of Yamuna River enclosed by forbidding 20-meter high walls, with a 12- meter moat between them. Three successive Mughal emperors – Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jehan – helped create this massive structure which contains Hindu and Muslim architecture. Overnight at Hotel in Agra.
Accommodation: The Taj View Agra or similar
Day 03: Agra – New Delhi (Drive 220 kms/04-hour drive)
At sunrise proceed to visit the famous white marble mausoleum, The Taj Mahal, which was built in the middle of the 17th century by the Moghul emperor Shah Jehan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Completed in 1652, skilled craftsmen from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and some 20,000 labourers worked for 17 years to build this edifice. [Taj is closed on Friday].
Check out from the hotel and later drive to New Delhi. On arrival check into hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Accommodation: The Roseate House, Aerocity or similar
Day 04: New Delhi – Raipur – Kanha (Flight + 210 kms/06-hour drive)
After an early breakfast, you will be driven to the Domestic Airport to catch a flight to Raipur. On arrival, you will be met by our representative who will further drive you to Kanha National Park. On arrival at Kanha, and a quick lunch, depart for your first afternoon tiger safari in the Sal jungle.
Return from the safari in the evening. Relax with a hot shower and dinner is served. Overnight at lodge in Kanha National Park.
Accommodation: Singinawa Jungle Lodge or similar
Day 05 - 06: At Kanha National Park
Wake up call at 0500 hours with tea/coffee and freshly baked cookies. Proceed for your first morning safari this day.
Kanha’s sal and bamboo forests, rolling grasslands and meandering streams stretch over 940 sq km in dramatic natural splendor which form the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve created in 1974 under Project Tiger. The park is the only habitat of the rare hardground Barasingha (Cervus Duvaceli Branderi). This is also the original Kipling country of which he wrote so vividly in his Jungle Book.
Packed breakfast which comes from the Lodge is served at a designated spot and spread on the bonnet of the Safari vehicle. Enjoy your breakfast in the wilderness of Kanha.
Continue your search for the elusive Tiger if you have not yet seen the same, and soak in the fresh, and energizing environment. Return from Safari around 1130hrs. Freshen up, and lunch is served.
Depart for an afternoon jeep safari at Kanha National Park. Return at 1800 hours from the safari. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation: Singinawa Jungle Lodge or similar
Day 07: Kanha - Bandhavgarh (Drive 280 kms/06-hours)
After an early and relaxed breakfast, drive from Kanha to Bandhavgarh National Park. On arrival, check into the lodge and eat lunch. Once done, proceed for your first afternoon tiger safari in the jungle.
Come back to the lodge, freshen up and dinner is served. Overnight at lodge.
Accommodation: The Tree House Hideaway or similar
Day 08 – 09: At Bandhavgarh National Park
Morning and afternoon tiger safaris in the park. All meals and overnight at the lodge in Bandhavgarh.
Bandhavgarh National Park is mainly known for the density of its tiger population. This is the place where famous White Tigers of Rewa were discovered. Other wild attractions in the park include Leopards, Blue Bulls, Indian Gaur (Bison) Chausingha (Four Horned Antelopes), Spotted Deers, Sambar Deer, Wild Boar, Sloth Bears Fox, Jackals, Wild Dogs, etc. The reptile population in the park includes Cobras, Kraits, Vipers, Ratsnakes, Pythons, Monitor Lizards and turtles, rhesus macaque and the Hanuman langur.
Accommodation: The Tree House Hideaway or similar
Day 10: Bandhavgarh – Khajuraho (Drive 280 kms/06-hours)
Morning jeep safari to the national park and after breakfast drive to Khajuraho. On arrival check into the hotel. Later, proceed for a city tour of Khajuraho.
Khajuraho, discovered by chance, is India’s second biggest single tourist attraction. Khajuraho has the largest group of medieval temples that are adorned with numerous sculptures of extraordinary grace and delicacy celebrating the stylized and refined courtly accomplishments of beauty, love and creative arts. Once the religious capital of the Chandela Rajputs, the temples of the city date from 950-1050 AD. A wall with eight gates encloses the entire area and two golden palm trees flank each of them. Originally, there were over 80 temples, of which only 22 are now remarkably preserved.
The set of temples at Khajuraho celebrating Hindu religious thought in its mystifying variety of scope and inclusion stands distinguished from rest of the Hindu temples. The temples highlight the existential ethos in religion that venerates ‘Yoga’ and ‘Bhoga’. ‘Yoga’ is union of the self with the Almighty, while ‘Bhoga’ is the path to God through physical pleasure.
The temples at Khajuraho, dedicated to physical love and pleasure are a testimony to this philosophy. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1986, Khajuraho is a prominent, must-see destination and its temples are India’s unique gift to the world as they capture life in every form and mood in stone. Evening Sound and Light show at Khajuraho. Overnight at the hotel in Khajuraho.
Accommodation: The Lalit Temple View or similar
Day 11: Khajuraho – Varanasi (Drive 200 kms/04-hours + flight)
After breakfast visit the Eastern and Southern group of temples. The Parasvanath temple of the Eastern group is the group’s largest Jain temple. The themes depict, in charming detail, everyday activity. Also visit the Kandariya Mahadev temple dedicated to Shiva and the Chaturbhuj temple of the Southern group.
Afternoon transfer to the airport to board the flight for Varanasi. Meeting and assistance on arrival at Varanasi airport and transfer to the hotel.
Varanasi is one of India’s most important pilgrimage sites and the holiest of holy cities for Hindus. Known also as Kashi and Benaras, Varanasi is one of the world’s oldest living cities, and has been a centre of learning and culture for well over 2000 years.
Evening: Boat ride in the Ganga River. This is a fascinating ride as you can experience the cultural ethos that guides the life of the pious. See the rituals that take place to the setting sun and the ablutions that are performed in the river. As boats float down-stream, some carrying goods, fruits and vegetables, you will see others carrying the pious who perform ceremonies along the river.
On the banks or “ghats”, you can see some absorbed in prayer and the chanting of hymns, and others engaged in commerce and yet others performing functions like hair-cutting, massaging and even cleaning ears! Walk across to the Manikarnika Ghat, where you can see cremation, performed with intense ritual – the process of sending the departed soul to the heavens. Hindus believe that the gateway to the Heavens and for the Re-incarnation of the Soul `in a better state’, is possible when life’s last journey is from Varanasi. Overnight in Varanasi.
Accommodation: The Taj Ganges or similar
Day 12: In Varanasi
Early morning: Take a boat ride at dawn down India’s most sacred river, The Ganges. Sun rise at the holy river is a truly tranquil and breath taking sight with pilgrims standing waist-deep in water, praying to the rising Sun. See the famous Vishwanath temple with its spires covered with gold, dedicated to Shiva, the presiding deity of the city. Return to the hotel for Breakfast
Also visit Sarnath a city located 13 kilometres north-east of Varanasi near the confluence of the Ganges and the Gomati rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India. The deer park in Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna. Singhpur, a village approximately one km away from the site, was the birthplace of Shreyansanath, the eleventh Tirthankara of Jainism, and a temple dedicated to him.
Accommodation: The Taj Ganges or similar
Day 13: Varanasi – New Delhi (Flight)
Morning free for leisure at Varanasi. Transfer to the Airport for your flight back to New Delhi. Overnight at New Delhi.
Accommodation: The Roseate House, Aerocity or similar
Day 14: New Delhi – Onward
Post breakfast, depart for the New Delhi International Airport to catch your flight back home or to an onward destination.
What our Guests Say
This is the 2nd time we have travelled with Nature Safari India. We had a 17 night holiday, visiting the nature of Sasan Gir National Park, Little Rann of Kutch, Velavadar Black Buck National Park and Leopard Hills at Bera. The nature was interspersed with various ... Read More
My wife and I enjoyed a sensational 18 day customised safari through Satpura, Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Panna National Park/Reserves arranged through Nature Safari India by Varun Mani. We cannot speak highly enough of the.. Read more
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