TIGER LAND SAFARI TOUR WITH TAJ & TRADITION: 09
DAYS
DELHI – JAIPUR – RANTHAMBHORE – FATEHPUR
SIKRI – AGRA – BANDHAVGARH – DELHI
Day 01: Delhi – Jaipur: By road 260kms in 06hrs
TRAVELASTU REPRESENTATIVE will receive you from Delhi hotel
and proceed to Jaipur. Reach and check into the
hotel.
Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan a romantic
realm of resplendent palaces, mighty fortresses and regal Maharajahs that lies
in the western deserts and is an utterly unique part of India. Proudly belonging to the
KSHATRIYA warrior caste and fiercely independent, the Rajput princes made
fearsome foes. However, many of them realized that to maintain their wealth and
authority locally, it was expedient to proclaim allegiance to the central
power. Thus, many enjoyed a privileged position under the Mughal emperors and
also the British Raj that followed.
The bustling Rajasthan capital of Jaipur takes its name from
its venerated founder Jai Singh II, who was given the title Sawai Maharaja by
the Mughal. Literally translated this would mean ’one and a quarter’,
suggesting that the Mughal thought this emperor to be more valuable than just
‘one’. Jaipur is known as the ’Pink
City’ on account of the
distinctive colour of its buildings. This did not, however, form part of the
original plan, but dates back to 1856, when the city was given a wash of pink
in honor of a State Visit from Prince
Albert.
Proceed
to visit a castle close to Jaipur for an evening with the royal family.
Rajasthan,
the land of Maharajas & famous for its castles, forts and palaces is truly
the colorful Jewel of India. Castle Kanota provides a good example
of history amalgamating with modern times. Spread over 8 acres of land, Castle
Kanota is truly a magnificent experience. Built in 1872, the Castle is located
just 15 km. east of Jaipur on the Jaipur-Agra Highway. With a built-in Museum
and a Library which displays gold work and unique collection of rare books, the
castle takes you back to the grandeur of the past. The Royalty has forever
taken a lot
of
interest in cooking. Since they frequently went
hunting, their cooks, who travelled with the hunting party,
showed great innovation in preparing meals on the pot. These were then modified
and refined for use in homes. Rajput royalty, generals and landlords generally
had Muslim cooks, so a majority of the recipes being revived have a distinct
flavor.
Thakur
Zorawar Singh, the founder of the Kanota Thikana,
belonged to the Champawat family of Pilwa, an estate of Jodhpur. He came to
Jaipur in the year 1869 and joined the Jaipur administrative service. Due to
his outstanding abilities as an administrator and sportsman, he became a
confidant of Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh of Jaipur. By the end of Maharaja Sawai
Ram Singh's reign, he had established himself as a prominent noble in Jaipur
state and played a very important role in the succession of Maharaja Sawai
Madho Singh to the throne of Jaipur. He served the Jaipur royal family for 46
years.
Cannons
to protect the castle were purchased from the British Navy. With a Majestic Durbar Hall, Golden Suite, and a big beautiful garden
with a fruit orchard, the fortified medieval castle is a magnificent
experience. The Castle Library (Pothi Khana) has gold work and unique
collection of over 10,000 rare books, manuscripts, miniatures and a very rich
(16th century) armory. There are facilities for horse and camel ride at the
Castle.
Thakur
Amar Singh, famous for writing the world's longest continuous diaries, brought
out a series of notes on recipes, interestingly even specifying the type of
metal utensils for cooking particular dishes. Revival of ancient royal cuisine
or "thikana" recipes is an added attraction at KANOTA. The special
royal THALIS served at Castle Kanota are a treat to the soul. Mouthwatering
special menu is served.
Recipes
served are original recipes collected by Thakur Amar Singh during his lifetime.
Most recipes will not be found anywhere else. These are made in complete
supervision of the family members – all culminating in once-in-a-lifetime
experience for each of our guests. Since 1863, the family of Kanota takes pride
in continuing the centuries old tradition of following the original secret
recipe in the same traditional way.
Enjoy meeting
the family who would host you for a high tea and then after a brief
deliberation on family history, culture, etc. proceed to the museum. There is a
rich display of old arms, horse, camel & elephant saddles and buggies. Walk
around the hotel admiring nature, its history and architecture ending the walk
with a PUJA at the family temple.
Enjoy dinner
with the family and then proceed back to the hotel.
Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day 02: Jaipur:
Proceed for morning excursion will be taken to the Amber Fort.
Ride to the Fort on elephant back in a royal manner.
AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic
Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction
was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh
I. Its forbidding exterior belies an
inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds its
ultimate expression.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Jaipur visiting...
CITY
PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and
traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace
sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple
and the City Palace Museum.
JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and the best
preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of
the country. This observatory consisting
of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.
HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in
Jaipur. It is a five-storey structure of
sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate
balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap
Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women.
This afternoon is free for you to relax shop or explore
independently. Shopping is superb in Jaipur, particularly for gold and silver
jewelry, pottery, tie-dye materials, silk, saris, wooden handicrafts and
carpets.
Relax
in the evening or you could take a RICKSHAW RIDE or visit the BIRLA TEMPLE for
the evening AARTI.
Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day 03: Jaipur – Ranthambhore: By Road 170kms in
04hrs
Breakfast
will be at the hotel.
Proceed to Ranthambhore. Reach and check into the hotel.
Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, at the junction of the
Aravalis and the Vindhyas, is a unique example of natural and historical
richness, standing out conspicuously in the vast, arid and denuded tract of
eastern Rajasthan, barely 14 kilometers from Sawai Madhopur. Get in tune with
nature for a luxury holiday in the heart of the jungle. Most of the resorts are
close to the National Park Gate, Tiger Den being the closest.
It spreads over a highly undulating
topography varying from gentle to steep slopes; from flat-topped hills of the
Vindhyas to the conical hillocks and sharp ridges of the Aravalis, from wide
and flat valleys to narrow rocky gorges. An important geological feature the
‘Great Boundary Fault’ where the Vindhya plateaus meet the Aravali Hill range
meanders through the Reserve. The rivers Chambal in the south and Banas in the
north bind the National Park.
Tiger, at the apex of the food chain, lord
over the kingdom in a subtle way. Solitary by nature, it operates in stealth.
Therefore tiger sightings, frequent as they are, are always a matter of chance.
However, even evidences of tiger's activities are very exciting.
If interested visit Ranthambhore fort.
Overnight will be in
Ranthambhore.
Day 04: Ranthambhore:
Wake
up early morning and leave for your safari into the National Park. Track the
tigers and other wildlife through the morning. Return to the resort in the
morning and have breakfast.
Freshen
up and spend time at the pool or visit the town. You could also go for a nice
visit to the temple on top of the fort.
In
the afternoon have lunch and then leave again for your afternoon safari.
Dinner
will be at the resort and retire early for the night.
Overnight
will be in Ranthambhore.
Day 05: Ranthambhore – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra:
By
road 260kms in 06hrs
Enjoy
breakfast at the hotel. Proceed to Agra. En route visit Fatehpur Sikri.
Fatehpur Sikri
is 37 km west of Agra. JALAL – UD – DIN – MUHAMMAD AKBAR named Akbar,
Humanyun's son, accessed the throne at the tender age of 14. While hunting
around Sikri his curiosity was aroused by the songs of some minstrels about the
celebrated Khwaja -Mu'inu'd-din Chisti, the founder of the Chisti order of
SUFIS. Akbar, who was without a male heir heard about Saint Salim Chisti and
visited him in the year 1568, the saint blessed him with 3 sons and in
gratitude Akbar ordered the great mosque of Fatehpur Sikri, built under his
supervision. As a mark of respect to the saint, Akbar shifted his capital to
Fatehpur Sikri and built various secular buildings like the Diwan -I-Am,
Diwan-I-Khas, Jodhabai palace, Birbal's house, Marian's house and the
Panchmahal.
Continue drive
to Agra. Reach and check into the hotel.
AGRA: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed
the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire
- giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to
Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and
white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm
that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising,
that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously.
Proceed for a
HERITAGE WALK to the other side of River YAMUNA with your guide.
The other side
of the TAJ MAHAL across the river Yamuna where Mughal History has been written
in edicts of stone, the river Yamuna lined with the residences of mobility was
the artery, the very lifeline, which fostered the development of Mughal Agra.
These heritage relics have been weaved together for a historic experience of
Mughal Agra. You would walk through the various monuments in midst of rural
setting intertwined with the communities along with stunning view of the TAJ
MAHAL.
Enjoy the
extended hospitality of the local villagers sipping a cup of Masala Chai on the
Tea Terrace with standard, comfortable, clean, affordable, and safe facilities.
The whole village walk through India’s Mughal History and amiable people is an
unforgettable experience.
Overnight
will be at Agra.
Day 06: Agra – Umaria :By
overnight Train Train Name : Utkal Express
Departure : 1600hrs
Arrival : 0530hrs
Wake up early
and proceed for a sunrise visit of Taj Mahal.
TAJ MAHAL - Little needs to be
said about this architectural wonder which is always the soul raison-de-etre
for every tourist's visit to Agra.
Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife
Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and
planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design balance
and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes,
intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen.
Come back and
enjoy the breakfast.
Later proceed
for the sightseeing of Agra fort and Baby Taj.
AGRA FORT – The red sandstone structure is
surrounded by chahar-bagh, a four-square formal garden. Built by the famed
Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red
sandstone. Ensconced within is the
picture perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction. It lies on
the bend of the river Yamuna, almost in the heart of the town. Akbar built it
as his citadel over the years 1563-73 in the finest architectural style. It has
imposing gates and walls of red sandstone and a moat.
After Agra Fort we will visit BABY TAJ
or the ITMAD-UD-ULLAH – The interiors of which are considered better
than the Taj. One of the most beautiful Mughal tombs, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb
was built by Nur Jahan, the Empress of Jahangir for her father in 1628. The
tomb is a resting place of the powerful personality in Mughal Court, Itmad-Ud-Daulah, whose life
is very interesting. Formerly a very poor Persian merchant then named Mirza
Ghiyas or Ghiyas Beg he became a minister and a trusted treasure in Akbar's
court. After Akbar's death in 1605, his son Jahangir rose into power. Jahangir
made Ghiyas Beg his chief minister and honored him with the title of
Itmad-Ud-Daulah, the Pillar of State. Later, Jahangir met a beautiful daughter
of Ghiyas Beg named Mehr-Un-Nissa and married her. Mehr-Un-Nissa soon played a
significant role in the Jahangir's court and was called Nur Mahal, the light of
the Place. Owing to her influence, her father and brother were granted with
privileges in the court. When Ghiyas beg (Itmad-Un-Daulah) dies in 1622, Nur
Mahal decided to build a mausoleum for him. Queen Mumtaz Mahal or the lady of
the Taj was also from this prevailing family. The mausoleum is entirely made of
white marble and graced with intricate decoration of inlay work, and
marble-screen work belonging to the Islamic style. With its tranquil, small
garden on the bank of Yamuna
River, the tomb stands
impressively elegant from a distance.
Transfer to the railway station to board
overnight train for Umaria.
Day 07: Umaria
– Bandhavgarh : By road in 01hr
Reach Umaria and drive to Bandhavgarh. Reach
and check in at the resort.
Bandhavgarh is a new National Park with a
very long history. Set among the Vindhya
hills of Madhya Pradesh with an area of 168sq miles (437sq km) it contains a
wide variety of habitats and a high density of game, including a large number
of Tigers. This is also the White tiger
country. These have been found in the
old state of Rewa for Many years.
Maharaja Martand Singh captured the last known in 1951. This white Tiger, Mohun is now stuffed and on
display in the Palace of Maharaja of Rewa. Prior to becoming a National Park,
the forests around Bandhavgarh had long been maintained as a Shikargah, or game
preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa. The
Maharaja and his guests carried out hunting – otherwise the wildlife was well
protected. It was considered a good omen
for Maharaja of Rewa to shoot 109 tigers.
His Highness Maharaja Venkat Raman Singh shot 111 Tigers by 1914.
Where birds are concerned, keep a look out
for white browed fantails, steppe eagles, green pigeons, grey Malabar
hornbills, black and white Malabar hornbills (quite a rare sighting), blossom
headed parakeets, parakeets, blue bearded bee eaters, green bee eaters, white
bellied drongos, owls, Jerdon's and gold fronted leaf birds, minivets,
woodshrikes and the lovely paradise flycatchers.
Enjoy afternoon wildlife safari.
Overnight will be at Bandhavgarh.
Day 08: Bandhavgarh:
Breakfast
will be in the lodge.
Proceed
for full day game viewing inside the jungle. (Two safaris with lunch break
in-between)
Overnight will be at Bandhavgarh.
Day 09: Bandhavgarh – Jabalpur: By road 190kms
in 5.5hrs
Jabalpur – Delhi – Departure:
By air
Enjoy morning safari.
Come back and have leisurely breakfast.
Later, drive to Jabalpur airport to take flight for Delhi and further
onward journey with sweet memories of the tour.
TOUR ENDS
