Luxury India Expedition

After breakfast, proceed for the full day city tour of Old & New Delhi including visit of the 17th century Jama Masjid and enjoy normal rickshaw ride through the narrow, winding lanes of colourful and bustling Chandni Chowk.. Also stop in front of the Mughal Empire’s most opulent fort, the Red Fort for a photo stop. Later Visit Raj Ghat where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated.

Afternoon proceed to New Delhi where you will be taken for the Drive past of The Presidential Palace, the one-time imperial residence of the British viceroys, the India Gate, a memorial raised in honour of the Indian soldiers martyred during the Afghan war and a drive along the Rajpath past the Parliament House and secretarial buildings.

Afterwards visit Qutab Minar, the 12th century tower of victory built by a slave king and prototype of all minars (towers) in India. Also visit the 16th century Humayun’s tomb, a precursor to the Taj Mahal.

Later return to hotel.

Accommodation: The Claridges

Morning, you will be transferred to railway station to board train to Kalka with Packed breakfast. Arrive at Kalka, meet assistance, who will transfer you to the Toy Train, a narrow gauge line covering almost 100 km, where the top speed rarely exceeds 20 mph, with picnic hamper.

Arrive in Shimla and transferred to your hotel for check in.

Shimla – The capital city of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla lies about 343 km from Delhi at an altitude of 2,213 metres above sea level. Shimla was declared the summer capital of India in 1864. After India’s independence, Shimla became the capital of Punjab till 1966, when it came under Himachal Pradesh.

Evening is at leisure.

Accommodation: Clarkes Shimla

Morning, start by visiting the Vice-regal Lodge (Closed on Monday). This also happens to be the place where the partition of India into two parts India and Pakistan was planned on the world map.

The British architecture here is amazing; the wooden work inside the building is still kept alive as it was during the British rule. After the tour of this impressive building visit a Hindu temple containing shrines to the many and various Hindu gods

After (lunch – on direct payment), enjoy a leisurely stroll back along the Mall to Scandal Point. En route, it may be possible to have a quick look inside the Gaiety Theatre or Christ Church. Alternatively find a spot for refreshments whilst viewing snow-capped Himalayan peaks (if weather is clear).

Accommodation: Clarkes Shimla

The transfer from Shimla to the tea plantations of Palampur overlooking the high peaks will take about six to seven hours. You’ll pass terraced fields and pine forests, and there are a number of optional stops on the way including the monasteries of Tashijong and Bir.

Rest of the day at leisure

Palampur means ‘full of water’, which attracted the Brits looking for somewhere a bit more like home. It was then discovered that this was prime land for the numerous tea estates that now profit from the weather. You will find that the roads don’t benefit so well, so be prepared for a bumpy ride. However all the while you will be surrounded by beautiful scenery; the magnificent Dhauladhar mountain range creates a beautiful backdrop to the terraced landscape and pretty forests of pine, cedar, oak and deodar, which all add to this attractive area of Himachal Pradesh.

Accommodation: The Lodge at Wah

Enjoy Tea Tour, Bird watching and dine under the star.

Accommodation: The Lodge at Wah

The journey from Palampur/Taragarh to Pragpur is approximately 100 kilometres and it takes roughly three hours to cover the distance. From the retreat of Palampur, you travel through an area of tea plantations before following a small river valley that gives you occasional glimpses of the nearby mountains. In this valley is the town of Bajinath, where it may be possible to stop and visit the small but interesting Vaidyanatha Temple dating from 1204, one of the oldest in the region.

A side step en route is to visit the Nagarkot Fort in Kangra. This will take you a couple of hours longer in travel, but allow you to see the interesting Kangra town, which is well worth a visit.

Rest of the day at leisure

Pragpur: Founded about three centuries ago and situated in the Kangra Valley, Garli-Pragpur, to give it its full name, was declared India’s first national heritage village in 1988 to promote it as a tourist destination and also to conserve the local architecture. Most buildings have brick walls and a sloping roof of slate, supported over wooden timbers. Pragpur is a small sleepy village but it does offer an opportunity to take a short stroll around and get a glimpse of how life is lived in this rural area. There is an ornamental village tank, temple and small local  shops. The Judge’s Court in the heart of the township has been beautifully restored and is now a heritage hotel.

Accommodation: Judge’s Court

Amritsar means ‘Pool of the Nectar of Immortality’, so named after the pool within the Golden Temple. Deep in the Punjab, it   is the holy city of the Sikhs, and as such, is intimately linked with the history of the Sikh peoples. All Sikhs endeavour to visit the Golden Temple at some point in their lives, and bathe in the holy water. A prosperous city, Amritsar’s income is mainly from agriculture, commerce and industry.

Close to the border with Pakistan, Amritsar holds strategic importance. It has seen much bloodshed over the years,     especially     during partition. As recently as the 1980s, Indira Gandhi famously ordered the storming of the temple, to remove Sikh militants in Operation Blue Star, an act which ultimately led to her assassination in a revenge attack by her Sikh bodyguards. Since then, both the temple and peace in the city, have been restored.

 Accommodation: Ranjit Svaasa

Morning, you will be taken for a half day sightseeing tour of Amritsar. On a half-day tour of the city, visit the Golden Temple, the spiritual nerve-centre of the Sikh faith. Later visit the historic Jallianwala Bagh, which commemorates the hundreds of innocent Indians killed or wounded by British bullets in the most notorious massacre under their rule.

In the afternoon, you will be taken to Wagah Border to witness the retreat ceremony. From Amritsar 35 Km on the road to Lahore (Pakistan), is India-Pakistan border, which is also known as “Attari (India)-“Wagah” (Pakistan) border.

Overnight is at Hotel

Accommodation: Ranjit Svaasa

Gobindgarh Fort is a historic fort located in the center of the city of Amritsar in the Indian state of Punjab. The Fort was earlier occupied by the army but is now open to the public. Today the fort is being developed as a unique live museum, as a repository of Punjab’s history. You can also experience the Sound & light Show which show case the history of the Fort with visual effects.

OR

Visit to Sada Pind (with Buffet Dinner, Drinks not included) – Customized village theme park

Alike Rajasthan, Punjab is also a colorful state. Here in, Sada Pind you can experience the Punjabi Culture Living. It is spread across 12 acres of land and brings you a chance to experience authentic culture, colours

• Day at leisure
• Later in evening drive to Amritsar airport
• Fly Amritsar / Jaipur BY SG

JAIPUR – the capital of Rajasthan province is known for its arts and crafts, jewellery, hand-painted fabrics and stone sculptures; it is one of North India’s finest examples of a planned city embodying the best of Rajput and Mughal architecture

Accommodation: Dera Mandawa

Today morning after an early breakfast visit the hilltop fortress at Amber.  A jeep will spare you the trouble of reaching up to the fortress. Once on top, stroll through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls.

Excursion to Jaigarh Fort: Jaigarh fort or ‘Victory Fort’ is situated on the hilltop above Amber Palace. Built between the 15th and 18th centuries, it is one of the few military structures of medieval India that was never captured and is therefore still more or less intact today. The fort is surrounded by forbidding and imposing stone ramparts and an impressive sight is the giant mounted cannon which is believed to be the largest cannon in the world and weighs 50 tonnes! The armoury and museum within the fort are also worth exploring, as well as the warren of dark passageways among the palaces. There are also breathtaking views from the main gate and the watch tower.

Accommodation: Dera Mandawa

En-route to Amber Fort you will stop and see the `Palace of Winds’, otherwise known as Hawa Mahal (Only Drive past). It is really an elaborate façade, extremely intricate in its pink sandstone carving.Afternoon visit the City Palace, which is an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. Afterwards visit Jaipur’s Jantar Mantar is the most famous of five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh in India. Jai Singh was a great admirer of progresses and research made in the fields of science and technology, and he was passionate about astronomy

Bazaar, Cuisine & Crafts of Old Jaipur: From its creation in 1727 the royal families and nobles of Jaipur patronised the craftsmen and artisans of the city. These traditions continue to this day and as a result modern day Jaipur is considered by many as the craft capital of India. Traditional methods are still used to produce many valuable and highly prized items. Using skills passed down through generations, artisans and master craftsmen can be seen in the areas of Ghat Darwaza and Vishveshwar ji. On this fascinating evening walk mingle and talk with the locals whilst sampling some of the regions culinary delights; try pakoras, aloo tiki, samosa and sweets from some of the city’s most popular street food vendors. Observe local artisans in their workshops; jewellers and silversmiths, gold and silver foil makers. The iconic Hawa Mahal also called the Palace of the winds is the meeting point at which this two and a half hour walk begins (Duration – 2hrs / 30mins. Timings – 16:30 to 19:00hrs)

Accommodation: Dera Mandawa

Come and discover the Dera Mandawa Homestay and their hosts, whom are the best in welcoming people and will definitely make you feel at home, thanks to their sense of humor. The Dera Mandawa was built by Thakur Jait Singhji of Mandawa in the 19th century. In this unique place, the silence is broken only by the twittering of the birds. Get to know better the owner of the place by sharing a homemade diner, made in a friendly atmosphere during a cooking demonstration. You will undoubtedly succumb to their charms.

The route between Jaipur and Agra is a well travelled highway, threading through agricultural land. Take the time to visit one of the villages en route. The road journey of over 200 kilometres takes five to six hours, primarily due to road and traffic conditions. Closer to Jaipur, around 90 kilometres away, is the village of Abhaneri which is home to the beautiful Chand Baoris (step well). There are numerous sculptures here along with the Harsha Mata Temple. It is the Chand Baoris, however, that is the most impressive feature here, one of India’s largest and deepest step wells which were built in order to harvest the rain water. En route you will stop to visit Fatehpur Sikri, which lies approximately 40 kilometres before Agra, just over the border from Rajasthan. This abandoned capital city of the Emperor Akbar lies at the edge of the great plains where successive battles determined the course of India’s history. The city took eight years to build, but was only occupied for 14 years, when in 1586 Akbar was forced by a lack of water supplies to move back to Agra.

Agra is situated on a bend in the River Yamuna, and this defensive strength has proven definitive in its history. The city’s past goes back as far as 2,500 years, when the area was part of Ashoka’s Buddhist empire. It was a stronghold of the last Hindu kings of the Lodi Dynasty in the 16th century, but was subsequently taken as capital by the Moghul rulers, Babur, Humayun and Akbar. Sunset visit of Metah Bagh to view the Taj Mahal: In addition to visiting the Taj Mahal itself, you may be interested in viewing it from the other side of the Yamuna River. This is a rural area and you’ll be able to experience local life along the river while enjoying an alternative view of this magnificent monument. In the last hour before sunset the constantly changing light conditions will cast the Taj Mahal in a variety of vibrant yellows, warm oranges and reds.

Accommodation: Trident

The principal reason for almost everyone’s visit to Agra is to see the Taj Mahal, and its legendary beauty continues to attract more visitors than virtually anywhere in India. This morning, you’ll be collected from your accommodation for a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal. This time of the day is the least crowded, affording visitors a very peaceful and tranquil experience of the world’s most romantic site. It’s always worth taking the opportunity to find a quiet corner to sit for a while – you only need to move 100 metres to feel like you’re miles away from anyone.

The Red Fort is a magnificent building where Shah Jahan, the creator of the Taj Mahal, spent the last years of his life imprisoned by his son, Aurangzeb. It was built in the late 1560s by their predecessor, Akbar, with later embellishment by Jahangir, his son, and Shah Jahan, his grandson. The fort is huge, with 20 metre high walls and a 2.5 kilometre circumference.

The Itimad-ud-Daulah is located on the opposite side of the river to the fort. Sometimes called the ‘Baby Taj’ by local guides, this is a gem of architectural detail. It’s located in an area of surprising peace and tranquility and was built before the Taj itself. Completed in 1628, it houses the mausoleum of Mirza Ghiyas Beg and his family. He was the father of Emperor Jahangir’s wife, Nur Jahan. Incidentally, Nur Jahan was also the aunt of Mumtaz, the woman who inspired the Taj Mahal.

Accommodation: Trident

• Train: 12002 – Dep: 08:02 – Arr: 13:50 – (same day) Class: Accc
• Private Transfer from Station to Hotel
• transfer by private vehicle with driver and guide

On arrival, you will be met at the station by your guide, escorted to your vehicle, and transferred to your accommodation.

Guided Tour of Bhopal

Your city tour will include a visit to the Archaeological Museum, renowned for its collection of 12th century jain bronzes as well as tribal handcrafts and sculptures. You will also visit the Taj-ul-Masajid, a massive mosque and the grand project of Shah Jahan Begum, the governor of Bhopal from 1868–1901. It has three white domes and two minarets, but it was never finished.

Accommodation: Jehan Numa Palace

The 180 kilometre journey from Bhopal to Satpura can be covered in four hours. The road conditions in this part of the country are not the best so there could be a slight delay.

Satpura National Park is one of the least-known and visited parks in Central India, and takes its name from the Satpura Hill ranges of Madhya Pradesh. Created in 1981, the park covers an area of 524 square kilometres, and along with the adjoining Bori and Pachmarhi Sanctuaries, provides 1,427 square kilometres of unique central Indian highland ecosystem. The terrain of the national park is extremely rugged, consisting of sandstone peaks, narrow gorges and ravines. The scenery is beautiful, with the densely forested hills reflected in the vast sparkling water of the Tawa reservoir. Satpura National Park supports an array of mammals that include the tiger, leopard, sambar, chital, nilgai, four-horned antelope, chinkara, bison, wild boar and wild dog among others. It’s a great place to see the sloth bear and a good number of sightings have been recorded in recent years. There is a variety of birds, hornbills and peafowl being the most common ones. The flora of the national park consists of mainly sal, teak, mahua, bamboo, and a variety of grasses and medicinal plants. Though it’s one of the most exciting tiger habitats, Satpura is not the best place to see tigers, but as it’s virtually free of visitors, you have the privilege of exploring the reserve in a way unknown in any other tiger reserve, on foot, by canoe or kayak, jeep and from carefully sited hides. The nearest town to the national park is Pachmarhi, and the nearest railhead is Piparia, 55 kilometres away. The state capital, Bhopal, is situated at a distance of 210 kilometres.

Accommodation: Reni Pani Jungle Lodge

In the morning you’ll wake up before sunrise and begin your game drive around Churna where there is a significant amount of predator movement. After you will head back to the lodge for breakfast before carrying on back through the park and back to your hotel.

.Later afternoon for Jungle activity. On your activity (Boat ride/ optional) you will have the opportunity of spotting leopard, sloth bear and many species of deer and bird. Your naturalist will track wildlife by listening out for calls, checking favoured resting and feeding spots, and traversing a range of habitats\

Accommodation: Reni Pani Jungle Lodge

The morning safari at Satpura departs from the lodge at around 6am and returns by approximately 10am. A breakfast is usually provided to eat in the park. Your jeep allows you to cover plenty of ground in the jungle to give you a variety of wildlife spotting opportunities, further enhanced by your trained naturalist.

The journey to the famous Kanha National Park that lies north east of Satpura takes around 6.5 hours. A part fo your journey is through the countryside and depending on the road conditions could increase the journey time to 8.5 hours.

Kanha National Park is one of the most important parks in the Project Tiger network, and covers an area of almost 2,000 square kilometres, including the buffer zone. Established in 1974 as a tiger reserve, it was previously a hunting ground, as well as being the inspiration behind Kipling’s Jungle Book. The terrain is varied from large grassy meadows, to sal trees and bamboo, which provide extensive cover. Kanha has two main rivers, Halon in the east and Banjar in the west, and the grassy maidans (often old village sites) spread throughout the centre. The hills offer support to sizeable plateaus, locally called Dadars. These Dadars are much favoured by gaur and four-horned antelope.

Accommodation: Shergarh

Game drives are taken in the early morning and late afternoon. The exact timings of your drive will be given to you locally, as this varies with the seasons and daily temperature. A picnic breakfast is often taken in the park, or alternatively later in the morning on return to your accommodation.

Accommodation: Shergarh

Game drives are taken in the early morning and late afternoon. The exact timings of your drive will be given to you locally, as this varies with the seasons and daily temperature. A picnic breakfast is often taken in the park, or alternatively later in the morning on return to your accommodation.

Accommodation: Shergarh

• Morning Jeep safari in the park
• Transfer from Kanha National Park to Raipur
• Fly Raipur Delhi 6E 6279 1735/1930 Hrs.
• Arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel

This game drive will be in the early morning, when the temperatures are cooler and the animals more likely to be roaming around. The exact timings of your drive will be given to you locally, as this varies with the seasons and daily temperature. A picnic breakfast is often taken in the park, or alternatively later in the morning on return to your accommodation. Kanha is one of the most important parks in the Project Tiger network, and has a healthy tiger population that rivals Ranthambhore and Corbett National Parks. In the centre of the park is a small natural history museum with above average displays and audio visual information.

The journey of around 220 kilometres from Kanha National Park to Raipur will take somewhere in the region of 6 hours through rural Madhya Pradesh.

Private Transfer from Airport to hotel

Accommodation: Novotel

Transfer to Delhi airport for your onward flight.

In time you will be assisted for departure transfer to the Delhi international airport to board flight to onward destination.