Detailed Itinerary - The Palaces of Rajasthan, Birding and Wildlife - 26th Jan. to 16th Feb. 2003

Tour Schedule:


Detailed Itinerary


Days 1 & 2 Fly to Singapore.

Depart Vancouver on a regular Singapore Airlines scheduled flight around mid-day.
Meals as provided onboard.

Days 2 Reach Singapore

Arrive in Singapore late the following day after having crossed the International Date Line. The airline will provide complimentary transfers to your pre-arranged hotel for the night.
Overnight Singapore hotel. Meals as provided onboard.

Day 3 Fly to New Delhi.

A day to relax in this busy and spotlessly clean Asian city. The Orchard Street stores provide some good shopping bargains. Kelly, your Tour Leader, has made some excellent local birding contacts over the last few years and you may wish to accompany him to the Singaporean Nature Reserve where previous Groups have spent time doing some excellent birding. The alleys of Little India, China Town and Arab Street all reflect the cultural backgrounds of the Chinese, Tamil Indians, Malays and Eurasians who make up the population of present day Singapore. The National Orchid Garden within the Singapore Botanical Gardens and the Jurong Bird Park with over 600 tropical bird species are other places worth a visit.

We will transfer back to the airport that afternoon for our onward flight to New Delhi reaching there about 10.00 pm. A representative will meet us on arrival and drive us to the Kansihka Hotel close to the city centre.

The name Delhi, Dehali or Dilli is derived form Dhillika, the name of the first medieval township of Delhi, located on the southwestern border of the present Union Territory of Delhi, in Mehrauli. This was the first in the series of seven medieval cities. It was also known as Yoginipura, that is, the fortress of the yoginis (female divinities). There was, however, an ancient urban settlement in Delhi known as Indraprastha on the banks of the Yamuna which is traditionally believed to have been founded by the Pandava brothers, the mythical heroes of the Mahabharata, the national epic of India. Excavations at the site of the township inside Purana Qila suggest that the date of the oldest habitation in the Delhi area is around the 3rd or 4th Century BC.
Overnight in the Kanishka Hotel. Meals as provided onboard.

Day 4 Delhi sightseeing.

This morning we start our city tour in Old Delhi driving past the Jamma Masjid (Mosque) then through the fabled Chandni Chowk (Silver Street). Later we visit the Red Fort which was built by the builder of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jehan, and is famous for its delicately carved, inlaid and marbled Royal Chambers. Construction of the Fort, modeled on the Royal Citadel in Agra, building in 1639 and was completed in 1648. The Fort remains an impressive testimony to Moghul grandeur, despite being attacked and plundered by Nadir Shah in 1739 and by the British in 1857. We will also visit the colourful Hindu Birla Temple followed by a drive along New Delhi's spacious tree-lined avenues past the Lutyen's designed Government offices and the President's House. The ancient 200ft. high Qutab tower and the medieval Humayun's tomb will also be visited.
Overnight in the Kanishka Hotel. Breakfast.

Day 5 Drive to Corbett.

An early start by bus as we head north through the fertile alluvial plains of northern India to Corbett National Park. The Park is located in the foothills of the Outer Himalayas and was established as India's first national park in 1936 as Hailey National Park. The park was renamed in 1957 to its present name in memory of Jim Corbett; the legendary hunter turned naturalist who had helped in setting it up. The park is notable for its extensive sal (Shorea robusta) forests which cover nearly 73% of its area and for its rich and diverse fauna, with 50 species of mammals, 575 of birds, 33 of reptiles, 7 of amphibians and 37 of dragonflies. Corbett is an important refuge for the Indian elephant and notable among the other large mammals are the leopard cat, tiger, wild dog, hog deer and the Indian pangolin.

We will stay in a comfortable resort located just outside the park boundary and there will be a local naturalist to guide us. Depending upon our arrival time, there may be a brief excursion within the park this evening.
Overnight in the Corbett Jungle Resort. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 6 Jungle safaris in Corbett.

A full day in Corbett with jeep safaris within the park to see one of the finest wildlife parks of India. December to February is the best time for birding here and we will make the most of our time here to try and see the herds of wild elephant, one of the 60 or so tigers and some of the 50 other mammalian species that inhabit the park.
EE ENCLOSED CHECKLIST.
Overnight in the Jungle Resort. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 7 Corbett then return to Delhi.

Starting with an early jeep safari to view wildlife, we will spend the morning in the Corbett Park area. It is easy to feel humbled by the grandness of nature and by the colour, variety and numbers of plants, birds and animals in the Indian jungle. The occasionally heard roar of the tiger or the trumpeting of wild elephants only adds to the feeling of awe. Later in the day, we will drive back to New Delhi.
Overnight in the Kanishka Hotel. Breakfast and lunch.

Day 8 Drive to Agra, see Taj Mahal.

We now begin our drive southwards, initially through the industrial suburbs of Delhi and then through miles of flat wheat fields towards the city of Agra. Agra located on the right bank of the Yamuna. Agra continues to be medieval in structure, with narrow, crowded streets and lanes, full of colourful shops selling all kind of goods, especially local handicrafts, including gold and silver embroidery and imitation Mughal inlay on marble and fine leather goods. The place is also known for its petha (pumpkin sweet) and dalmoth (savoury fried chickpeas) and delicious non-vegetarian dishes of Mughal origin.

On arrival in Agra we will tour the city and visit its main attraction: The Taj Mahal, probably the world's most beautiful building. Called 'A dream in marble...' the Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jehan as a memorial to his queen Mumtaz Mahal. As one of the world's architectural masterpieces, it can be aptly described as the most exquisite monument to love. Shah Jehan built the Taj to enshrine the body of his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal (elect of the palace) who died shortly after giving birth to their 14th child in 1631. Construction by a work force of 20,000 men from all over Asia commenced in 1632 and the tomb was completed in 1653. Marble was brought from Makrana, near Jodhpur, and precious stones of onyx, amethyst, malachite, lapis lazula, turquoise, jade, crystal and mother of pearl were carried to Agra from Persia, Russia, Afghanistan, Tibet, China and the Indian Ocean.

The Taj is remarkable for its perfect proportions and rich pietra dura, with minute details executed with great skill. The building, often styled 'a dream in marble', is said to have taken 18 years (1631-48) to build. It marks the most developed stage of Mughal architecture. The designer of this grand sepulchre is believed to be Ustad Ahmad Lahori, a master architect of the age. Amanat Khan Shirazi, a great writer of the 17th century, authored the calligraphic ornamentation on the Taj Mahal.

According to popular belief, Shah Jahan wanted to build another mausoleum in black marble for himself opposite the Taj Mahal, but, for reasons unknown, could not do so. Agra city also offers several other remarkable monuments such as the Agra Fort, which is as rugged as the Taj Mahal is ethereal, the perfectly proportioned Moti Masjid (Pearl mosque), the Jami Masjid mosque and the Itimad-ud-daulah Mausoleum.

We also visit the Agra Fort that lies on the bend of the River Yamuna, almost in the heart of the town. Akbar built it as his citadel over the years 1565 to 1573 in the finest architectural style. It has imposing gates and walls of red sandstone and a moat. The fort, approachable through its two lofty main portals on the west and south besides a private gate on the east, was successively occupied by three great Mughals - Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jehan, each of whom made significant structural contributions to this complex.
Overnight in the Ashok Hotel. Breakfast.

Day 9 To Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.

Early this morning we drive to Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri was the ancient capital of the Moghul Empire built by Emperor Akbar the Great between 1569 and 1585. It was later abandoned due to the lack of a dependable water supply, but remains one of the most perfectly preserved examples of a Moghul city. It straddles the crest of a rocky ridge 37 km (23 miles) southwest of Agra. Built between 1569 and 1585 by the great Moghul emperor Akbar, it has lain silent for almost four centuries; by 1600, its meagre water supply had proved incapable of sustaining the population. Now deserted, it is almost perfectly preserved - a masterpiece in sandstone, glowing in subtly changing shades of pink and red as the day progresses and the light fades. The very embodiment of Akbar's unorthodox court, the city fuses Hindu and Muslim artistic traditions; Hindu buildings such as Birbal's Palace and Jodhbai's Palace mingle with the pavilions and halls of the grand court, while the Jami Masjid, the only building of exclusively Muslim derivation, houses one of the most exquisite mausoleums of the Moghul period, the marble Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti. Fatehpur Sikri was originally intended to be joint capital with Agra.

After a comprehensive tour of this extraordinary site, we continue to the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary -one of the world's foremost birding destinations, with over 330 species. We will have some time to enjoy these important wetlands with their many bird, animal and reptile inhabitants. We can hire bicycles or cycle rickshaws locally or go by small boats to see colonies of nesting egrets, storks, ibises and some of the rare visiting Siberian migratory species.
Overnight at the Bharatpur Forest Lodge inside the park boundaries. Breakfast

Day 10 Full day in Bharatpur.

Accompanied by an expert local naturalist guide we visit more of this famous park. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, also known as Keoladeo Ghana, after the ancient Shiva temple in the heart of the forest is spread over 29 square km of shallow lakes, scrub and woodland. The royal family of Bharatpur initially developed it in the late 19th century as a wildfowl hunting preserve. Today it is one of the most spectacular waterfowl and bird sanctuaries in the world in addition to having several varieties of deer and the Indian python often seen basking in the winter sun.
Overnight at the Bharatpur Forest Lodge inside the park boundaries. Breakfast

Day 11 Drive to Sariska Tiger Park.

A relatively short drive to the Sariska Tiger Sanctuary where we stay in the Sariska Palace Hotel just outside the park gates. Once the royal hunting lodge, the Sariska Palace Hotel is an imposing building. Sariska was declared a sanctuary in 1955 and is a tiger reserve under Project Tiger. Though the park is open year round, the best time to visit is between November to March. Thickly forested hill slopes with steep cliffs dominate the landscape of Sariska. The terrain is undulating with some wide plateau lands separating the valleys. 'Dhok' (Anogeissus pendula) is the dominant tree species of the lower hill slopes, forming almost the pure stands. On higher and steeper slopes it is replaced by stands of 'Salar' (Boswellia serrata) trees and in the valleys by 'Ber' (Zizyphus species), 'Dhak (Butea monosperma), 'Ronj' (Acacia leucophloea and khair (Acacia catechu).

The lush green colour of the forest during the monsoon months changes to copper brown in winter, before turning to drab grey in the summer. Bright orange colour of blooming Dhak trees during spring break the monotony of grey. The combination of grasslands and wooded forests of the sanctuary provide an excellent habitat for the herbivorous animals that inhabit the park. There are several species of deer including the lesser seen four horned antelope, blue bull, hyena, jackals, rhesus and langur monkeys with the few resident tigers and leopards rarely seen. Water holes have been created at number of spots in the sanctuary and now act as the points of congregation for animals. There will be a jeep safari to take you into the park
Overnight at the Sariska Palace Hotel just outside the park boundaries. Breakfast.

Day 12 Jaipur- the capital of Rajasthan.

After a morning of birding in and around Sariska, we will drive to Jaipur, the capital city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Jaipur has been dubbed the 'Pink City' because of the many buildings inside the old city walls that are painted pink. Scattered throughout the north-east section of the town are palaces and temples designed in a variety of styles. The city lies snugly on a bed of a long-dry lake. We will stay in the heritage Alsisar Haveli mansion hotel- a small palace hotel full of character where its princely owners still live.

Jaipur was not always pink. The original city was light gray, edged with white borders and motifs. In honour of the visit in 1883 of Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria, it was ordered to be painted the traditional colour of welcome, which has been retained since.

The city was designed by Vidyadhar Chakravarty, a young Bengali architect, who succeeded in making a marvelous synthesis of many influences - Hindu, Jain, Mughal (with Persian overtones) besides his own ideas form eastern India. Jaipur's nine rectangular sectors symbolize the nine divisions of the universe.

Immediately before entering Jaipur, we will stop in Amber Fort, which was once the ancient state capital but is now deserted. It still retains an aura of beauty and brightness. Located on the crest of a rocky hill behind Maota Lake, 11 km (7 miles) north of Jaipur, this Rajput stronghold was the capital of the Kuchhawa Rajputs from 1037 until 1728. Rising on the slopes of a steep hill is the Amber fortress with its imposing facade. The interior presents a galaxy of art including the world's best Chamber of Mirrors.

In the afternoon we take a tour of Jaipur, one of the best-planned cities in India, built of rose-pink sandstone by the great astronomer-king Jai Singh II in 1727. The City Palace stands in the centre of the city. Part of it is still the Maharaja's residence, while most of the complex has been developed into a museum containing rare manuscripts, fine specimens of Rajput and Mughal paintings, royal apparel and an armoury. Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) is the landmark of Jaipur. It stands on one of the main streets, a curious building, elaborate and fanciful, built of pink sandstone with a delicate honeycomb design. Rising five storeys high, it is composed of semi-octagonal overhanging windows, each with its perforated screen, which allowed the ladies of the court to look onto the main street without being seen. We visit the Observatory, the City Palace that now houses a museum, and the Palace of the Winds.
Overnight at the Alsisar Haveli Mansion. Breakfast.

Day 13 Drive to Ranthambhor Tiger Park.

We drive south to Ranthambhore National Park, which is an outstanding example of Project Tiger's efforts at conservation in the country. The forests around the Ranthambhore Fort were once, the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur. The desire to preserve the game in these forests for sport was responsible for their conservation, and subsequent rescue by Project Tiger. In 1972, it was estimated that there were around 1927 tigers in all of India, of which Rajasthan had 74, and the number of big cats in Ranthambhore Sanctuary was 14. 1972 was also the year that Project Tiger was launched, and this sanctuary was taken into its wings, alongwith 7 other sanctuaries and national parks.

As a result of stringent efforts in conservation, tigers, the prime assets of the Park, have become more active during the day. More than in any other park or sanctuary in India, tigers are easily spotted here in daylight. They can be seen lolling lazily in the sun, or hunting Sambar deer around the lakes. Ranthambhore is probably the ideal park for wildlife photography and it does attract professional wildlife photographers from all over the world.
Overnight at the Ranthambhor Bagh Hotel just outside the park boundaries. Breakfast.

Day 14 In the Ranthambhor Ntnl. Park.

We have two full days in Ranthambhor with jeep safaris within the park. Note that visits into India's wildlife parks is strictly controlled to minimize disturbance to animals- the times during which we can actually drive inside the parks will depend upon local regulations in force during our visit.

Apart from tigers, the park has share of panthers, too. They are to be found on the outskirts of the park due to inevitable conflicts with the tiger population. Kachida Valley is believed to be the place to sight these elusive cats. The other permanent residents of the park include marsh crocodiles, hyenas, jungle cats and sloth bears. Sambar deer are found in abundance all over the area and are the prime prey animal of all the predators. Chital, nilgai, and chinkara are other deer species. The bird population comprises about 264 species, found within the park.

SEE ENCLOSED CHECKLIST.
Overnights at the Ranthambhor Bagh Hotel just outside the park boundaries. Breakfast.

Day 15 Travel to Udaipur.

A drive deeper into Rajasthan takes us to Udaipur. Its lakes, its marble palace, and its beautiful gardens dominate Udaipur, an enchanting city. The founder, Maharaja Udai Singh, was overcome by the misfortunes that his old capital Chittaurgarh had to face. Weary of the repeated attacks that he had to face, Udai Singh sought the help of a holy man and asked him t suggest a safe place for his new capital. Udai Singh was advised to shift his capital to the banks of Lake Pichola. The holy man assured him that his new capital would never be conquered. The city of Udaipur was thus founded and grew around the lakes. Udaipur has many reasons to be proud. The first is that it can trace back its recorded history to Bapa Rawal (AD 728). Also, the present nobility is perhaps the longest surviving dynasty in the world, being the seventy-sixth in the unbroken line of Mewar suzerains.
Overnight at the Rampratap Palace Hotel. Breakfast.

Day 16 Udaipur sightseeing.

Udaipur is set around the vast Pichola Lake and dominated by dramatic palaces. We see the lakeside City Palace, which is made up of eleven constituent mahals (palaces) constructed by successive Maharajahs over 300 years. Together they comprise the largest royal complex in Rajasthan. The palace - iridescent with tile and mirror inlays, includes the impressively carved Jagdish Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

During the afternoon we will browse in this beautiful city of temples, fairy-tale palaces and vast city gardens surrounding several lakes. It is not difficult to fall in love with Udaipur. It was the only one of the seven major Rajput states to uphold its Hindu allegiance in the face of Muslim invasions and political compromises. A serene late afternoon drive around nearby Fateh Sagar Lake concludes an inspiring day.
Overnight at the Rampratap Palace Hotel. Breakfast.

Day 17 To Kumbhalgarh Fort and State Forest.

Some 80 kilometres from Udaipur is the 15th century Kumbhalgarh fort, which was the second most important fortress in Rajasthan after Chittorgarh. Surrounded by a thickly wooded forest, the ramparts of the fortress stretch some 36 km and encompass a lost world of exquisitely carved temples, a tribal village and ruins of an old settlement for you to discover. This domed shelter fort, situated inside the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and built on top of magnificent hill tracts that divide the erstwhile Mewar and Marwar regions, has seen many historic battles. We will spend the day in and around the Wildlife Park.
Overnight at the Kumbhalgarh Fort Hotel. Breakfast.

Day 18 Drive to Dungarpur.

Approaching the southern boundary of Rajasthan, we arrive in Dungarpur. Founded in the 13th Century, the town is surrounded by the hills of the Aravalli Range and is home to a large aboriginal tribal group called the Bheels who have inhabited area from well before recorded history. We stay at the Udai Vilas Palace, which is a good example of Rajput architecture with its intricately sculptured pillars, and panels, impressive balconies, bracketed windows and marvellous painted panels. The local Maharajah usually joins guests in the ornate dining room for meals at this charming country house style Palace. The interiors are embellished with beautiful frescoes, miniature paintings, glass and mirror work. While some of the most beautiful palaces all over Rajasthan were vandalised by invaders, Dungarpur was fortunate to have been located in the deep interiors. Its wall paintings are well preserved and there is very little damage to the buildings.
Overnight at the Udai Vilas Palace Hotel. Breakfast.

Day 19 In and around Dungarpur.

The water bodies in Dungarpur attract a large variety of migratory birds during the winters. Other commonly seen birds are partridges, peafowl, cuckoos, eagles and vultures.

The surrounding areas are full of interesting little temple towns, archaeological sites of great importance and ruins of ancient kingdoms.
Overnight at the Udai Vilas Palace Hotel. Breakfast.

Day 20 Drive to Udaipur; fly to Delhi.

We drive 120 kms north to Udaipur and catch the evening flight back to New Delhi. We will transfer to our hotel for our last evening in India.
Overnight at the Kanishka Hotel. Breakfast.

Day 21 Fly to Singapore.

An evening transfer back to the airport for our return flight. On most days, we will arrive into Singapore early the following morning and, after a few hours break, take our connecting flight back to Vancouver.

Day 22 Arrive in Singapore and fly to Vancouver.