Sunday 9th Nov – Thursday 20th Nov 2008

Temples, Taj Mahal and Tigers!     
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Nestled within the heart of Asia, there is a country that offers the traveller an intense invasion of the senses, the lure of the exotic, a mystical land populated by a colourful people. Somewhere that holds some of the most amazing architecture, surrounded by a colourful history, and is home to a wealth of wildlife almost unparalleled anywhere in the world. That country is India, one of our favourite destinations and is one that draws people back time and time again.

This tour focuses on the well known cultural attractions of the Golden Triangle that is Delhi, Jaipur and Agra where we can see such historical sights as Agra Fort, the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri and the Amber Fort in the Pink City of Jaipur – the latter we will approach at dawn on an Elephant! Our fabulous tour culminates in a visit to the incomparable Taj Mahal, possibly the most famous building anywhere in the world. As if that is not enough we will have a three night stay at a jungle resort on the outskirts of Ranthambore National Park, where we will use jeeps to search for the most impressive predator on the planet – Tiger.

We will also take a rickshaw ride into one of the most well known bird reserves in Asia, the famous Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur where a multitude of brightly coloured birds can be seen. This is a tour that takes in all the most famous sites, with the minimum of travel and staying in top quality hotels that not only lend a certain elegance and style, but some of which are former palaces and steeped in their own history. Our specifically designed tour allows the traveller to see the ‘real’ India as well as the cultural sites, and our two short train journeys allow a fascinating insight into the daily life of the local people, thus avoiding needlessly long and tiring travel by road. This promises to be a wonderful holiday that will leave you longing to return.

Our Tour Itinerary

Days 1 - 2
Scheduled direct overnight flight from London Heathrow to New Delhi. On arrival we shall transfer to The Claridges first-class hotel where we can relax and unwind after a tiring journey, and is a lovely setting in which to while away a few hours. In the afternoon we can take a short coach journey across Delhi to sample a little of Indian way of life, and take our first look at some of Delhi’s historical buildings.

Day 3
This morning we will take a sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi and visit some of the most famous sites. Old Delhi pulses with energy and colour amidst the hustle and bustle of thronged bazaars and is laced by a maze of narrow lanes which twist and turn between tall, leaning houses full of the sights, sounds and aromas of the Indian Sub-continent. In Old Delhi you will see the famous Red Fort surrounded by shops, and bazaars (built by the Emperor Shah Jehan – the builder of the Taj Mahal), the Jama Masjid mosque with its tapering minarets and wonderful marble domes, and Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi's business nerve centre. We’ll take all this in amidst the hive of activity of everyday Indian life all around. New Delhi stands in formal splendour, like a lone sentry guarding an outpost of a long-gone empire and is a city of wide boulevards, which offers ever-changing perspectives of Lutyen's landscaped city. It is also a city rich with formal parks and you will see the magnificent Parliament Building and the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India in the 330 acres of land designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, once the awe-inspiring residence of the British Viceroys and now the Presidential Palace. And then there is India Gate, a majestic 42 metres high arch, built as a memorial to the Indian Soldiers killed in World War I, and finally Humayun's Tomb which was built in the 16th century and architecturally the forerunner of the Taj Mahal, showing Mughal architecture at its graceful best. After a late lunch, we will transfer to the railway station in the late afternoon and board the Paschim Express for the train journey to Sawai Madhopur. On arrival we shall drive by jeeps to the Tiger Moon Jungle Resort, located close to the world famous Tiger reserve of Ranthambore National Park for a three night stay.

This section of the tour is designed to give you a flavour of the excitement involved in tracking the most majestic and awesome predator on the planet – the Bengal Tiger. Although we are by no means guaranteed a sighting, there is still a very good chance of finding one. The overall ambience of our mini jungle adventure can only be enhanced by staying at the wonderful Tiger Moon Resort, which offers air-conditioned cottage type buildings complete with full en-suite facilities. The resort is preferred by birdwatchers and wildlife lovers due to its close proximity to the railway station and park entrance. Other facilities offered by the resort include a multi-cuisine restaurant, swimming pool, recreation area, wildlife library, nature trails, and evening barbecues around the bonfire.

Days 4 - 5
Ranthambore National Park is justly considered one of the most beautiful national parks in all India, and the habitat comprises a mixture of forest, dry scrub, rolling hills and lakes which are all dominated by a series of escarpments. Within the park are several old famous temples of the Gods Ganesh and Trinetri and fortifications that have been conquered by the surrounding jungle! This stunning landscape is full of Rajput history and cultural sights typical of Rajasthan. Our primary goal here is to find the impressive Tiger and despite incidents of poaching in the last few years, sightings are pretty regular. During our exploration of the area we are sure to be impressed with the variety of other mammals present such as Spotted Deer (or Chital), Sambar, Nilgai or Blue Bull, and Common Langur and there is always an outside chance of spotting the ever elusive Leopard or Sloth Bear, or even a Chinkara Antelope (or Indian Gazelle). Birds are a prominent feature here and we can see Pheasant-tailed and Bronze-winged Jacanas, Painted Spurfowl, Painted Sandgrouse, Indian Courser and a whole host of bulbuls, minivets, warblers and other avian exotica. We will enjoy early morning and afternoon game drives by jeep, allowing a couple of hours off to relax and have lunch at our excellent lodge.

Day 6
After a final morning’s game drive for those who wish, we will then drive to the wonderful city of Jaipur for a two night stay, and our late afternoon arrival will allow us to relax in our wonderful surroundings. Our wonderful hotel, the Alsisar Haveli, is tucked away in the heart of the ‘Pink City’ and brings back to life the grandeur of the old days. It incorporates the finesse of traditional Rajput architecture, and this modern day heritage hotel certainly provides guests with a feel for the ‘Raj’ days!

Day 7
The capital of Rajasthan is also known popularly as the ‘Pink City’ and Jaipur was founded in the year 1727, and is one of the highlights of this cultural circuit. This morning we will approach the justly famous Amber Fort on elephant-back! Built by Man Singh, it embodies the Rajput belief that the fort symbolises the strength of the King. The commanding view, sheer walls and rock face, and the curved route that leads to the palaces within, all point to concern with security and defence. The fort is mirrored in Maota Lake, which stands adjacent to the Dilaram Garden. The private apartments begun by Man Singh in the17th century combine Hindu and Mughal styles and the Sheesh Mahal, or Hall of Mirrors, has its walls covered with tiny mirrors that become a dazzling fantasy with the light of a single match. There is also the Jag Mandir, or the Hall of Victory, that also glitters with mirrors, the Jai Mahal and the Kali Temple.

In the afternoon we can enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city, and here you will see the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds, which remains only a façade today and was originally built to enable the ladies of the royal family to watch the everyday life and processions of the city, and also the Jantar Mantar, or Observatory which was built between 1728 and 1734. Each of the instruments here serves a particular function and each still gives an accurate reading. Situated in the centre of the city occupying a large area divided into a series of courtyards, gardens and buildings, the City Palace is also an interesting place to visit. We can also see the textile and costume museum, arms and armour museum, art gallery and hall of public and private audience, as well as the Sawai Man Singh Museum, and the colourful bazaar of the Pink City. It will certainly be an action-packed day! Overnight in Jaipur.

Day 8
After breakfast we will take a leisurely drive to Bharatpur, which is largely known for the Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, and prior to 1940 was the favourite shooting ground of the British Viceroys with a record kill of 4273 birds in a single day! The city of Bharatpur also hosts a beautiful fort, the Lohargarh or Iron Fort, and there is an earthen dam called the Arjan Dam which was constructed in 1760, to protect Bharatpur from the constant floods during the monsoon season. In the 17th and 18th centuries the town was an important Jat stronghold.

We will stay at the charismatic Laxmi Vilas Palace for the next two nights, which is the former residence of the Maharajah of Bharatpur, and whose direct descendent still resides here today. The Laxmi Vilas Palace was built in 1887 for Raja Raghunath Singh, the younger brother of the then ruler of Bharatpur, Maharajah Ram Singh. For almost a hundred years, Bharatpur witnessed the entertainment and hospitality of famous dignitaries with elaborate feasts and festivities such as Royal Weddings, duck shoots, and affairs of the Court, with some of the latter even lasting for days. This is a wonderful place to rest a while and lounge around the swimming pool, whilst in the evenings we can sit in the central courtyard and discuss the day’s events with a star-filled sky overhead.

Day 9
The impressive bird reserve of Keoladeo Ghana at Bharatpur is one of the finest wetlands in all of Asia and is now a World Heritage Site, where the mosaic of habitats within its 29 sq.km holds an equally impressive variety of birds. In fact thousands of migratory birds are attracted here during the winter months, from Central Asia and Siberia. We will enter this morning into the park in bicycle rickshaws, and follow the main track which gives us vantage points to view the large lakes where huge Sarus Cranes and Painted and Black-necked Storks are usually very obvious. We have been here many times and for anyone who has more than a passing interest in the birdlife here, it is possible to track down such spectacular species as Dusky Eagle-owl, Indian Scops-owl, Siberia Rubythroat, Orange-headed Thrush, Siberian Rubythroat, or even the endemic Marshall’s Iora. You cannot fail to be impressed by the huge congregations of eagles and even vultures that are an ever present sight in the blue skies. If the monsoon was good, we can even take a boat ride across one of the large lakes which will give us a unique view of the surrounding area. There are plenty of other wildlife to search for and previously we have seen Fishing Cat, Indian Rock Python, Sambar and the largest antelope in India, the Nilgai or Blue Bull as it is locally called.

Day 10
A short drive away is Fatehpur Sikri, once the Moghul Empire’s capital, which was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after fifteen years due to the scarcity of water. There are many graceful buildings to see here, including the Jama Masjid, a beautiful construction containing elements of Persian and Hindu design. The main entrance is through a 54-metre high Buland Darwaza, the Gate of Victory, constructed to commemorate Akbar’s victory in Gujarat. The Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds is a projecting room with walls made entirely of stone latticework. Birbal Bhavan was built either by or for Raja Birbal, Akbar’s favourite courtier and this small palace is extremely elegant in its design and execution. Hiran Minar, or Deer Minaret, is said to have been erected over the grave of Akbar’s favourite elephant. Panch Mahal is an amusing little five-storied palace that was probably once used by the ladies of the Court and originally had stone screens on the sides, whilst the lower floor has 56 columns, no two of which are exactly alike. There is also the Tomb of Salim Chishti, and the Panch Mahal. After we have taken all this in, we will drive the short distance to the city of Agra for an overnight stay. A sprawling industrial town, Agra was established in 1475 by Badal Singh and came into its own when Sikander Lodhi of the Lodhi dynasty chose it for his capital because of its proximity to the Yamuna River. Babur defeated the Lodhis to capture not only Agra but also to lay the foundation of the Moghal Empire.

Tonight we will stay at the Hilton Trident in Agra, built of the red stone reminiscent of the Moghal era and is a few minutes walk from the world famous Taj Mahal and certainly presents an ideal base and relaxed ambience from which to explore the world heritage site. This elegant low rise hotel is situated in six acres of beautiful gardens, has a multi-cuisine restaurant, Beauty Salon and a Health Club.

Day 11
Today should provide the absolute highlight of a tour already full of wonderful memories and sights, as we enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city in the morning. Starting off at the famous Taj Mahal, you will surely agree that this is one of the modern wonders of the world. This is truly one of the greatest buildings ever designed, where the atmosphere is very special and we shall have plenty of time to soak up the whole setting. Our local guide will explain a little of the fascinating history and mystery that surrounds the Taj, and you are sure to be moved when told the story of how Shah Jahan promised Mumtaz Mahal that he would build a tomb to remind the world of their great love. And the sad story that follows…….

However there is more to Agra than this mere love immortalised in marble, as Agra Fort is not far away, with its towering walls that are two and a half kilometres long and offers fascinating views of the Taj Mahal and surrounding areas. There is also Itmad –Ud-Daulah, and the tombs of Akbar and Mirza Ghiyas Beg. Time will pass all too quickly here, but we can spend the afternoon at leisure with maybe some last minute souvenir shopping or a swim before transferring to the railway station in the early evening for the short journey to Delhi. As the countryside speeds by we will have time to reflect on our culturally comprehensive tour. On arrival in Delhi we will transfer to a nearby hotel for the night.

Day 12
We depart Delhi in the morning for the return flight to London, where the tour concludes later today.