Central India Birding Tour

Central India Birding Tour

Duration: 11 Nights / 12 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Sultanpur - Delhi - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Bharatpur - Agra - Bandhavgarh - Kanha - Jabalpur - Delhi

Day 1: Arive Delhi
Early morning arrive Delhi. On arrival meeting and transfer to hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi visiting the Red Fort, Qutub Minar Jantar Mantar etc.

Day 2 : Delhi - Sultanpur - Delhi
Drive to Sultanpur Jheel 50 Kms away rich in waterfowls and common cranes.

Day 3 : Delhi - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Bharatpur
Drive to Agra , visit the Taj Mahal and later drive through the deserted Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri to Keoladeo Ghana bird sanctuary at Bharatpur .

Day 4 : Bharatpur
Bird watching walks , boat ride through the marshes (water level permitting ).

Day 5 : Bharatpur - Agra
Proceed for the early morning RICKSHAW RIDE at the Bird Park. Breakfast will be at hotel. Enjoy the second round of BIRDING IN BHARATPUR. Proceed to Agra in the evening. 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. A walk down the narrow bustling streets of the city will introduce the visitor to the wafting aroma of Mughlai cuisine. Reach Agra. Check in at hotel. Overnight will be at Agra.

Day 6 : Agra - Umaria (Bandhavgarh)
Proceed to visit Taj after breakfast. Enjoy battery van ride to the Taj. 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. Proceed for sight-seeing to the AGRA FORT - 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. Visit Itmadullah's Tomb built by Empress NOOR JEHAN in memory of her father (The interiors of which are considered better than the Taj). Proceed to station for train to UMARIA. Overnight will be on train.

Day 7 : Arrive at Bandhavgarh
Reach UMARIA and transfer to Bandhavgarh. Reach and enjoy breakfast. 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 a full day of birding inside the jungle. (Two safaris).

Day 8 : Bandhavgarh
Enjoy birding inside the jungle and on the periphery. (Two safaris) Trip to the Bandhavgarh Fort: The oldest fort in India - considered to be more than 2500 years. One-hour trek up the fort is worth the effort. The charm of this trek lies in discovering these monuments in the jungle, unspoiled and unexplored. Some of the statues lie off the main path and so it is best to take a guide. Apart from the avatars, well worth seeing are three small temples of around the 12th century. These temples are deserted but the fort is still used as a place of worship. Kabir Das, the celebrated 16th century saint, once lived and preached here. The natural ramparts of the fort give breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside. The fort still belongs to the Maharaja of Rewa and permission is required to visit it. However permission is available locally and no trip to Bandhavgarh is complete without making an effort to climb up the fort. The staff of the resort carries your lunch while you are busy negotiating the trek to the fort. Overnight will be at the resort.

Day 9 : Bandhavgarh - Kanha
After breakfast drive to Kanha. This is the place that has been described by RUDYARD KIPLING in his great book "The Jungle Book". Located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha National Park is a tiger reserve that extends over an area of over 940 square km. A horseshoe shaped valley bounded by the spurs of the Mekal presents an interesting topography. Steep rocky escarpments along the edges offer breathtaking views of the valley.Realizing the danger on the Tiger population in the country, the Government started the "Project Tiger" at Kanha and in 1974 the area was declared a Tiger reserve. The park is also the habitat of the high ground Barasingha. In 1930s, the Kanha area was divided into two sanctuaries - Hallon and Banjar of 250kms to 300kms each. Though one of these was subsequently disbanded .The area remained a protected one until 1947. Depletion of the tiger population in the year that followed led to the area being made an absolute sanctuary in 1952. Patient watching should reward the visitor, with a sight of Indian Fox, Sloth bear, Striped hyena, Jungle cut, Leopard, Mouse Deer, Chausingha or four horned antelope, Nilgai, Ratel and Porcupine Kanha has some 200 species of birds. Watchers should station themselves in the hills, where the mixed and bamboo forests harbour many species and in the grassy forest clearings. Water birds can be seen near the park's many rivulets and at Sarvantal, a pool that is frequented by water birds and the area in front of the museum. The birds comprise of Racket Tailed Drongo, Crested Hawk Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Peacock, Golden Oriole, Treepie, Whitenecked Stork, Shikra, White-eyed Buzzard, Roseringed Parakeet, Shama, Red Munia, Large Green Barbet, Crimson Breasted Barbet, Lesser Golden Backed Woodpecker, Hair Crested Drongo, Common Teal, Pintail Duck, etc. Reach in the afternoon and relax at the resort. Overnight will be at the resort.

Day 10 : Kanha
Enjoy a full day game viewing inside the jungle. (Two safaris) There would be a lot of birding today as we would take roads around the forest to places not frequented by people and in the bushes. Overnight will be at the resort.

Day 11 : Kanha - Jabalpur - Delhi
Proceed for the morning safari and birding into forest. Proceed to JABALPUR after lunch. Reach and board overnight train to Delhi.

Day 12 : Delhi
Reach and check into hotel for the day. Visit to SULTANPUR BIRD SANCTUARY for some afternoon birding with packed lunch. Return to Delhi in the evening and after a FAREWELL DINNER proceed to the airport in time for flight home.