Holidays with Downtown

New Delhi, the capital of India is a modern buzzing metropolitan city with remnants of the past strewn amongst the modern buildings. Much of New Delhi was planned by Sir Edwin Lutyen’s, who laid out a grandiose central administrative area as a testament to British imperial pretensions. Delhi was established between 900 B.C and 1930. Delhi's famous "seven cities" range from the 12th century Quila Rai Pithora, built by Prithviraj Chauhan, to the imperial Shahjahanabad, constructed by the Mughals in the 17th century. Of the many attractions in Delhi, the major sites are the Rashtrapati Bhawan designed by Sir Edwin Lutyen’s as the British Viceroys Palace, Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) where the Red Fort is, or Jama Masjid in the famed Chandni Chowk in the heart of Old Delhi.

Kanha National Park has ideal habitat for tigers and their prey species. Prime tiger wilderness, was one of the first areas to be protected under Project Tiger and is one of the largest conservation areas today. Lush Sal and bamboo forests are interspersed with vast grassy meadows while the Banjaar river forms the south-western border of the park and provides a steady water source for the abundant wildlife.

Day 1: Delhi

Upon arrival at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport you’ll be met at the aerobridge and assisted through Immigration, baggage collection and transfer to arrival hall. In the arrival hall you’ll meet our host who will drive you to the hotel in New Delhi. Remainder of the day provides an opportunity to unpack settle in and relax.

Day 2: Delhi

Morning is at leisure to overcome the jetlag or optional city tour of New Delhi.

Option: New Delhi city Tour

First, visit the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, the temple of the Sikhs. Sikhism developed as an antithesis to the caste ridden and ritualistic forms of Hinduism and where social responsibility takes center stage. As such, every Sikh temple has the famous community kitchen, where it is considered a privilege to assist cooking the food and serving a simple meal to pilgrims and visitors. If you wish it is possible to participate in the community service. Through the tour you will have the chance to drive past the India Gate which is a memorial to the 90,000 Indian army servicemen who died in World War 1. Also, you will see Rajpath, or the Kings Way, and Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India. Prior to independence this was the viceroy’s residence. The India Gate, a 138-foot high stone arch of triumph stands at the eastern end of the Rajpath. It bears the names of 85,000 Indian Army soldiers who died in WW1’s campaigns, the North West frontier operations of the same time, and the 1919 Afghan fiasco. Rajpath is the central artery of Lutyens’ New Delhi an is immensely broad and flanked on either side by ornamental ponds and goes from the official residence of the India Gate on one end to the India’s President Palace on the other. Completed in 1929, the palace is an interesting blend of Mughal and western architectural styles, the most obvious Indian feature being the huge copper dome. End your tour with a visit to Humayun’s Tomb, a complex of buildings commissioned by Humayun's wife Hamida Banu Begum in 1562. The Tomb is unique as the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent and also the first structure to use red sandstone at such a scale. In 1993 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the afternoon, you’ll have the opportunity to plunge deep into the beating heart of Delhi as you take a guided sightseeing tour of the Chandni Chowk. Immerse yourself in the colorful stalls and crowded alleyways of this historical market on a rickshaw ride and visit the Jama Masjid, the largest and most splendid mosque in India. Chandni Chowk, once the grandest of markets in India appears choked with a constant congestion that defines its historical character. The Jama Masjid is the principal mosque of Old Delhi, commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal, and completed in the year 1656 CE, is one of the largest and best-known mosques in India. Continue to the Spice Market located in Khari Baoli, a street in Old Delhi known for being Asia's largest wholesale spice market selling all kinds of spices, nuts, herbs and food products like rice and tea. The market has been operating since the 17th century. Follow this visit with a street food tour to savor the flavors of this incredible and renowned food with your guide picking the city’s best street stalls, navigating between samosa stands, flatbread stalls and sweet treat stops. Don't forget to leave some room for more, though, as the tour ends with High Tea in the Dharampura Haveli, a property which exudes history and is the perfect end to this day. [B]

Day 3: Delhi, Raipur, Kanha National Park

This morning, you’ll be driven to Delhi’s airport for your flight to Raipur. Upon arrival you’ll be met and driven to Kanha National Park, a drive that will take around 4 ½ hours. Rest of afternoon is at leisure at your lodge located close to one of the park gates, ensuring proximity to the Kanha Tiger Reserve offering a pristine wilderness experience. The dramatic setting of the lodge creates a theater of jungle discovery and adventure with constant reminders of the wildlife haven outside amid a forest backdrop. [B/L/D]

Note: Kanha National Park is closed for park drives on Wednesday afternoons.

Days 4-5: Kanha National Park

Two days to explore the dense jungles of Kanha National Park on early morning and afternoon safaris in open 4x4 safari vehicles. A specially trained naturalist will accompany you throughout, pointing out and explaining details about the jungle. One of the joys of exploring this park is the range of habitats, each with their own characteristics. There are long stretches of tall sal (Shorea Robusta) trees with breaks of bamboo and large expanses of mixed deciduous forest. Riverine patches are dissected by streams of gin-clear water which make for perfect cooling spots for the animals in the heat. Kanha is famous for its vast meadows or ‘maidans’, many of which were previously ‘forest villages’ before their relocation. These fields are excellent habitat for large herds of spotted deer and swamp deer that are preyed on by packs of wild dogs or ‘Dhole’. All of these are interconnected by an excellent network of forest tracks and dirt roads. [B/L/D]

Day 6: Kanha NP, Bandhavgarh National Park

Embark on a scheduled early morning safari in a shared vehicle. After breakfast, you will be chauffeured to Kings Lodge in Bandhavgarh National Park (Approximately. 5 ½ or 6 hrs drive) Bandhavgarh National Park. Bandhavgarh is an exceptional national park and boasts of one of India's highest concentration of tigers. An essential stop on any serious tiger safari. A relatively small park with a thriving tiger population, it offers guests a good chance of encountering the king of the jungle as well as a selection of other interesting central Indian flora and fauna. Cradled between the picturesque Vindhya and Satpura ranges Bandhavgarh has a breathtaking mixture of dense green valleys and rocky hills. [B/L/D]

Note: Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is closed for park drives on Wednesday afternoons.

Days 7-8: Bandhavgarh National Park

Embark on a scheduled early morning and afternoon safaris in a shared vehicle. Explore the dense jungles of Bandhavgarh National Park on early morning and afternoon safaris in an open 4x4 safari vehicle. A specially trained naturalist will accompany you throughout, pointing out and explaining details about the jungle. This park is largely composed of Sal forests in the valleys and on the lower slopes, gradually combining with mixed deciduous forests on the hills and in the drier areas of the park. The wide valleys along the streams carry long linear grasslands flanked by Sal forests. Pockets of dense bamboo thickets are a favorite spot for the striped beauty. In addition to the wonderful mammal and bird wildlife, Bandhavgarh has some extraordinary history. The Bandhavgarh Fort encompassing a 560-acre plateau with cliffs of up to 787 ft. dominates the park. The fort has large tanks (waterbodies) carved out of the volcanic rock, and ruined 11^th to 12^th century temples. At the base of the fort are a series of manmade caves, once the retreat of ascetics and now the home to bats and other wildlife. [B/L/D]

Day 9: Bandhavgarh, Jabalpur, Delhi, USA

Enjoy your early morning safari as you say goodbye to the park. You will be chauffeured to the Jabalpur airport for your flight to Delhi. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to Delhi International airport to board your flight back home. [B]

[B] = Breakfast | [B/L/D] = Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner