Rajasthan Wildlife Tour

Distant India Journeys representatives will receive you on arrival at the international airport in Delhi. Transfer to your hotel. Relax.

DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend of the past and the present. It is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land.  A window to the kaleidoscope - that is India.

Overnight will be in Delhi.

In the morning after breakfast a city tour introduces you to this imperial British capital of the 20^th century. Visit the Qutub Minar – the tallest freestanding minaret in stone in the world; then onto Humayun’s tomb – the first Mughal construction in India from 1565 AD. Also see the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the India Gate built in the earlier half of the 20^th century. Drive through the old city past the Red Fort and visit the Jama Masjid – the biggest of its kind in India. Here take a rickshaw through the winding streets of the old city to see the life of the people in this part of the world. A perfect introduction of your tour. The rickshaw puller pulls you through the imperial avenue the Chandni Chowk where you will find each and every small business under the sky. Finally, reach Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, where your chauffeur is waiting for you to take you to your next stop the Birla Mandir, a Hindu temple in activity.

After breakfast drive to Sariska.

On arrival in Sariska - check into the hotel.

The Sariska Palace was a royal hunting lodge or Palace de Nature for Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar. Today we find the palace amidst the National Tiger Reserve forest.
In the afternoon we take you on a jeep safari inside the reserve forest to view wildlife. Set among valleys, hills and deep forests that change color with the seasons. It is the home to an exotic variety of wild animals and beautiful birds, herds of golden deer and the big wild cat, the tiger, roams free.

After breakfast drive to Ranthambore and on arrival in Ranthambore - check into the hotel.

Rajasthan’s most renowned wildlife sanctuary,The Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, is 400 sq kms of dry forest, perfect natural habitat for tigers, and is set in the Aravalli and Vindhyachal hills, dominated by a hilltop fort. Ranthambore was one of the major hunting grounds of the former rulers of Jaipur and so the Maharajas ensured the environment was preserved and the forest and their inhabitants well protected. It has a good population of tigers and their prey species, and has been declared a “Project Tiger” reserve. Wildlife includes blue bull or neelgai, black buck, spotted deer or cheetal, wild boar, a large variety of bird species and, if very lucky, the rarely seen leopard.

This afternoon you will be escorted on a game viewing inside the sanctuary by jeeps.

Early morning and late afternoon, game viewing in the sanctuary by jeeps / Canter..

After breakfast drive to Jaipur. Upon arrival check into your hotel and relax.

Rest of the day is free explore the local market..

Overnight will be in Jaipur.

Visit the Amber fort in the morning; included is an elephant ride at the Amber fort. See the marvelous Shish mahal built in the 17^th century in a fusion style of Hindu and Islamic art. Also see the hall of public audiences and Maharaja Man Singh’s Palace who had twelve queens. After lunch set off to see the Pink city visiting the observatory Jantar Mantar built in 1727 by Sawai Maharaja  Jai Singh II who was a mathematician , an astronomer an astrologer and a great musician of his era. He built five observatories throughout India – Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi, Mathura and Delhi but only the one at Jaipur is functional. Then visit the City Palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur with a fabulous collection of robes and saris in cotton and silk with gold lattice work. The City Palace houses a collection of paintings also in the painting gallery and of course a collection of arms and ammunitions in the ammunition gallery.

In the morning drive to Bharatpur. Upon reaching the bird’s paradise check into your hotel. The famous Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary has over 350 species of birds that find refuge in the 29sq kms of shallow lakes & wood lands of the park. A third of them are migrants many of whom spend winter in Bharatpur before returning to their breeding grounds as far away as Siberia and Central Asia.

Early in the morning visit the ornithological reserve at Bharatpur – Keoladevi National Park. See the varied varieties of birds and animals during your tour inside the park. This is the only National Park where you get to see the rare species of the Siberian Crane during winter season.

Continue towards Fatehpur Sikri the Phantom city. Visit this abandoned city built by the Mughal emperor Akbar in the 16^th century. Fatehpur Sikri was built by Akbar after his Hindu wife bore him the long awaited son who was born after the renowned sufi saint Salim Chisti blessed Jodhabai: Akbar’s Hindu wife with a son. Also visit Jodhabai’s palace the biggest palace in Fatehpur Sikri even bigger than the emperor’s palace himself as this was the queen who bore him his heir to the throne. Continue towards Agra and reach Agra by early evening. Relax at your hotel or go to the local bazaar to see the lifestyle of the people.

Taj Mahal is awaiting your arrival today morning. A must see with the rising sun as the Taj Mahal is bathed in the golden rays of the morning sun. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial that houses the tomb of 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 anywhere in the world. Then see the Agra Fort built by Akbar where Shahjehan’s own son Aurangzeb imprisoned Shahjahan.

Post lunch visit Itmad ud Daulah – it is the first mughal building built out completely of marble. In many contexts it is referred to being the predecessor of the Taj Mahal. Then visit Sikandara the tomb of the great emperor Akbar.

After a leisurely start today proceed towards Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi you will be transferred the international airport for your onward destination.