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The fascination with
Delhi was such that even though it was abandoned many
times, its rulers returned to it again and again
rebuilding it at least seven times. O/n hotel.
Day 2: Delhi -
Raipur flight - Kanker drive
Early morning after breakfast transfer to the airport
for flight to Raipur (ETD 0540hrs. ETA 0720hrs.)
Arrive Raipur, and drive about 3hrs. to the former
princely State of Kanker. Arrive and check-in to the
Kanker Palace. O/n in Palace Kanker, the family of the
late Mahrajadhiraj Udai Pratap Deo have opened part of
their private residence to visitors, maintaining an
informal elegance amid many mementoes of their royal
past. Once a keen hunter, the former head of the
Kanker family became a dedicated conservationist.
Trophies of earlier times adorn the Palace walls.
Simplicity is the hallmark of Kanker, with traditional
touches like the cloth punkah (fan) in the bedroom
suite as well as more conventional mod-cons.
Day 3: Kanker - Kondagaon - Narayanpur -
Kanker
Morning after breakfast, climb the forested Keshkal
Ghat which marks the border of Bastar 500m above the
plain. You will encounter here the special nature of
North Bastar. At Kondagaon and Narayanpur discover
some of Bastar's finest handicrafts, and the people
who make them. Kanker (Kaan-kair), a small historic
town once capital of the princely state at the
geographical boundary of Chattisgarh and Bastar. O/n
Kanker Palace.
Day 4: Kanker - Jagdalpur (Bastar) drive
After breakfast, drive about 3hrs. to Jagdalpur,
Bastar's main town and former capital. Tribal people
comprise almost three fourths of Bastar's population,
each with their own indigenous culture of spirits,
deities, dialects, customs and food habits. Bastar
tribal groups include Gonds, such as Marias, Murias,
Abhujmarias, Dhurwa (Parja) and Dorla, as well as non
- Gond groups like the Bhatra and Halba.
The Abhujmarias, an important sub caste of the Gonds,
are the shyest of the tribal people. They live in
splendid isolation, hunting and gathering produce in
the deep interiors of the forests. The gregarious
Bison Horn Marias are famous for their bison horn
headdress worn during dancing rituals. You will find
them a popular subject for craftsmen.
The agriculturist Muria of North Bastar are more
settled and best known for their Ghotul. This is a
special place meant for unmarried boys and girls to
meet away from adults, where they conduct their own
unique system of social education which also includes
music, dancing, story telling etc. The practice is a
very important aspect of Muria society.
Arrive and check in to the hotel. Afternoon visit to
historical Jagdalpur and the Anthropological Museum is
completed by a sunset idyl at the Chitrakote
waterfall, Bastar's very own 'Niagara' on the
Indravati River. You will also visit some of the local
Bison-Horn Maria tribe, renowned for their spectacular
ceremonial dancing. O/n hotel.
Day 5: Jagdalpur - Kanger Valley National Park -
Jagdalpur
After an early breakfast, explore to the rich forests
of the Kanger Valley National Park, the enchanting
Tirathgarh waterfall and the extraordinary stalactite
and stalagmite caves. Kanger retains the original
intensity of the forests that once covered this whole
region, in the natural habitat of leopard, tiger,
sambhar, bison and the Bastar Hill Myna. O/n hotel in
Jagdalpur.
Day 6: Jagdalpur - Raipur drive
Morning after breakfast drive about 4hrs. to Raipur.
Afternoon visit to Raipur's Mahant Ghasidas Museum.
O/n hotel.
Day 7: Raipur - Kawardha drive.
Morning after breakfast drive about 5hrs.(120 kms) to
Kawardha. Arrive and check-in to the beautiful Hotel
Kawardha Palace (heritage). Kawardha located in the
north-west of Chattisgarh under the slopes of the
Maikal Hills, is the ancestral home and private
residence of Maharaja Vishwaraj Singh and family.
Palace Kawardha offers a unique blend of calm, history
and old-world charm that has captivated and all those
who love to explore India's many diverse and hidden
paths.
Day 8: Kawardha - Explore Radha Krishna temple,
Saroda Reservoir, wander around the ancient Bhoremdeo
group of temples, the Lohara Bavli (well) and
experience the gentleness of Baiga and Gond Tribal
villages. O/n Kawardha Palace.
Day 9: Kawardha - Kanha National Park drive.
Morning after breakfast drive about 4hrs. (140 kms) to
Kanha National Park. Kanha's beautiful landscape
reminds you of the jungle book. Indeed it was the
beautiful forests near here that inspired Rudyard
Kipling to write the classic book. The park is noted
for Langur, Sambar, Chittal, Barking Deer, Blackbuch,
Wild Boar and Gaur. Predators include Leopard, Wild
Dog and or course Tiger. Overnight at the Tuli Jungle
Resort. Afternoon jungle safari to the national park.
Day 10: Kanha National Park
Morning and afternoon game viewing. Hidden deep inside
the pristine forests of the Central Indian state of
Madhya Pradesh, the Kanha Tiger Reserve lies before
you waiting to be explored and to be absorbed. The
remarkable ecosystem of this jewel of Indian Wildlife
research & connservation includes 4 principle
types of vegetation : moist deciduous forest, dry
deciduous forest, valley meadow & plateau meadow,
about 15 major mammalian species & 15 rare ones,
40 Bird Species & a variety of snakes. The reserve
has a core area of 940 square kilometers surrounded by
a buffer zone of 1005 square kilometers. O/n resort.
Day 11: Kanha - Jabalpur drive - Bhopal (train) :
Morning after breakfast drive to Jabalpur takes about
3hrs. enroute visit Marble Rocks (near Bedaghat).
These white rocks, with views of black / dark green
volcanic seams, rise to 30 m on either side of the
Narmada River. Arrive Jabalpur and board overnight
train to Bhopal, leaves at 2140hrs.
Day 12: Bhopal - Early Morning at 0540hrs.
arrive Bhopal and transfer to the hotel. Bhopal,
capital of Madhya Pradesh, combines scenic beauty,
historicity and modern urban planning, situated on the
site of an 11th century city, Bhojapal, founded by
Raja Bhoja.
Afternoon visit Taj-ul-Masjid, the largest mosque in
Asia, built by Shah Jehan Begum (1868 - 1901). Jama
Masjid - gold spikes crown the minarets of this
beautiful mosque, built in 1837 by Kudsia Begum.
Bharat Bhawan - one of the most unique national
institutes in India, Bharat Bhawan is a centre for the
performing and visual art. O/n hotel.
Day 13: Bhopal - Sanchi - Bhopal :
Morning after breakfast, a full day excursion to
Sanchi, known for its Stupas, monasteries, temples and
pillars dating from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th
century. The world renowned stupa of Sanchi in Madhya
Pradesh designated by UNESCO as a world heritage site
for its archaelogical and historical monuments. The
most famous of these monuments, the Sanchi Stupa 1,
was originally built by the Maurayan Emperor Ashoka,
the then governor of Ujjayini, whose wife Devi was the
daughter of a merchant from adjacent Vidisha. Their
son Mahindra and daughter Sanghamaitra were born in
Ujjayini and sent to Sri Lanka, where they converted
the King, the Queen and their people to Buddhism. Also
visit the Ashoka Pillar, one of the finest examples of
the Ashokantions and exquisite structural balance.
Evening return back to Bhopal. O/n hotel.
Day 14:Bhopal - Agra by train :
Morning free. Afternoon transfer to the railway
station for express train to Agra takes about 5hrs.
Evening arrive Agra and transfer to the Hotel.
Day 15: Agra - we visit India's most celebrated
monument the Taj Mahal, built as a monument of eternal
love by Shah Jahan to the bride Mumtaz, the Taj Mahal
looks amazingly graceful from almost any angle. It was
built over a period of 20 years by 20,000 laborers and
craftsmen and displays superb craftsmanship. The close
up details of the Taj Mahal is as exquisite as the
overall architectural design, with semi-precious
stones and beautiful patterns covering the marble
surface. Red Fort, Akbar began Agra Fort in 1565, with
additions of the citadel being made through to the
time of Akbar's grandson, Shah Jahan (Kind of the
World). The forts have fine views of the Taj across
the River Yamuna, and consists of Deewan-i-Aam (hall
of public audience) and Deewan-e-khas (the hall of
Private audience), it also has a nice grape garden,
beautiful fountain ways. O/n Hotel.
Day 16: Agra - Delhi :
Late morning drive back to Delhi takes about 5hrs.
(230 kms). Arrive Delhi and transfer to the Hotel
Ashok Country Resort for wash and change only. Late
evening transfer to the International airport.
Day 17:Delhi - Europe fly back to home country. |
