Big 5 Wildlife Tour
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Introduction
Far Horizon welcomes you to a specially designed tour of India's national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. With its huge and varied landmass and vegetation, India is home to a large variety of wildlife with some of the finest game parks and tiger reserves. India has about four hundred species of mammals and 1300 species of birds. It is the only country to have the Asiatic Lion and is home to about 65% of the world's tigers and 85 % of the world's Asian one horned rhinos. We have specially designed this tour to include national parks, wildlife sanctuaries as well as places rich in history and culture such as Delhi, Jaipur, Agra and Khajuraho. It also offers you an introduction to the rustic rural life in Kalakho and an interaction with the colorful Meena tribe to truly Experience the Living Cultures of India.
Tour Highlights
- Thrill of seeing the Royal Bengal Tiger, Lion, Single Horne Rhino, Asiatic Wild Elephant and Leopard in the Wild
- Explore three Metro Cities of India i.e Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata
- Visit the Unesco World Heritage Sites
- 10 Exclusive Safaris in the 3 major National Parks of India
- Explore the City of Lakes "Udaipur"
Destinations Covered
Kolkata
The City of JoyKolkata (formerly Calcutta) is the capital of West Bengal and the second largest city in India (after Mumbai). This city is a daily festival of human existence, simultaneously noble and squalid, cultured decidedly futuristic.
History and Culture
The history of Kolkata is intimately related with its invention during the British rule dating back 300 years ago. Earlier known as Calcutta, it originated as a capital of British India in 1960 when East India Company dominated the country.
Kaziranga National Park
The haven of one-horned rhinosA UNESCO World Heritage site, Kaziranga is famous as the abode of the one-horned rhinoceros. Made unique with a vibrant, well preserved and sustained ecology this park has a very versatile bio diversity which makes Kaziranga National Park a very important and popular tourist destination.
Delhi
The City of GloryDelhi is said to be one of the oldest existing cities in the world, along with Jerusalem and Varanasi. It is the Capital Territory of India and a modern-day citadel that's dotted with ancient monuments.
History and Culture
Legend estimates it to be over 5,000 years old. Over the millennia, Delhi is said to have been built and destroyed 11 times. The oldest alleged incarnation of the city shows up in the Indian mythological epic Mahabharata as Indraprastha.
Tadoba National Park
The Abode of Tigers in MaharashtraSituated in the core of a reserved forest and spread in the area of 1727 sq. km, Tadoba National Park lies in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra (India). It is also known as the "Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve" and it is one of India's 47 project tiger reserves existing in India.
Mumbai
The City of DreamsIndia’s largest port, its commercial and industrial center, as well as fashion capital and heart of Bollywood (India’s thriving movie industry), Mumbai is an endlessly fascinating hive of activity. A jumble of captivating contradictions, grand colonial architecture rubs shoulders with chaotic bazaars, trendy restaurants, exclusive boutiques, slums and shanty towns, all interspersed with beautiful, tropical palm trees. A shopper’s haven, this bustling cosmopolitan metropolis offers anything from pavement stalls and ancient markets to glitzy malls and designer outlets.
Gir National Park
The Land of Asiatic LionsLocated in the western part of Gujarat, Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary is the only place outside Africa where lions are living. Spread across 1412 sq.km the park is a blend of dry deciduous forest and Savannah forest.
Udaipur
Venice of the EastUdaipur, also known as the City of Lakes, is the crown jewel of the state of Rajasthan. It is surrounded by the beautiful Aravalli Hills in all directions, making this city as lovely as it is. This 'Venice of the East' has an abundance of natural beauty, mesmerising temples and breathtaking architecture which makes it a must-visit destination in India.
Jawai Bandh
The Land of LeopardsThe Jawai hills located in the Pali district of Rajasthan are known as the leopard hills, surrounded by Jawai Bandh and grasslands while the area is enclosed by the Aravali range. Considered among one of the lesser known tourist destinations, this place deserves much more attention than it gets.
Detailed Itinerary
- Day 1 Arrive Kolkata
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Day 2
Kolkata
Kolkata
Today after breakfast we will start our day with the visit of British Colonial Area, during the British Era from 1700 to 1912, when Kolkata (then known as Calcutta) was the capital of British India, Kolkata witnessed a spate of frenzied construction activity of buildings largely influenced by the conscious intermingling of Neo-Gothic, Baroque, Neo-Classical, Oriental and Islamic schools of design. Unlike many north Indian cities, whose construction stresses minimalism, the layout of much of the architectural variety in Kolkata owes its origins to European styles and tastes imported by the British and, to a much lesser extent, the Portuguese and French.
Then visit the Howrah Bridge, this amazing feat of engineering is similar in size to Australia’s Sydney Harbour bridge. It is considered the busiest bridge in the world and everything from pedestrians to bullock carts to push carts to automobiles to bicycles cross every day and the eastern India’s largest flower market with hundreds of stalls and vendors sitting on the ground. Approximately 2000 flower growers from the surrounding areas come daily to sell their flowers and during the wedding season and festivals, that number probably doubles.
Thereafter, visit the Victoria Memorial (Closed on Monday). This marble-white monument is one of the most fascinating landmarks of Kolkata. Here, we will come face to face with miniature paintings and images of Queen Mary, King George V and Queen Victoria. Of special importance are the Queen's dresses, the famous Rosewood piano, the Whispering Gallery in the dome and numerous artillery weapons used in the Battle of Plassey.
Wrap up your day with the visit of Indian Coffee House. Situated in the academic hub of Kolkata, the College Street, the Indian Coffee House has become a favourite destination for hangouts not only for the students of nearby schools and colleges but also the office goers and intellectuals of Kolkata. The history of Coffee House dates back to around 300 years when it was the residence of the great Bengali Philosopher and social reformer Shri Keshab Chandra Sen. Later this place was dedicated to Prince Albert Victor of Wales and was named "Albert hall". During the freedom struggle many swadeshi meetings were held here. In the year 1942, the Coffee Board decided to start a coffee joint from the Albert Hall, and after independence in 1947, the Central Government changed the name to “Indian Coffee House”. In 1958 the management decided to shut down the Coffee House, but the workers association decided to run this place on their own and since then the "Indian Coffee House" is being run by the "India Coffee Board Worker's Co-operative Society Ltd". In the year 1994 The Supreme Court of India recognized Coffee House as a cultural center of India and declared it a Heritage building.
Overnight at Hotel (B)
- Day 3 Kolkata – Guwahati – Kaziranga National Park
- Day 4 Kaziranga National Park
- Day 5 Kaziranga National Park – Guwahati – Delhi
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Day 6
Delhi
Delhi
Today morning proceed to explore the Old Delhi.
On the tour of “Old Delhi,” you will head out to explore this exotic locale with its narrow dirt roads, myriads of people and inexpensive and colourful bazaars that keep alive the traditional workmanship for which Delhi has always been famous. Drive past the Red Fort, and visit the Jama Masjid, one of the largest Muslim mosques in India. A bicycle rickshaw would take you into the heart of Chandini Chowk (the silver square - so named because of the silver merchants).
We then drive to the outskirts of New Delhi to explore Qutub Minar, on the way our guide will point out the Raj-era architecture in the city centre, including the renowned India Gate and Edwin Landseer Lutyens’ and Herbert Baker’s monumental governmental building on Raisina Hill.
Qutub Minar, a victory minaret built by the first invading Persian, Qutab-ud-din, a millennium ago in South Delhi. One of Delhi’s most visited and striking monuments, the 72-meter (230 feet) high tower which majestically over the wide plains of Delhi. Beautiful calligraphy adorns the magnificent tower, which is covered with intricate carvings and deeply inscribed verses from the Koran. The first three stories are made of red sandstone, the fourth and fifth of marble and sandstone. The tower marked the eastern extremity of the Islamic faith.
Overnight at the Hotel (B)
- Day 7 Delhi – Nagpur – Tadoba National Park
- Day 8 Tadoba National Park
- Day 9 Tadoba National Park
- Day 10 Tadoba National Park – Nagpur – Mumbai
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Day 11
Mumbai
Mumbai
After breakfast, we begin our sight-seeing at the waterfront Gateway of India, an impressive 85-feet high arch built by the British in 1924 to serve as a ceremonial entrance to the country. When India gained its independence in 1948, the last British battalion formally passed through the Gateway.
From here take a boat to visit the Elephanta caves (Closed on Monday) which are declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the 6th century A.D. It was the Portuguese who named the caves after the statue of an elephant which is seen close to the landing area. These caves were carved out from a single rock. The most striking statue of Trimurti, Shiva in the three moods as the Creator, the Destroyer and the Preserver is a masterpiece by itself.
Return to the city and visit the Prince of Wales Museum. Founded in the early years of the 20th century, it houses approximately 50,000 exhibits of ancient Indian history as well as objects from foreign lands, categorized primarily into three sections: Art, Archaeology and Natural History. The Museum houses Indus Valley Civilization artefacts, and other relics from ancient India. (Closed on Mondays and national holidays)
Visit from outside, the impressive Town Hall, the most majestic structures among the other heritage buildings in the city of Mumbai. Another wonderful Gothic building is the Chhatrapati Sivaji Terminus, constructed on the site from which, in 1854, ran the first train in India. Designed by William Stevens and completed in 1887, the building looks more like a lavishly decorated palace than something as mundane as a train station.
Overnight at the Hotel (B)
- Day 12 Mumbai – Diu – Gir National Park
- Day 13 Gir National Park
- Day 14 Gir National Park - Diu - Mumbai
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Day 15
Mumbai - Udaipur
Udaipur
Morning fly to Udaipur, known as the Venice of the East, the city of lakes and one of India’s most romantic destinations.
Enjoy the pleasant boat ride on the Lake Pichola in the evening.
Overnight at the Hotel (B)
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Day 16
Udaipur
Udaipur
Today morning post breakfast, visit the Jadish Temple, the largest and most venerated temple in Udaipur. Built in 1651 A.D. by Maharaja Jagat Singh, the temple is decorated with friezes and enshrines a black stone image of Vishnu.
Walk about the Garden of Maidens (Sahelion Ki Bari), which consists of an ornamental lotus pool with delicately carved cenotaphs of black and white marble and soapstone.
Later you can explore Maharajah’s City Palace, an imposing edifice of granite and marble, standing atop a ridge overlooking the blue waters of Lake Pichola and the exquisite Lake Palace.
Overnight at the Hotel (B)
Garden of Maidens
Saheliyon Ki Bari - Day 17 Udaipur - Jawai Bandh
- Day 18 Jawai Bandh
- Day 19 Jawai Bandh - Udaipur - Mumbai / Departure
