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India Tours

Forts, Palaces and Tigers

The Splendor of India, a treasure trove of colors

Luxury travel in India for the discerning traveler………….

DAY 01 ARRIVE NEW DELHI

As you arrive at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport – India hits the first time traveler right between the eyes but it is love at first sight for most adventure travelers! You will be warmly welcomed by your &Beyond India host and chauffeured to the world-renowned Imperial Hotel.

Spend two overnights at the Imperial. Accommodation is in a Heritage room with ensuite facilities. Your stay is on bed & breakfast basis.

DAY 02 NEW DELHI

This morning after a leisurely breakfast, you will be taken for a guided tour of the Old Delhi: Jama Masjid (the mosque) followed by Cycle Rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk. Later drive past Red Fort. (CLOSED ON MONDAY)

Jama Masjid: Jama Masjid or the Jami Masjid was built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, between 1644 and 1658. Originally called the Masjid-i-Jahanuma, or "mosque commanding view of the world", this wonderful structure is made up of alternate vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble. With a capacity of 25000, Jama Masjid is the largest and most unique mosque in India.

Chandni Chowk: It is the nerve centre of commercial activity. The narrow lanes have kept alive the traditional workmanship, which makes Delhi famous. A market place right from the times of Mughals, this market still hosts the descendants of royal chefs as also the famous Chudiwali gali (the Bangle lane) and the parathe wali gali.

Afternoon guided tour of New Delhi: Hamayun’s Tomb, India Gate & Qutab Minar.

Humayun’s Tomb: Humayun's tomb is a complex of buildings of Mughal architecture located in Nizamuddin East, New Delhi. It encompasses the main tomb of the Emperor Humayun as well as numerous others, including the Barber's Tomb. The complex is a World Heritage Site and the first example of this type of Mughal architecture in India. This style of mausoleum was the same that created the Taj Mahal in Agra.

India Gate: India Gate situated on the Rajpath in New Delhi, India Gate (originally called the All India War Memorial) is a monument built by Edwin Lutyens to commemorate the Indian soldiers who died in the World War I and the Afghan Wars. The foundation stone was laid on 10 February 1921 by the Duke of Connaught. The names of the soldiers who died in these wars are inscribed on the walls. It was completed in 1931. Burning under it since 1971 is the Amar Jawan Jyoti (The flame of the immortal warrior), which marks the Unknown Soldier's Tomb.

Qutab Minar, the soaring tower of the brick tiled magic, has become synonymous with the colonial capital of Delhi. The majestic placard of sandstone pride is ubiquitous in Delhi, and you might find it everywhere; billboards, pamphlets, tatoos, tea stalls, truck tail pieces, and apparently, in the hearts of Delhites. Nestling in the southern quarters of lush Delhi, the 237.8 ft stately tower is an exquisite example of Indo-Islamic Afgan architecture. The architectural wonder is surrounded by a lush green manicured garden. Interestingly, the construction was acknowledged as a hereditary raison d'etre by the Slave Dynasty, as the five storeyed tower was intiated by Qutab-ud-din Aibak and was later finished by his son-in-law and successor Iltutmish. Today, this ornate tower and an eminent member of the World Heritage Site community, leans about 60 cm off the vertical, but otherwise it has survived the ravages of time impressively.

DAY 03 NEW DELHI / AGRA

Early morning, you will be chauffeured to New Delhi railway Station to board train for Agra (Dep 0615 / Arr 0815: Bhopal Shatabdi Express –Air-conditioned chair car)

Upon arrival at Agra Railway Station, you will be met and taken for a guided tour of Agra Fort visit the various Palaces in the Fort – the Anguri Bagh, Golden Pavilions, Khas Mahal, Diwan-I-Khas, Diwan-I-Am (halls of private & public audience), which are all splendid examples of Mughal architecture.

Later check in at the hotel

Afternoon, you will be taken for a guided tour of Taj Mahal , the world’s greatest love tribute, stands on the right bank of the Yamuna. The Taj was built to enshrine the remains of Arjumand Bano Begum entitled Mumtaz Mahal, the consort of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Its construction commenced in AD 1631 and completed in seventeen years. (Closed on all Friday)

Spend one overnight at The Oberoi Amarvilas. Accommodation is in a premier room with ensuite facilities. Your stay is on bed and breakfast basis.

DAY 04 AGRA / JAIPUR

Morning: OPTIONAL Sunrise visit to Taj Mahal

After breakfast, you will be met your driver and driven to Jaipur (approximately 6 hours) enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri the deserted red sandstone city, built by the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the late 16th century, It was abandoned soon after it was built when the local wells went dry and it remains today in much the same condition that it was over 300 years ago. It is complete with palaces and mosques and used to be a town larger than London when it was originally constructed. Now it is an extraordinary place to wander around with its buildings in near perfect condition.

Upon arrival at Jaipur check in at the hotel

Spend two overnights at Taj Rambagh Palace. Accommodation is in a palace room with ensuite facilities. Your stay is on bed & breakfast basis.

DAY 05 JAIPUR

This morning after breakfast, you will be met by your guide and taken for a guided tour of Jaipur including Amber fort. City Palace and Observatory (Jantar Mantar)

Ancient capital of Amber to see the fabulous Amber Fort. Maharaja Mansingh, Mughal Emperor Akbar’s most successful General, started the construction of Amber Fort in the 17th century. Once you reach on the top, stroll through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls. Many of the rooms have delightful wall paintings, with precious stones and mirrors inlaid in the walls. Most fascinating, perhaps, is the Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors) where a single lamplight is reflected in the many mirrors, lighting up the room.

City Palace located in the heart of the walled city, The City Palace Complex gives you an idea about the farsightedness of the founder of Jaipur, Sawai Jai Singh. The palace is a blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture and the royal family still lives in a part of the palace.

Photo stopover at ‘Palace of Winds’: otherwise known as Hawa Mahal. It is really an elaborate facade behind which the Royal ladies of the court used to watch the daily goings on the street.

Observatory (Jantar Mantar) across the road from the palaces is the famous Jantar Mantar one of the five observatories in India. Built by Sawai Jai Singh, this is one of the largest and the best preserved. It is a collection of complex astronomical instruments chiselled out of stone and most of which continue to provide accurate information to this day.

Afternoon walk through the colorful local market.

DAY 06 JAIPUR / MUMBAI

Morning at leisure

Afternoon, you will be chauffeured to the Jaipur Airport for flight to Mumbai. Upon arrival at Mumbai, you will be met and chauffeured to your hotel.

Spend one overnight at The Leela Kempenski. Accommodation is in a club room with ensuite facilities. Your stay is on bed & breakfast basis.

DAY 07 MUMBAI / NAGPUR / KANHA NATIONAL PARK

Early morning, you will be chauffeured to the Mumbai Airport for flight to Nagpur.

Upon arrival at Nagpur Airport Head off on a 5-hour road adventure to Kanha National Park and the brand new &Beyond Banjaar Tola Kanha Tented Camp. Within weeks of its opening in February 2009, the camp not only delighted guests with incredible tiger sightings, but was also recognised by National Geographic Adventure magazine’s in their Top 50 Ecolodges in the world.

Afternoon enjoy scheduled game drive.

Spend four nights at &Beyond Banjaar Tola Kanha Tented Camp in a luxury tented suite (all inclusive). The tented suites overlook the core area of the park.

DAY 8/9/10 KANHA NATIONAL PARK

Enjoy morning and evening game drive on day 08, 09 & 10

Kanha National Park is one of India’s largest parks and one of first nine tiger reserves established with the initial launch of Project Tiger in 1973, aimed at protecting tigers and their ecosystems. Kanha is prime tiger wilderness and also home to barasingha (unique to the Reserve) and gaur. Discover the park’s great diversity of wildlife and bird species on early morning and evening game drives led by &Beyond-trained naturalists or on elephant-back (elephant rides cannot be guaranteed, however, as this depends on the successful tracking of the tiger by the mahouts/elephant handlers).

DAY 11 KANHA / NAGPUR / DELHI

Morning enjoy scheduled game drive inside the park. Early afternoon, you will be met by your driver and chauffeured to the Nagpur Airport (approximately 5 hours drive) for flight to Delhi. Upon arrival accommodation will be reserved for wash & change at a hotel close to the airport – (Day use room will be valid for 06 hours Maximum till 2100 hrs)

In time you will be chauffeured to International Airport for flight to your onward destination

**********END OF SERVICES ************

PRICING: Cost based on 2 guests traveling on Twin/Double accommodation- 1 room. B&B accommodation, full board meals at &Beyond Banjaar Tola. Transfers in A/C vehicle, mineral water and cold drinks in vehicle, sightseeing in Delhi, Agra & Jaipur, train fare from Delhi to Agra. Includes monument fees.

JANUARAY 5- APRIL 15 2010 : USD $12,990/per person
APRIL 16 – JUNE 30 2010 : USD $11,415/ per person
OCTOBER 16- DECEMBER 22 2010: USD$15,285 per person

DESCRIPTION OF HOTELS IN YOUR ITINERARY

THE IMPERIAL – DELHI

Reckoned amongst Asia’s finest hotels, The Imperial is a legend that offers a unique experience embracing facets of India’s history. The 24 king palms, that lead up to the porch, stand a witness to the creation of New Delhi. Conceptualized in 1934 by Blomfield and inaugurated by Lord Wiilingdon in 1936, it was in Lutyen's scheme of things to build the most luxurious hotel in New Delhi. As New Delhi’s landmark Hotel, it is located on Janpath, the erstwhile Queensway. It is steps away from the renowned shopping district and major city attractions and a half-hour drive from the international airport.

THE OBEROI AMARVILAS – AGRA

Amarvilas is located 600 meters from India’s most beautiful monument – The Taj Mahal. The resort has exquisitely appointed rooms and suites, most with uninterrupted views of the Taj Mahal. Each bedroom has an area of approximately 42 square meters, teak wood flooring, spacious marble bathroom with separate shower stall, walk-in closet, personal bar, satellite television, compact disc, digital video player, in-room safe and two line telephones with data ports. Esphahan - a specialty restaurant serving Indian cuisine, Bellevue - an all day dining restaurant, a lobby lounge, a bar and tea lounge add to the other amenities of the hotel. The luxury resort also features a swimming pool and a spa and fitness centre offering a complete Ayurvedic treatment programme.

TAJ RAMBAGH PALACE - JAIPUR

For nearly two centuries, the Rambagh Palace has been home to generations of royals. Built in 1835 on a modest scale for the queen’s favourite handmaiden Kesar Badaran, it was later refurbished as a royal guesthouse and hunting lodge. In 1925, Rambagh was converted into a palace, and became the residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur. The ‘Jewel of Jaipur’ as it is fondly called, remained the home of the Jaipur royal family until 1957, when it was first converted into a luxury hotel by Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. But it wasn’t until 1972 that Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces took over the reins. It is now the ‘jewel in the crown’ among the authentic palaces of the Taj in India. In the finest tradition of Rajput hospitality, the Rambagh Palace offers its guests a taste of royal living – a luxury and extravagance that was once the sole preserve of kings. It’s elegantly appointed rooms, marbled corridors and majestic gardens echo with history, and every corner has a story to tell.

THE LEELA KEMPENSKI- MUMBAI

The jewel in India’s glittering crown of cities, Mumbai is the nerve-centre of the nation. And The Leela Kempenski Mumbai is an 11 acre oasis of tranquility nestled amidst the hustle and bustle of the nation’s financial capital. Amble through the landscaped gardens, the murmuring waterfalls and the becalming lotus ponds and you’ll find it hard to believe that you’re just 30 minutes drive away from the international and domestic airports. The Leela Kempenski Mumbai is also well connected to the city’s business districts. In fact, the IT and BPO districts are hardly a few miles away. The Leela Kempenski Mumbai is much more than just a business hotel and has a lot to offer to the leisure traveller too. Reflecting the city’s status as the cultural capital of the country, this premier business hotel gracefully serves up an array of living, dining and lifestyle choices for guests.

& BEYOND / TAJ SAFARIS LODGE - BANJAAR TOLA – KANHA

Banjaar Tola draws inspiration from the mighty Banjaar River which meanders through the periphery of the park and forms the western boundary of the tiger reserve. The camp is situated along the banks of the Banjaar River, directly overlooking the core area of world renowned Kanha National Park. The luxurious, yet lightweight, ensuite tents have been designed in a contemporary style with pressed bamboo wall panels and sleek bamboo floors. The textiles chosen are tones of delicate saffron and acid-washed green, with rich block-printed Madhya Pradesh cottons and silks. The resort has 2 elegant and intimate camps of just 9 luxurious suites each .

DESCRIPTION OF PLACES IN YOUR ITINERARY

DELHI

Delhi was established from as early as 900B.C to 1930 when the British completed construction of New Delhi as the capital of Imperial India. It is, therefore not surprising that the monuments of Delhi successfully mirror the development of the architectural styles in the country. Delhi's famous "seven cities" range from the 12th century Quli Rai Pithora, built by Prithviraj Chauhan, to the imperial Shajahanabad, constructed by the Mughals in the 17th century. After Delhi Sultans consolidated their territories; they moved their defensively situated capital into the rocky outcrops of the Aravallis, to the northeast, towards the open plains by the banks of Yamuna. Today Delhi is an amalgam of the ruins of medieval citadels, palaces, tombs and mosques, and an ever-expanding, modern concrete jungle.

Of the many attractions in Delhi, the major sites are the Rashtrapati Bhawan, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens as the British Viceroys Palace, Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) where the Red Fort, Jami Masjid stands and the famed Chandni Chowk in the heart of Old Delhi. Humayun's tomb, the second Mughal emperor, is the first great example of a Mughal garden tomb, and inspiration for several later monuments such as the incomparable Taj Mahal. The Qutb Minar, a UNESCO world heritage monument, at Mehrauli area was built over Rajputs territories, by Qutubuddin Aibak. India's highest single tower the Qutub Minar marked the site in North India for the first Muslim kingdom in north India established in 1193. A mix of four major religions, thousands of years of history and cultural development, significant movements of different populations, invasions and colonialisation, Delhi has one of the most vibrant and profound cultures in the world.

AGRA

Agra is an ancient city on the bank of Yamuna River in India, within the state of Uttar Pradesh having three World Heritage Sites. It achieved prominence as the capital of the Mughal sovereigns from 1526 to 1658 and remains a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. The city was fortified by Badal Singh ca 1475, whose Fort, Badalgarh stood near the site of the present Red Fort. Agra was a capital of the Lodi kingdom, defeated by the first Mughal Emperor, Babar. The Mughals also began to use it as a capital.

Agra city is a virtual gateway to a world of discovery. It has witnessed the rise of the pomp and pageantry of three great Mughal monarchs - Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jehan, all of whom lavished on this fabled city, their love and riches to transform the land into one of the greatest centers of art, culture, learning and commerce. Much of the city's impressive past lives in evidence even today, in the haunting presence inside the monuments and in the majesty of the buildings.

JAIPUR

Founded in 1728 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, a labyrinth of fascinating bazaars, opulent palaces resplendent with tales of valour and bravery.

The focal point of the city of Jaipur is the Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds, a five storey high Baroque- like structure built to enable the veiled ladies of the harem to observe the street scenes below and remain unnoticed. The City Palace, a wonderful combination of Mughal and Rajput forms of architecture, is now partly a museum housing miniature paintings, manuscripts, Mughal carpets, musical instruments, royal costumes and weapons, giving invaluable insight into Jaipur's royal past. Some of the instruments at the astronomical observatory are still used today to forecast the weather and the turns of nature.

At a short distance is the Amber Fort Palace at Amber, the former capital of the Kachhawah's, the historic rulers of this region.

MUMBAI

Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) is a long narrow promontory covering 430 square kilometers (166 square miles), which juts into the Arabian Sea. Mumbai's most famous landmark is the Gateway of India, built to commemorate the memorable visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. It was the first sight to greet travelers to the Indian shores during the heyday of the British Raj. The most impressive example of Victorian Gothic architecture in India is the Victoria Terminus railways station. Richly ornamented extravaganza of domes, spires and arches, it was named to commemorate Queen Victoria's golden jubilee. The Prince of Wales Museum is especially renowned for its superb sculptures and miniature paintings, with the exhibits housed in a grand indo-sarcenic building, designed by George Witted.

Located on an island off Mumbai's eastern shore, lies the 6th century AD Elephanta caves temples, chiselled into a rocky cliff and dedicated to Shiva. The caves contain some great masterpieces of Indian sculpture. With the origins of the cave temples lost in obscurity, they in all probability date to the 6th century AD and represent the period of Brahmanical revival after Buddhism began to decline. It is now an UNESCO World Heritage site.

KANHA NATIONAL PARK

Situated in central India in the Satpura Hill ranges, Kanha Tiger Reserve offers without a doubt, India's finest Tiger viewing. Spread over 1945 square kilometers with a core area of just 940 square kilometers, the grasslands and deciduous forests also support other mammals such as Barasingha, Chital, Muntjac (Swamp, Spotted and Barking Deer), Sambar, Common Langur and Rhesus Monkeys, Wild Boar, Asiatic Jackal, three of India's four lowland antelopes, Nilgai, Four-horned Antelope (Chowsingha) and Blackbuck, and occasionally Leopard, Gaur (Indian Bison), Sloth Bear, Wolf and Dhole (Wild Dog). In fact Kanha is noted for the last remaining population of hard-ground Barasingha.

Regarded by many as one of the best wildlife habitats in the country, the BBC series “Land of the Tiger” devoted almost an entire chapter to the park, Kanha forms part of the landscape that inspired Kipling’s Classic “The Jungle Book”. Placed under the umbrella of Project tiger in 1974 the reserve includes the forests of the Halon and Banjar valleys and covers an area of 1945 sq km. The terrain has a smooth flow of hills which table onto plateaus and pass into valleys which nestle rolling grasslands edged by dense forests of Sal and bamboo. Mammals in general hold very healthy populations here and are represented by the ubiquitous Chital (spotted deer), Sambar deer, Barking deer (muntjac), Chowsingha (four-horned antelope), Wild Pig, Grey Langur, Rhesus Macaque, Giant Flying Squirrel, Nilgai (Bluebull), Chinkara (Indian Gazelle), Gaur (Wild Ox), Swamp Deer, Sloth Bear, Striped Hyena, Porcupine, Common Palm Civet, Small Indian Civet, Jackal, Indian Grey Fox, Indian Wolf, Dhole (Indian Wild Dog), Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat, Leopard and Tiger. The overall conservation systems and the size of the contiguous landscape have allowed the tigers here to breed very well, thus allowing for greater chances to sight one.

As a conservation success however it is the resurgence of the hard ground Swamp Deer, a subspecies now found only in Kanha which bounced back from a low of 66 to a current static of 350 over the last 30 years which is regarded as the real jewel of the park. The jungle also forms a home and passage to 350 known species of bird. These include the Red Avadavat, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Spot-Bellied Eagle Owl, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Greater Coucal and even the Peregrine Falcon to name a few.

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