Tigers & Taj: India Highlights

Uttarakhand, India

Corbett National Park Wildlife Safari

Corbett National Park, once the nobility’s favoured northern hunting ground, is nestled between the Himalayan foothills and the ancient Shivalik Hills, and was the first reserve to be established in 1936 as a national park. It is a green and lush region which extends over 1,300sq km, and is made up of grassland and forests. The Ramganga River bisects the forest and forms a reservoir at its centre. The park protects wild elephants, tigers and sloth bears, nearly 600 domestic and transitory birds, and remarkably rare reptiles.

Gujarat, India

Gir Wildlife Safari

Set off on a captivating safari into the Gir National Park, a sanctuary that has evolved into the last bastion for the endangered Asiatic lion since its establishment in 1965. The heart of the park, a 259-sq-km core area declared a national park in 1975, serves as a haven for these majestic creatures and has a remarkable success story of lion conservation – numbers surged from less than 200 in the late 1960s to an impressive 674 in the 2020 census.

The park’s dense forests and rolling hills create a picturesque backdrop for an immersive safari experience. Traverse the undisturbed landscapes, keeping watch for the revered Asiatic lions and a diverse range of wildlife, including chital deer, four-horned antelopes, gazelles, crocodiles, and the elusive leopard. The park is a paradise for bird enthusiasts with over 300 species of endemic and migratory birds.

Kerala, India

A Day in Munnar's Tea Lands

An opportunity today for you to explore the picture perfect tea plantations that swathe the sloping hills of the Western Ghats. As you walk along the paths that separate the tea plants, past tea pickers in colourful saris, you will see the importance of tea in this area as a cash crop, a way of earning a living and a cultural institution. As well as tea, plenty of coffee, pepper and cardamom can be seen growing in this lush and fertile area. You will also have the chance to visit the local markets where the herbs, spices and tea are traded and sold. Always a colourful and sometimes a raucous affair, local markets in this part of India are fantastic places to mingle with the locals. You may also like to visit the local tea museum in Munnar.

Kolkata, India

The Kolkata City Experience

On this tour you will start with a visit to Kolkata’s most famous monument, the Victoria Memorial, which is set in beautiful grounds. You’ll then take a walking tour of the vibrant and diverse city of Kolkata, starting at BBD Bagh, formerly known as Dalhousie Square. Much of Kolkata’s finest colonial architecture is in the BBD Bagh area, which houses the secretariat of the state and is the central business hub of the city.

Then visit the Writer’s Building, the General Post Office, St John’s Church and several other Raj-era buildings. Next, drive north to visit a traditional bazaar in “Black Town”, as well as the potter’s colony of Kumartuli. Lunch will be at a fantastic local restaurant, after which you will take a short journey on the historical tram, which is the oldest operating electric tram in Asia, running since 1902. The carriages are basic and you can stay on for as little or as long as you like.

Kolkata is a town to experience, rather than just tick off the sites.

Varanasi, India

Early Morning Ganges Boat Ride

Early this morning take sunrise boat excursion on the holy River Ganges. At dawn when it is full of pilgrims it’s an amazing place to witness the living traditions of one of the world’s oldest and most important religions. See Varanasi come alive along the banks of the river. See people bathing in the holy water and worshiping the rising sun. Witness the conclusion of life at the riverbank holy cremation grounds. It is believed, if you die in Varanasi, you go straight to heaven.

Uttar Pradesh, India

Temples, Ghats & Wildlife in the Chambal Valley

The calm waters of the Chambal River are best explored by boat and a river safari provides a great opportunity to view the wildlife. The Chambal Safari boatmen are exceptionally skilled at manoeuvring as close to the birds and animals as possible without disturbing them, and the trained naturalists who accompany you will provide expert information about everything that you see.  Opportunities to go on Crane and blackbuck safaris are also available in this beautiful, remote region.

Alternatively the ancient temple complex at Bateshwar on the river Yamuna, 10 km from the Chambal Safari Lodge, consists of more than a hundred temples dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. The ravines surrounding the temples and river are home to a number of Naga sadhus (snake worshipping ascetics) who have carved out little caves and temples within the mud walls.  The local Ghats and aarti ceremonies provide a calmer and quieter experience to that of frenetic Varanasi too.

Delhi, India

Old Delhi Street Food Tour

Take a street food tour of Old Delhi, negotiating the noisy labyrinthine lanes of Chawri Bazaar and Chandni Chowk by cycle rickshaw. Visit selected food stalls to sample the myriad of dishes on offer such as thick and juicy jalebis; aloo chaat crispy fried potato cutlets dipped in chutneys; and parantha flatbreads generously stuffed with vegetables, spices or even dried fruits. For dessert, try the deliciously creamy phirni which is served in earthenware pots, and end your walk with an exotic fruit-flavoured Kulfi ice cream. This is a wonderful chance not only to experience some true culinary delights but also to go behind the scenes and meet some of the chefs, bakers and families who have been providing fabulous food here for generations.

Madhya Pradesh, India

Gwalior Fort

This massive fort, 3km in length, has dominated Gwalior since it was built in the 15^th century and to this day can be seen from every point in the city.

Long regarded as the most impregnable of central India’s impressive array of Imposing forts, Gwalior Fort was built at a vantage point 100m above the rest of the city and has huge thick sandstone walls, enclosing the palace within.

Emperor Babar who was inspired by this imposing structure described it “the pearl amongst the fortresses of Hind.” To see whether you agree with the great emperor, your local guide will bring the magnificent fort to life, with some telling anecdotes and a cunning route around the fort.

Madhya Pradesh, India

Satpura National Park Safari

If you enjoy visiting wildlife sanctuaries without the crowds, Satpura National Park, deep in Madhya Pradesh, is a great option. It’s very much the wildlife connoisseur’s choice: access is not easy, and there are only a few accommodation options (though they are very good!).

Satpura is the only park in India where a variety of safari options are available. In addition to the usual Jeep safari, canoeing and boating safaris are also possible, as are walking safaris through the core area of the park. This, combined with the fact that the park attracts very few other visitors, means that you’ll get a much richer and more immersive wildlife experience.