India and More For TC » Jungle Safari with Central India Parks

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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Mumbai

Although it isn’t India’s capital city, Mumbai often feels like it is or perhaps could be. With over twelve million people, it’s certainly India’s most populous city and the larger ‘greater Mumbai’ region homes over twenty million (making it one of the world’s most populous metropolitan regions). It’s long been India’s economic powerhouse – a place to which even the humblest outsiders might arrive, hit the big time through hard work, luck and acumen, and make a fortune. ‘Maximum City’, as it was once called, is sometimes defined by comparisons with Delhi: Delhi is bureaucrats while Mumbai is Bollywood. It’s simplistic but with a grain of truth: the city presents the most commercial, go-ahead, thrusting modern face of India and Bollywood is just one prominent face of its glitz and glamour.

Just a handful of Mumbai neighbourhood names – especially Colaba, Parel and Mahim – reflect its original geography of seven distinct islands. Initially captured by Portuguese trading fleets in the 1500s, they were given to Britain’s King Charles II in 1661 as part of his dowry when he married Catherine Braganza. Soon after that they were leased to the East India Company and quickly became its headquarters so that by the mid-1700s it was a major trading town. By the mid-19th century the islands had merged into one landmass after a series of massive land reclamation projects and seen the launch of India’s first railway line after which it became a major Arabian Sea port.

Today it’s not merely a practical international gateway but a destination showcasing modern India. Marine Drive’s curving Arabian Sea frontage has an almost Mediterranean feel while a clutch of gracefully ageing yet handsome Raj-era buildings stand witness to Mumbai’s significant imperial back-story. Thriving markets and bazaars, Hindu temples, Muslim shrines and a handful of excellent museums can easily fill a day or two’s sightseeing. Often filled with cricket-playing youth, the city’s maidans, or parks, and Dhobi Ghat, the curious open-air laundry, help lend colour, character and vitality to ‘maximum city’.

Day Itinerary

Fly into Mumbai where you will be met by your Travel Counsellors Representative who will transfer you to your hotel of stay.

Overnight: Hotel Marine Plaza

Overlooking the Arabian Sea at the end of Marine Drive is the Hotel Marine Plaza – a fashionable, luxury hotel setting international standards in hospitality and comfort. Views from this location is best enjoyed from the rooftop terrace garden or the coffee shop.

Well-appointed bedrooms and suites have the calming view of the Arabian Sea. The glass bottom pool and jacuzzi on top of the 5-storey atrium brings out the ‘Unique Marine Experience’ concept of this hotel. Hotel Marine Plaza prides itself on the friendly and courteous way it looks after its guests.
The international character of the hotel is emphasized by an English Pub ‘Geoffrey’s’; an award winning Chinese restaurant – ‘The Oriental Blossom’ which serves a tempting blend of the familiar with the extraordinary, and ‘The Bayview’ – a 24-hour restaurant serving light meals and tantalizing desserts against a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea.

Alternate: Trident Nariman Point

Nestled in the heart of vibrant and bustling Mumbai lies Trident Nariman Point Hotel. Soaring 35 storeys tall, it offers panoramic views of the Marine Drive or the Queen’s necklace, as the beautiful promenade is lovingly called. An iconic Mumbai landmark, featuring one of the finest accommodations in the city, this is the address to be seen at.

The 555 rooms and suites at Trident Nariman Point, offer stunning views of the ocean and the famous city skyline. Spacious and well-appointed with all modern amenities, the rooms are well complemented by attentive yet unobtrusive service.

Head to one of the hotel’s award winning restaurants – Frangipani or India Jones, which offer cuisine ranging from Indian to Italian and Asian. Relax and rejuvenate in the calm environs of the Trident spa or recharge with an energizing workout at the fitness centre.

In a city that never sleeps, there is always much to discover and Trident, Nariman Point is perfectly located to do so. Art galleries, museums, fashion boutiques, clubs and dining hot spots, all lie within a short distance of the hotel. The concierge is at hand round the clock and will be happy to help plan a day around the city.

Day 2: In Mumbai

Day Itinerary

After breakfast, proceed on a half day tour of Mumbai.

Half Day Mumbai City Tour

Completed in 1924 to commemorate the landing point of King-Emperor George V, the Indo-Saracenic-style 26metre-tall Gateway of India is probably the city’s most iconic monument. Its seafront location on an open square beside jetties and close to the landmark Taj Mahal Palace hotel – an area almost continuously thronged with families, tourists and roving photographers – makes it feel like the city’s heart. Nearby the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay (originally known as the Prince of Wales Museum when it opened in 1922) is among the city’s finest museums dedicated to art, archaeology and natural history. It’s one of several Indo-Saracenic gems, an architectural style drawing on traditional Mughal and Hindu forms that was popularised across India with numerous public Raj-era buildings.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) is another iconic Mumbai landmark. Completed in 1887, this major railway station – still one of India’s busiest – was built in the Victorian Gothic Revival style yet also blended elements of Indian architecture. In fusing two distinct cultures it effectively forged a new style unique to Mumbai and for good reason it’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With views of Back Bay, Nariman Point and Chowpatty Beach, Malabar Hill is one of Mumbai’s prime real estate neighbourhoods with some of India’s most expensive properties. Most of the colonial-style bungalows that once peppered its gentle slopes have long been replaced by apartment blocks though a hint of ‘old Malabar’ just about survives at Banganga Tank, a large rectangular water body (still enclosed by high-rise blocks) with mythical associations to the Hindi deity Lord Rama.

A trip down three-kilometre long Marine Drive – sometimes referred to as the ‘Queen’s Necklace’ – framed by numerous art deco-style apartment blocks might end at Dhobi Ghat, an extraordinary open-air laundry space constructed in 1890. It still employs thousands of dhobis, or washermen, with reputedly over 100,000 garments drawn from across the city washed each day.

Day 3: Mumbai – Nagpur – Tadoba

Located in the Chandrapur district of India’s Maharashtra state, the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is Maharashtra’s oldest and largest national park. The park comprises of Tadoba National Park, Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary, and large expanses of protected forest. The northern and western boundary of the park features densely forested hills which morph into smooth meadows and deep valleys as the terrain slopes from north to south. The entire reserve area constitutes a unique ecosystem which boasts a diverse array of flora and fauna, including, among others: leopard, crocodile, wild dog, sloth bear, gaur, sambar, barking deer, flying squirrel and wild boar. The prime attraction is undoubtedly its impressive population of over forty wild tigers, which are frequently spotted roaming this remarkable wildlife haven.

Day Itinerary

Morning after breakfast, transfer to the airport for a short scheduled flight to Nagpur.

Arrive Nagpur where you will be met and transferred to Tadoba (approx. 150 Kms / 03 Hours drive)

Overnight: Svasara Jungle Lodge

Svasara Jungle Lodge is the premier choice for Safari Holidays at Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and is located about three hundred yards away from Tadoba’s Kolara Gate. Svasara is a conservation focused wilderness lodge offering an immersive jungle safari experience.

Tadoba Tiger Reserve is Maharashtra’s National Park with one of the highest densities of tigers in the country. A dry deciduous forest with a beautiful topography, Tadoba offers superb sightings of tigers, wild dogs, leopards and other fauna. The jungle and areas surrounding the lodge are excellent terrains for birding and walking safaris.

The lodge features spacious suites with all modern amenities and luxuries, multi cuisine dining options that include Indian, continental and local Varadi cuisine, as well as custom fitted jeeps accompanied by expert naturalists for thrilling jungle safaris at Tadoba. Svasara Lodge also features, The Teakhouse, a pavilion made of recycled old wood and other natural materials. The Teakhouse encompasses Svasara’s outdoor dining in the vegetable garden, open air cinema and conservation center, as well as an outdoor tandoor and bonfire for evening settings.

Alternate: Trees N Tigers Tadoba

Trees N Tigers Tadoba is a safari lodge situated in India’s Tadoba National Park. Accommodation consists of luxury tents equipped with air-conditioning, a private bathroom, a desk, a wardrobe, a hairdryer, a clothes rack and free toiletries. There is an on-site restaurant where guests can enjoy meals. Additional amenities include a bakery, parking, room service and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Day 4-5: In Tadoba

Day Itinerary

Enjoy morning & afternoon private jeep safaris in the National Park on both the days

[On Tuesday the park remains closed for the full day, however buffer zones remain open]

Tadoba National Park is a popular tiger reserve that’s affably known as ‘The Land of Tigers’ as large number of tigers (approx.43) are found here. Apart from the species of Bengal Tiger, this park is home to other mammals like Sloth Bear, Leopard, Rusty Spotted Cat, Gaur (Indian Bison), Indian Mouse Deer, Ratel, Sambar, Wild Pig, Spotted Deer, Flying Squirrel, Four Horned Antelope. Above all, there are approx.. 195 species of birds that include honey buzzard, crested serpent eagle, the shy jungle fowl, grey-headed fishing eagle, paradise flycatcher, etc.

Day 6: Tadoba – Pench

Resting in the lower southern reaches of the Satpuda Hills, in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, Pench National Park is renowned for having the highest concentration of prey, compared to any other park in India. Visitors, therefore, have an increased chance of spotting predatory cats such as leopard and tiger. This impressive expanse of wilderness features a typical central Indian teak jungle and is bisected by the scenic Pench River. Aside from the river, the park also contains several bamboo-lined jungle streams providing a valuable water source for the local wildlife, which includes, among others: wild dog, sloth bear, wolf, jungle cat, hyena, jackal, gaur, sambar, and chital. Pench is also a bird lover’s paradise, with over 250 species inhabiting the area, including; parakeets, hornbills, kingfishers, orioles, wagtails and a large selection of birds of prey.

Day Itinerary

Morning after breakfast, leave for Pench National Park [approx. 250 Kms /5-6 Hours drive].

On arrival, you will check-in at the lodge and the rest of the day will be at leisure.

Overnight: Pench Tree Lodge

The famous Jungle Book character Mowgli was a wolf befriending boy from the tribal village of Pench. If Mowgli could enliven his escapades, Pench tree lodge would be his time warped home in 21st century. He could certainly somersault with the monkeys here or luxuriously laze under the shade of Mahua Tree, in the comforts of stylish, spacious and snugly tree houses set in regal landscapes. Later, deciding to set out on a Jeep Safari to meet ‘Shere Khan’–the Tiger and ‘Baloo’-the Bear and check on his troop of ‘Bander log’– monkey folks and all other good old friends from Pench national park.

Pench Tree Lodge is the refuge of the au courant, adventurous and eco sensitive ‘Mowgli’. Our six well appointed tree houses are perched in the undisturbed 16 hectares of forested area in the small ‘Sarrahiri’ village of Pench in the Karmajhiri area. This is the first lodge to be set up in this underdeveloped zone and supports are conservation policy of not overcrowding areas and making them unsustainable with over exposure to tourism.

Alternate: Jamtara Wilderness Camp

Situated in the Village of Jamtara, near Pench National Park, Jamtara Wilderness Camp is a 10 luxury tented property in the heart of rural Pench. Surrounded by tall Arjuna Trees and an ancient Banyan rooted on a dry riverbed, each tented room overlooks the forest which set the perfect background to this jungle experience.

As you drive up to Jamtara Camp, you feel the calmness that will surround you for the next few days of your stay, with lush jungles surrounding you and the minimal use of concrete, the city life is left behind.

While many may sleep inside their luxury tent, others may feel a little more connected with nature and have the option of sleeping outside on their patio. Mosquito netting will keep the bugs away, quilts and hot water bottles will keep the cold away.

Day 7-8: In Pench

Day Itinerary

Enjoy morning & afternoon shared jeep safaris in the National Park on both the days

[On Wednesdays the park remains closed for the afternoon safari]

Day 9: Pench – Kanha

With a core area of almost a thousand square kilometres, Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh is the largest of central India’s tiger reserves. The undulating Maikal Hills with their flat-topped plateaux and extensive grasslands boast lush landscapes with sal and bamboo forests along with numerous meandering streams, tranquil water bodies and open meadows.

Kanha’s fauna includes leopards, wild dogs, jackals, deer and sloth bears as well as a population of rare barasingha, or swamp deer. Around 300 species of birds and a particularly large range of flowering plants and shrubs add to its impressive biodiversity.

Day Itinerary

Morning after breakfast leave for Kanha National Park [approx. 200 Kms /4-5 Hours drive], an intresting drive through the country side.

Overnight: Kanha Earth Lodge

Kanha Earth Lodge is spread in 16 acres of natural forest, tucked away in a small hamlet bordering Kanha’s buffer zone. Its unique location, 30 minutes from the Khatia/Kisli park gate, ensures that it is close enough for easy access to the park, but still far enough from the glut of hotels lining Kanha’s tourist hub to offer guests a true wilderness experience. The 12 luxury bungalows with large open verandahs have been inspired by Gond tribal architecture and offer environmentally sensitive, low-impact accommodation through their design and use of local stone and waste wood. While the absence of neighbouring lodges or highways creates an ideal setting for nature walks, birding and cycling trips through the surrounding forest.

Alternate: Bagh Villas Jungle Camp & Spa

Located in the Kanha National Park, India, the eco-friendly Bagh Villas Jungle Camp & Spa has twelve luxury Shikhar tents pitched on elevated wooden platforms along the edge of a manmade lake. All of the spacious, air-conditioned tents have their own verandas where guests can relax while observing the surrounding wildlife. There is an infinity pool that overlooks the lake.

The on-site chefs prepare food using produce grown on the property or bought from the local villagers. Those interested in learning the local recipes can request on-site cooking classes. There is a spa at the hotel with a range of massages and treatments available. Activities in the area include bike rides through the rural villages surrounding the hotel, as well as jungle safaris.

Day 10-11: In Kanha

Day Itinerary

Enjoy morning & afternoon shared jeep safaris in the National Park on both the days

[On Wednesdays the park remains closed for the afternoon safari]

Day 12: Kanha – Bandhavgarh

In the wilds of eastern Madhya Pradesh state, Bandhavgarh National Park once formed part of the royal hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Rewa. Rugged forested hills, lush valleys and almost savannah-like grasslands with occasional swamps lend a varied land attractive landscape. Guarded by mostly sheer cliffs, the ancient hilltop fort after which the park is named adds a satisfying touch of scenic interest and venerable folklore.

With a core area of over 700 square kilometres, Bandhavgarh supports an impressive tiger population along with leopards, jackals, hyaenas, antelopes, deer, and wild boar. There’re an estimated 250 species of birds and 80 butterflies. Gaur, or bison, were reintroduced in around 2012.

Day Itinerary

Morning after breakfast, leave for Bandhavgarh National Park (approx. 220 Kms/ 5 Hours drive), yet another interesting drive through the buffer zones of the park and the country side.

On arrival, you will check-in at the lodge.

Overnight: Kings Lodge

Kings lodge is nestled between 2 Sal forested hills of Bandhavgarh National Park in a large natural forested estate of 14 hectares in Rancha village. The lodge is in the heart of wild country and only ten minutes drive from the Tala gate of the national park. Guests can benefit from the incredible location, an outstanding hospitality and naturalist team, and their commitment towards conservation and local communities. Kings Lodge has 10 cottage rooms and 8 stilt cottage rooms with en-suite modern bathrooms spread across a natural forest offering great ambiance and privacy. All cottage rooms are air conditioned, have large verandas with views of the forest, writing table and chair. Facilities at Kings Lodge include a multi-cuisine dining hall with a fire place overlooking expanses of wild grasslands back dropped by Sal forested hills, a small nature library and a watch tower, in house spa with a variety of Indian massages available by well trained staff, a swimming pool with a sundeck and more.

Alternate: Samode Safari Lodge Bandhavgarh

The Samode Safari Lodge is based at the Bandhavgarh National Park. It is a private and remote establishment adjacent to the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

Available at the lodge is a heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi, children’s pool, gymnasium, spa, steam room, library, snooker table, a boutique as well as indoor and outdoor lounges for guests. There is also a host of activity options at the Samode Safari Lodge. Guests can partake in cooking demonstrations or go for picnics on the lodge grounds. Sightseeing excursions and safari trips can be arranged and are accompanied by an in house guide. Cycling, going for nature walks and visiting nearby villages are some other activity options.

Day 13-14: In Bandhavgarh

Day Itinerary

Enjoy morning & afternoon shared jeep safaris in the National Park on both the days

[On Wednesdays the park remains closed for the afternoon safari]

Day 15: Bandhavgarh – Jabalpur – Delhi

New Delhi, India’s national capital, is a relatively modern confection of imposing government buildings including Parliament, museums and wide leafy boulevards loosely centred on circular Connaught Place (officially now called Rajiv Chowk). To its north lies the formerly walled city of Old Delhi, or Shahjahanabad, built in the 17th-century by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Though long merged into one metropolis, the two have very different characters. New Delhi has space, parks, distinct neighbourhoods and a clutch of important monuments and architecture that reflect its ancient history. Old Delhi’s crowded streets, lanes and bazaars reflect its colourful medieval character and they cradle some of the city’s most memorable sights.

Day Itinerary

Morning after breakfast transfer to Jabalpur airport to board the scheduled flight for Delhi (approx. 175 Kms / 4 Hours drive)

Upon your arrival at Delhi airport, you will by your Travel Counsellor Representative, who will assist you and transfer to an airport hotel.

Overnight: Novotel New Delhi Aerocity

Novotel New Delhi Aerocity is located in New Delhi. The accommodation features stylish guest rooms and suites equipped with modern amenities such as LED TVs, air conditioning, electronic safes, workstations and Wi-Fi access. Guests can enjoy a meal at the on-site restaurant and have a refreshing drink at the hotel bar. Leisure facilities include a swimming pool fitness centre and a spa.

Alternate: Pullman New Delhi Aerocity

Pullman New Delhi Aerocity is located within a 3 km radius of the IGI Airport. The hotel offers spacious rooms and suites with coffee/tea-making facilities, minibars and LED TVs. Guests can start the day with a delicious breakfast. Other hotel facilities include a restaurant, a bar, a fitness centre and a swimming pool.