National Parks India

Duration : 15 nights / 16 days
Places Covered : Delhi - Agra - Umaria - Bandhavgarh - Kanha - Kawardha - Kanker - Jagdalpur - Raipur - Delhi

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The Central India has vast tracts of virgin forests which till now were not explored by an outsider. The Bastar region is very rich anthropologically as well famous for its natural beauty. This tour will provide you with an opportunity to see some of the best wildlife areas and also see the tribal culture of Bastar.

Day 01 : Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi late in the evening and overnight at hotel

.Day 02 : Delhi
Full day city tour of Delhi covering Old and New Delhi. Overnight at hotel.

Day 03 : Delhi / Agra
Morning drive to Agra (4hrs). On the way stop at Sikandra to see the Tomb of Great Mughal Emperor The Akbar. On arrival in Agra transfer to the hotel. Afternoon visit the Red Fort. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 04 : Agra / Overnite Train to Umaria
Morning visit the Taj Mahal. Late afternoon board overnight train at 1550 hrs. for Umaria.

Day 05 : Umaria / Bandhavgarh
Arrive Umaria at 0616 hrs, drive to one of the most popular tiger reserves of India - Bandhavgarh. In the afternoon Jungle excursion in Bandhavgarh National Park. Overnight at the resort.

Day 06 : Bandhavgarh
Morning and evening jungle excursions in Bandhavgarh National Park. Overnight at the resort.

Day 07 : Bandhavgarh / Kanha ( 240 km/ 6-7 hrs.)
Early morning jungle excursion in National Park. Thereafter drive to Kanha. On arrival transfer to the resort.

Day 08 : Kanha
Morning and evening jungle excursions in Kanha National Park. Overnight at the resort.

Day 09 : Kanha / Kawardha
In the forenoon drive to Kawardha. After checking into the palace, you will have your first exposure of tribal life of the Bastars. Later trip to the surrounding tribal villages.
Overnight in Palace.

Day 10 : Kawardha / Kanker (251 km / approx 7 hrs.)
Morning drive through the unexplored tribal country to Kanker. The countryside will make you feel like being in paradise itself. The virgin and untouched tribal landscape is very fascinating indeed. Explore the verdant surroundings of the palace. Overnight in Palace.

Day 11 : Kanker / Jagdalpur (120 km/3 hrs.)
The drive takes you today to the very heartland of the Bastar tribes. Transfer to Hotel. PM Visit the anthropological museums and the surroundings of Jagdalpur.

Day 12 : Jagdalpur
Today you have a full day to explore the different tribal villages, which comprises almost 3/4th of the Bastar population, each with their own indigenous culture of spirits, deities, dialects, customs and food habits.

Day 13 : Jagdalpur
You will get an opportunity to get to know some of the traditional arts and crafts of Bastar, which comprise from wood-craft to terracotta, tribal weaving to Bhatti-chitra (traditional Wall paintings), stone-carving to Bell metal craft, Iron craft and the Bamboo crafts. These crafts reflect the subtle creativity, inventive genius and the imagination of the local craftsmen, who have tried to retain the original purity of perception and core-concepts governing the life styles of their ethos.

Day 14 : Jagdalpur
After familiarizing yourself with the tribal culture,it's now time to explore the Jungles of the tribal belt too! This day will be spent walking through the greens and verdant landscape of the tribal countryside and savor the typical flora and fauna of the region enroute.

Day 15 : Jagdalpur / Raipur (220 km/5 hours).
You drive to Raipur today and leave the core tribal areas behind you. Enroute take a diversion (23 km off the main road) to Rajim, which is also known as the Varanasi of Chattisgarh. Overnite in hotel.

Day 16 : Raipur / Delhi
Transfer to the airport for flight to Delhi (IC-7470 0900/1135 hrs). On arrival transfer to the hotel where a day room has been reserved for you till 10 p.m. Later transfer to the International Airport for flight back home.