BIG 7 INDIA WILDLIFE SAFARI

Arriving in Mumbai, you’ll be greeted with a traditional Indian welcome and escorted to the hotel. Mumbai, a cluster of seven islands, derives its name from Mumbadevi, the patron goddess of the Koli fisher folk, the oldest inhabitants. The rest of your day is at leisure. HOTEL

After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a full day of leisure or take advantage of many optional tours available. You’ll be treated to a festive Welcome Dinner in the evening. HOTEL (B, D)

Optional: Tour of Elephanta, Mumbai Architectural Tour, Mumbai Markets Tour or Mumbai by Night

Fly to Diu and explore the countryside on a two-hour road-trip to Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary this morning. On your way, visit Somnath temple, one of 12 temples in India enshrining Shiva in the form of a Jyotirlingam. Gir is a 1,412-square- kilometer hilly tract of dry deciduous forests, acacia scrub, evergreen and semi-evergreen flora and grasslands, fed by rivers and streams. The jewel of Gujarat’s ecological resources, the sanctuary originally protected by the Nawab of Junagadh after British viceroys brought to his attention the plight of the lion in Asia. Check in at the lodge and savor a relaxing lunch. Then, embark on an evening game drive in the park with your expert game rangers. LODGE (B, L, D)

Set out to explore the reserve and search for wildlife with you ranger in the early morning and late afternoon. Sasangir, known for Asiatic Lions, also harbors a sizable population of leopards, who are more visible here than in other wildlife sanctuaries of India. Other important and commonly noticed mammals here are spotted deer or chital, antelopes, striped hyenas, jackals, nilgai, sambar, antelope, chausingha or four-horned antelope, barking deer, wild boar, muddy mongoose, jangurs, jungle cats, Indian porcupine, chinkara, gazelles and crocodiles. Sasangir Park also supports and shelters numerous bird species including peafowl, peacocks, parrots, raptors, spoonbill, white Ibis, black ibis, paradise flycatchers, honey buzzards, redheaded merlin, Bonelli’s Hawk Eagle, crested serpent eagles, painted sand grouse, blossom-headed parakeets, spotted doves, spotted owlet, flycatchers, woodpeckers and flamingo. LODGE (B, L, D)

After an early morning game and breakfast, return to Diu airport to fly to Nagpur in central India. HOTEL (B, D)

After breakfast, travel overland to Kanha National Park (about four hours) and check into your hotel. The picturesque Kanha National Park was the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling’s cherished classic, “The Jungle Book,” and its breathtaking charms endure. Its plethora of wildlife includes tiger, bison, gaur, sambhar, chital, barasingha, barking deer, black deer, black buck, chousingha, nilgai, mouse deer, sloth bear, jackal, fox, porcupine, hyena, jungle cat, python, pea fowl, hare, monkey, mongoose and leopard. This evening, embark on your first game drive in the park accompanied by an experienced ranger. HOTEL (B, L, D)

The varied topography and a moderate climate support the growth of a diverse flora in Kanha National Park. About 70 species of trees are found in Kanha. The rich flora in the park supports a large variety of wildlife. Kanha is home to 22 species of large mammals and over 300 species of birds. Early morning and late afternoon game drives allow you time to relax, to enjoy the tranquil lodge’s spa and swimming pool, bird watch or visit the nearby tribal villages. HOTEL (B, L, D)

After a morning game drive and breakfast, travel overland to Bandhavgarh, known as white tiger territory. Along the way, visit and photograph the villages and rural markets, and if you are lucky, you may see a celebration, a temple festival or village fair. There are more than 22 species of mammals, and 250 species of birds that call the park home. Many migratory birds can be seen during the winter months, including the steppe eagle and a variety of wildfowl. HOTEL (B, L, D)

The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India. The former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa is a famous natural hub for white tigers. During the morning and afternoon game drives, you may spot both the Bengal and white tigers, and a host of other exotic mammals: leopards, sambars, barking deer, nilgais, wild boars, gaurs, chausinghas and chinkaras, Asiatic jackals, Bengal fox, sloth bears, grey mongoose, striped hyenas, jungle cats, wild pigs and spotted deer. Birdwatchers may check off the egret, lesser adjutant, sarus crane, black kite, crested serpent eagle, the black vulture, Egyptian vulture, common peafowl, red jungle fowl, doves and parakeets. HOTEL (B, L, D)

After an early morning game drive, you will be driven to Jabalpur to board your flight to Delhi, India’s bustling capital city. New Delhi reflects the legacy the British left behind. The division between New and Old Delhi is the segregation between the capitals of the British and the Mughals respectively. The rest of the day is at leisure. HOTEL (B, L)

You will have the option to either spend the day at leisure, take a full day tour of Delhi visiting both old and New Delhi, or take a full day tour of Agra by train or by road. HOTEL (B)

After breakfast, board your flight to Guwahati, the gateway to the northeast of India and a principal center of social, cultural, political, industrial, trade and commerce for the entire northeast region of India. Tour the city, visiting the shrine of the mother goddess of Assam. Situated atop the Nilachal Hills, Kamakhya overlooks the river Brahmaputra with a commanding view of the area all around. Next, visit the state museum, displaying aspects of Assam’s culture, history and crafts. The various sections are epigraphy, sculpture, natural history, crafts, arms, manuscripts, village and ethnography. After lunch, you will be driven to the Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its one-horned rhinoceros. LODGE (B, L, D)

Safari throughout the national park on an elephant’s back and jeep during your mornings and evenings here. Apart from the rhinoceros, other species found here are the hog deer, swamp deer, wild buffalo, elephants, and if you are lucky, tigers. The park is virtually a paradise for bird watchers, with a variety of migratory and resident birds gliding from tree to tree. With plentiful bodies of water inside the park, it’s also home to pelicans, storks and darters. You will also visit the nearby tea gardens to learn about the process of tree picking, various kinds of teas and processing. Enjoy a cup of world famous tea and soak up the beautiful scenery around you. LODGE (B, L, D)[/tg_accordion]

This morning’s game drive is your last option to see the wildlife before your flight to Kolkata. Spend the night at a hotel near the airport. HOTEL (B)

Your time is free until your international flight – or, extend your stay to visit Kolkata and other cities of eastern India.