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India Taj Tigers
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A The fabulous ancient monuments of Northern India and game drives in Ranthambore National Park |
Ref: EX-DWI
10 days
from £1255 (minimum 6 passengers)
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Destination:
India
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India is a magical country which conjures up enduring images of colourful saris, delicious food, buzzing rickshaws and of course the impossibly romantic Taj Mahal. This trip encompasses some of the major sites of India including the hustle and bustle of Delhi, the serene Taj, ancient forts & temples and exciting game drives to view tiger in Ranthambore National Park. Northern India has seen a succession of rulers through invasion, war and religious belief which have left an indelible imprint on the culture and architecture. Many of the sights are testament to the Great Moghul Emperors of the 15th and 16th centuries, who have left magnificent buildings including the Taj, the deserted city of Fatephur Sikri and the Jami Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Then there are the imposing buildings of the British Raj in New Delhi where the seat of government is housed. Away from the cities and temples India has some spectacular and endangered wildlife, the magnificent tiger symbolising the richness and fragility of the nation's fauna. Incorporated into the Project Tiger scheme in 1972, Ranthambore was the hunting ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur and is now a haven for wildlife and maintains a healthy tiger population. Overlooked by the impressive Ranthambore fort, the 410 sq km park is set in rolling hills covered in deciduous forest, grassland and fruit trees, with small pools dotted throughout providing a focal point for prey, predator and game watchers. As well as tiger the park is home to wild deer, sambal and a huge variety of bird life including purple heron, kingfishers, cormorants, parakeets, peacocks, jacanda, waders and partridge.
Extend your stay: Extra nights accommodation can be booked at the Connaught Hotel, Delhi £58 per twin room and £54 per single occupancy plus a £5 booking fee in each case.
Further Information
Special equipment required: thick jumper/fleece, warm trousers, sun hat, sun cream, daysack (25litre) and a water bottle. You should dress conservatively when visiting temples; trousers and long skirts are most appropriate.
Extra Expenses: allow around £100 for meals not included. A fee of approximately £5 per camera and £15 per video camera is payable on entering Ranthambore National Park. Allow extra for tips, soft drinks etc. If you would like to take extra game drives the cost is approximately £10 per person per drive.
Meals Included: all breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3 dinners.
Transport: we use a private air-conditioned minibus and train. Reservations on the train are made in 2nd class a/c chairs. In Ranthambore N.P. tiger spotting is from a large open truck called a ‘canter’ which seats a maximum of 22.
Children: children under 16 can not join the group departures but private departures can be arranged for families. Please call exodus (00 44) 0870 240 5550 or email: sales@exodus.co.uk for further details.
Joining locally: the local joining point is the Connaught Hotel, Delhi. A taxi from the airport to the hotel costs approx £6. You can join in the afternoon or evening of Day 2.
Group & Staff
Min. 6, max. 16 plus leader.
Accommodation
In Delhi we stay at the Connaught Hotel which is a good 3-star and conveniently only a short walk from the main shopping areas of Connaught Place and Janpath. We base ourselves at the 3-star Mansingh Palace in Agra. Only a short distance from the sites, the hotel has all modern facilities and a swimming pool. In Ranthambore we stay in pleasant cottages or lodges. The resort has a jungle ambiance and is run by knowledgeable and professional management. There's all modern amenities and a good varied menu is available at the restaurant.
Food
Indian cuisine is known throughout the world with a range of meat and vegetarian dishes that whet the appetite. Although famous for curries and spicey dishes, those with a more delicate palate need not worry as there is always something on the menu to suit a more western taste. The cities abound with different eateries offering both traditional and international cuisine. 8 continental breakfasts are included as are lunches and dinners whilst at Ranthambore. Other lunches and dinners are not included allowing you to experiment with local shops and restaurants to suite your tastes. Wine, beer and soft drinks can be purchased to accompany meals.
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Day 1 | Depart London Heathrow on the flight to Delhi. | Day 2 | Arrive in the very early hours and transfer to the Connaught Hotel where a room will be available for you. The rest of the day is free to relax, catch up on some sleep or individual exploration. Those with land-only arrangements will join at the hotel during the day in time for the evening briefing. | Day 3 | A full day sightseeing tour of the capital; in Old Delhi we will see the Red Fort and Qutub Minar. We will also visit Jama Masjid (India’s largest mosque) and in New Delhi we see India Gate and the fine colonial buildings now housing the various Indian governmental departments. | Day 4 | Early morning fast train to Agra, home to the incredible Taj Mahal. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore Agra. In the evening we visit the Taj Mahal in time for sunset. | Day 5 | Day visit to the world-famous sites in Agra and take a short drive to Fatehpur Sikri, the emperor Akbar's deserted royal city. | Day 6 | Leave busy Agra and make for Ranthambore N.P. The journey of approximately 7-8 hours is through beautiful rural India.
| Day 7 | Morning and evening game drives in the Park and the chance to see monkey, deer, crocodiles, birdlife and maybe tigers? | Day 8 | We have a choice today to either, stay in the Park and undertake some optional game drives to see tigers or to join the group and visit some of the fascinating villages that surround the Park and involve ourselves in rural life. | Day 9 | Return in the morning by train to Delhi. Those with land-only arrangements end the trip on arrival in Delhi. Late night transfer to airport for the overnight flight to London. | Day 10 | Arrive London Heathrow. |
Departures Between | Price from | 30 Oct 04 | *£1255 | 13 Nov 04 | *£1225 | 18 Dec 04 | *£1525 | | *Prices subject to confirmation |
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FLIGHT INCLUSIVE PRICE
Local payment £25
Single room supplement £195
Insurance £77
**Land-only 8 days Sun to Sun
This holiday is operated by Exodus Travels Ltd. ATOL 2582.
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India Taj Tigers
A The fabulous ancient monuments of Northern India and game drives in Ranthambore National Park
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