The Tiger Land Of Central India

Overnight at Hotel Crowne Plaza, Mayur Vihar (Superior Room)
Day 02: Delhi / Jabalpur (SG 2451 – 0710 / 0845 Hrs) Jabalpur / Bandhavgarh

Early morning transfer to the airport to connect your flight to Jabalpur Meeting and assistance upon arrival at Jabalpur and we will drive to Bandhavgarh. A small wildlife sanctuary located in rocky hills rising from swamps and thick forest.  The park has the highest density of tigers of any of India's reserves, who prey on the abundant herbivores including various deer such as the shaggy sambar, spotted chital, and muntjac; antelopes like nilgai, chinkara, and the 4-horned chowsingha; and massive gaur and wild boar.

Upon arrival in Bandhavgarh, check in to Tiger's Den Resort

Bandhavgarh National Park, situated amid the airy Vindhya hills of Madhya Pradesh, has established a reputation as one of the best places in India to observe Tigers. Although a relatively small reserve when first established in 1968, it was enlarged twenty years later to include adjacent tracts of Sal forest and this extension has proved very beneficial for the Tiger population. The 105 square kilometres of park area, open for tourists is estimated to have a population of 22 tigers, a density of one tiger for every 4.77 square kilometres.

Like many Tiger reserves in India, the area was formerly the hunting reserve of a Maharaja and contains much evidence of its royal associations, most spectacular being the ruins of a huge hilltop fort, which dominates the centre of the reserve. Bandhavgarh is somewhat isolated in the rural heart of India but the long overnight train journey from Delhi is well worth the effort and visitors are richly rewarded by a fine selection of wildlife and the real chance of never to be forgotten encounters with the greatest of the big cats.

Overnight at Tiger's Den Resort (Standard Room)
Day 03 - 04: Bandhavgarh (Afternoon safaris are closed on Wednesday)

Morning & afternoon jungle excursions in jeep, The pattern of early morning and afternoon excursions will be interspersed with periods of relaxation back at our accommodation during the heat of midday. Although Tigers are the star attraction at Bandhavgarh the supporting cast of mammals and birds is very impressive, the latter including such species as Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, Plum-headed Parakeet, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and Asian Paradise Flycatcher among a total of over 250 species recorded in the district. Tour members with an interest in ornithology will value the time between game drives as an opportunity to explore some of the habitats close to our base.

Tigers and the more rarely seen Leopards, have no shortage of prey in the reserve The Spotted Deer or Chital is a favorite item on the Tiger menu and several thousand of these delightful deer inhabit the park.

Other species found here in varying abundance include; Chinkara, Chowsinga, Wild Boar, Sambar, Muntjac and Nilgai. Herds of the Asian Bison, or Gaur, formerly Inhabited the Reserve but impressive beast has not been seen at Bandhavgarh since 1998 although a closely monitored programme for the reintroduction of the Gaur is planned within couple of years. A hunting pack of wild dogs may also be seen on occasions. Mammal sightings always require a degree of luck, particularly when the species is essentially nocturnal or reclusive but each outing in the reserve will at least provide a chance to meet one of the rarer inhabitants such as Sloth Bear, Indian fox, Jackal, Wolf, Ratel, Striped Hyenas, Jungle Cat or Indian Pangolin. More predictable are the sounders of Wild Boar rooting among the vegetation, Indian Hares, the lively little Palm Squirrels that seem to be constantly in a state of agitation, and several members of the mongoose tribe. Common Langurs and Rhesus Macaques are also plentiful, the former enjoying an elevated view of the forest as they devour their favourite leaves and often the first creature to bark out a warning at the appearance of a Tiger below.

We are never short of wildlife to watch in this gem of a reserve.

Overnight at Tiger's Den Resort (Standard Room)
Day 05: Bandhavgarh / Kanha (325 Kms) (08 Hrs Drive)

Morning jungle excursion in open top vehicle
Following a leisurely breakfast, we drive to Kanha Tiger Reserve.
Upon arrival, check into Singinawa Jungle Lodge

Overnight at Singinawa Jungle Lodge (Singinawa Cottage)

At dawn we visit the sacred Ganges for a boat ride. Afternoon, a short excursion outside of the city is undertaken for a tour of Saarnath – the venue where Budhha preached his first sermons after gaining enlightenment.

Day 06: Varanasi / Khajuraho (Flight)
Day 06 – 07: Kanha Tiger Reserve (Afternoon safaris are closed on Wednesday)

Morning & afternoon, jungle excursions in jeep Kanha National Park, which is one of the most well known tiger reserves worldwide, is located among the Banjar and Halon valleys in the Mandla / Balaghat districts of the state of Madhya Pradesh. Its creation took place among, and after, a lot of turbulence and storm within concerned circles regarding rampant killing of wildlife in the area at the time. The central Kanha valley was declared a sanctuary way back in 1933 but got its status as a National Park in 1955. It covers a large area of 1,945 square kilometers, out of which 940 square kilometers form the main park. The altitude of the park ranges from 450 meters to 900 meters above sea level. The temperature, depending on the season, ranges from 0 degrees in the winters to 48 degrees in the summers. The park remains open from the 01st of November to the 30th of June. Sometimes, as with most parks of the country, it can be closed earlier if the monsoon season arrives sooner than expected. The park has a heavy monsoon season with an average annual rainfall of 1600mm. The basic infrastructure at the park is well developed and visits can "mostly" be expected to pass without any problems.

Kanha is also famous for it's animal conservation efforts made in collaboration and cooperation with the local resident communities. One of the famous success stories of the park is the survival of the Barasingha population in the park, which went down to as low as 66 animals in 1970 from the earlier 3000 and which through huge efforts have now revived to a respectable number of around 1000. Kanha boasts of many such success stories of which this is only an example.

Kanha National Park is world famous for it's tigers. Tiger sightings are not as rare as in most other parks of the country. The only other reserves in the country that can claim to have as many sightings as Kanha are Ranthambor and Kanha's own neighbour, Bandhavgarh.

Other than the tiger, some of the more frequently seen animals in the park consist of Leopards, Gaur, Chausinghas, Sloth Bears, Barking Deer, Swamp Deer (Barasingha), Blackuck, Langurs, Wild Boars, Porcupines, Mouse Deer, Hyenas, Jackals and Wild Dogs (Dholes).

The reptile residents of the park consist of Monitor Lizards, Pythons and a large variety of other snakes.

Overnight at Singinawa Jungle Lodge (Singinawa Cottage)
Day 08: Kanha / Nagpur/ Delhi (6E 202 – 1950 / 2135 Hrs)

Though the check out time is 12 noon, every effort would be made to retain rooms till as late as possible without additional charges.

Morning jungle excursion in jeep
Later, we will drive to Nagpur airport to board your flight to Delhi
Meeting and assistance upon arrival in Delhi and transfer to hotel Crowne Plaza, Mayur Vihar

Overnight at Hotel Crowne Plaza, Mayur Vihar (Superior Room)
Day 09: Delhi / Departure

Though the check out time is 12 noon, every effort would be made to retain rooms till as late as possible without additional charges.

Transfer to the International airport to board your onward flight.

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