Wildlife of India

In search of the Three Big Cats

Itinerary
Price Guide
Places you'll visit
Accommodation
How to Book

India has an extremely rich and varied wildlife. On this remarkable wildlife tour you focus on the three big cats: you search for tigers in Ranthambore National Park, leopards in the remote areas of southern Rajasthan and Asiatic lions in the Gir National Park in Gujarat. Add to this, the Rann of Kutch, famous for the Indian Wild Ass, and you'll understand why this Indian wildlife tour is bound to be a roaring success!

Day 1 - Delhi
Arrive in Delhi where you are met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 - Sawai Madhopur
Drive to Sawai Madhopur, your base for visits to Ranthambore National Park. In the afternoon you visit the magnificent old Ranthambore Fort, now populated only by monkeys.

Day 3 - Sawai Madhopur
Today you take a morning and afternoon game drive and try to spot tigers and other wild animals.

Day 4 - Deogarh
Drive to Deogarh to stay for two nights in the beautifully renovated 17th century palace.

Day 5 - Deogarh
One of the not-to-be-missed activities at Deogarh is the `Rural Ramble'. This exciting excursion takes you to surrounding countryside in one of the vintage trucks owned by the family. The lakes around Deogarh attract a number of birds and it offers some wonderful bird watching possibilities.

Day 6 - Siana
Journey to the picturesque Aravalli hills of south west Rajasthan, bordering the great Thar desert. The terrain here is a unique mixture of hills, sand dunes and picturesque ravines. The area is untouched by tourism and offers a good insight into a traditional way of life.

Day 7 - Siana
From your garden cottage you visit small Bhil villages and Rabari pastoral settlements as well as taking an evening drive to look for leopards.

Day 8 - Dasada
Over the border into Gujarat lies the Little Rann of Kutch, a vast expanse of flat, barren land. You stay in a rustic camp on the edge of these salty plains.

Day 9 - Dasada
Today you take jeep rides in search for the indigenous Indian Wild Ass. The plains also provide a haven for the endangered Indian wolf, desert cats, hyenas and birds of prey.

Day 10 - Gondal
Drive to Gondal, a picturesque town with plenty of gracious architecture, wide tree lined roads and European lampposts. Here you can enjoy a taste of the royal lifestyle in the Orchard Palace, now a heritage hotel.

Day 11 - Sasangir
You continue to Sasangir, the last remaining sanctuary of the Asiatic lion.

Day 12 - Sasangir
You take morning and afternoon jeep safaris - the lions are not shy once you find them! Other wildlife includes leopards, hyenas, wild boar and rare birds.

Day 13 - Velavadar
Drive to Velavadar where you stay in a fabulours wildlife resort surrounded by wild country all around. For birdwatchers, this national park is home to specialties like saras crane and Stolickza's bushchat. Between November and February, Velavadar is the largest roosting site for harriers.

Day 14 - Velavadar
Velavadar National Park is a grassland tract rich in wildlife including India's largest herds of blackbuck (Indian antelope), the endangered Indian wolf and striped hyena, and smaller mammals like jackal, jungle cat, Indian fox and hare. You explore the park by jeep.

Day 15 - Mumbai
Transfer to Bhavnagar airport to board the afternoon flight to Mumbai to connect with your onward travel.

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Price Guide

From EUR 2,301 per person based on two people sharing.

Inclusions

Accommodation on twin share basis at selected hotels.
Stay on bed & breakfast basis; full board at Dasada, Sasangir and Velavadar.
Day train by air-conditioned `chair car' from Delhi to Sawai Madhopur.
Transport by private chauffeur-driven airconditioned car.
Games rides at Ranthambore, Siana, Rann of Kutch, Sasangir and Velavadar.
Park entrance fees.
Jeep safari at Deogarh.
All transfers as per the itinerary.

Tour price excludes

Tips and gratuities.
Services, Meals and Drinks other than those mentioned in the itinerary.
Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature.
Extra entrance fees for camera and video.
Domestic flight Bhavnagar-Mumbai. Domestic airlines maintain a flexible pricing based on changing supply and demand conditions.

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Tweakable Holidays

This is just one of our holiday suggestions for you. If it's perfect as it is, great! If not, let us tweak it for you, or we could tailor-make your ideal trip including:

Where you would like to stay
Dates that best suit you
Experiences or activities that you fancy
As long as you want in each place

Just get in touch and we will start advising and planning with you.

Email us at info@travellers-palm.com or use our online form to get in touch.

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Delhi The capital of India is full of historical landmarks

The chief attraction of Old Delhi is the Red Fort that contains within it opulent palaces and impressive public buildings. Nearby is the magnificent Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. In New Delhi you can also find the India Gate -- a war memorial arch, the impressive Parliament Building and the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India. Towards the South can be found the Qutab Minar and Humayun's Tomb, both World Heritage Sites.

Sawai Madhopur A great chance to spot a tiger

The busy dusty town of Sawai Madhopur is the base for visiting the beautiful Ranthambore National Park, with the various accommodation options all found along the 10km road between the town and the park entrance. The landscape is much more open that in many other parks, making tiger sightings more frequent, though still a matter of chance. Other wildlife includes sambhar, nilgai, sloth bear, jackal, crocodile, much bird life, and even some rarely seen leopard. The park can be explored by jeep or open van. The park is closed during the monsoon months of July, August & September.

Deogarh A pleasant town with a beautiful palace hotel

Deogarh is a pleasant, little frequented town midway Pushkar and Udaipur. The village market is dotted with shops selling silver jewellery, clothes, fabrics, food stuffs and just about everything one needs in a Rajasthani household. The road winds its way up to the top of the hill up to the beautifully renovated Deogarh Mahal Palace.

Siana An off-the-beaten track farm destination

Siana is a small hamlet in south-west Rajasthan with a unique terrain of Aravalli hills bordered by sand dunes and agricultural lands. The run-off from these hills has created picturesque ravines in these dunes. You can stay here as guests of the local ruler, Pradeep Singh. Softly spoken Pradeep organises interesting safaris into outlying areas including Bhil villages and Rabari pastoral settlements, and evening drives to look for leopards.

Dasada The last refuge in India of the Asiatic Wild Ass

Dasada is a small village occupied mainly by farmers, nomadic cattle herders and artisans. It is situated on the outskirts of the Rann of Kutch, a vast salt marsh that spans 30,000 square kilometers. Dasada is the perfect base from which to explore the Rann of Kutch, the last refuge in India of the Asiatic Wild Ass, an elegant member of the horse family. In winter it is also home to migratory birds such as flamingoes, MacQueen's Bustard etc.

Gondal Stay in Orchard Palace

Gondal is a former princely state which was known for its progressive rulers. In the late 19th century, Gondal did away with the women's purdah or veil, abolished land taxes and insisted on compulsory education for girls. Gondal is an interesting city with some finely carved palaces. The town is also home to an interesting 100 year old Ayurvedic pharmacy. You can stay in the Orchard Palace, originally built to house the guests of the Maharaja of Gondal.

Sasangir The last remaining home of the Asiatic lion

Sasangir is the only habitat of the lion left outside Africa. And with the lion population 300 strong, your chances of spotting one are very good. Game viewing is done by jeep and is the best in the early morning or late afternoon. Other wildlife includes panthers, hyenas, foxes, wild boar, sambhar, chital, and nilgai. There is also a rich bird life including the rare paradise fly-catcher. Just outside the sanctuary entrance is the crocodile hatchery.

Velavadar

Velavadar National Park is a grassland tract rich in wildlife including India's largest herds of blackbuck (Indian antelope), the endangered Indian wolf and striped hyena, and smaller mammals like jackal, jungle cat, Indian fox and hare. For birdwatchers, this national park is home to specialties like saras crane and Stolickza's bushchat. Between November and February, Velavadar is the largest roosting site for harriers.

Mumbai Fast moving commercial centre of India

Mumbai is the financial, commercial and industrial capital of India. The city is also the centre of fashion and film making. As such the city hums with activity and its more than 15 million residents seem to be constantly on the move. Mumbai used to be just a collection of fishing villages. The real development commenced only during British colonial rule. Hence most of the historical monuments are relics from the British Raj.

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This is just one of our holiday suggestions for you. If it's perfect as it is, great! If not, let us tweak it for you, or we could tailor-make your ideal trip including:

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