Highlights
- Admire the magnificent UNESCO-listed temples at Khajuraho
- Look for tigers and more in the grasslands and forest of Bandhavgarh National Park
- Visit Bhoramdeo Temple and attend an evening ceremony
- Trek in Bhoramdeo, spotting langur monkeys, barking deer, and jackals
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Delhi, Free Evening | Delhi |
| Day 2 | Transfer to Orchha, Guided Tour | Orchha |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Khajuraho, Visit the Eastern Group of Temples | Khajuraho |
| Day 4 | Visit the Western Group of Temples, Explore the Old Town of Khajuraho | Khajuraho |
| Day 5 | Transfer to Bandhavgarh | Bandhavgarh |
| Day 6 | Morning & Evening Game Drives in Bandhavgarh | Bandhavgarh |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Kanha, Walk Through Local Villages | Kanha |
| Day 8 | Morning & Afternoon Safaris at Kanha National Park | Kanha |
| Day 9 | Transfer to Bhoramdeo, Tribal Village Visit | Bhoramdeo |
| Day 10 | Visit Local Villages in Bhoramdeo | Bhoramdeo |
| Day 11 | Guided Trek in Bhoramdeo | Bhoramdeo |
| Day 12 | Transfer to Delhi, Sightseeing | Delhi |
| Day 13 | Depart Delhi |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Delhi, Free Evening
Welcome to Delhi! Your guide will meet you at New Delhi International Airport and will give you a traditional swagat (welcome). After taking a private transfer to your hotel in New Delhi, you'll have the rest of the evening free to explore India's lively capital. You'll discover a city with a fascinating history and diverse architecture due to its numerous rulers over the centuries. There are Mughal mosques, British colonial architecture, and 16th-century mausoleums, as well as grand monuments, bazaars, and premium shopping. Immerse yourself in city life by trying some local food or shopping for souvenirs.
Day 2: Transfer to Orchha, Guided Tour
You'll start the day by taking an early morning train to Jhansi. Your driver and local guide will meet you at Jhansi train station, and you'll travel by car to your hotel in Orchha. Orchha is a popular location for temple tours in the country, as it's home to medieval temples and forts. Some of its most important sites are Chaturbhuj Temple, Ram Raja Temple, and Jahangir Palace. Its 14 cenotaphs set on the River Betwa's banks are also a must-see.
Day 3: Transfer to Khajuraho, Visit the Eastern Group of Temples
In the morning, you'll drive to Khajuraho. Khajuraho is known for its magnificent temples, which are UNESCO-listed and famous for their erotic stone carvings. Built between 950 and 1050 CE, during the Chandella Dynasty, the architecture here is incredible. You'll see interesting stone carvings depicting love and passion, fear, doubt, and jealousy, with griffins, nymphs, demons in revolt, beasts, and gods. In the afternoon, you'll go on a guided tour to explore these.
First, you'll visit the Eastern Group of Temples, which are split between those dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses and those dedicated to the Jain gods. While the group of temples in the west is better known, this group is well worth a visit. Sculptures here depict everyday life rather than sensual subjects. Later, you'll go to the Archaeological Museum, which was originally built by W.A. Jardine in 1910, with a new building constructed in 2016. Here you'll see a rare collection of sculptures and architectural ruins and can look around various galleries telling stories of Khajuraho's history.
Day 4: Visit the Western Group of Temples, Explore the Old Town of Khajuraho
Today, you'll visit the Western Group of Temples, which are the best-preserved and well-known in Khajuraho. Lakshmana is the oldest temple of the western group, dating from around 950 CE, and is well preserved, with some erotic carvings. Kandariya Mahadeva is the largest, with a huge selection of sculptures that are considered some of the greatest masterpieces of Indian art. Take your time to enjoy the marvelous architecture and the setting of the temple complex.
A good way to see another side of Khajuraho is to head to its Old Town, and you'll do this in the afternoon. This area is filled with mud houses and rustic bungalows, and its streets are cleaner than those in most Indian cities. It is a good representation of ancient India. Here you'll be given an insight into the daily life of the locals, and you are likely to meet women dressed in traditional clothing. Some locals may even invite you in for a cup of tea if you're kind and courteous to them.
Day 5: Transfer to Bandhavgarh
First thing, you'll set off to Bandhavgarh National Park in the state of Madhya Pradesh, one of the most popular national parks in India. It is one of the best places in the country to spot tigers and is also home to a wide range of other wildlife, such as nilgai, sloth bears, jungle cats, wild boar, hyenas, and many species of birds. This compact park with a core area of 40.5 square miles (105 sq km) was originally the private game reserve of the Maharajas of Rewa, and the first white (albino) tiger was found here. It has a small hilltop fort inside a forested area, as it was the one-time capital of the Baghel dynasty.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 6: Morning & Evening Game Drives in Bandhavgarh
Today a 4WD open-top Jeep will be waiting to take you on a morning safari through the grasslands and forest of Bandhavgarh National Park. You'll be accompanied by a specialist guide to help you spot as much wildlife as possible. Keep a lookout for majestic tigers as well as leopards, jackals, Bengal foxes, langur monkeys, sloth bears, hyenas, jungle cats, leopards, and more than 250 species of birds.
After your morning adventure, you'll return to your hotel to relax before heading out again on an afternoon safari. As well as wildlife, your guide will point out historical marks of human presence, such as caves, statues, temples, ponds, wells, and more as you drive. However, an undoubted highlight will be the sight of a tiger sunbathing or strolling nearby, so have your camera ready.
Day 7: Transfer to Kanha, Walk Through Local Villages
In the morning, you'll drive to Kanha National Park for another chance to spot Bengal tigers. One of India's best tiger reserves, Kanha National Park spans 362 square miles (940 sq km) and is divided into two sanctuaries: Hallon and Banjar. It is a particularly beautiful national park with open grassland areas, meadows, bamboo forests, and hills covered with tropical forests. You'll also have a high chance of spotting tigers with their favorite prey, chital and sambar deer. It is the only park in India to have barasingha, or swamp deer, which have been brought back from near extinction.
After your drive, you'll have the rest of the day to relax and explore at your own pace. Alternatively, you have the option of going on a walk through the villages of Kanha. During this guided walk, you'll cross the Banjar River and will amble through a beautiful forest on animal trails to reach Chhapri village. Here you'll visit a local tribe that makes products to sell out of bamboo. You'll then climb a small hill to reach a sunset spot with a fantastic view over the forest.
Day 8: Morning & Afternoon Safaris at Kanha National Park
Days in Kanha start early, and your first game drive will be at dawn in a 4WD open-top Jeep. You'll see the sun streaking through the foggy forest as you drive and will listen to the wildlife waking up. Apart from tigers, keep your eyes peeled for leopards, Indian bison, sambar deer, blackbuck, and wild dogs.
After lunch, you'll go on another game drive in the hotter afternoon temperatures. This is prime time to spot animals looking for a drink of water. The landscape here, with grasslands, wetlands, forests, and meadows, inspired Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book."
Day 9: Transfer to Bhoramdeo, Tribal Village Visit
After breakfast, you'll drive to Bhoramdeo, an isolated village in north-western Chhattisgarh. The Maikal Hills that surround it are home to the Indigenous Baiga and Gond tribes, whose tolas (villages) are dotted through the countryside. On reaching Bhoramdeo, you'll check into your hotel.
In the evening, you'll visit some surrounding tribal villages to learn more about the lifestyle of the locals. you'll also visit Bhoramdeo Temple, which is a striking 11th-century temple complex dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva a couple of minutes' walk from the village. It's almost a miniature Khajuraho and of a similar age. Here, you can attend an evening puja (offering) ceremony with bursts of bells, fragrant smells, and small fires. You'll then return to your hotel to relax.
Day 10: Visit Local Villages in Bhoramdeo
A local guide will pick you up in the morning and will take you to visit some more of the villages around Bhoramdeo to explore the area's culture and traditions. You'll spend the afternoon at a pottery village, trying your hand at the wheel or paddling the clay with your bare feet. You'll then call in at a bamboo workshop.
Day 11: Guided Trek in Bhoramdeo
Today, you'll go on a short guided trek into the forested hills to search for local wildlife. Look out for langur monkeys, barking deer (also known as muntjac deer), and jackals, together with a huge variety of birds, butterflies, and other insect life.
In the afternoon, hire a bike and explore the local area independently, perhaps calling in at the local villages that you'd like to see more of, shopping at another tribal market, or just enjoying the scenery and interacting with locals as you cycle past.
Day 12: Transfer to Delhi, Sightseeing
You'll head back to Delhi today and transferred to Swami Vivekananda Airport to board a flight to the city in the morning. When you arrive, a representative will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel in New Delhi, where you can relax after your journey. Once you've freshened up, you'll visit one of the main Sikh pilgrimage centers in Delhi, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.
The white marble gurudwara (Sikh house of worship), with its golden domes and enormous sacred pond, was built in the middle of the 17th century. This is where the six-year-old guru, Harkrishan Dev, once resided. The gurudwara premises include the main prayer hall (containing the Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book), a central water tank, a library, a museum, a hospital, a school, and an art gallery. As in all gurudwaras, a langar (communal meal) is served here. Visiting the kitchen and witnessing this amazing experience is fascinating. Later, you can spend some time in the famous colonnaded shopping area of Connaught Place.
Day 13: Depart Delhi
Today is the last day of your tour. Enjoy the final sights of Delhi as you are driven to New Delhi International Airport to board your flight to your next destination. Until next time!
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