Wildlife Tours to North-West India NORTH & NORTH-WEST INDIA
Photo: Tiger (Nick Garbutt).
*Single room supplement.
Tour Destinations :
- Delhi
- Agra
- Bharatpur National Park
- Chambal
- Corbett National Park
- Nainital area
Tour Summary
North-West India
This tour combines the diversity of three very different wildlife parks with a glimpse of the country’s fascinating history and will appeal to those who would like to discover some less well visited areas of India.
After arriving in Delhi from the UK and
spending a full day exploring this fascinating city, we drive to Bharatpur, one of the world’s wildlife wonders and India’s most famous bird sanctuary. We will develop a good bird list here even in a fairly limited stay. The diversity of birds is partly due to the variety of habitats with shallow marshy lakes (jheels) areas of mature woodland, scrub and dry open grassy areas, which characterise the reserve. There is also a good population of mammals in the sanctuary with Nilgai, Sambar, Chital, Bushbuck,
Jackals and Wild Boar. The park is also famous for Indian Rock Pythons. Our next destination is Agra where we visit the incomparable Taj Mahal and the Red Fort en route to Chambal Safari Lodge. Our lodge
provides the perfect location to explore the beaches, ravines and cliffs along the pristine Chambal River where we will find babblers, Indian Skimmer and Black-bellied Tern amongst the birds, along with Gharial, Marsh Mugger and Gangetic Dolphin.
An overnight train journey then takes us to Corbett and Nainital, nestling in the shadows of the Himalayas. Corbett,
India’s oldest reserve, is a mix of sal
forest, grassy meadows and rocky rivers. It is classic Tiger country and there are Leopards, Sloth Bears and wild elephants to add to the numerous bird species to be found here. Nainital lies at
approximately 2000 metres and this
elevation in the Himalayan foothills will take us to another habitat. The birdwatching is excellent and new species appear as the altitude
gradually increases.
The itinerary will emphasise the rich variety of wildlife and the cultural diversity of the country which contrasts so markedly from the things we encounter in our more familiar European surroundings.
Itinerary
Day 1 : Flight from UK to Delhi
We depart from the UK on our overnight flight to Delhi.
Day 2 : Delhi and Umaria
On arrival we will set off with packed breakfast for the drive to Bharatpur where we will be able to enjoy our first bird watching session during the afternoon.
Day 3 : Bharatpur National Park
We have ample time to explore this amazing bird sanctuary on foot, by cycle rickshaw and by boat. A highlight is always the dawn boat rides amidst the vast breeding colonies of waterbirds. As the sun rises we will glide quietly between their nesting trees and be able to observe them at very close quarters.
Nearly 400 bird species have been recorded in and around the park and we should see a considerable cross-section, including Black-necked Stork, Sarus Crane, Common Crane, Imperial Eagle, Red-headed Vulture, White-throated Kingfisher, Plum-headed Parakeet and Bluethroat.
Day 4 : Agra and Chambal
Today we will transfer to Agra and Chambal, beginning with a drive to Agra. After visitng Fatehpur Sikri en route we will pause for lunch in Agra and also visit the Taj Mahal and Red Fort. A short drive will then take us on the Chambal for two night stay.
Day 5 : Chambal
We havea full day to explore Chambal and we will have a morning boat ride on the Chambal River and an evening nature walk.
Day 6 : Chambal
After another day in Chambal during which time we will have a further boat ride, we drive to Mathura Station, pausing to bird watch on the way, before catch the overnight Kumaon Express to Lal Kuan.
Days 7 to 10 : Corbett National Park
On arrival at Lal Kuan, we will transfer to Corbett National Park where we will have our first game drive during the afternoon. Our four night stop in Corbett has been divided between two lodges to maximise the wildlife viewing opportunities. Days 8,9 and 10 will give us three more full days to explore Corbett which was India’s first national park when it was established in 1936. Its beautiful location in the Himalayan foothills and astride the Ramganga River provides a fitting backdrop to the wild elephants, langur monkeys, chital, barking deer and other mammals not to mention an impressive array of birds.
Days 11 to 14 : Nainital
We take the five hour drive to Nainital at the start of a four night stay in this suberb park.
Nainital lies at 1,940 m (6,360 ft) and this increase in altitude will add many new bird species to our list. Some of these, such as Chestnut-crowned Laughing Thrush, Black-headed Jay and Red-billed Blue Magpie can be found close to our hotel and many more in the surrounding Kumaon region. Our time will be spent visiting some of the key locations, including the Mongoli Valley, Sat Tal and several others. In the Mongoli Valley, we will encounter several species of woodpecker, a variety of warblers, thrushes, flycatchers, sunbirds, bulbuls, finches and birds of prey. At Sal Tal the lakes and wooded hills at 1,300 m–1,450 m (4,260–4,750 ft) will prove good mid-altitude habitats. We may see many of the species recorded in the Mongoli Valley, but may see others besides, such as, Collared Owlet, Black-chinned Yuhina, Rosy Pipit and Chestnut-eared Bunting.
Nainital is an area of outstanding scenery providing excellent, easy paced, birdwatching in a variety of habitats.
Day 15 : Delhi and return flight
We will transfer by road to Delhi, a journey which will occupy most of the day but which will give us a fascinating view of Indian life. On arrival we will have day rooms available at a hotel to freshen up prior to our departure for the airport and our overnight flight back to the UK.
Day 16 : We will arrive back in the UK to conclude the tour.