Highlights of North India

HOW MANY DAYS?

HIGHLIGHTS

     DELHI:

Red Fort, Rajghat, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan (President’s Palace), Qutub Minar Complex & Humayun’s Tomb. AGRA Sikandra  AND Agra Fort, The Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri JAIPUR Hawa Mahal, City Palace + Museum & Jantar Mantar, Fortress Palace Of Amber, Birla Mandir. UDAIPIR Birla Mandir.City Palace + Museum, Folk Art Museum. MUMBAI Marine Drive , Victoria Terminus, Rajabai Tower & Dhobi Talao, Gateway of India

SARISKA TIGER RESERVE

Highlights: The Kankwari Fort, The Ancient Shiva Temples and The Palace

How To Reach:

By Air: The nearest airport from Sariska Tiger Reserve is Jaipur (at a distance of 107 kilometers).

By rail: From Alwar, Sariska Tiger Reserve is only 37 kilometers away.

Road: Sariska is connected with Alwar, which is further directly connected with bus services from Delhi and Jaipur.

Sariska Tiger Reserve: is located in Aravallis mountain range. It is larger than Ranthambore but has less tiger population. In 1955 the area was declared a sanctuary and in 1979 it became a National Park. The sharp cliffs of hills with deciduous vegetation are approachable by jeeps.

Sariska Reserve is a dwelling place of voracious carnivores including Jackal Wild, Leopard, Dog, Jungle Cat, Hyena and Tiger. The prey species at the reserve are Chital, Chausingha, Nilgai, Sambar, Wild Boar and Langur. Rhesus Monkeys are found around Talvriksh. During morning and evening, wild animals in Reserve head towards small lakes. Some predatory animals come at the lakes for a hunt.

The avifauna in Sariska comprises of Grey Partridge, Peafowl, Sand Grouse, Bush Quail, Golden backed Woodpecker, Tree Pie, crested Serpent Eagle and The Great Indian horned Owl.

Sariska's landscape comprises of hills and narrow valleys of the Aravallis. Scrub-thorn forests, dry deciduous forests and grasses are found in Sariska.

The best time to visit the Tiger Reserve is between the months of October and June. The places to be seen in Sariska Tiger Reserve are The Kankwari Fort (It is believed that Emperor Aurangzeb once imprisoned his brother, Dara Shiko in this fort), The Ancient Shiva Temples (now in ruins-yet a wonderful place to visit) and The Palace (It was built by the Maharajas of Alwar- now a hotel).

BHARATPUR BIRD SANCTUARY

Highlights: Government Museum, Lohagarh Fort and Deeg Palace

How To Reach:

By Rail: Bharatpur railway station is located near Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. It is well connected to all major cities of India.

By Road: Bharatpur is located on the Agra-Jaipur highway and is at a distance of 5 kilometers from Agra and an hour's drive from Fatehpur Sikri.

The Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is also known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Keoladeo is derived from the temple devoted to Hindu deity Lord Shiva situated in the heart of the Bird Sanctuary and Ghana means dense. This sanctuary is one of the finest bird sanctuaries in India. Its extensive cover provides refuge to a large number of migratory as well as indigenous birds.

History states that Maharaja of Bharatpur created this conservatory in 1890. It is said that Bharatpur town used to be a flood prone area every monsoon. In order to save the town, Maharaja ordered the construction of an earthen dam (Ajan Dam). The area of land from which soil was taken became the Bharatpur Lake. In 1965, the Government put a ban on the indiscriminate shooting of birds. The efforts of Dr. Salim Ali were accredited when the area got an identity of a national park in March 1982. Since 1985, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is acclaimed as a World Heritage Site.

Spread on an area of 29 kilometers, the Bird Sanctuary hosts a variety of bird species. There are more than 44,000 trees in the Sanctuary used for nesting birds every year. The dense and diverse forest cover highlights a fascinating blend of marshes, woodland and flora. Approximately 300 species of birds are found in the Sanctuary.

The birds commonly found in the Sanctuary are Wagtails, Cranes, Geese, Ducks, Eagles, Hawks, Stints, Shanks, Warblers, Wheatears, Pelicans, Flycatchers, Buntings, Larks and Pipits, etc. Besides birds, there are animals like Chital, Sambar, Boar and Nilgai. During winters the Sanctuary attracts many tourists with numerous migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia.

The best time to visit the Sanctuary is between the months of October and February. For a tour of the Sanctuary you need a bicycle or cycle-rickshaws. To watch birds in their close quarters you can hire a boat at the checkpoint on the bank of Keoladeo Lake.

THAMBORE NATIONAL PARK

Highlights: Bakaula, Kachida Valley, Malik Talav, Padam Talav Raj Bagh Ruins, Ranthambore Fort, Lakarda and Anantpura.

How To Reach:

By Air: The nearest airport from Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary is Jaipur (at a distance of 145 kilometers).

By rail: From Sawai Madhopur Railway Station, Ranthambore is only 11 kilometers away.

Road: Ranthambore is well connected to all the major cities within the state of Rajasthan by a network of buses form nearby town of Sawai Madhopur.

Ranthambore is a lush green spot situated in Rajasthan (an arid desert region). It is famous for its Tiger reserves. Ranthambore became a part of Tiger Project launched in 1973 to protect these majestic predators. Ranthambore was once a hunting ground of the Maharajas of Jaipur. Ranthambore Tiger reserve is situated at the convergence of the Aravallis and the Vindhyas and provides matchless photogenic views.

Besides six artificially created lakes, there are many snake-like streams that pass through Ranthambore National Park. For it pristine beauty and friendly tigers, it has become the most filmed reserves in the world. You can easily spot the tigers on their hunt, playing with their cubs, teaching the art of hunting to their cubs and indulging in many other activities.

The diverse Flora and Fauna of Ranthambore consist of 300 trees, 50 aquatic plants, 12 reptiles (including the Marsh Crocodile and amphibians), 272 birds and 30 mammals. The flora of this region is abundant with Banyan Trees, Pipal trees, Dhok (Anogeissus pendula) and clusters of mango trees. At the foot of the Famous Fort at Ranthambore and a forest rest house Jogi Mahal, is an entry point to the Ranthambore National Park. The Park boasts of the second largest and thickest Banyan tree in India.

At Ranthambore you would chance upon Tigers, Leopard, endangered Caracal, Hyena Fox, Jackal, Sloth bear, Sambar, Spotted deer (Chital), Indian Gazelle (Chinkara), Blue Bull (Nilgai), Wild boars, Palm civet, Porcupine and Ratel, Mongoose, Hare, Langur, Gazelle, Indian Monitor and a variety of Snakes quenching their thirst on the banks of three big lakes Malik Talav, Padam Talav and Raj Bagh. The lakes are full of a variety of fishes, crocodiles and soft shell turtles.

The avifauna of the region comprises of approximately 264 species of resident and migratory birds. During winter season Barheaded Goose, Greylag Goose, Pintail, etc visit the Reserve and during monsoons you can see Pitta and Paradise Flycatcher chirping in their melodious tone. The resident birds at the park are Great Indian Horned owl, Brown Fish Owl, Crested Serpent Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, King Vulture, Shikara, Kingfishers, Panted Stork and Parakeets.

The places to be visited in Ranthambore are Bakaula (a lush green spot with water holes), Kachida Valley (an area providing refuge to a large number of panthers) and Ranthambore Fort (situated on hill top- providing photographic views of its architectural splendor and the Park.

The best time to visit the National Park is between October to March and April to June when the weather is dry and pleasant. The management at Ranthambore recommends visitors to carry light cotton clothes in summer and woolens in winters.