Places to See : Delhi - Jaipur - Ranthambore - Bharatpur - Agra -Khajuraho
- Bandhavgarh - Kanha - Nagpur - Delhi - Varanasi - Kathmandu - Pokra - Kathmandu
- Delhi
Duration : 20 Nights / 21 Days
Day 1 : Delhi
Company
representatives will receive you on arrival at the international airport in
Delhi late in the night or midnight. Transfer to your hotel. Relax.
DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with
a fascinating blend of the past and the present. It is a perfect introduction
to the composite culture of an ancient land. A window to the kaleidoscope -
that is India.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 2 : Delhi - Jaipur
By Road : 260 Km in 6 hr
After breakfast drive to beautiful Pink City - Jaipur.
Reach and check in at hotel.
JAIPUR - The origins of the beautiful city of Jaipur can be traced back
to the eighteenth century, during the reign of Jai Singh II who ascended the
Amber throne in 1699. Jaipur today, epitomizes the spirit of Rajputana. In-spite
of growing into a bustling metropolis, it still retains its character and history
- A beautiful fusion of the yesteryears and modernity. It is popularly known
as the Pink City because of the extensive use of the locally abundant pink plastered
stone, painted so in honor of the visit of the royal consort of Queen Victoria.
Jaipur thrills the soul with its massive forts, magnificent palaces, exquisite
temples and lush gardens.
Proceed for excursion to Amber Fort in the outskirts of Jaipur. Elephant ride
ascent to the fort.
AMBER
FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its
construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent
Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful
fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds its ultimate expression.
Explore the city markets. Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day 3 : Jaipur - Ranthambhore
By Road : 156 Km in 3 hr
Proceed for sightseeing of the city after breakfast.
CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani
architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled
city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace
Museum.
JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and the best preserved of the five
observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This
observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.
HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds"
is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. It is a five-storey structure of sandstone
plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The
palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal
was a royal grandstand for the palace women.
Proceed to Ranthambhore and reach by late afternoon.
Evening free at the resort and you can relax or watch some slides on the tiger.
Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, at the junction of the Aravalis and the Vindhyas,
is a unique example of natural and historical richness, standing out conspicuously
in the vast, arid and denuded tract of eastern Rajasthan, barely 14 kilometers
from Sawai Madhopur. Get in tune with nature for a luxury holiday in the heart
of the jungle. Ranthambhore <the_town.html> - perhaps the best place in
the world to sight a tiger in the wild. The Ranthambhore National Park <the_sanctuary.html>
has had more Tiger sightings than any other National Park in the country. It
has come to be known as "The land of the Tiger", where most of the
documented footage of this majestic beast has been recorded.
It
spreads over a highly undulating topography varying from gentle to steep slopes;
from flat topped hills of the Vindhyas to the conical hillocks and sharp ridges
of the Aravalis, from wide and flat valleys to narrow rocky gorges. An important
geological feature the ‘Great Boundary Fault’ where the Vindhya plateaus
meet the Aravali hill ranges, meanders through the Reserve. The National Park
is bound by the rivers Chambal in the south and Banas in the north.
Ranthambhore forest is of tropical dry deciduous type, further classified as
Dhok climax forest because of the predominance of Dhok (Anogeissus pendulla)
found nearly everywhere. Dhok is an extremely hardy tree, capable of withstanding
prolonged droughts. The leaves of this tree are good fodder and they are browsed
by herbivores, and form a significant part of their diet. Even the dry, fallen
leaves, eaten by them, are rich source of nutrition.
Palas or Cheela or the Flame of the Forest (Butea monosperms) blooms magnificently
around mid-April. During the period, Kachida and Anatpura provide an amazing
view, like a forest on fire. Around Kamaldhar massive Gum trees (Sterculia urens)
with smooth white trunk stand out conspicuously. Similarly, Gurjan (Lannea coromandelica)
with greyish trunks at the banks of the lakes and soft wood Salar (Boswellia
serrata) dotted atop hills are noticeable.
The lakes abound with aquatic vegetation including duck weeds, lilies and lotus.
A haven for a multitude of wild animals, the Park boasts of playing host to
tigers, leopards, the elusive caracals, hyenas, sloth bears, wild boars, crocodiles
and so on. Besides, there are over 300 species of birds, from the majestic Crested
Serpent Eagle to the exotic Golden Oriole.
Tiger, at the apex of the food chain, lord over the kingdom in a subtle way.
Solitary by nature, it operates in stealth. Therefore tiger sightings, frequent
as they are, are always a matter of chance. However, even evidences of tiger's
activities are very exciting.
Overnight will be at resort.
Day 4 : Ranthambore
Breakfast
will be at the lodge.
Proceed for full day game viewing inside the jungle. (Two safaris with lunch
break in-between)
Overnight will be at the resort.
Day 5 : Ranthambore - Bharatpur
Keoladeo Ghana National Park
By Road: 200 km in 4 hr
Proceed to Bharatpur after breakfast
Just 176 km from Delhi is a very special wilderness - the Keoladeo Ghana National
Park, one of the finest water-bird sanctuaries in the world. The Maharaja of
Bharatpur artificially created the lake and wetland in the 19th century. By
building small dykes and dams and diverting water from an irrigation canal,
he converted this low-lying area into a fine wild fowl shooting preserve. In
a few years, the new wetland surrounded by marginal forests was able to support
thousands of water birds.
Commonly referred to as Bharatpur, the Park is a delight for bird watchers.
Over 375 species of birds are found here and raised paths, camouflaged by babul
trees and undergrowth make viewing easy. A quiet ride by boat in the early hours
of the morning is also unforgettable experience. The cacophony is unbelievable
as painted storks, open bills, spoonbills, egrets, cormorants, white ibis and
multitudes of others, tend their young. Jacanas with their iridescent colors
and elegant tail feathers and purple moorhen can be seen delicately treading
over the floating vegetation.
Every year Bharatpur waits with bated breath for the arrival of the Siberian
cranes. There are only two wintering places for this rare species one in Iran
and the other Bharatpur and these beautiful birds with their distinctive red
beaks and facial patches, fly over 6400 km from their summer retreats.
Colorful kingfishers, graceful pelicans rare Siberian cranes and Trans- continental
fliers - the migratory water - fowl are amongst the 375 species of birds found
in the Keoladeo National Park. The most spectacular nesting is that of the egrets,
storks, herons and cormorants, which make over 10,000 nests every year. This
makes outstanding bird havens of the world. The park covers an area of 28.73km.
The story of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is incomplete without an account of the
migratory waterfowl. The most prominent waterfowl coming to this park are bareheaded
and greyleg geese. Ducks also create a lot of fluttering in the lakes. The ducks
usually found here are pintail, widgeon, common shelduck, shoveler, garganey,
teal, etc.
Attracted by the influx of the waterfowl the predatory birds-tawny eagles, spotted
eagles short-toed eagles imperial eagles and fishing eagle also arrive. They
all form the apex of the biological pyramid of the sanctuary and complete the
avian food chain of the ecosystem. There are large herds of the nilgai, chital,
wild boar and fear cows in addition to a few herds of sambar.
Reach and check in at the hotel. Proceed on RICKSHAW for viewing the birds.
RICKSHAW PULLERS have been trained by the forest department in bird watching
and are knowledgeable.
Return to the lodge in the evening and relax.
Overnight will be at Bharatpur.
Day 6 : Bharatpur - Agra
By
Road : 92 km in 2 hr
In the early morning visit the water land to enjoy bird watching.
Return to hotel for breakfast and then proceed by surface to Agra enroute visiting
Fatehpur Sikri.
Proceed to visit FATEHPUR SIKRI - The deserted, red Sandstone City, Emperor
Akbar built that as his capital and palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating
experience. It a veritable fairytale city and its "ruins" are in pristine
condition ... it’s not hard to imagine what the court life must have been
like in the days of its grandeur. Also visit the Bulund Darwaza, the largest
gateway in the world.
Arrive Agra and transfer to hotel.
AGRA: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little
village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving
it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is
caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble,
narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite
city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still
reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously. A walk down the narrow bustling
streets of the city will introduce the visitor to the wafting aroma of Mughlai
cuisine.
In the afternoon proceed for sightseeing of Agra including Agra Fort and Taj
Mahal.
Overnight stay at will be at hotel.
Day 7 : Agra - Khajuraho
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Proceed to Agra and visit Agra Fort- which was built by Akbar In 1525 AD.
Transfer to airport to connect flight for Khajuraho. Arrive Khajuraho and transfer
to hotel.
SITUATED IN THE HEART OF INDIA, IN THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH, KHAJURAHO IS
A FASCINATING VILLAGE WITH A QUAINT, RURAL AMBIENCE AND A RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE,
HONOURED BY THE WORLD AS INDIA’S UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN CIVILISATION.
THE CHANDELA DYNASTY BUILT EIGHTY-FIVE TEMPLES HERE. TWENTY REMAIN AS EMBODIMENTS
OF INDIAN ARCHITECTURAL AND SCULPTURAL ART AT ITS MOST EVOLVED STATE. EVEN TEN
CENTURIES AFTER THEY WERE CONSTRUCTED, THE TEMPLES OF KHAJURAHO REFLECT AN ETERNAL
PHILOSOPHY RELEVANT TO ALL MANKIND. THE TEMPLES OF KHAJURAHO IS A WORLD HERITAGE
SITE AND BELONG NOT JUST TO INDIA BUT TO THE WORLD. KHAJURAHO IS ONE OF THE
FEW MILLENNIUM DESTINATIONS OF THE WORLD.
In the afternoon proceed for sightseeing of world famous Khajuraho temples.
Overnight stay will be at Hotel.
Day 8 : Khajuraho - Bandavgarh
By
Road : 250 km in 8 hr
In the morning after breakfast proceed by surface for Bandavgarh National Park.
Reach and check in at the resort.
Bandavgarh is a new National Park with a very long history. Set among the Vindhya
hills of Madhya Pradesh with an area of 168sq miles (437sq km) it contains a
wide variety of habitats and a high density of game, including a large number
of Tigers. This is also the White tiger country. These have been found in the
old state of Rewa for Many years. Maharaja Martand Singh captured the last known
in 1951. This white Tiger, Mohun is now stuffed and on display in the Palace
of Maharaja of Rewa. Prior to becoming a National Park, the forests around Bandavgarh
had long been maintained as a Shikargah, or game preserve of the Maharaja of
Rewa. The Maharaja and his guests carried out hunting - otherwise the wildlife
was well protected. It was considered a good omen for Maharaja of Rewa to shoot
109 tigers. His Highness Maharaja Venkat Raman Singh shot 111 Tigers by 1914.
There are 32 hills in this part of the park, which has a large natural fort
at its center. The fort’s cliffs are 2625 feet (800 meters) high, 1000
feet (300 meters) above the surrounding countryside. Winter temperatures (Nov-mid-February)
vary from almost freezing at night to around 68 degree Fahrenheit in the daytime.
Summer nights are also cooler than the daytime temperatures, which rise to 104
degree Fahrenheit. This park is closed during the breeding season, which coincides
with the monsoon (July-October). Rainfall in the park averages 50 inches (120cm)
per year.
Bandavgarh has been a center of human activity and settlement for over 2000
years, and there are references to it in the ancient books, the Narad-Panch
Ratra and the Shiva Purana. Legend has it that Lord Rama, hero of the Hindu
epic, the Ramayana, stopped at Bandavgarh on his way back to his homeland after
defeating the demon King Ravana of Lanka. Two monkey architects, who had engineered
a bridge between the isle of Lanka and the mainland, are said to have built
Bandavgarh’s Fort. Later Rama handed it over to his brother Lakshmana who
became known as Bandavdhish “The Lord of the Fort”. Lakshmana is the
particular God of the fort and is regularly worshipped in a temple there.
The oldest sign of habitation in the park are caves dug into the sandstone to
the north of the fort. Several contain Brahmi inscriptions dating from the 1st
century BC. Various dynasties have ruled the fort, for example, the Maghas from
the 1st century AD, the Vakatakas from the 3rd century AD, from that time onwards
Bandavgarh was ruled by a succession of dynasties including the Chandela Kings
of Bundelkhand who built the famous temples at Khajuraho. The Baghel Kings,
the direct ancestors of the present Royal family of Rewa, established their
dynasty at Bandavgarh in the 12th century. It remained their capital till 1617
when the center of court life moved to Rewa, 75 miles (120Kms) to the north.
Without royal patronage Bandavgarh became more and more deserted until forest
overran the area and it became the royal hunting reserve. This helped to preserve
the forest and its wildlife, although the Maharajas made full use of their rights.
Each set out to kill the auspicious number of 109 Tigers.
At independence Bandavgarh remained the private property of the Maharaja until
he gave it to the state for the formation of the National Park in 1968. After
the park was created poaching was brought under control and the number of animals
rose dramatically. Small dams and water holes were built to solve the problem
of water shortage. Grazing by local cattle was stopped and the village within
the park boundaries was relocated. The Tigers in particular prospered and the
1986 extension provided much needed forest to accommodate them.
Bandavgarh is justifiably famous for its Tigers, but it has a wide range of
other game. The undergrowth is not as dense as in some northern terai forests,
but the best time to see the park inhabitants is still the summer months when
water becomes scarce and the undergrowth dies back.
Relax in the evening watching slides on wildlife at the resort.
Overnight will be in the lodge.
Day 9 : Bandavgarh
Breakfast will be in the lodge.
Proceed for full day game viewing inside the jungle. (Two safaris with lunch
break in-between)
Overnight will be at the resort.
Day 10 : Bandavgarh - Kanha
By
Road : 255 km in 6 hr
After breakfast drive to Kanha.
This is the place that has been described by RUDYARD KIPLING in his great book
"The Jungle Book". Located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh,
Kanha National Park is a tiger reserve that extends over an area of over 940
square km. A horseshoe shaped valley bounded by the spurs of the Mekal presents
an interesting topography. Steep rocky escarpments along the edges offer breathtaking
views of the valley. Realizing the danger on the Tiger population in the country,
the Government started the "Project Tiger" at Kanha and in 1974 the
area was declared a Tiger reserve. The park is also the habitat of the high
ground Barasingha.
In 1930s, the Kanha area was divided into two sanctuaries - Hallon and Banjar
of 250kms to 300kms each. Though one of these was subsequently disbanded .The
area remained a protected one until 1947. Depletion of the tiger population
in the year that followed led to the area being made an absolute sanctuary in
1952.
Patient watching should reward the visitor, with a sight of Indian Fox, Sloth
bear, Striped hyena, Jungle cut, Lepord, Mouse Deer, Chausingha or four horned
antelope, Nilgai, Ratel and Porcupine Kanha has some 200 species of birds. Watchers
should station themselves in the hills, where the mixed and bamboo forests harbour
many species and in the grassy forest clearings. Water birds can be seen near
the park’s many rivulets and at Sarvantal, a pool that is frequented by
water birds and the area in front of the museum.
Reach in the afternoon and relax at the resort.
Overnight will be at the Kanha Resort.
Day 11 : Kanha
Breakfast will be at the resort.
Proceed for full day game viewing inside the jungle. (Two safaris with lunch
break in-between)
Overnight will be at the resort.
Day 12 : Kanha
Breakfast will be at the resort.
Proceed for full day game viewing inside the jungle. (Two safaris with lunch
break in-between)
Overnight will be at the resort.
Day 13 : Kanha - Nagpur
In the morning proceed for safari in the park. Have breakfast at the resort
or during the safari and freshen up at the resort.
Start for Nagpur and reach by evening.
Relax for the night at Nagpur.
Day 14 : Nagpur - Delhi
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Spend day relaxing at the hotel or
spending time at local markets. Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 15 : Delhi - Varanasi
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Transfer in time to airport for flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival at Varanasi,
you will be met and transferred to hotel.
VARANASI IS THE WORLD’S MOST ANCIENT LIVING CITY. SUNRISE ON THE RIVERFRONT,
AS SEEN FROM A BOAT, CAN BE SPIRITUALLY UPLIFTING SIGHT. CROWDED WITH TEMPLES,
AND ITS LABYRINTH OF STREETS, THE CITY ATTRACTS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF TOURISTS.
THE RELIGIOUS CAPITAL OF HINDUISM, VARANASI IS THE CARPET MANUFACTURING PLACE
OF INDIA. IT WAS PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS KASHI - THE CITY THAT ILLUMINATES. THE
PRESENT NAME IS DERIVED FROM THE FACT THAT THE CITY IS AT THE CONFLUENCE OF
THE RIVERS VARUNA AND ASI.
Visit Sarnath - 5 miles out of Varanasi for a day excursion: One of the holiest
Buddhist sites in the world, where Buddha preached his first Sermon in 590 BC.
Witness the ruins of a once flourishing Buddhist monastery and then visit a
fine Museum which houses an excellent collection of Buddhist art and sculptures
found at the site.
Proceed for sightseeing tour of Varanasi.
Visit Bharat Mata Temple, which features a big relief map of Mother India engraved
in marble. Also visit the 18th century Durga Temple, commonly known as the Monkey
Temple due to the huge population of the monkeys. Proceed to the Tulsi manas
Temple, crafted from white marble which features the entire Ramayana inscribed
on its walls. Also visit the BHU considered as the biggest residential university
in Asia. The University Campus houses an Art Gallery and the Mosque of Mughal
Emperor Aurangzeb.
Overnight will be spent at Varanasi.
Day 16 : Varanasi - Kathmandu
Drive
early morning to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat ride on the sacred river Ganges
to see the cremation Ghats and witness the living traditions of one of the world's
oldest and most important religions. (To start at 0500 hrs. for the best lifetime
experience) For you to appreciate this remarkable city, we'll transfer you to
the banks of the River Ganges before the sun rises. Board a boat with your guide
and proceed to the middle of the river, where at sunrise the sight unfolds before
you. Thousands of faithful come daily to the banks to bathe and pray while in
the background, temples and palaces rise in tiers from the water's edge. Then
return for a walk through the cobblestone streets along the banks of "Ganga".
As shops are opening, the place now becomes a beehive of activity as the faithful
are coming and going. Also visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple while returning
to the hotel.
Return for breakfast to the hotel.
Proceed to the airport for flight to Kathmandu after a leisurely breakfast.
Reach Katmandu.
The Katmandu Valley, the political, commercial and cultural hub of Nepal, is
the first for the majority of visitors to Nepal. Once a separate kingdom in
itself, it contains three fabled cities - Katmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. Each
is an artistic exposition of graceful temples, elegant palaces, brick paved
courtyards and quaint streets. There are seven UNESCO World Heritage sites in
the valley.
Day will be free to relax and shop around. Overnight will be at Kathmandu.
Day 17 : Kathmandu
Breakfast will be at the hotel. Day tour will be covering Swambhunath and Kathmandu
Durbar Square.
It is the historic seat of royalty. The Durbar Square, with its old temples
and palaces, epitomizes the religious and cultural life of the people. It is
here that kings of Nepal are crowned and their coronations solemnized. Interesting
things to see here are: Taleju Temple built by King Mahendra Malla in 1549 AD,
the temple of Kal Bhairav, the God of destruction, Nautalle Durbar, Coronation
Nasal Chowk, the Gaddi Baithak, the statue of King Pratap Malla, the Big Drum
and the Jagannath Temple.
On the right hand corner, a large wooden lattice screen hides an enormous gilded
face of Sweta Bhairav. The screen is removed only during the Indra Jatra festival.
There are also the Numismatic Museum and Tribhuvan Museum inside the Hanuman
Dhoka Palace building. Photography is prohibited inside the museum. Both the
museums remain closed on Sundays, Mondays and government holidays.
The Buddhist temple of Swayambhunath situated on the top of a hill west of the
city, is on the most popular and instantly recognisable symbols of Nepal. The
temple is colloquially know as the 'monkey templ' after the large tribe of handsome
monkeys which guards the hill and amuses visitors and devotees with tricks,
including slinding gracefully down the double banisters of the main stairway
to the temple. The roving monkeys quickly snatch up any offerings of food made
by devotes and will just as quickly grab anything you may be carrying.
Overnight will be at Katmandu.
Day 18 : Kathmandu
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Proceed for a visit to PASUPATINATH & BOUDDHANATH.
Situated 5 km east of Kathmandu, the temple of Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath, with
two tiered golden roof and silver door is considered one of the holiest shrines
for Hindu. It is Top Hindu temple of the world. Although only Hindus are allowed
inside the temple, visitors can clearly see the temple and the activities performed
in the temple premises from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River. The Stupa
of Bouddhanath lies 8 km east of Kathmandu. This ancient colossal Stupa is one
of the biggest in the world, and the center of Tibetan Buddhism in the world.
Proceed for a full day visit of PATAN & BHAKTAPUR.
Patan, the second-largest city in the valley, lies just across the Bagmati River
from Kathmandu, but it's a much quieter and less frenetic place to visit. The
city is justly proud of its temples and artisans and it is their handiwork that
provides the focus of the stunning Durbar Square - choc-a-block with the largest
display of Newari architecture in Nepal. It includes the Royal Palace, which
contains a richly decorated bathtub, and the two-tiered brick Jagannarayan Temple.
Look up to the roof struts to see carvings of figures engaged in quite athletic
acts of intercourse. A few minutes' walk north of the square is the Golden Temple,
a Buddhist monastery guarded by sacred tortoises that potter around the courtyard;
and the Kumbeshawar, reputedly the oldest (1392) temple in Patan. South of the
square is an area of charming streets lined with metal smiths and Brassware
shops. Patan's other attractions are flung further. Among them is a collection
of four stupas, thought to have been built over 2500 years ago, and Nepal's
only zoo, which features a reasonable assortment of rhinos, tigers, leopards
and bird life. Palm readers gather in the park outside - they may be able to
point out which animal you'll be reincarnated as.
Proceed to Bhaktapur.
Situated at an altitude of 1,401m, Bhaktapur covers an area of four square miles.
Bhaktapur or the city of Devotees still retains a medieval charm and visitors
to this ancient town are treated to myriad wonders of cultural and artistic
achievements. The past glory of the Malla rulers continues to be reflected at
the Durbar Square. Pottery and weaving are its traditional industries. Bhaktapur
is famous for woodcarving, the Bhadgaolen topi (cap) and curd. The city lies
about 14 km east of Kathmandu.
Spend the rest of the day visiting the intricately carved buildings and other
areas that interest you.
Overnight will be at Kathmandu.
Day 19 : Katmandu - Pokhra
By
Road : 200 km/5 hr
Proceed to Pokhra after breakfast.
Pokhra is a remarkable place of natural beauty. Situated at an altitude of 827m
from the sea level and 200km west of Kathmandu valley, the city is known as
a center of adventure. The enchanting city with a population of around 95,000
has several beautiful lakes and offers stunning panoramic views of Himalayan
peaks. The serenity of lakes and the magnificence of the Himalayas rising behind
them create an ambience of peace and magic. So today the city has not only become
the starting point for most popular trekking and rafting destinations but also
a place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Pokhra is part of a once vibrant trade route extending between India and Tibet.
To this day, mule trains can be seen camped on the outskirts of the town, bringing
goods to trade from remote regions of the Himalaya. This is the land of Magars
and Gurungs, hardworking farmers and valorous warriors who have earned worldwide
fame as Gurkha soldiers. The Thakalis, another important ethnic group here,
are known for their entrepreneurship.
The climate of Pokhara is slightly warmer than Kathmandu with daytime temperature
hovering around 15 degrees Celsius in winter and 35 degrees in summer. The monsoon
season which lasts from mid-June to mid-September is very wet; in fact Pokhara
records the highest rainfall in the country. Best time to visit is between October
and April.
The activities of foreign visitors to Pokhra focus around two districts known
as Damside and Lakeside (or Pardi and Baidam, in Nepali, respectively). These
two areas, with their strips of hotels and restaurants, are a few kilometers
south-west of the main Pokhra bazaar.
Reach Pokhra at 2:30 pm, transfer to hotel, refresh & relax with the spectacular
panorama of Annapurna range forming the backdrop. Stretching from the east to
west, the Annapurna massif includes Annapurna I to IV and Annapurna South. Although
the highest among them is Annapurna I (8091m), it is Machhapuchhre (the fishtail),
which dominates all others in this neighborhood. Boastfully levitating in the
skyline, the fish-tailed pinnacle is the archetypal snow-capped, needle-pointed
mountain.
In the later day, enjoy the stroll around the valley with the boat ride (optional)
on the famous PHEWA LAKE.
Overnight will be in Pokhara.
Day 20 : Pokhra
Start your day with the early morning visit to Sarangkot for the fabulous sunrise.
Drive back to hotel for breakfast after the spectacular sunrise
Visit the famous Devi’s Fall (also known as Devin’s or David’s)
locally known as Patale Chhango (Hell’s Fall), an awesome waterfall lying
about 2 km south-west of Pokhara Airport on the highway to Tansen. Legend has
it that a trekker (Devin, David…) was washed away by the Pardi Khola and
mysteriously disappeared down into an underground passage beneath the fall.
Bindhyabasubu Temple at the old bazaar, Seti Gandaki, the boisterous river running
completely underground at the places, Mahendra cave (House of Bats), the natures’
wonder at Pokhara & Pokhara Museum
After lunch, start our exploration of the city by driving to the Begnas Lake
& Rupa Lake located 15 Km from Pokhara divided by a forested hillock called
Panchabhaiya Danda, offering the perfect nature retreat with their relative
seclusion.
Overnight will be in Pokhara.
Day 21 : Pokhra - Kathmandu
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Proceed to airport for flight to Kathmandu. Reach and take connecting flight
to Delhi.
Reach Delhi and transfer to hotel for the day. Proceed for last minute shopping
before proceeding for the FAREWELL DINNER and then onwards to airport for flight
home.
