Destinations Covered : New Delhi - Agra - Bharatpur - Delhi
Tour Duration : 08 Days / 07 Nights
Day 1: Delhi - Bharatpur
You are scheduled to arrive at Delhi by early morning and there our representatives will assist you and you will also get an opportunity to relax and recover after your flight at one of the city hotels. Some impatient wild lovers can join an excursion to the Yamuna River at Okhla, one of the best bird watching sites in urban Delhi. Here on the exposed mud flats we can expect to see a variety of water birds and waders including Little Cormorant, Brown-headed Gull, Black-bellied Tern, Pond Heron, Red-wattled Lapwing, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, White-breasted Kingfisher and many other.
Passerines around the Okhla barrage might include several shrike species, Citrine Wagtails, Paddy field Pipits, mynas and possibly a few warblers in the bushes. Okhla is a fine place to gain an introduction to the Indian avifauna and may even provide a few rarer surprises or perhaps the very local White-tailed Stonechat and Striated Babbler, two Gangetic specialties. Later we take a four-hour drive to Bharatpur for the stay of six nights in a hotel just outside the reserve.
Day 2-6: Bharatpur
Keoladeo Ghana National Park at Bharatpur is arguably the finest bird sanctuary in the world. Formerly a shooting preserve of the Rajput Maharajahs of Bharatpur, it is just 29 sq. km. in extent but holds a remarkable diversity of habitats.
Amongst these will be an unequalled array of wetland species, a great variety of vultures, eagles and owls, plus numerous small landbirds. As well as birds, the park has an excellent variety of wild mammals; Nilgai (blue bull), Sambar and Spotted Deer, Rhesus Macaque, Wild Boar, Asiatic Jackal, Smooth Indian Otter and two species of mongoose are all common, and this is one of the few places in India where the rare Fishing Cat may be seen.
The only Crane to nest at Bharatpur is the impressively huge Sarus, long afforded protection in India as a sacred bird, Pelicans are regular visitors, both White and Dalmatian, often soaring in thermals with great flocks of Painted Storks, Open-billed Storks and raptors. Birds of Prey at Bharatpur form another great attraction for birdwatchers. Other species are Spotted, Lesser Spotted, Imperial, Steppe, Tawny and Bonelli's Eagles with the possibility of also seeing wandering White-tailed, Pallas's Fishing and even Golden Eagles. Moving away from the wetland habitat there is much to see in the extensive Kadum woodlands and the acres of thorny acacia scrub. These are the haunts of Dusky Eagle Owls, Spotted Owlets, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Grey Hornbill, Coppersmith Barbets, Lesser Goldenback Woodpeckers, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, minivets, Common-Wood Shrikes and many other forest birds including the elusive Spotted Creeper.
The charismatic Siberian Rubythroat is a regular visitor to the undergrowth in the Park as are Olive-backed Pipits, Red-breasted Flycatchers, several species of thrush and many Bluethroats. Warbler afficionados have plenty to search for with Clamorous Reed, Paddyfield, Blyth's Reed, Yellow-browed, Moustached, Cetti's, Smoky and Dusky Warblers all to be anticipated, albeit by no means all easy to find! As well as the migrants, the Reserve is also host to an impressive variety of birds typical of northern India, a list which includes; Grey Francolin, Red-wattled Lapwing, Common Green Pigeon, Red Turtle Dove, Coucal, Pied, White-breasted and Common Kingfishers, Indian Roller, Hoopoe, Black Drongo, Pied and Common Mynas, Tree-Pie, Red-vented and White-cheeked Bulbuls, Jungle and Large Grey Babblers, Indian Robin, Magpie Robin, Citrine and Large Pied Wagtails, Purple Sunbird, Yellow-throated Petronia, Bay-backed and Long-tailed Shrikes. Bharatpur is fulfillment of an ornithological dream and even with the time at our disposal there is always so much more to do and see in this wonderful wildlife sanctuary.
Day 7: Delhi
A day of sightseeing in Agra begins with a visit to the deserted ruins of Fatehpur Sikri, once the capital of the Mogul Empire, which is situated roughly half way between Bharatpur and Agra City.
About one hour from Fatehpur Sikri we enter the historic city of Agra and enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of the Taj Mahal and the Red.
In the evening we will take our train to Delhi (a 3-hour journey). Overnight would be Hotel in Delhi.
Day 08: Departure
Morning at leisure. At an appropriate time you will be transferred to board the flight for your onward journey. The tour ends.
