The Rajasthan Forts and Palaces Tour promises to offer the spectacular view of forts and palaces. All such structures have carved out a name on the sheer basis of their way of construction. Jaipur basks in the glory of the Amber Fort, located in the outskirts of Jaipur. Udaipur takes pride in its City Palace. The Jaisalmer Fort is the oldest living Fort in the world, and is famous worldwide. Rajasthan is a land of forts and palaces, and almost every city has a unique structure to boasts of. Udaipur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer also comprise marvelous piece of structures.
Duration :10 Nights / 11 Days
Destinations Covered :Delhi - Nainital - Pangot - Binsar- Mukteshwar - Corbett - Delhi
Program (6 Nights / 7 Days)
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1
DELHI - NAINITAL
Board an overnight train to Kathgodam (railhead for Nainital) at 2245 hr. from Delhi.
Overnight in the train. Or you can drive down on Day 02 (eight hours journey). -
2
PANGOT (NAINITAL)
Arrive Kathgodam at 0600 hr. and you will be transferred to Pangot (50 km, 2 hr.), a journey that takes you on one of the world's more spectacular mountain roads as we climb up into the Kumaon Hills on our way to this delightful "lake city." One can stop along the way to look for birds, which may include blue whistling thrush, yellow-billed blue magpie, blue-capped rock chat, white capped redstart etc. Rest of the day free for birding at Pangot. One can see Slaty headed parakeet, grey bushchat, long-tailed shrike, lesser kestrel, shikra, chestnut bellied rock thrush etc. Streaked Laughing-Thrush is a common garden bird here.
Overnight stay at the hotel -
3
PANGOT
A long trail leads up to Naina Peak, which at 2610 meters offers views of the Garhwal Himalayas including Nanda Devi. Also a very good birding area is the quiet old road through forests towards Corbett National Park. The viewpoint is alive with Grey headed Canary flycatchers, White-throated laughing thrushes, Grey-winged Blackbirds and green backed tits. We can also look for Hill Barbet, Slaty grey Woodpecker, black chinned babbler, and black headed and maroon orioles. Nearby mountains could include Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Lammergeier and Chukar, Khalij Pheasant, crimson Sunbird and the Fire-capped Tit.
Overnight stay at the hotel -
4
Bandhavagarh National Park
Early in the morning move out for the Jeep Safari and spot the tigers in the national park. In the evening set out once again for the Jungle Safari.
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5
BINSAR
Full day birding trek in Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. A 6-hour trek from Jhandidhar/Snow View point and back, we ascend from 5600 feet to approximately 9000 feet. An ideal birding route where you spy (birds) through the pine level forests to dense oak and rhododendron forests of the Binsar Sanctuary. You could come across Blue whistling thrush, Booted Hawk Eagle, Broad billed roller, green, and gold or rose finch, Brown crested tit etc.
Overnight stay at the hotel -
6
BINSAR - MUKTESHWAR
Next day you will be passing through coniferous forests, a patchwork of farm fields and the deciduous woodland towards Mukteshwar. Each of these habitats offers different species like White-crested Laughing Thrushes, black winged kite, Red-billed Leothrix, Himalayan Ruby throat, crested and rock bunting. This scattered and deliberately undeveloped area is one of the most pleasant destinations.
Overnight stay at the hotel -
7
MUKTESHWAR
Another full day at Mukteshwar for birding along the trail to Sitla.
Overnight stay at the hotel -
8
MUKTESHWAR - CORBETT NATIONAL PARK
The Corbett Tiger reserve has spectacular avifauna diversity. About 580 species of resident and migratory birds have been recorded in and around the reserve and 49 species of diurnal raptors are found here forming a characteristic element of the avifauna. Great pied hornbill, Pallas's fishing eagle, lesser grey-headed fishing eagle, red-thighed falconet are some of the endangered birds found in Corbett. More birds include Tawny Fish Owl, Great Hornbill, and scaly-bellied woodpecker, red-breasted Parakeet, Himalayan Swiftlet, grey-headed Fish Eagle, Stork-billed Kingfisher and Himalayan Rubythroat. Tiger Camp makes an ideal base for birding.
Overnight stay at the hotel -
9
CORBETT NATIONAL PARK
Full day at Corbett with a morning or evening elephant / jeep ride into the park. You may search the boulder-strewn river for the rare and elusive Ibis bill as well as brown dipper. The best birding areas are in the buffer zone along the Kosi River near Tiger Camp. You can also bird-watch across the river from the resort, which can be crossed by a bridge a short distance upriver from the hotel or by wading across the Kosi. It can be fairly rewarding as one can see mergansers, crested kingfisher, green heron, egrets and cormorants etc.
Overnight stay at the hotel -
10
CORBETT NATIONAL PARK
You may explore the river edge for Brown Fish Owl, barred owlet, Plumbeous Redstart and three species of forktails. Many new species are possible in the forest and could include Crested Tree Swift, Spangled Drongo and Blue-bearded Bee-eater. On day 10, you will be transferred to Kathgodam (80 km, 2 hr.) to connect overnight train to Delhi or you may even take other birding tours or wildlife tours.
Overnight stay at the hotel. -
11
DELHI
Arrive New Delhi in the morning. The best time to visit Delhi is between mid-October to April. Bird watching depends greatly on season, timing, and patience. Sightings mentioned in the itinerary are only a guide and cannot be guaranteed.
