Birding in Central India

Explore the beauty and diversity of central India with our 16-day birding in central India tour package. Watch more than 200 species as well as inhabitant and migratory birds institute at Panna National park. These species of birds comprise white necked stork, Painted Sandgrouse, bareheaded goose, honey Buuzzard, King vulture, Blossom headed Parakeet, Paradise flycatcher and an extensive multiplicity of owls.

Duration : 15 nights & 16 days
Destinations : Delhi - Khajuraho - Panna National Park - Bandhavgarh National Park - Kanha National Park - Jabalpur - Panchmarhi - Satpura - Bhopal

Day 0: Departure from U.K

Day 01: Arrive Delhi

On arrival at Delhi International airport meet & greet with our representative and then transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02 : Delhi - Khajuraho

Morning we will transfer to the airport to board the flight for Khajuraho. On arrival at Khajuraho airport our representative will assist you till hotel. After fresh-n-up a trip to the Eastern Group of temples. The tour begins on a celestial note as we shall traverse you to the mystic galleries of the fascinating temples of Khajuraho. The bold artistic statement of erotic sculptures and the splendidly structured monuments are the sites that shall leave their eternal imprints on your heart. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03 : Khajuraho - Panna National Park, 38 km

Today we will depart for Panna national park situated just 38 km form Khajuraho. Our birding tour will commence today onwards. Upon arrival we will transfer to the wildlife resort, staying with Ken River lodge is a good option. After lunch we go deep inside the national park through an open jeep for best birding. Evening return to lodge for night stay.

Panna National park is moreover wealthy in bird life. In the region of 200 species, as well as inhabitant and migratory birds institute the park. Species of birds comprise white necked stork, Painted Sandgrouse, bareheaded goose, honey Buuzzard, King vulture, Blossom headed Parakeet, Paradise flycatcher and an extensive multiplicity of owls.

Day 04 : Panna National Park

We will awake with a morning call followed by tea & then get ready to enter to the national park second time for our morning safari on an open jeep accompany with a naturalist. today we will encounter with some of the other species also. Later return to the lodge for fresh-n-up followed by breakfast. After breakfast will have 01 hrs boat ride on Ken River to spot the birds and some variety of reptiles such as snakes & lizards and amphibians like frogs, Crocodiles and Gharials.

After a buffet lunch we will proceed for our third safari to the national park, to spot some more species. Evening return to the lodge. Overnight stay at lodge.

Day 05 : Panna - Bandhavgarh National Park, 200 km

After breakfast at the lodge we will be heading for Bandhavgarh National Park. The drives from Panna national park will take around 5 hrs to reach at India's most popular wildlife Park. On arrival will check in wildlife resort. After lunch we will proceed for the safari to the Bandhavgarh National Park accompanying with a trend guide. Later return to the resort. Overnight stay at resort.

Bandhavgarh National park is best known for its density in population of 'Royal Bengal Tigers'. It also offers good option for birding & draw attention of many bird lovers. The park has a significant bird population, both resident and migratory. It houses more then 250 species of birds. The year round flowering and fruiting of trees pull towards thousands of birds to here.

The most commonly seen birds are the Bee-eaters, Blossom-Headed Parakeets, Drongos, Common Teal, Crested Serpent Eagle, Grey Hornbill, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Little Grebes, Lesser Adjutants, Lesser Whistling Teal, Minivets, Pied Hornbill, Paradise Flycatchers, Peafowl, Red Jungle Fowl, Red Wattled Lapwing, Steppe Eagle, Tickell's Flycatcher, White-eyed Buzzard, White-breasted Kingfisher, White-browed Fantail Flycatcher, Wood shrikes and Warblers.

Day 06 : Bandhavgarh National Park

Today we will enter twice to the national park for our morning & afternoon Jeep safari & will counter with some more species of birds. Overnight stay at wildlife resort.

Day 07: Bandhavgarh National Park

We will still enjoy hunting birds with big camera's on the consequent day. For the same we will enter twice here on third day for its morning & afternoon season. Except birds will also counter here with wildlife mammals. These includes gaur (Indian bison), sloth bear, leopard, porcupine, wild boar, sambhar and spotted deer, among others and of course, the tiger. Overnight stay at wildlife resort.

Day 08 : Bandhavgarh - Kanha National Park, 240 km

Today after breakfast at resort, we will be heading for Kanha National Park. The journey by road will take approx 6 hrs to reach Kiplings country, an outstanding wildlife reserve of India. Situated within two main valleys, Halon in the east and Banjar in the west, and the grassy 'maidans', dotted with clumps of forest harbor large numbers of herbivores. The hills offer support sizeable plateaus (locally called 'Dadars') and the characterized by extensive grasslands and scant trees.

On arrival at the national park we will check in at the wildlife resort. After fresh-n-up & lunch we will ready to enter the Kanha national park for first time accompanying with the naturalist. overnight stay at hotel.

Day 09 : Kanha National Park

Today we will enter twice to the national park for our morning & afternoon safari season & will counter with some more species of birds. Overnight stay at wildlife resort.

Kanha National park is paradise for more then 175 varieties of birds. The terrain inside the park is varied, nonetheless enjoyable. Bamboo forests flow into Sal forests and meadows. The commonly seen birds in Kanha National Park among these species are the Black Ibis, Bee-eaters, Cattle Egret, Blossom-Headed Parakeets, Pond Heron, Drongos, Common Teal, Crested Serpent Eagle, Grey Hornbill, Indian roller, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Little Grebes, Lesser Adjutants, Lesser Whistling Teal, Minivets, Pied Hornbill, Woodpecker, Pigeon, Paradise Flycatchers, Mynas, Peafowl, Red Jungle Fowl, Red Wattled Lapwing, Steppe Eagle, Tickell's Flycatcher, White-eyed Buzzard, White-breasted Kingfisher, White-browed Fantail Flycatcher, Wood shrikes and Warblers. During the safari there are herds of spotted deer to be seen with smaller herds of beautiful antelope, & the black buck. With a little luck, you could also spot the timorous barking deer. It's snapping warns other denizens of the forest that a predator is around. There is also a very strong possibility that you will see the rare Barasingha, the Swamp Deer.

Day 10 : Kanha - Jabalpur

Start the day with a jeep safari to the national park for wildlife viewing. Later return to the resort for fresh n-up & breakfast. After breakfast drive to Jabalpur, en-route we will also spot a numbers of birds. On arrival check in at the hotel. After lunch we will visit Dumna Nature Reserve for bird watching. It is spread over an area of 1058 hectare of land on Jabalpur Airport road about 10 kms from city center. We will also enjoy boating in Khandari Dam. Bathing and swimming in Khandari dam is strictly not allowed as crocodiles are present in the water. Later we will return to Jabalpur for overnight stay.

Day 11 : Jabalpur - Pachmarhi, 225 km

Today morning we will set for Pachmarhi, the drive will take around 6 hrs to reach their. On arrival transfer to the resorts. Afternoon free to enjoy the surroundings with chirping of Birds.
Pnchmarhi is a hill station in Madhya Pradesh and is widely known as Queen of Satpura. It is located at an elevation of 3500 ft. in valley of Satpura Mountain-Ranges. Its name is derived from presence of 5 ancient caves. "Panch" means five and "marhi" means caves.
It is discovered by British Army Captain James Forsyth in 1857 when he was sent their to suppress famous revolt for freedom by freedom fighters like Rani Jhansi, Tatya Topa who use this area as a safe hideout and inspires local tribal people to participate in fight for freedom.

Nature is at its best in Pachmarhi. Renowned as the most luxuriant gem of Madhya Pradesh, Pachmarhi is a place where nature has found delicate appearance in numerous charming ways. Green shades cuddle the mountains and everywhere one can hear the placid mutter of flowing water. Bristle paths lead into peaceful forest basins, orchards of jamun, dense sal forests and delicate bamboo thickets are serve a lot of opportunities for bird lovers. Here we will counter with following species of birds like Malabar Pied Hornbills, Crested Serpent Eagles, Crested Hawk Eagles, Honey Buzzards, Paradise Flycatchers, Pittas, Thrushes, Peafowl & Pheasants fill the air with their calls.

Day 12 : Pachmarhi

Today we will have full day guided tour of Pachmarhi with visiting Bee Fall, known as Jamuna Prapat, the Bee fall is located 3 km from the town and provides drinking water to Pachmarhi is famous for its bathing pools and spectacular backdrop.

Tamiya, is a beautiful resort located 78 km from Pachmarhi. The place overlooks Narmada valley and provides some spectacular view of the Dudhi plateau. The sunset point of the place gives some magnificent views of the setting sun. The beauty of the Satpura hills girdling the landscape of Tamiya can be best witnessed from this spot. Tamiya is easily accessible from Panchmarhi and one can hire buses (government and private) or jeeps to reach the place.

Bori and Pachmarhi Sanctuaries, constitute a part of 'Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve', along with the Satpura National Park. Both these wildlife resorts cover a total area of 4501.91 km². Bori range stretches from the foot of the Pachmarhi hills to the Tawa and Denwa rivers and is located deep in the valleys. Panchmari sanctuary is harbored at the top. Enveloped with thick forests of teak and sal groves, they help tourists to explore the various species of birds of the region.
Overnight stay at resort.

Day 13 : Pachmarhi - Satpura, 75 km

Morning after breakfast will head to Satpura. Satpura National Park is cradled in the Satpura Range (Mahadeo Hills) and straddles the State of Madhya Pradesh. With the adjoining Bori & Panchmarhi Sanctuaries, Satpura N.P. provides 1427 sq. kms of unique Central Indian Highland ecosystem cover to India's wild denizens. Satpura N.P.(set up in 1981 and 524 sq. km) is beautiful and unspoiled. It represents nature at its very best. The fascinating deep valleys, high mountains, rivulets, waterfalls and Tawa's vast reservoir combine to give this Park an unique beauty. The terrain is extremely rugged and consists of sandstone peaks, narrow gorges, ravines and dense forests. The altitude ranges from 300 Mts. to 1352 Mts. From the 4500 feet Dhoopgarh peak to the almost level plains of Churna.

About 254 avian species have been recorded at the Satpura Tiger Reserve, making it a destination of choice of birdwatchers. The species found include the Malabar Pied Hornbill, Crested Serpent Eagles, Crested Hawk Eagles, Honey Buzzards, Paradise Flycatchers, Pittas, Thrushes, Peafowl, Pheasants fill the air with their calls.

Day 14 : Satpura

Today we have full day for Birding in Satpura National Park. Overnight stay at resort.

Day 15 : Satpura - Bhopal, 210 km

Morning after breakfast will drive to Bhopal the capital city of Madya Pradesh. On arrival check in at the hotel. In the after an excursion around the city visiting Laxmi Narayan Temple, Moti masjid, Taj- UL Masjid, Upper & Lower lakes. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 16 : Bhopal - Delhi - Departure

Today will transfer to the airport to board the flight for Delhi. We will have a short city tour of Delhi before leaving for international for back home journey.

Tour and Services Ends.

Price

Below mentioned are the details; dates and prices per person (in GBP); for "Birding in Central India ". We have classified these rates in three categories (deluxe, standard, and luxury) depending upon the type of services provided by these hotels. You can select your trip as per your choice of hotel. In order to get a better idea about the accommodation that we are offering, you can see the respective hotel details by clicking on the official link of the hotels.

Rates Valid From 1st Oct 11 to 31st March 2012

The Above Quote Includes:

• Accommodation as per the itinerary on twin sharing basis
• Breakfast in Delhi, Khajuraho & Bhopal
• Breakfast, lunch & Dinner in all the wildlife resorts
• All the ground transport by exclusive vehicle
• All the arrival / departure transfer by company representative
• All jungle activities as per the itinerary
• Park entry fee
• Naturalist fee
• Driver allowance
• Toll tax
• Parking

The Above Quote does not include :

• Any expenses of personal nature
• Camera fee to the national park
• Alcoholic beverages
• Any Air Fare
• Anything which is not mention above.

Remarks :- A Supplementary costs would be applicable for festival periods such as Diwali, Christmas and New Year.

Hotel Used Or Similar (Standard Hotels)

Hotel Used Or Similar (Deluxe Hotels)

Hotel Used Or Similar (Luxury Hotels)

Images

Highlights

Reviews

Dear Anil

Apologies for not replying to your earlier email.
My wife and I had a superb holiday in India. The sights and sounds will remain in our minds for many years to come (or at least until we return for another visit). I didn't appreciate how bespoke a tour you provide until actually arriving in India which was very reassuring.
The organisation was excellent and if permitted I would compliment the following people;
Sanjay the driver - superb ambassader really caring and friendly.
Bhim Singh Rana (Bharatpur bird park) & Surya Kant Paliwal (Jaipur) both guides were so passionate and informative on their part of the tour.
Hopefully when I revisit your country if I include Jaipur & Bharatpur in that visit then they would be my choice if guide.

The selection of hotels was good. My only critism would be the first hotel we stayed at on arrival in New Delhi - The Parkland. Being dropped off at a hotel which had only limited facilities, in a part of a city which had not "tourist" facilities - restaurants / shops etc (in fact we had no idea of what part of Delhi we staying in). Possibly the issue of a short introduction to the local area, local map or suggestions on local places of interest. Other than this the accommodation was OK.

I would recommend your agency to anybody interested in visiting India and will certainly be using your organisation again.
Thank you and your colleagues for all your assistance.

Best regards
Graham (U.k)

Dear Tanmay,

I would like to thank you for having arranged our one week Corbett trip and 2 night Delhi stay, you understood my requirement perfectly and provided a perfect holiday. The Traveller Van helped us not feel the strain of a 300 Km Journey from Delhi to Corbett, Infinity resort was comfortable at the same time rustic and not overly luxurious helping us get the perfect Jungle feel, the Jeep Safaris were always on time (05:45 AM!!) and very professional, the fishing safari was an experience in itself though the 2.5 Km mountain trek to reach the fishing beats was not anticipated and hence caused some worry to my elderly parents but in all fairness they enjoyed the experience. I would suggest though that you suggest a stay in Bijrani Forest rest house for the serious wildlife enthusiasts as they get an extra 15-20 minutes before park closes increasing chances of a tiger sighting, we did see the Tiger and enjoyed the experience.

I would definitely recommend your services.
Regards,
Naveed Naqshbandi Dubai, UAE.

To Tanmay Sharma

Just back home after 3 weeks in India. We want to tell you, that we had a wonderfull trip. Everything in your arrangement worked perferctly. Our driver, Kundan Singh, was great. We allways felt safe in his car, and he was allways there for us. On top of this he was good company, important when you spend so much time together. If you want to do something for him, let him learn a little more english. We could easily communicate, but often he needed more words. The birding guide, Nirankar Singh Yadav, was also very good. Qualified and nice to spend 10 days with. If other birdwatchers ask for a guide in that area, use him again. Thanks for your flexibility when we had bad weather in Pangoot. Camp River Wild is a great place, beautiful surroundings and a very good staff.
Birdwatchers often make a report of their trips. Others read it on the internet when planning their trips. We will definitely recommend your company and the driver as well as the birding guide in our report.

Best wishes and many thanks
Tina and Mads Elley

Hi Anil

We are now home from our trip to India and I thought I would give you a little feedback on our time at Corbett National Park.

Firstly, we loved the park and we managed to get a tiger sighting which was amazing so we felt really lucky to be fortunate enough to see one. Our driver was great and Dikhala was definitely the best place to stay to get the most from the wildlife. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there and would definitely return.

Thank you for all of your help in arranging the tour and like I say we did thoroughly enjoy our time there.

Many Thanks,
Alex Fredrickson

Hi Anil

I don't even know how to begin this mail.

Planning such a trip was a dream that I have been dreaming for more than 10 years, since I last traveled in India.

It took time and lots of effort, and finally it took form and shape, and I did it!!!

My enjoyment and satisfaction had exceeded my expectations, and I left India with a wonderful taste and a desire to do it again!!

It would not have been so successful without your skillful trip production. Every place you booked for us was excellent. From

Bandhavgarh, to Kanha, from Pench to Agra, it was all super good. Accommodation, food, transport, guides, you have chosen the best for me, and I am thankful.

The first thing I told my wife when I came back was that we are going to do it again soon, the two of us.

Let me promise you this, if you are still with "Wildlife Tours India" when I paln my second round, I would like you to organize it again for me.

It was perfect!!

Sincerely
Aviad Horev

Hi Anil

Thank you very much for everything during our recent trip to India. You did a terrific job making all of our arrangements and making adjustments whenever they were required. It could have been extremely stressful on our end, dealing with numerous flight delays and unexpected weather conditions, but it wasn't at all, because you took care of everything. weI have already had someone ask me about traveling to India, and we are planning on giving him your information. we can recommend your company highly enough.

Thanks once again for everything. Should we find ourselves in India once again, we will definitely turn to you.

All the best ,
Fred, Robert and Charles

Hi Anil

Thank you for the services, i will certainly pass on and recommend your services.

Lee Smith

Hi

Toni and I just wanted to pass on our thanks for the organization of the trip. We had a great time.

Best regards,
Debi Brunning & Toni Fleming

Hi Anil,

I just want to give some feedback on the service that you provided.

I would like to say a huge thank you for everything that you arranged for us. The two tours were also excellent. We really enjoyed our day. we will have to come back.

We will be recommending your company to our friends and colleagues.

Best regards,
Janet Newman-Carty

Hello Anil

How are you doing? I had a great time visiting your country these past few weeks!

Best regards,
David Lee-Sue

Hi Anil

And thanks again of the great work you did as a successful photo safari!

We will be looking for the new dates and forms now for the future.

I will come back when I do have better idea about further programs and dates. Kanha and Bandhavgarh are very good, but we will need to find then some hopefully little different place to be included.

Best regards,
Jouni Klinga

Essential Information

Visa

You Need to have Indian Visa for entry to India on your holiday. To apply for Indian Visa you have to contact your nearest Indian consulate or you can call on 09057570045 or visit http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/ for more information.

Indian Embassy in London
Address : Indian Embassy
India House, Aldwych,
London WC2B 4NA.
Tel: 020 7836 8484
Site URL : http://www.hcilondon.net/

Money

There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that visitors can bring.

Banks

Banks are open in the major cities & the nearest towns of the sanctuaries for transaction from 10.00 to 14.00 hrs on all days except Sunday.

Best time to visit

High season: October to April.

Travel wear

Cotton outfits, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion etc. Some woolen clothes require, during winter.

Round the year temperature chart for the Cities & wildlife parks covered in during the Itinerary.

Credit cards

Main hotels, restaurants and shopping centers honor major credit cards.

Currency

Indian Rupee (INR)

Drugs

Heavy punishments including imprisonment are imposed for possession of narcotic drugs.

Food

All standard restaurants offer a variety of cuisines including Continental, Chinese, Indian & local.

Water

It is always better to drink bottled drinking water or drinking water from restaurants. It is not advisable to drink water from slow moving streams, lakes or dams. Mineral water is available in sealed bottles.

FAQs

May I ask for tailor-made itinerary?

Yes, you can ask for it.

What is Indian Time zone?

t is + 0530 GMT

Can I use British pound there in India?

No, you can't use British pound in India directly, you need to change it through bank or authorize money changer into Indian Rupees (INR).

What type of plug sockets use in India?

Please look at the photograph for better idea.
Voltage: 230-240V Frequency (Hz): 50Hz

Who will meet us at the Airport?

Our company representative will be there at the airport arrival lounge carrying a company placard mentioning your name on it.

Does entry fees to the national parks are included in the cost?

Yes, entry fee to all the national parks is included with the cost.

Does monument fees for cities included in the cost?

No, it's not included in the package cost it will as per actual if there are any in the itinerary.

What is the maximum weight allowed on domestic flights?

The normal weight limit is 15 -25 kilogram's.

Is communication to home possible while on wildlife tour?

Yes almost all the wildlife resorts will have the dialing facilities except the few, like in north east India.

What is the weather & temperature like?

Weather in the Indian jungle will be very much pleasant during winter time as the Sun is gradually up, but generally it will quite cold in the morning while you are on your jungle safari.

Which Vaccination is required before visiting India?

The citizens and travelers coming from the United Kingdom, Canada & United States, do not require any vaccination certificate or inoculations. It is highly recommended to get a precautionary measure vaccination against Hepatitis B & carry mosquito repellents, nets or take a course of anti Malaria tablets to avoid Malaria.

What should I carry?

Cool cottons for daywear, Light woolens for the morning & evenings (a warm jacket is required for morning safari as it will be chilling), a couple of pairs of shoes, shorts, sunglasses, anti sun tanning lotion, good Binocular & Camera with a couple of batteries.

What are the major wildlife species, inhabiting in Indian wildlife?

India is well known for a large extent of its tigers, elephants and rhinoceroses, but these are just three giant of the more than 500 species of mammals living in the country. India is blessed with over 2000's species and sub-species of birds. India offers a number of National parks and sanctuaries where you can watch the magnificent tigers, the stately elephants, leopards, the one horned rhinos, a myriad of exotic birds and countless reptiles and insects.

Can we have an Elephant safari during our wildlife tour?

Elephants are the most preferred and convenient way of watching wildlife species in their natural habitat. It is very much possible in most of the tropical wildlife sanctuaries of India like, Corbett, Raja ji, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna, Pench & Kaziranga National Park.

What is the present status of tigers in India?

India has twenty seven Tiger Reserves which comes under the organization of Project Tiger, a joint effort of the Government of India and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). As per the current census there are tiger population will as per below table.

Bird Watching Tips

1. Choice of Location :It is very important in bird watching to choose the location, many birders spend the majority of their bird watching time and energy on poor locations.

2. Knowledge of Species: There are approximately 1250 species of birds in India and recognizing each of them is nearly impossible. So when you visit any area for bird watching, do a little research first. You may find that perhaps only a few species actually inhabit that particular area. With a little preparation, you will be able to more readily identify bird species from each other.

3. Practice before you go for bird watching: It is always better to learn to put your binocular on target, it is key to viewing wildlife, and especially birds, after only a few attempts, you'll get good at quickly acquiring your target. Quite often, birds are visible for only a few seconds, practice to become proficient.

4. Listing to Call and songs : Listening helps you hear rustling leaves, wings flapping, and the birds calling.
It is pretty amazing what you can hear once you really start listening. Besides, if you spend the whole day just using your eyes to look for birds, you probably won't see very many. So instead of just looking, relax your eyes, don't look so hard; let the birds find you. You will start to notice movement in your periferal vision, and then you will have an area to look in.

5. Get a pair of Binocular : Spending time and money to get to the right place can be totally wasted when your binoculars are inadequate. If you have an inexpensive pair of binoculars you are not getting the most out of your viewing. Today's technologies come at a price and they provide Crucial benefits in wildlife viewing. For instance, image stabilization will keep your view from shaking-very important when watching from a long Distance. Other cool features include anti-fogging, low-light viewing and wide-view characteristics. Additionally, binoculars with built-in digital cameras enable you to identify birds once you get home. These benefits will definitely enhance your bird watching. A great pair of binoculars will turn a mediocre experience into a great one. You can count on it!

6. Take someone with you : It is always better if you take someone with you, who knows the area well and have experience of bird watching, it will help you to remember the sightings.