Eastern India Wildlife Tour

Day 0: Departure from U.K

Day 01: Arrive Kolkata

On your arrival at the airport our representative will meet you at arrival lounge, after a traditional welcome he will provide you transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02: Kolkata

Morning after breakfast city sightseeing tour of Kolkata. Visit Victoria Memorial - Built of white marble and surrounded by lush gardens, the Victoria Memorial is probably the most beautiful monumental legacy of British India. It was built by Lord Curzon in the early 20th century in memory of the late Queen of England. St. Paul's Cathedral, The Birla Planetariums - This single-storied, circular structure is one of the largest planetariums in the world. The central hall is air-conditioned and can accommodate up to five hundred persons. The stars, planets and cosmic bodies look marvellous.

Also visit Indian Museum, Eden Gardens - These gardens were created in 1840. A Burmese-style pagoda brought after the British victory in the Burmese war of 1884 is set at a lake. The park is picturesque.

Kali Temple - This interesting temple, 6 km south of Sudder Street, is dedicated to Kali, the patron goddess of Kolkata. Kali means "black". The tongue of the deity of Kali drips with blood and she wears a garland of skulls. Kali is the destructive side of Lord Siva's consort, Parvati. The present temple was built in 1809 on the site of a much older temple. It is open from 3.00 am to 8.00 pm. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03: Kolkata - Guwahati - Kaziranga National Park, 220 km

Morning we will provide you transfer to the domestic airport to board on flight to Guwahati. On arrival at Guwahati our representative will meet you at the Guwahati airport and will take you to Kaziranga National Park. On arrival check in at the wildlife resort at Kaziranga. Overnight stay at resort.

Day 04: Kaziranga National Park

Early morning elephant safari 05:30 am to 06 : 30 am. Wake up call half an hour before the ride. Return back to resort for breakfast. After breakfast jeep safari (either central or western range). Return to lodge for lunch. After lunch jeep safari (if visited central range in the morning then western range or vice versa. Overnight stay at wildlife resort.

Kaziranga National Park is located in the heart of Assam on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra river. Famed the world over for the presence of the one-horned rhinos, Kaziranga covers a total area of 430 Sq. Kms. Vast stretches of coarse, tall elephant grass, marshland and dense tropical forests makes Kaziranga the ideal habitat for wildlife. Abundant availability of water in the park is another advantage. Limitless poaching led to the declaration of Kaziranga as a reserve forest way back in 1908. It was upgraded to wildlife sanctuary status in 1940 and designated as a national park in the year 1974.

More than half of the total one horned rhinos in the world inhabit the Kaziranga National Park. Apart from the Rhinos, other animals found in good numbers are Indian Elephants, Indian Bison, Swamp Deer, Hog Deer, Sloth Bears, Tigers, Leopard Cats, Jungle Cats, Otters, Hog Badgers, Capped Langurs, Hoolock Gibbons, Wild Boar, Jackal, Wild Buffalo, Pythons and Monitor Lizards. A few other species noticed in the park are Barking Deer, Sambar, Golden Langurs, Slow Loris, Pygmy Hog, Capped Langur and Bears.)

Day 05: Kaziranga National Park

Early morning elephant safari 05:30 am to 06 : 30 am. Wake up call half an hour before the ride. Return back to resort for breakfast. After breakfast jeep safari (either central or western range). Return to lodge for lunch. After lunch jeep safari (if visited central range in the morning then western range or vice versa. Overnight stay at wildlife resort.

Day 06: Kaziranga - Guwahati, 220 km

Morning after breakfast drive to Guwahati, upon arrival transfer to the hotel. In teh afternoon visit Kamakhya Devi Temple & enjoy sunset Cruise on river Brahmaputra. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 07: Guwahati - New Jalpaigudi (NJP), by train - Jaldapara, 140 Km

Morning transfer to the railway station to board hte train for NJP. Upon On arrival at NJP station our representative will meet you at the station, he will provide you drive to Jaldapara. On arrival check in at the wildlife resort. Overnight stay at wildlife resort.

Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary situated at the foothills of Eastern Himalayas in Alipurduar Sub-Division of Jalpaiguri district.The sancuary was eastablished in the year of 1943 for the protection of wild life specially the one horned Rhinos. River Torsha runs through this riverain forest sanctuary which is mostly covered with tall grasses. The wild life, in addition to the famous single horned rhinos, consists of Royal Bengal Tigers, wild elephants, deer, swamp deer, hog deer, wild pigs, bison and a number of birds, pea-fowl etc.Jaldapara is a paradise for bird watchers. It is one of the very few places in India, where the Bengal Florican was spotted. Set out with a binocular and see the majestic flight of hornbill, racket-tailed drongo and paradise flycatcher. See the splendors of sun set beyond the vast grassland of Jaldapara from you Bungalow deck.A thrilling elephant safari is organized in the early morning from Hollong to offer the exquisite beauty of the vast grassland of Jaldapara. The elephant ride is the best possible way to explore the sanctuary with the rare sight of Indian rhinos and Asiatic elephants. The jeep safari inside the sanctuary is another main attraction.

Day 08: Jadapara

Morning Elephant safari to the national park for wildlife viewing. Afternoon jeep safari to the national park. Overnight stay at wildlife resort.

Day 09: Jadapara

Morning and evening jeep safari into the national park for wildlife viewing. Overnight stay at wildlife resort.

Day 10: Jadapara - Gangtok, 150 km

Morning after breakfast drive to Gangtok, on arrival check in at the hotel. Rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Gangtok

After breakfast proceed to Tsomgo Lake (12,210 Ft), a 40 km drive which takes 2.5 hrs. This lake is located very close to Nathula Pass which is the entry point to China termed as the "Silk Route & remains frozen for most parts of the year. Legend has it that the Lamas use to forecast the future by studying the colour of the lakes waters. Enjoy the surroundings, majestic snowy peaks which feed the lake and the clean fresh air. Back to Gangtok by 3 pm for a late lunch. Evening free for leisure or go shopping for Sikkimese traditional handicrafts. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 12: Gangtok - Darjeeling, 90 km

Morning free after breakfast drive to Darjeeling. On arrival check in at the hotel. Afternoon free to explore local market. Overnight at hotel.

Day 13: Darjeeling

Start the day at 4 am with an early morning trip to Tiger Hill (7800 Ft) to catch the sunrise from behind the majestic Kunchenjunga range. On the way back visit the Ghoom Monastery & Batasia Loop. Back to the hotel for breakfast. Spend the rest of the day recouping the lost sleep. Walk to the mall, do some shopping or lazy around at "Chowrasta" - the meeting point. Overnight at hotel.

Day 14: Darjeeling - Bagdogra, 100 km - Kolkata

Transfer to Bagdogra airport to board the flight for Kolkata, on arrival our representative will meet you at the airport and will provide you transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day free for own activity. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 15: Kolkata - Departure

Transfer to the airport to board the flight for onward destination.

Tour & Services Ends.

Price

Below mentioned are the details; dates and prices per person (in GBP); for "Eastern India Wildlife Tour ". 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 16th Oct 13 till 30th March 2014

No. of Pax	Standard Hotels	Deluxe Hotels	Luxury Hotels
02 Pax	929 GBP	1110 GBP	1298 GBP
04 Pax	745 GBP	926 GBP	1114 GBP
06 Pax	714 GBP	895 GBP	1083 GBP
Sgl Room Supplement	344 GBP	527 GBP	718 GBP

The Above Quote Includes:

• Accommodation as per the itinerary on twin sharing basis
• Daily breakfast
• All Meals in Kaziranga and Jaldapara only
• All the ground transport by exclusive vehicle
• All jungle activities as per the itinerary
• Park entry fee
• Naturalist fee
• 2nd Ac Train from Guwahati to NJP
• Driver allowance
• Toll tax
• Parking

The Above Quote does not include :

• Any expenses of personal nature
• Monument fee
• 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)

Destination	Standard  Accommodation	Web Address
Kolkata	Fairlwan	www.fairlawnhotel.com/
Kaziranga	Wild Grass	www.kaziranga-national-park.com/wild_grass_lodge.shtml‎
Guwahati	Hotel Landmark	thelandmarkhotels.in/
Jaldapara	Jaldapara Camp
Gangtok	Ttakshang Residency
Darjeeling	Anand Palace

Hotel Used Or Similar (Deluxe Hotels)

Destination	Deluxe  Accommodation	Web Address
Kolkata	Peerless Inn	www.peerlesshotels.com/kolkata/
Kaziranga	JupuriGhar	www.kaziranga-national-park.com/jupuri-ghar-kaziranga.shtml
Guwahati	Krishna shree Portico	www.kiranshreeportico.com/
Jaldapara	Jaldapara Camp
Gangtok	Tashi Delek
Darjeeling	Dekeling

Hotel Used Or Similar (Luxury Hotels)

Destination	Luxury  Accommodation	Web Address
Kolkata	The Park	www.theparkhotels.com/kolkata/kolkata.html‎
Kaziranga	Infinity Resort	infinityresorts.com/
Guwahati	Dynesty	www.dynastyhotel.in/About_Us.htm
Jaldapara	Jaldapara Camp
Gangtok	Norkhill
Darjeeling	The Elgin

Images

Coming Soon

Highlights

Highlights of the trip

Reviews

Hi Tanmay,

Just writing a long overdue thank you for a wonderful (but too short!) holiday in India. We were very impressed with your service and all the trouble you went to in order to accommodate our ever changing itinery and had a fantastic holiday as a result. Also myself and Natalia got engaged in Ranthambore Park so some very fond memories.
I also wanted to thank you in particular for the service given by our driver Surendhar (I hope I have the spelling correct). He has a lovely, courteous and relaxed manner and we had fun on even the longest journeys! He was helpful in every little detail and I couldn't praise him highly enough.
We hope to return to India very soon and if we are arranging any tours yours is the first number we will call,
Cheers, Austin (U.K)

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.

Month

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Tem.

Max- Min

Max- Min

Max- Min

Max- Min

Max- Min

Max- Min

Max- Min

Max- Min

Max- Min

Max- Min

Max- Min

Max- Min

Delhi

21-07

24-10

30-15

36-21

41-27

40-29

35-27

34-26

34-25

35-19

29-12

23-08

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.

Project Tiger Reserve	Tigers as per the current census
Corbett National Park	138 - Census 1997
Ranthambore National Park	26 - Census 2005
Sariska National Park	24 - Census 1997
Panna National Park	19 - Census 1997
Kanha National Park	106 - Census 1998
Bandhavgarh National Park	49 - Census 1997
Pench National Park	8 - Census 1998
Tadoba National Park	43 - Census 1998
Periyar National Park	30 - Census 1996
Sunderban National Park	270 - Census 1997
Kaziranga National Park	80 - Census 1997
Manas National Park	89 - Census 1997
Namdhapa National Park	61 - Census 2002

Wildlife Watching Tips

If you're serious about observing wildlife there are a few things you can do to enhance your experience and bring you even closer to nature.

1) nce you've planned your trip, visit your local bookshop, library or go on the internet to find a wildlife guide for the area you intend visiting. This will give you the best idea of the kinds of plants and animals you can expect to see.

2) Always take services of a local and experienced naturalist/guide who knows the area better. There is nothing better than local knowledge when it comes to spotting wildlife.

3) Wild animals have their distinct daily and seasonal patterns of activities. a baisc knowledge of these patterns increases one's chances of seeing them. The frequency of wildlife sightings in national parks and reserves varies, depending on the time of year.In India the best times are from February to May,during these months the trees are often bare, so visibility is considerably improved. Since there is also a general scarcity of water, the animals concentrate near sources of water.

4) Many animals have an amazingly alert sense of sight which helps them survive in the wild. To get close takes a great degree of patience and time but you can increase your chances by wearing natural or neutral colours that blend into your surroundings. Keep your movements to a minimum and when you do move, do it slowly and quietly.

5) Animals are very wary of the human voice. So, in order to get close to them, absolute silence is essential. Walk softly and watch where you're placing your feet so as not to snap branches or twigs or create other noise as you make your approach. Even if you have to take a less direct route, avoid walking through dense undergrowth as the animal is more likely to hear you and run away. Avoid carrying any metal objects in your pockets which will make noise. This includes things like car keys and loose change.

6) A highly attuned sense of smell is one of the key aspects for many species of wildlife to detect where food is or, indeed, even prey. It is, for many, the most important of their senses in their battle for survival. Don't wear any aftershave or perfume and avoid scented soaps and deodorants. There are plenty of environmentally friendly non-scented soaps and toiletries on the market from specialist camping stores. Although you may baulk at this suggestion, wear your clothes for several days if you're really serious about wildlife spotting. The more you wear your clothes outdoors, the more the fabrics will absorb natural outdoors scents and smells. Always be aware of the wind direction and make sure that the direction in which you approach an animal is where the wind is blowing towards you. If it's blowing away from you, animals can detect your scent from many hundreds of yards away.

7) It shouldn't be important to get too close up to an animal to enjoy the experience and, in some instances, if you do get too near, it can even be dangerous and sometimes life-threatening. Binoculars can keep you at a safe distance from your quarry and means they are less likely to run away. Also, binoculars are the only way to view nesting birds or other forms of young wildlife. You should never get too close to a burrow, a nest or animals out and about with their young.

A magnifying glass will also come in handy if you're interested in examining insects and smaller wildlife alongside plants, flowers etc.

Following these tips and advice will ensure that your experience will be heightened as you marvel at all the wildlife and nature you've witnessed.