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DAY 01 LONDON TO MUMBAI
Depart the UK on the overnight flight to Mumbai.
DAY 02 MUMBAI TO BHAVNAGAR
Arrive at Mumbai.
You will be met on arrival and transferred to The Leela Kempinski
hotel (Room is held on immediate occupancy) for one night (Breakfast
only)
You will be transferred to Mumbai domestic airport for Jet Airways
flight 9W 3411 to Bhavnagar. The flight departs from Mumbai at 0735
hours and arrives Bhavnagar at 0845 hours. On arrival at Bhavnagar
you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel
Nilambagh Palace for overnight for three nights. Rest of the day is
at leisure (B.L.D. – Days 2 to 4 only).
DAYS 03 & 04 BHAVNAGAR
Morning enjoy Excursion to Velavdar Reserve.
Velavadar National Park is a 36 km patch of Savannah type grasslands
and thorn scrub. The park is set between two rivers, a few miles
from the Gulf of Cambay sea coast. The rich soil is believed to have
origins in the sea. The principal attraction of the park is the
massive population of blackbuck, the handsome Indian antelope, seen
here in numbers running into thousands. The blackbuck is endemic to
India and is rated among the most elegant antelopes and the fastest
animals over a long distance. During the rule of the Maharajahs of
Bhavnagar, Velavadar was harvested for grass to feed the royal
cattle herds and the antelope were protected except for an
occasional hunting camp. This is where His highness Krishnakumar
Sinhji coursed blackbucks using cheetahs and flew falcons.
Velavadar is one of the few places in the world where the wolf
population is proliferating. The wolf is the prime predator of
Velavadar national park. Other mammals seen in Velavadar are fox,
jackal, jungle cat, wild pig, hare and rodents. The birdlife is
extensive. Sandgrouse, larks and other grasslands are seen in fair
numbers. The harrier roost at Velavadar national park is one of the
largest in the world.
Enjoy visit to Palitana.
A 56 Kms. drive from Bhavnagar, Palitana lies at the foot of the
Shatrunjaya Hill, with the Shatrunjaya River flowing to its south.
The sacred hill rises in a crescendo of magnificent temples - 863 in
all that soar in marble splendour to the top of the hill. The
temples were built over an impressive span of 900 years with each
generation of pilgrims making its contribution to the shrines of
Shatrunjaya.
DAY 05 BHAVNAGAR – SASANGIR
You will be transferred by surface drive to Sasangir approx six
hours drive. On arrival at Sasangir you will check in at The Lion
Safari Camp for four nights. (B, L & D only)
Enjoy afternoon game drive to the National Park.
The Gir national park lies in the Gujarat peninsula in SW India. The
terrain is rugged with low hills and the vegetation is mixed
deciduous, with stands of Teak, Acacia, Jamun, Tendu and Dhak trees,
interspersed with large patches of grasslands. On the hills of the
trees are sparse and stunted.
Within the sanctuary, there are numerous human settlements of cattle
herders called Maldharis with an estimated 20,000 head of livestock
(which, incidentally, forms a significant part of the Lion’s diet).
There are also places of Hindu worship and pilgrimage and sulphur
springs at Tulsi Shyam and Kankai Mata. At the edge of the park
there are good populations of Indian Gazelle, protected by the
religious sentiment of the local people.
Birds in the park include the Paradise Flycatcher, Bonelli’s Eagle
and Painted Sandgrouse. Three unusual reserves, the Nalsarover Lake
and Sanctuary, where large numbers of water-birds can be seen; the
bare saline flats of the Rann of Kutch, incredibly the home of the
Indian wild ass and the spectacular Flamingo island where nesting
colonies of flamingoes are to be seen, make Gujarat an exciting
place for wildlife enthusiasts.
DAYS 06 - 08 SASANGIR
Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives to the National Park.
The Gir national park lies in the Gujarat peninsula in SW India. The
terrain is rugged with low hills and the vegetation is mixed
deciduous, with stands of Teak, Acacia, Jamun, Tendu and Dhak trees,
interspersed with large patches of grasslands. On the hills of the
trees are sparse and stunted.
Within the sanctuary, there are numerous human settlements of cattle
herders called Maldharis with an estimated 20,000 head of livestock
(which, incidentally, forms a significant part of the Lion’s diet).
There are also places of Hindu worship and pilgrimage and sulphur
springs at Tulsi Shyam and Kankai Mata. At the edge of the park
there are good populations of Indian Gazelle, protected by the
religious sentiment of the local people.
Birds in the park include the Paradise Flycatcher, Bonelli’s Eagle
and Painted Sandgrouse. Three unusual reserves, the Nalsarover Lake
and Sanctuary, where large numbers of water-birds can be seen; the
bare saline flats of the Rann of Kutch, incredibly the home of the
Indian wild ass and the spectacular Flamingo island where nesting
colonies of flamingoes are to be seen, make Gujarat an exciting
place for wildlife enthusiasts.
DAY 09 SASANGIR - GONDAL
After having morning game drive and breakfast you will be
transferred by surface drive to Gondal, approx drive three and half
hours. On arrival at Gondal you will check in at Orchard Palace for
overnight. Rest of the day is at leisure. (B, L & D only)
Evening visit to Gondal Lake & Maharaja’s private grasslands
Today we will take a tour of the bird-rich lakes of Gondal and the
Maharaja's private grasslands where blue bulls and blackbucks roam
free.
DAYS 10 GONDAL - DASADA
You will be transferred by surface drive to Dasada, approx six hours
drive. On arrival at Dasada you will check in at Rann Riders Camp
for three nights (B, L. D & game drives)
Enjoy afternoon game drive to the National Park.
The Little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary can be from Dasada, 93
kms from Ahmedabad and on an important route. It has salt plains,
caused by flooding of the Rann by sea, river and rain water;
punctuated by highlands called beyts, above the monsoon flood mark
where scrub flora and grasslands offer a refuge to wildlife. This is
one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in India, spanning some 4950
sq ft in area, and comprising a range habitat from saline desert
plains, arid grasslands, rocky and thorn scrub to lakes and marshes.
This is the only home for the endangered Asiatic Wild Ass, which is
the member of wild horse family. These animals are tall, chestnut
brown and white in colour, and are exceptionally fast. They does not
survive elsewhere in Indian lowlands, but also supports a thriving
population of gazelle, blue bull, wolf, and Indian foxes, jackal,
jungle cat, hare and birds from the houbara bustard, spotted &
Indian sand grouse, francolin partridge, bustard quails, desert
wheatear, desert, larks, steppe eagle, imperial eagle, short toed
eagle, 5 of vulture, laggar falcon etc to flamingoes, pelicans,
ducks, cranes and storks . The 11th century sandstone of Jhinjwada,
historic walled town of Mandal, Rajput at Patdi, intricate temples
around Munsar tank at Viragam and Darbargadh of Dasada can be
visited on the way from to the Rann of Kutch. Indian wild ass,
panther, Black buck, Chinkaras, Blue bull, Jackals, wild boar,
Ghudkhur and rare birds Houbara Bustard, Falcons, Larks are the
others who can be seen in this sanctuary.
The Little Rann of Kutchh is a desolate area of land between Kutch
and the western part of Gujarat. Located here are khur (Asiatic wild
ass)—the only place they are found in India. The asses move in herds
of thirty to fifty. They are difficult to see because during the day
they travel inland. In the late 1960s, there were just 800 khurs
left, but now there are over 2,000. Other animals living here are
chinkara, nilgai, black buck, wild boar, and many species of birds.
This area can be hard to get around on foot because the terrain can
be very muddy, but can often appear to be solid ground. It is best
to take a guide. Vast parts of the Little Rann are flooded during
monsoons. The village of Zainabad, 100km north of Ahmedabad, is
close to the border of the Little Rann of Kutch.
DAYS 11 & 12 DASADA
Enjoy morning & afternoon game drives in the National Park.
The Little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary can be from Dasada, 93
kms from Ahmedabad and on an important route. It has salt plains,
caused by flooding of the Rann by sea, river and rain water;
punctuated by highlands called beyts, above the monsoon flood mark
where scrub flora and grasslands offer a refuge to wildlife. This is
one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in India, spanning some 4950
sq ft in area, and comprising a range habitat from saline desert
plains, arid grasslands, rocky and thorn scrub to lakes and marshes.
This is the only home for the endangered Asiatic Wild Ass, which is
the member of wild horse family. These animals are tall, chestnut
brown and white in colour, and are exceptionally fast. They does not
survive elsewhere in Indian lowlands, but also supports a thriving
population of gazelle, blue bull, wolf, and Indian foxes, jackal,
jungle cat, hare and birds from the houbara bustard, spotted &
Indian sand grouse, francolin partridge, bustard quails, desert
wheatear, desert, larks, steppe eagle, imperial eagle, short toed
eagle, 5 of vulture, laggar falcon etc to flamingoes, pelicans,
ducks, cranes and storks . The 11th century sandstone of Jhinjwada,
historic walled town of Mandal, Rajput at Patdi, intricate temples
around Munsar tank at Viragam and Darbargadh of Dasada can be
visited on the way from to the Rann of Kutch. Indian wild ass,
panther, Black buck, Chinkaras, Blue bull, Jackals, wild boar,
Ghudkhur and rare birds Houbara Bustard, Falcons, Larks are the
others who can be seen in this sanctuary.
The Little Rann of Kutchh is a desolate area of land between Kutch
and the western part of Gujarat. Located here are khur (Asiatic wild
ass)—the only place they are found in India. The asses move in herds
of thirty to fifty. They are difficult to see because during the day
they travel inland. In the late 1960s, there were just 800 khurs
left, but now there are over 2,000. Other animals living here are
chinkara, nilgai, black buck, wild boar, and many species of birds.
This area can be hard to get around on foot because the terrain can
be very muddy, but can often appear to be solid ground. It is best
to take a guide. Vast parts of the Little Rann are flooded during
monsoons. The village of Zainabad, 100km north of Ahmedabad, is
close to the border of the Little Rann of Kutch.
Evening visit Suntemple, Modhera and Ran ki vav stepwell at Patan
99 kms from Ahmedabad, the 11th century Sun temple of Modhera is
easily one of the finest examples of devotional in western India.
Built by the Solanki Rajput kings, the aid of donations from the
people, the temple features carved torana arches mounted on kirti
stambhas (pillars of victory) as the entrances, a large rectangular
stepped with 108 smaller shrines, an exquisite 52 pillared portico,
beautiful domed central portion and a sanctum sanctoruim designed so
that the sun light fell on the bejewelled statue of the God,
specially at sunrise during the equinox. The exterior of temple is
carved with traditional erotic scenes, rivalling at Konark and
Khajurao, and depictions of various Gods and, while inside are
friezes of the Mahabharata and portrayed on the pillars.
The Sun temple is not very large or as imposing as may be supposed
by those who have seen other Hindu temples in India, but even from a
distance it is obvious that it is covered by intricate carvings of
Gods, Goddesses, men, women and animals in numbers out of all
proportion to its actual size, and is a true gem in the
architectural annals of India.
Day 13 DASADA – AHMEDABAD - MUMBAI
Visit Nawa Talao
Nawa Talao, a lake where demmossile and common cranes gather in
large flocks during the winter months. Greater and lesser flamingo
are seen in large numbers as are great white pelican with spotbilled
and dalmatian recorded.
Later you will be transferred to Ahmedabad airport for Jet Airways
flight 9W 3416 to Mumbai, departs from Ahmedabad at 1450 hours and
arrives Mumbai at 1610 hours. You will be met on arrival and
transferred to The Leela Kempinsiki for overnight stay (Breakfast
only)
In the evening enjoy tour of Mumbai city.
Mumbai, a cluster of seven islands, derives its name from Mumbadevi
- the patron goddess of the Koli fisher folk, its oldest
inhabitants. Once a "Portuguese princess" dowry and later an
adornment of neo-gothic British architecture, Mumbai today, is more
than just a metropolis. It is in fact an enigma of mud huts and
skyscrapers, age-old traditions and high fashions, the
industrialist’s haven and moviemakers Hollywood.
The sightseeing of Bombay includes a visit to the Gateway of India,
The Prince of Wales Museum, the Victoria Terminus, Dhobi ghats and
the hanging gardens. The Gateway of India was built during period
1924-1927 to commem¬orate the visit to India of King George V of
England in 1911. Its the most enduring symbol of the city. Next to
the Gateway of India is the Prince of Wales Museum built in 1911 -
one of the biggest museum in the country. The Victoria Terminus,
popularly known as VT is the major railway station and is considered
the most beautiful edifice in the city. From Nariman Point to
Malabar Hill is a winding stretch of road along the sea with tall
build¬ings on one side, known as the Marine Drive.
DAY 14 MUMBAI
You will be transferred to Mumbai international airport for your
flight back to London.
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