Mesmerizing Central India (12 Days)

Mesmerizing Central India (12 Days)

Madhya Pradesh is a historical state that has laid the foundation for the Indian civilization. It has diverse offerings, temples, unrivaled wildlife, Buddhist cultural influence and a strong local heritage. After experiencing the hustle and bustle of Delhi, fly to Bhopal and visit the ancient Buddhist sanctuary of Sanchi for spiritual orientation. You will smell the clean air of the hills once we start our drive to hill station of Pachmarhi, a bird lover’s paradise, and then continue to Satpura – one of the finest wildlife reserves in India.

Itinerary

Day 1: Day 01; Arrive Delhi

Pass By: New Delhi, New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi
On arrival at Delhi airport assistance & transfer to hotel.

Stop At: New Delhi, New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi
Delhi is India’s capital and a city of diversity. Old Delhi – is a historic district of grand mosques, majestic forts, busy bazars and dilapidated monuments. In contrast to New Delhi, that has a modern variety of malls and restaurants along with old government buildings. It has wide tree-lined avenues and pretty whitewashed bungalows purpose-built in the 1930s by the British as a colonial capital and remains the epicentre of Indian political power. Delhi is crowded, colourful and beautifully chaotic.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: Delhi - Bhopal (flight)

Stop At: Taj ul Masajid, Bhopal India
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport to board flight for Bhopal. On arrival assistance and transfer to hotel for two nights stay. Capital of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal has beautiful parks and palaces, Forward-thinking Muslim women ruled Bhopal. The city quickly modernised with the establishment of an early postal system and comprehensive rail network. Visit the historical Taj-ul-Masjid mosque, Jama Masjid and Shaukat Mahal to satisfy our soul with tales and stories.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Bhopal - Full day excursion visit to Sanchi, Udayagiri Caves, Bhimbetka & Bhojpur.

Stop At: Sanchi Stupas, Sanchi India
Breakfast at hotel, today full day excursion to visit the oldest surviving Buddhist sanctuary in India, which was once the principal centre for Buddhism in the country. It’s the Great Stupa, India’s finest Buddhist structure and one of the subcontinent’s oldest remaining religious monuments that define Sanchi. The stupa convenes at the heart of a reminiscent complex of temples and monasteries all of which exhibit a unique character.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Udaygiri Caves, Sanchi India
Udayagiri Caves early Hindu ritual site, they were extensively carved and reworked under the command of Chandragupta II, Emperor of the Gupta Empire, in the late 4th and 5th century AD. Udayagiri has a series of rock-shelters and petroglyphs, ruined buildings, inscriptions, water systems, fortifications and habitation mounds, all of which have been only partially excavated.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Bhimbetka, Bhopal India
Further drive to visit The Bhimbetka rock shelters an archaeological site dating back to the Paleolithic age. They exhibit the earliest traces of human life on the Indian subcontinent, and show a gimps into the beginning of the South Asian during the Stone Age. Some of the shelters were inhabited by the homo erectus more than 100,000 years ago. Some of the stone age rock paintings found among the Bhimbetka rock shelters are roughly 30,000 years old.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Bhojpur, Bhojpur, Raisen District, Madhya Pradesh
Next proceed to Bhojpur and see its famous temple that is dedicated to Shiva. The temple houses one of the largest lingas in India and it's crafted out a single rock.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Bhopal - Pachmarhi (200kms/ 4hrs approx)

Stop At: Pachmarhi, Pachmarhi, Hoshangabad District, Madhya Pradesh
Breakfast at hotel make our way to Pachmarhi hill station, which was once the summer capital of the central provinces during the British Raj. Check in at resort for two night stay.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Satpura National Park, Pachmarhi India
A sleepy town of graceful bungalows and stone churches, Pachmarhi retains a distinctive colonial atmosphere. Located in the heart of the Satpura Hills, the area around the town has a rich biodiversity and a staggering array of bird-life not commonly seen elsewhere in central India.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at resort.

Day 5: Pachmarhi

Stop At: Dhoopgarh, Madhya Pradesh 461881
Breakfast at resort. Starting at the Duchess Falls, take a guided morning walk to Mount Rosa. Passing waterfalls and rock-paintings, this is an ideal opportunity to encounter the flora and fauna in the areas around Pachmarhi. It is not uncommon to see tiger and leopard tracks as well as a wide range of bird-life including the black eagle and honey buzzard. In the afternoon visit the man-made Pandav Caves, protected monuments, which potentially date to the time of the Emperor Ashoka and end the day at Dhupgarh to enjoy sunset.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Jatashankar Temple, Jatashankar Rd, Pachmarhi 461881 India
We arrange an 8kms walk into the sal forests outside of Pachmarhi that will leave you refreshed. Beginning at Jatashanker Cave, there will be further chances to view some of the local wildlife including barking deer, gaur, tree shrew, sambar, the malabar giant squirrel and numerous vulture roosts.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at resort.

Day 6: Pachmarhi - Satpura (60kms/ 1.3hrs approx)

Stop At: Satpura Tiger Reserve, Hoshangabad road Madhai, Satpura National Park 461881 India
Breakfast at resort. Walk to the butterfly garden in Panarpani on a trail where fresh tracks of tiger, leopard and sloth bear are often seen. On a good day, over fifty species of butterfly can be seen in the garden and is a must for any butterfly enthusiast. After lunch drive to Satpura National Park and check in at a resort. A relatively new reserve, Satpura is spread across mountains of the same name. Uniquely, Satpura is also the only tiger reserve that permits walking safaris, which are led by trained local guides.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at resort.

Day 7: Satpura

Stop At: Satpura National Park, Pachmarhi India
Breakfast at resort. We see a flawless backdrop of plateaus and hills at the highest part of the Deccan, the huge Tawa reservoir protects the entire northern flank of the park and sustains the perfect habitat for a plethora of bird species that the area is home to.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Satpura National Park, Pachmarhi India
The thick forests of this unspoiled reserve also provide some of the finest tiger habitat in the subcontinent and, although these wonderful animals are present in good numbers, Satpura is home to a host of other rare species including sloth bear and leopard.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at resort.

Day 8: Satpura - Maheshwar (380kms/ 6hrs approx)

Stop At: Ahilyabai Ghats, Maheshwar India
Breakfast at resort, drive to the humble town of Maheshwar check in at hotel. Later visit Ahilya Fort one of central India’s best kept secrets. Largely constructed in the late 17th century, this converted fortress has changed little and continues to hold a commanding position high above the banks of the sacred Narmada River. Rooms are comfortable and captivatingly furnished and there are many nooks and crannies to explore.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Maheshwar

Stop At: Maheshwar, Maheshwar, Khargone District, Madhya Pradesh
Breakfast at hotel. Explore the fort and walk down to the riverside and the beautiful ghats to witness the timeless daily rituals of the local villagers. Followers of Lord Shiva revere the town and there are numerous shrines and temples that line the river’s bank. Maheshwar is also known for its Maheshwar sarees and are a thriving local industry.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Maheshwar - Mandu (45kms/ 1hrs approx one way)

Stop At: Mandu, Mandu, Dhar District, Madhya Pradesh
Breakfast at hotel, drive to visit Mandu. Perched in a dominant position astride part of the Vindhya ranges, Mandu is an architectural masterpiece of understated Islamic style with many fine buildings spread over the site. With a history dating back to the early 6th century AD, Mandu’s heyday was during the medieval period under the Pathan sultans whose rule ushered in a period of peace and prosperity. Rightly famed for its Islamic architecture, explore Mandu’s many palaces, mosques and mausoleums.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Maheshwar - Indore (90kms/ 3hrs approx) / Indore - Mumbai (flight)

Pass By: Indore District, Indore District, Madhya Pradesh
Breakfast at hotel. With everlasting memoirs leave Maheshwar and transfer to the Indore Airport for the flight to Delhi. Arrival transfer to hotel near to airport, rest time free and easy to relax.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 12: Delhi - Departure

Pass By: New Delhi, New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi
Breakfast at hotel. As per flight schedule transfr to airport to board flight for onward destination.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.