Day
1 London/Delhi
Depart
London Heathrow by overnight scheduled flight.
Day
2 Delhi
Arrive
Delhi and transfer to the Oberoi
Maidens for a 3-night stay (Superior Room & Breakfast).
Remainder of day at leisure.
Day
3 Delhi
Enjoy
a morning sightseeing tour through the bustling streets and bazaars
of Old Delhi, the original part of the capital first laid out by
the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. The tour includes a visit to Raj
Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi and a drive past the Red Fort,
continuing to the Jama Masjid by bicycle rickshaw. 5,000 artisans
laboured for 12 years over the construction of this grand red sandstone
and white marble mosque - the largest in India and Islam's largest
religious construction, holding 25,000 worshippers. Remainder of
day at leisure.
Day 4 Delhi
Morning
tour of New Delhi, setting of the imposing government buildings
designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker in the early 20th century,
when the British moved the imperial capital here from Calcutta.
The tour includes a drive past the imposing India Gate, the Parliament
Building and the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the President's residence.
New Delhi overlays the site of seven ancient cities and among the
historic monuments visited on the tour are the Qutub Minar, the
tallest stone tower in India, whose construction was begun in 1199,
and the Indo-Persian style Humayun's Tomb, built by the second Mughal
Emperor's widow and a precursor of the Taj Mahal.
Day
5 Delhi/Unchagoan
Leave
Delhi for the short drive to Unchagoan (85
miles/3 hours) for a 2-night stay at the Fort Unchagaon (Standard
Room & Breakfast), an hotel and resort gateway to Uttaranchal.
Since inheriting this early 19th century fort as a child, the present
Raja Surendra Pal Singh has supervised the renovation of this grand
ancestral residence, which now embodies a fascinating early 20th
century blend of Indian and colonial architecture. Remainder of
day is at leisure.
Day
6 Unchagoan
A
relaxing day to enjoy independently some of the many amenities of
Fort Unchagaon, which include horse-riding (Peshawari breed horses),
bullock cart rides, orchard & farm visits, folk & cultural
performances, craft displays, village walks and other leisure activities.
Day
7 Unchagoan/Corbett National Park
Leave
after breakfast for famous Corbett
(135 miles/5 hours) in the foothills of the Himalayas, where your
base for the next three nights is the Corbett
Hideaway (Standard Accommodation & Full Board). Rest of
day at leisure.
Days
8/9 Corbett National Park
Each
day is dedicated to morning and afternoon jeep safaris in the Park.
One of India's loveliest national parks, Corbett
boasts some 500 square miles of forests, hills and grasslands, fed
by the magnificent Ramganga River. Named after Jim Corbett the writer
of 'Man-Eaters of Kumaon' and who was instrumental in establishing
the Park, Corbett became a Project Tiger reserve in 1973, and its
core area is restricted to safaris by jeep and elephant. Its biodiversity
supports an abundance of indigenous fauna and flora, with 50 mammal
species and nearly 600 bird species. There are large herds of resident
deer and elephant - and a significant tiger population (although
the dense habitat can restrict sightings) and leopard, lesser cats
and civets, sloth bear, jackals, crocodile and many more species
are also present.
Day
10 Corbett National Park/Nainital
This
morning take the short drive up to Nainital (50 miles/2 hours) and
check in at the Naini Retreat (Standard
Room & Breakfast), your base for two nights.
Day
11 Nainital
First
settled by the British in 1841, and set at a refreshing 6,000 ft
above sea level, the hill station resort of Nainital overlooks a
beautiful lake ringed by forested hills. The shores of Naini and
other waters of this 'Lake District' make the area an ideal setting
for walking and bird-watching. Your car and driver are available
for journeys within the resort limits.
Day
12 Nainital/Ramgarh
This
morning a short drive brings you to the spectacular setting of Kumaon's
serene hill station of Ramgarh (approx. 20 miles) perched at an
altitude of over 6,000 ft above sea level, where you spend two nights
at the Himalayan View Retreat
(Standard Room & Breakfast). Afternoon at leisure for exploration.
Day
13 Ramgarh
Set
on an eight-acre estate here in the Malla Ramgarh ('the fruit bowl'
of Kumaon), the valley-facing Himalayan
View Retreat is framed by thick forests and offers breathtaking
views of the Nanda Devi and Trishul peaks of the Himalayas. The
full day is at leisure for you to explore these beautiful surroundings
at your own pace.
Day
14 Ramgarh/Kashipur
Leave
this morning for Kashipur (70 miles/3 hours) and check in at The
Manor (Standard Room & Breakfast) for overnight. Named after
its founder, Kashinath Adhikari, a court official of the medieval
Chand rulers of Kumaon, Kashipur was known as Govishan during the
reign of Harshavardhana (606-647 AD) and the ruins of early settlements
can still be seen. The town offers superb views of the Trishul peak.
Day
15 Kashipur/Delhi
Depart
after breakfast for the drive to Delhi (143
miles/6 hours). On arrival check-in at the Oberoi
Maidens for an overnight stay (Superior Room & Breakfast).
Day
16 Delhi/London
Transfer
to the airport for your homeward flight.
Day
17 London
Arrive
London Heathrow.
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