Taj, Temples, Tigers & Himalayas – 2 Weeks
Camping, Trek, Rafting, Safari, and Yoga in the Kumaon Himalayas
Duration: 13 nights and 14 days
Best Time: mid-March to mid-June
Nature of excursion: moderate
Tour Code: CPS-TTTH1314
This multifaceted tour gives you a taste of some iconic experiences India has to offer. It aims to provide a glimpse of the natural, architectural, historical and cultural sights of Himalayan India. You get to explore a range of areas and habitats like mountains, lakes, forests, Kumaoni villages and
wildlife reserves nestled in the rich and diverse Himalayan region too. In addition, you can admire the iconic Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri
ITINERARY
Day 1: Delhi to Agra
Day 2: Agra to Kuchesar Fort
Day 3: Kuchesar Fort to Corbett Tiger Reserve
Day 4: Corbett Tiger Reserve
Day 5: Corbett Tiger Reserve to Ranikhet
Day 6: Ranikhet to Jageshwar
Day 7: Jageshwar
Day 8: Jageshwar to Pancheshwar (Rafting)
Day 9: Pancheshwar to Abbott Mount
Day 10: Abbott Mount
Day 11: Abbott Mount to Pangot
Day 12: Pangot
Day 13: Pangot
Day 14: Pangot to Delhi
Highlights
- A multi-faceted Himalayan tour
- Sightseeing in Delhi
- Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri
- Spectacular Himalayan views and experiences
- Exploration of a range of areas and habitats. Mountains, lakes, forests, Kumaoni villages and wildlife reserves.
- Birding and wildlife opportunities
- Fishing, rafting, trekking, rappelling, rock climbing and yoga
- Unique architecture
- Variety of cuisines
- Soft adventure
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 01: Delhi – Agra
You will be met and driven to Agra in the morning (3 hours). Full day guided tour of Agra and Fatehpur Sikri. Overnight stay in a hotel.
Day 02: Agra – Kuchesar Fort
Drive from Agra to Kuchesar Fort (6 hours). The Mud Fort is a heritage hotel located in Kuchesar. The fort served as the erstwhile seat of the Jat Kingdom of Uttar Pradesh. This mid-18th-century fort has been excellently preserved and transformed into one of the most exotic heritage hotels in India.
Overnight stay.
Day 03: Kuchesar Fort – Corbett National Park
Today we drive to Corbett National Park. Check-in at Tiger Camp for the overnight stay in comfortable cottages. Afternoon safari into the jungle for bird watching, wildlife & Tiger viewing. The jungle visits last for
about three hours. Return to Tiger Camp for dinner.
Day 04: Corbett National Park
Morning safari through the open “chaurs” (grasslands) and mixed forests in Bijrani Range Forest. Return for breakfast. After lunch, you may opt for an elephant ride at Tiger Camp and you will have ample time to study the behaviour of this magnificent and intelligent mammal. Or you may go bird
watching with a guide. Overnight stay in comfortable cottages/rooms.
Day 05: Corbett National Park – Ranikhet
The morning is spent experiencing the real wilderness of Corbett National Park. You will be transferred to Ranikhet (3 hours) in the afternoon, arriving in the evening. Overnight stay in a hotel. Ranikhet is a picturesque location surrounded by hills in northern India. It is a cantonment town
situated in the Almora district of the Indian state Uttarakhand. It was the place of interest for British who frequented this place to escape from the sweltering heat of the Indian subcontinent during their rule. More is known regarding Ranikhet, it is 1869 meter above the sea level and the entire
cantonment town is divided into two ridges, namely Ranikhet ridge and Chaubattia ridge. There are many local myths that make up the history of the hill town.
Day 06: Ranikhet – Katarmal Sun Temple – Jageshwar
We drive to the highly sought-after destination, Jageshwar, calling Almora on the way to visit Katarmal Temple. The Katarmal Sun Temple is a monument of historical importance and also is an example of intricate
sculpturing. The first rays of the sun fall straight on this Sun Temple. The main deity of the Sun temple in Katarmal is called Burhadita or Vraddhaditya (the old Sun God). The idols of Shiva-Parvati and Lakshmi-Narayana are also found in this temple. Katarmal Sun Temple complex has one main temple, surrounded by 45 smaller shrines exquisitely carved temples surrounding it.
The Katarmal Sun temple, noted for its magnificent architecture, artistically made stone and metallic sculptures and beautifully carved pillars and wooden doors, the image of Surya in the temple dates back to 12th century. The Katarmal Sun temple has some unique architectural style and the images carved on the walls are very intricately done. Though amidst ruins, it still stands as a major point of attraction in the region and many devotees visit here to offer prayer to the Sun God. Overnight stay in Van Serai, a very charming lodge with local architectural sensibilities.
Day 07: Jageshwar
Today we will visit Dandeshwar, Vridh Jageshwar, and Jageshwar Temples.
The spiritual hamlet of Jageshwar is where you can explore its ancient 8-12th century Shiva temples. Counted among the 12 Jyotirlings in the country, Jageshwar lies in a beautiful narrow valley hedged by monarch-sized, ancient deodars. With exquisite ancient temple ruins, beautiful Himalayan vistas, and a gurgling stream nearby, Jageshwar offers a spiritual retreat. With morning Yoga sessions and options for massage as well, you can choose to soak in the spiritual energy of this holy area or go for hikes in the surrounding woods. A picnic on the cool riverside is also a very enticing option. Visit Vridha Jageshwar in the morning, it is a 3 km trek and is the source of the river Jata Ganga. The view of the surrounding country side is very imposing and 1.5 km beyond from Hiriya Shikhar (2200
m), the view of the Himalayan peaks is awe inspiring. Overnight stay in Van Serai.
Day 08: Jageshwar – Pancheshwar
Drive to Rameshwar (1.5 hours). Enjoy rafting from Rameshwar to Pancheshwar in Saryu river ending in a confluence of Mahakali and Saryu. Overnight stay in camps at Pancheshwar. Pancheshwar lies at the confluence of the Mahakali and Saryu, rivers that demarcate the Indo-Nepal
border. It has historically been renowned as the home of Jim Corbett’s Champawat tiger, the sacred Chaumu temple, and the golden Mahseer.
Day 09: Pancheshwar – Abbott Mount
Drive to Abbott Mount (2 hours). Visit Mayawati Ashram, the headquarters of Adwait Ashram. It was sanctified by Swami Vivekanand and is also known for its charming surroundings. Overnight stay in Abbott Mount Cottage.
Day 10: Abbott Mount
We will organize cooking lessons for you. A day is spent at leisure. Overnight stay in Abbott Mount Cottage.
Day 11: Abbott Mount – Pangot
Drive from Abbott Mount to Pangot (7 hours) via Almora and Nainital. The last part of the drive is through the forested area of Cheena Peak Range via Snow View Point and Kilbury, the main habitats for wildlife. Overnight in Jungle Lore Birding Lodge.
Day 12 & 13: Pangot
Spend the day at quaint and comfortable en-suite cottages at the Jungle Lore Birding Lodge. You can enjoy the afternoon birding or a trek with our guide near the lodge. You can hope to see Blue Whistling Thrush, Red-Billed Blue Magpie, Blue-Capped Redstart, Streaked Laughingthrush, Grey-Backed Shrike, Yellow-Breasted Greenfinch etc.
The following morning will bring an exciting half-day trek to Cheena Peak (also known as Naina Peak) with a picnic lunch. Starting at the Pangot Village, we take you to a local house to see a magnificent view of Corbett National Park area and villages (where Jim Corbett killed 10ft long tiger called
Bachelor of Pawalgarh). Admiring unique local architecture on the way, we stop at Dhamdhamiya for excellent views and Akhorwadi, home to a lot of walnut trees for spotting various woodpecker species and other birds. Along the trek, we also find a lot of diverse landscapes, flora, and fauna. There are deep ravines and small spring water streams created in the monsoon seasons like the one at Borgatti. Salim Dhar (named after Salim, a type of grass) is especially spectacular when the fog covers the whole area making you feel like you are walking in the clouds. We reach Naina Peak at a height of 2311m for a panoramic view of the Himalayas and a close up of the peaks through a powerful telescope. On the downward journey, we get superb views of the lake city Nainital and we stop to have our packed lunch. We then head back to Pangot via Kilbury forest. Full of oak and rhododendron trees, it is a great area to spot many birds like Koklass and Kalij Pheasants, Common Kestrel, Grey-winged Blackbird, Black Redstart, Bar-Tailed Treecreeper. Leopards, Himalayan Black Bear, Civet Cat, Porcupine, Deer and Wild Boar etc might also be sighted on the way. Trekking through the forests, you can see lovely sights of traditionally dressed villagers collecting fodder for their cattle and firewood for their homes. We arrive back at Pangot in time for tea and warmth. A bonfire is a perfect end to the evening around which the experiences of the trek can be shared.
Day 14: Pangot – Delhi
Drive back to Delhi (8 hours). You will be transferred to the airport for your journey home.
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