Taj Mahal and Rajasthan Tiger Tour in India
This classic 10-day India Tigers and the Taj Mahal Tour combines a visit to Ranthambhore in the state of Rajasthan – ‘the land of Kings’ to get a glimpse of the greatest of the big cats – The Tiger, with a visit to see the most romantic monument on earth – the Taj Mahal. Best time from Mid-October – End May.
Tigers and the Taj Mahal – both the best recognized enigmatic symbols of India. This classic trip combines a visit to Ranthambhore National park in the state of Rajasthan – ‘the land of Kings’ to get a glimpse of the greatest of the big cats – The Tiger. Ranthambhore is the last remaining areas of wild scrubland and brush in the state.
Fed by several rivers that have been dammed to form lakes dotted by creeper covered ramparts and pavilions of the ruins of Rajput palaces. Ranthambhore was the royal hunting grounds of the rulers of Jaipur set aside for their hunting sprees. In addition to the tigers, it is home to sizeable populations of chital, nilgai, jackals, jungle cats and a countless number of birds.
Another gem that you will discover on this tour is Keoladeo National park in Bharatpur. A manmade and managed wetland area. With around 380 species of birds recorded along with other flora and fauna. It is a beautiful mosaic of habitats that support 27 species of mammals, 13 reptiles, seven amphibians, around 58 species of fish and countless number insects and pollinators.
Every year thousands of migratory waterfowl visit the area for winter breeding. The sheer number of birds has often led to the region being declared one of the richest bird areas of the world. Keoladeo is a treat to visit in the winter months it has many resident bird species that can be seen all year round along with mammals like hyenas, jackals and reptiles like the monitor lizard and pythons.
The journey continues to the city of Agra to see the Taj Mahal. A monument to romantic love and the epitome of Mughal architecture. Created in pristine white marble set with precious stone pietra dura and offset by buildings of red sandstone. The Mausoleum was built by the Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in childbirth in 1629 and the court went into mourning for two years.
The Emperor decided to build a monument in her memory and the Taj Mahal was created. The building is over 20 storeys high and took 22 years to complete with a workforce of 20,000 craftsmen. The uniqueness of the Taj lies in its remarkable innovations. It is a perfectly symmetrical building and lies at the end of a beautifully laid out quadripartite garden that lends depth and perspective to the viewing of the monument.
En route to Agra, you visit the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri. This is a world heritage site and was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1569. The city was built to serve as the capital of the Mughal Empire but was abandoned soon after its inception due to the paucity of water. The buildings built primarily in red sandstone with independent pavilions arranged in formal geometry. The imperial palace over two miles long is largely intact and surrounded by a wall five miles long. A tour to this part of historical and wild India is sure to create cherished memories for a lifetime.
Tour Highlight:
- Royal Bengal Tiger and the Taj Mahal.
Like the look of this tour but want to see what else is on offer? Have a look here - Snow Leopard Tour in Ladakh, India
Alternative Tour Name: Tigers and the Taj – Tiger Tour
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