India Trip Report
 

Had an absolutely remarkable trip to India...used Easy Tours of India and they did an excellent job...I knew exactly where I wanted to go...had a limited number of days but it was wonderful. My itinerary would not be every one's choice as I'm a bit of a travel warrior...I will go on long drives or whatever it takes to see what I'd like to see...but the rewards were worth it to me...

Trip went something like this: Kaziranga NP in Assam for four nights (Wild Grass Lodge)

flight to Rajkot via Mumbai (overnight), drive to Gir Forest in Gujarat, two nights

Flight out of Diu to Nagpur and drive to Bandhavgarh NP for three nights

Drive to Khujaraho to see the temples and train to Delhi (flight was cancelled)

Then morning train to Haridwar for two nights---trip to Reshikesh

back to Delhi and flight home...

Tigers:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...p;id=610038487



Lions:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...p;id=610038487



Rhinos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...p;id=610038487



Gurus and Swamis: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...p;id=610038487



http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...p;id=610038487



On the Brahmaputra: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...p;id=610038487



Khajuraho: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...p;id=610038487

Wonderful tiger photos. You had such great sightings! Tigers were more elusive during our visit to Bandhavgarh in February. Thanks for posting all of the photos.I'd be interested in reading more details about your trip. I think the people on the Africa forum would enjoy your photos as well. Consider posting there as well.

Wow, awesome pics. What kind of camera did you use?

Spent three days at Corbett NP in April which was great, but no tiger sightings, only a few pug marks and claw marks to report. You are so lucky!

thanks for the replies---I have heard Corbett is a great park, a jewel of the India system...I will have to try to visit there next time. I think the tiger viewing gets better the hotter it gets---most of my pics were taken from elephant back and your time is quite limited (five minutes if youre lucky) to viewing the tigers in that way. Did have a great sighting of B2 the dominant male at dusk...the temp could have been much hotter---it rained which was unusual for May so it probably kept the temp down a bit....still plus 40 degrees C at times...will post on the Africa forum as well...

Fascinating and unusual India trip! I, too, would like to hear more.

Thanks Kathie. I'd be glad to answer any questions...at the bottom of most photos I give a little more info about the trip and what the photo is about...it's easy to miss as it is out of the frame of my computer---just in case you missed that.

Be still my heart - those pictures brought back a rush of memories for me. Looked like an amazing trip without a doubt. I would love to know the names of the places that you stayed at as well. Did you go during the month of May? Was it terribly hot? Any extra details would be most appreciated.

Sorry---I see I did not answer all of the questions...the camera was a Sony Cybershot...I purchased it in Bombay or Mumbai as my 7-year old Olympus (with a really good zoom) took a tumble off an elephant and would no longer focus properly...I really like the new camera as it has an even better zoom as almost any new camera would...things have progressed a lot in the camera world in the last seven years!

The names of where I stayed: Wild Grass Lodge in Kaziranga...a charming place, not fancy but clean and I believe as good as any in the area...Gir Birding Lodge which had AC and good food and a lovely setting in a mango orchard...Tiger Den Lodge in Bandhavgarh....clean, comfortable (AC) and good food...Here's a complete list:

Delhi - Ashok Country Resort – Kaziranga - Wildgrass Resort –
Mumbai - Kohinoor Continental – Gir - Gir Birding Lodge –
Nagpur – Center Point / Tuli –
Bandhavgarh – Tiger Den Resort –
Delhi – Oberoi Maidens
Haridwar – Ganga Haveli – River View Room


Was it hot? Yes it was...but I had mentally prepared and even wondered if it would be too hot to even enjoy...the answer was absolutley not. It was fine...even had some showers in Bandhavgarh which were unseasonable but cooled things off quite a bit...Assam was perfectly pleasant...Gir was hot in the direct sun but breezy with cooler winds in the shade (it is closer to the coast than I thought...) and bear in mind that safari-wise, most activities are early morning and late afternoon...As a Floridian I took it in stride....Haridwar was not particularly hot (near the Ganga and the foothills of the Himals)...

I didn't know India has lions and rhinos! Cool. Sure you weren't at the zoo? ;)

that's one of the reason I thought I should do the trip report since in addition to the well-known culturally fascinating points of interest in India...there are also so many rich wildlife destinations...

Outside of Africa, I don't believe there is any better place for wildlife. Tigers, Lions, Rhinos, Elephants, buffalo...many deer and antelope...primates and even the freshwater dolphin...what a country!