A Walk In The Wild:

The park has always been noted for its tigers that are spoted quite often, are one of the prime attrcations for the tourists. The park has a magnificent blend of green flora that include a diverse variety of trees, shrubs, bamboos and grasses. Apart from the greens Corbett National park is home to a long list of wildlife that comprises of 50 mammals, 580 kinds of birds and 25 reptile species. The entire spectrum of animals that this park inhabits include elephants, Himalayan black bear in the higher elevations, sloth bear, varieties of lesser known cats, dhole -the wild dog. If you happen to be passing by the lake then one can spot crocodiles, gharials, tortoises and pythons. Elephants are now permanent inhabitants following the building of the dam & the inundation of their old trekking routes.

The oldest national park in India, Jim Corbett National Park

Bird in Corbett National Park, India

River in Corbett National Park, India

Corbett park also has a spectacular bird diversity to offer its visitors. The park, has over 600 species of birds, including the pied kingfisher, crested serpent eagle, fishing eagle and Himalayan grey headed fishing eagle.

Dhikala is the park centre and for the convenience of the tourist it offers accomodation. There are forest rest houses dotted around but these are suitable only if the visitors possess their own transport. Elephant rides are available at low cost from Dhikala & this is the best way to seee the jungle and its inhabitants.

Top Tips:

This park is only open from 15th November to 15th June. For an overnight stay inside the park a permit must be obtained at Ramnagar, this permit allows for a maximum stay of three days. If the park is too busy no permits will be issued.
You can enjoy the elephant ride and explore the park. From Dhikala elephant safaris are organized twice a day. There is a watch tower and observation posts at Dhikala for wildlife watching, binoculars are very useful.

Climate:

Summer begins in March-April, with a minimum of 9 and maximum of 40 degrees; May-June gets hotter at 21-45 degrees. Winter is November – February at 4-26 degrees.

Wheels To Jim Corbett Park:

» By Air: Phoolbagh, Pantnagar at a distance of 50 km is the nearest airport. Delhi at a distance of 300 km is the nearest international airport.

» By Rail: Ramnagar is on the broad gauge track from where the road transport options have to be availed to reach the park.

» By Road: Dhikala is 300 km from Delhi, 145 km from Lucknow and 51 km from Ramnagar.

Location:

The popular Khajuraho temple is situated in Madhya Pradesh. Khajuraho is a fascinating village with a quaint, rural ambience and a rich cultural heritage. The Khajuraho temples are internationally famous for the erotic sculptures that adorn the walls. Journey through the past: Khajuraho, the ancient “Kharjjuravahaka”, was the main seat of authority of the Chandela rulers who accentuated the place with sculptural art and architectural marvel. The Chandela dynasty built eighty-five temples here. Today only twenty remain as an archetype of Indian sculptural art.

Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Smaller Khajuraho Temples

1. Taj Mahal
2. Goa
3. Kerala
4. Beaches
5. Himalayas
6. Khajuraho Temples
7. Varanasi Ghats
8. Ajanta Caves
9. Ganges River
10. Corbett National Park

History Unfolds

It was in the late 60s when, the hippies were the one who discovered the pristine & serene surroundings of Calangute. The word Calangute, owes its origination from several words which are – ‘Koli-gutti’, (means land of fishermen); some people associates the name with Kalyangutti (village of art) or Konvallo-ghott (strong pit of the coconut tree), as coconut trees are abundantly found here. After the migration of the Portuguese to Goa, the word eventually got distorted to Calangute and till date remains to be called so.

Calangute Beach Goa

Calangute Beach sunset

Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra, one of the most powerful cities in the medieval world. Agra is a part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, in the northern region of India. It is a part of the great northern plains and is situated on the west bank of river the Yamuna. Agra is 204 km south of Delhi. 

Legendary Saga: 

An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, Arjumand Banu. The Taj Mahal is one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage and the jewel of Muslim art in India. Taj Mahal was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers. It was completed at a cost of 32 Million Rupees. 

Elegy in Marble- Taj Mahal: 

Taj Mahal means “Crown Palace” and is in fact the most well preserved and architecturally beautiful tomb in the world. The architecture is stunning and the unique mughal style combines elements of Persian, Central Asian, and Islamic architecture. Most impressive are the black and white chessboard marble floor, the four tall minarets (40 m high) at the corners of the structure, and the majestic dome in the middle. If observed minutely around the archways, the lettering of the Quran verses appears to be uniform, regardless of their height. 

The impressive pietra dura artwork includes geometric elements, plants and flowers, mostly common in Islamic architecture. There is a high level of intricacy involved in artwork when one realizes that a 3 cm decorative element contains more than 50 inlaid gemstones. 

the Taj Mahal is inspired by love and shaped to perfection, it immortalizes one man’s love for his wife and the splendor of an era. 

Taj Mahal world heritage site in Agra, India

Taj Mahal Palace Hotel at night

Taj Mahal, India

Highlights Around the Taj Mahal: 

Fatehpuri Sikri, Agra

The imperial city of the Mughal dynasty between 1571 and 1584, Fatehpur Sikri was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar. The architectural grandeur of this city has to be experienced.

Itmad-ud daulah, one of the most beautiful of Mughal tombs, contains cenotaphs of Mirza Ghiyas and Asmat Begum, parents of the powerful Mughal Empress Nurjahan, queen of Jahangir. 

» Agra Fort :-The Agra Fort was bulit by Akbar in Red Sandstone. The fort worked both as a military strategic point as well as the royal residence. The Diwan – i – Am, the Diwan – i – Khas, the Khas Mahal, the Palace of Mirrors, the Pearl mosque, the Nagina Masjid, the Garden of Grapes, and the Fish Pavilion are the other monuments in the fort complex. 

» Akbar’s Tomb:
Sikandra/ Akbar’s tomb, 10 km north of Agra lies Akbar’s tomb, in Sikandra. Named after the Afghan ruler Sikander Lodi, Sikandra is the final resting place of Emperor Akbar. 

Taj Mahal, AgraPlan Your Trip:

The wide range of travel options in this region can also be used to travel to some wonderful locations around Agra. These can be visited in a span of 2-3 days.

Climate of Agra:

The climate of Agra is extreme and tropical. Summers are extremely hot and the maximum temperature can be as high as 45 degree Celsius, while winters are cold and foggy. Heavy rains and high humidity mark the monsoon season.

Agra can be visited throughout the year, but one must avoid the extreme hot summers (April-June) and rainy season (July-Sept). The most suitable time to visit Agra is in winters. 

Visiting Taj- Transportation:

» Airway: Agra airport is 7 km from the city center and 3 km from Idgah bus stand. Indian airlines operate daily tourist shuttle flights to Agra, Khajuraho, Varanasi and back. It only takes 40 minutes from Delhi to Agra.

» Railway: Agra is well connected by railroad. The main railway station is the Agra Cantonment station. Agra is well connected by rail to Delhi, Varanasi and cities of Rajasthan. Trains like Palace on Wheel, Shatabdi, Rajdhani, and Taj Express are the best choices if you want to reach Agra from Delhi.

» Roadway: Idgah bus stand is the main bus stand of Agra, from where one can catch buses for Delhi, Jaipur, Mathura, Fatehpur-Sikri, etc. Buses for Mathura also leave from Agra Fort bus stand.