Rajasthan
The Natural Marvels of Rajasthan
A sojourn covering the natural marvels of Rajasthan, skirts along the southwestern region of the state, starting from the Dhundhar region lying in the semi-arid and rain-fed easter plains, crossing into the lush Aravalli following the trail of the big cats from the famed tigers of Ranthambore to the elusive leopards of rocky crops in Bera, where a surprising relationship ensues between Rabari shepherds and leopards.
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Ranthambore National Park
India has always been the land of the Tiger. And in this land of the Tiger, there is one oasis that has always carried the beacon for the entire subcontinent – Ranthambore National Park.
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Keoladeo-Ghana National Park – Bharatpur
When anyone thinks of a birding holiday in India – Bharatpur is definitely on most people’s list. Or should be. Keoladaeo Ghana National Park or more popularly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is a Mecca for birders for many reasons
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The Bera-Jawai Landscape
The Bera-Jawai wilderness, despite the presence of all this wildlife, is not a protected reserve. This a model of Leopard and wildlife conservation, driven entirely by tourism and the goodwill of the local community
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Ranthambore National Park
India has always been the land of the Tiger. And in this land of the Tiger, there is one oasis that has always carried the beacon for the entire subcontinent – Ranthambore National Park.
Summer Sightings
People say the summers in Ranthambore are the best time to visit as the prey and the tigers are concentrated in smaller areas around water. Though this can be true in some minds, we believe that Ranthambore is special throughout the year. The green carpet after the rains, the purple shades of Dhonk in autumn, the beautiful winter light and mist that cloaks the park in December and January, the birdlife of winter and many more.
“Always there has been an adventure just around the corner…and the world is still full of corners.”
― Roy Chapman Andrews
Safaris and Experiences in Ranthambore
Ranthanbore National Park is accessed only by open jeep safaris. The park is divided into ten zones, each with its own characteristic features and most importantly, each with enough area to support a population of tigers. We would recommend highly that every visitor to Ranthambore gets to experience as much of the zone diversity as possible as every single one of them is unique and beautiful in its own way, and tells their own story. Each safari permit is allocated one zone. Safaris in Ranthambore follow the usual modus-operandi of morning and evening drives. Those looking for the extra special experience can opt for the half-day and full-day safaris where the zone boundaries disappear.
Tigers of Ranthambore can be seen throughout the year, even during the monsoon months when other parks are shut. Some areas of Ranthambore are kept open through the year keeping in mind the low rainfall that the area receives.
The Bera-Jawai Landscape
The Aravallis are one of the oldest mountain ranges of the subcontinent. The Aravallis date back to millions of years when a pre-Indian sub-continent collided with the mainland Eurasian Plate. At their southern tip, around the district of Pali in Rajasthan, these Fold Mountains are seen as large granite hillocks fissured and caved by geological activity. The Jawai Bandh, the large water body is a central feature of this landscape surrounded by fields, scrub jungle and these hillocks that rise out of flatland.
Birding in Ranthambhore
For birders, visit to Surwhal Lake and the Chambal River and its ravines border the eastern extreme of the park is highly recommended. These are great places to watch rarities like the Gharial, the Indian Skimmer among other wetland birds and even the Indian wolf for the lucky few.
Birding in Bharatpur
Bharatpur as a park is open through the year. People prefer visiting the place in the winter months as this is the time when the local bird population is augmented by a large number of wintering birds from Central Asia and the Himalayas. Having said this, a visit during the summer or monsoon can also be worth it as this is the time when the resident birds nest in the Marsh. Watching and observing their behaviour at close proximity can be as interesting as observing various exotic migrants of winter. The summer and monsoons are also the time to observe other fauna like butterflies, dragonflies and even turtles, all of which can be seen in great diversity in the marshes of Keoladeo-Ghana National Park.
RECOMMENDED
Journeys
JUNE 6/2021 | WILDLIFE
A sojourn covering the natural marvels of Rajasthan, skirts along the southwestern region of the state, starting from the Dhundhar region lying in the semi-arid and rain-fed easter plains, crossing into the lush Aravalli following the trail of the big cats from the famed tigers of Ranthambore to the elusive leopards of rocky crops in Bera.
JUNE 6/2019 | CULTURE
A journey that takes us deep inside Western India, an area known for its spectacular landscapes. The two states Gujarat and Rajasthan are dominated by the Thar Desert along with enchanting dry deciduous forests, shrubland, vast savanna grasslands and endless saltpans.
RECOMMENDED
Stays
Sentinels of frontier lands, accommodation partners of WATCH are beyond being just hotels, lodges and retreats. They are showcases of the authentic and invaluable, ensuring their propagation and celebration. World class hospitality is a natural derivative of this pride in their heritage and legacy.
CONSCIOUS LUXURY
Ramathra Fort
The Ramathra Fort, perched high above Kalisil Lake, affords breathtaking views of the lake and the surrounding hills and idyllic landscape. The expansive rustic vista is dotted with charming hamlets. The lake itself teems with waterfowl and serves as a wintering place for ducks, storks, and cormorants. Travellers can witness a variety of bird species all year round though, including resident waterfowl, kingfishers, Saras cranes, stilts, and herons, among others.
WILDERNESS
Shahpura Bagh
Shahpura Bagh's mission is to provide guests with an authentic Rajasthani homestay. The epitome of slow living and slow travel, the glorious summers are filled with boating on the lakes, fishing and picnicking, and sundowners to savour the end of yet another good day. The nearby marshes are a birdwatcher's dream, enticing even the uninformed, as rambling walks turn into inspired safaris in the flapping of a beckoning wing.
UNDERSTATED LUXURY
RAAS Chhatra Sagar
After an extensive renovation, this upscale tented camp reopened in 2019. As opposed to the temporary camps created by Thakur Chhatra Singh in 1890 for festivities, these modern tents are more stable. There are 20 luxury tents with four family-friendly tents. This is one of the few camps in India that is open year-round since the buildings are sound-proofed and equipped with air conditioning and heating.
TESTIMONIALS
Words from our Guests
Here are few inspiring words that drive us to veer off the beaten track to look for the beyond. Exploring and sharing the hidden wonders of this awe-inspiring land for that acknowledging nod, a simple smile, a few kind words is in a nutshell our raison d’être.
Now for the trip: …drum roll please. Of the various trips we have done with you this was definitely the best one. Of all the travel we have done Africa was our favorite, but this was a close second.
A wonderful blend of different areas and people. Great variety of activities. Some of the hotels were the most spectacular we have and probably will ever stay at. Service was the best we received anywhere in the world. India like Africa speaks for itself, it was like going to a different world. The guides were truly exceptional. Each one injected energy and passion into their presentation. Our driver we had for the whole trip was remarkable person who always worked to make every day fun. My new knee was swollen and painful throughout much of the trip but I was enjoying myself too much to notice
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DANIELA & THOMAS
United States of America
Travel Scope did an excellent job in coordinating our tour and will definitely contact you for future clients. All your guides are knowledgeable and kept it interesting. What I liked most of all is their ability to adjust. As you very well know, travelers are not all the same - some would like a lengthy explanation and others, like us, would rather have the time to appreciate the place without information overload. Also, I like that we were not brought to any store in the guise of showing us “artisans” like our guides in Nepal & Dubai. It is a major turnoff that many of today's tours incorporate commercialism into their venture. Unless specifically requested by the guests, I think shops should be avoided at all cost as it is a waste of precious time
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IMEE
United States of America
Mohan - You gave me the experience of a lifetime. My heart and soul have been deeply moved by the trip. Your organization was so excellent and kind we could not have asked for anything more except more time.
SHEILA
United States of America
Thank you for coming to meet us at the hotel in Delhi tonight. I think you heard clearly from the clients what a great tour you have put together and how much they enjoyed Avi. You have a world class team.
BROD
Australia
Thank you again for all your efforts in getting us home. The effort you and your people put in went well above and beyond. The people at the airport were the icing on the cake in that they just made us feel like rock stars. Mary and I are looking forward to next year when we can return to Incredible India for our sixth visit, I hope you and your people have a speedy return to normal business.
STEVEN AND MARY
United States of America
Thank you both for organizing such a dreamlike trip to India for our group. We could not have been happier! I thought this is a perfect time to share with you about our fabulous experience, knowing how much time and effort you have put into planning & implementing this trip for our group. In short, your mission is accomplished and my hats off to you both as my husband and I rate this trip as one of the very best in the past 4 decades of traveling; we just can compare it to our trip to Africa which was already our most favorite.
FARIBA & HORMOZ
United States of America
“I’ve had the privilege of travelling to India on numerous occasions and I list the country as probably my favourite on the planet. Having visited more than 100 countries, I don’t make this claim lightly. On each occasion, I’ve travelled with Travel Scope – for my personal travels and with my tour groups. Travel Scope’s itineraries, knowledge, care-factor, understanding of our needs and their attention to detail, make them an outstanding ground operator. Regardless of which region I visited, Travel Scope managed these adventures seamlessly and showed me the best on offer. I have learned that India is many different cultures within the one border. It is very difficult to name a favourite experiences but I have two stand-outs; The Snow Leopards of Ladakh and the wildlife of Central India. Both are on my list of the best things I’ve done in my life! And both are thanks to the outstanding team at Travel Scope! I can’t recommend them highly enough”
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Blue Dot Travel
Exceptional service standards at the Tiger lodges. Wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities. The safaris across the different parks gave the group a great variety of landscapes to see the full breadth of the wildlife. The guides were skilled at tracking the Tigers through the alarm calls of the deers and monkeys, creating a great level of suspense. Delicious food served with warmth and attention to detail at all locations.
Blue Dot
I have had the privilege over many years, during my travels throughout India, both on personal trips and with my TIKKA TOURS guests, to explore all the natural wonders that India has to offer. All of my experiences have been curated by Travel Scope India and its founder Mohan Narayanaswamy , whom I have spent many hours with, bouncing around in jeeps on our search for all things wild in the forests and jungles learning from Travel Scope’s expert handpicked guides and seeing everything from the abundant birdlife, to sloth bears and their babies being carried on their mothers backs, watching the playful and mischievous monkeys and of course seeing the breathtaking big cats – the Tiger and leopards, and even the Asiatic Lions! It’s because of Mohan’s passion and commitment in offering more than just the standard ‘’tiger tourism’’ experiences, that I have been able to explore the diversity and more ‘’óff piste’’ wildlife destinations, which have made me fall in love not just with India and its people, cultures and traditions, but also its treasure trove of nature that never ceases to amaze me. Thank you Travel Scope for your dedication to put WILD INDIA on the map!
Claudia wolf
Founder TIKKA TOURS Australia
“Travel Scope has become one of ATJ’s most trusted partners over the past two decades and one of the finest travel providers we’ve had the pleasure of working with over 3 decades plus of being in the business. Their ability to deliver top notch travel experiences is unmatched in India and South Asia. Unlike other travel companies, Travel Scope never rests on past achievements and successes nor assume that every visitor to South Asia is looking for the same type of experience. They understand that the itineraries we plan for our travelers are as unique as the clients themselves. Travel Scope tirelessly searches out and recommends destinations and experiences that most others companies simply aren’t aware of. Ultimately, Travel Scope always delivers flawless and expertly executed itineraries whether the focus is wildlife, art, culture, culinary, history or all of these areas combined.”
Eric Kareus
Director of Travel + Co-Owner
ATJ Travel, Boulder, CO USA
FROM OUR
Memoir
From pensive sojourns to penning ideas whose time has come, our WATCH experts and partners are as passionate about sharing their ideas, observations and life experiences as they are travelling to the hidden destinations. Read their recent writings.
Pench National Park
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