If you are seeking awildlife holiday which alsoleaves you feelinghealthier, happier and more relaxed, thisgroundbreaking Naturetrek wildlife andyoga combination could be the answer!Yoga, a system of exercises that emergedan astonishing 5,000 years ago to fosterboth physical and mental well-being, hasits origins in northern India. Theseexercises are documented in the Vedas,the oldest records of Indian culture, andyoga's founders were the great sages,famed for their remarkable powers ofphysical and mental concentration. Yogatoday combines stylised postures withexercises in deep breathing andmeditation, the word itself being derivedfrom a Sanskrit word meaning 'to jointogether' - the ultimate aim of yoga being to unite the human soul with theuniversal spirit. Our base for this holiday will be TarangiResort, situated in the buffer zone forest onthe edge of Corbett National Park. Whilsthere, we will rise early and focus eachmorning on exploring Corbett in search ofthe park's Tigers and fabulous range ofother mammals and birds. Then, afterlunch each day, and a suitable period atleisure, we'll offer a daily yoga class eachafternoon and evening, each lessoncarefully tailored to the level of experienceof the participants. In addition, informaltalks on yoga lifestyle will also be given.The flexibility offered by the yogainstructors here will provide for bothnewcomers to yoga as well as moreexperienced aficionados. All you will needare reasonably good health, a yoga matand a willingness to have fun and takehealthy exercise in inspiring naturalsurroundings. Indeed, the delightful situation of TarangiResort puts us in utter harmony withnature. Its 21 cottages are set in 13 lushacres of landscaped grounds beneath theHimalayan foothills and, nearby, on a fast-flowing river, White-capped River Chatsand Plumbeous Redstarts flit among theboulders whilst Brown Dippers plunge inand out of the torrent. Wallcreepers notinfrequently explore the rocky shorelinehere and the shaggy crested HimalayanPied Kingfisher is another regular visitor.The surrounding forests are also rich inbirdlife and, unlike the nearby nationalpark, it is possible to explore these on footwhich greatly increases the number ofbirds and smaller mammals we shouldsee. The lodge has been especiallydesigned with yoga in mind, andincorporates both a meditation and yogahall; it also offers Ayurvedic treatments andhas a large riverside swimming pool.Private vegetable and herb gardens supplythe restaurant inside, while the ruralsituation and the Himalaya to the northensure a rich supply of healthy fresh air.Indeed, it is our aim that when you leaveTarangi Resort, you will feel refreshed andrejuvenated, and possess a sense ofaccomplishment.Our holiday begins, however, in India'scapital, Delhi. From here we'll spend a daybirdwatching in Sultanpur National Park, aseasonal wetland attracting a wealth ofwaterbirds and passerines. We will thendrive north-east into the scenic forested hills and wide river valleys ofCorbett National Park where we have achance of seeing Tiger and IndianElephant plus a fine supporting cast ofmammals and birds. We will be spendingsix days in Corbett, the famous nationalpark named in honour of Jim Corbett. He was born in nearby Nainital in 1875 and,for over 30 years during the first half of the20th century, he achieved 'god-like' statusin these hills as he rid them of 19 man-eating Tigers and Leopards that betweenthem claimed over 1,200 lives. His modestaccounts of these exploits became best-selling books, but by 1920 he was turningto photography, one of that early breed ofnaturalists to turn from hunter toconservationist, and was duly honouredwhen Corbett National Park was founded in1957. Here the wealth and diversity thatCorbett experienced throughout theKumaon hills remains protected todaywithin the jungles and forested hills ofCorbett National Park. As well as a mouth-watering selection of sub-Himalayan birds,the park also supports a wealth ofmammals, among them Indian Elephants,Wild Boar, and herds of deer which are theprey of a healthy population of Leopardsand Tigers, all of which we will search foron elephant back and jeep. We will alsolook for the rare fish-eating GharialCrocodiles along Corbett's fast-flowingrivers, where enigmatic Ibisbills andWallcreepers may also be found in winter.Our holiday concludes back in Delhi, butparticipants may choose to extend theirvisit in a variety of ways, whether with avisit to another of the well-known TigerReserves, such as Ranthambore orSuklaphanta, or by further pursuing theirinterest in yoga with a visit to an Indianashram.India - Wildlife & Yoga!A unique 9-day holiday combination offering you the chance to explore the jungles of Corbett National Park in search of wildlife as well as to enjoy yoga in the beautiful surroundings of the Himalayan foothills. Sunday 13th November - Monday 21st November 2011 Cost: £1,995Sunday 18th March - Monday 26th March 2012 Cost: £1,995Sunday 11th November - Monday 19th November 2012 Cost: £1,995Ranthambore extension available on all tours Cost: £750Outline itineraryDay 1Depart London.Day 2Sultanpur National Park;overnight Delhi.Day 3/7Corbett National Park.Day 8 Delhi.Day 9Fly London.Ranthambore extensionDay 9/11Ranthambore NationalPark.Day 12Delhi.Day 13 Fly London.Accommodation5-star hotel in Delhi andcomfortable yoga resort on thebanks of the beautiful Kosi River inCorbett. All rooms have privatefacilities.FoodAll included in the price, except formain meals in Delhi. Allow £30.GradingA. This is a wildlife and yogaholiday that includes no strenuouswalking.FocusYoga, mammals and birds.LeaderHarish Sharma, Karan Modi, BuntyMandhayan or Nick Acheson, pluslocal guides.Single room supplement£395 (extension: £195).Web quick search: IND44238Call now or visit www.naturetrek.co.uk for your free Trip ItineraryTIBETNEPALPAKISTANNEW DELHINAINITALAGRABHARATPURRANTHAMBORETIGER RESERVE(EXTENSION)CORBETT NATIONAL PARK KOLKATABAY OFBENGALINDIARAJASTHANTHE HIMALAYA YAMUNA RIVERRIVER GANGES Tiger

Book direct on 01962 733051or see page 280 for Booking Information239This is a tour with a difference - aluxury sightseeing tour by trainadding a largesse of comfort, style,culture and sightseeing opportunities to aNaturetrek wildlife tour to some of India'sbest Tiger reserves. We begin in India'scapital, Delhi, from where we'll spend aday birdwatching in Sultanpur NationalPark, a seasonal wetland attracting awealth of waterbirds and passerines. Wewill then board the luxurious 'RoyalRajasthan' train for a 5-day railway journeythrough the splendid state of Rajasthan, amagnificent land of former princely states,majestic forts and palaces, diversecultures, varied arid landscapes andvibrant colours. The Royal Rajasthan takesus back to those pre-independence daysof regal splendour, when the rulers ofthese princely states travelled by train intheir own luxurious individual railwaycarriages - the first 'palaces on wheels',that introduced the concept of luxury traintravel to India. The newly built RoyalRajasthan is exquisitely constructed,furnished and equipped, following in thefootsteps of the famous 'Palace onWheels'. Gold-embossed carriages withornate ceilings, liveried attendants, luxuryprivate bed chambers and bathrooms withrunning hot and cold water, a library,restaurant cars serving sumptuous Indianand Continental cuisine, and a well-stocked bar are not normally available ontrain journeys through India! However, onthis tour we will enjoy the best of facilitiesas we travel, largely during the hours ofdarkness, allowing us to stop and exploreduring each day.In Jodhpur we will visit the clifftopMehrangarh Fort, one of India's largest,and Jaswant Thada, a royal memorial builtin white marble. In Udaipur, the romantic'City of Lakes', we visit the 16th centuryCity Palace and stunning 'Garden ofMaidens' (Sahelion ki Bari). We will alsovisit the gigantic 7th century Rajput fort atChittorgarh, filled with beautiful templesand other fine monuments. Stopping atSawai Madhopur, we'll disembark to enjoya morning game drive in RanthamboreNational Park, hopeful of a Tiger sightingand other wildlife. Finally we'll exploreJaipur, 'the Pink City'; a chance to visitHawa Mahal (the Palace of Winds), AmberFort, the Observatory built by the founderof Jaipur and the city palace residence ofthe Maharaja of Jaipur.Leaving the Royal Rajasthan train inKhajuraho, we will visit the famous Hindutemples here before driving the shortdistance to Panna Tiger Reserve. It was in1839 that a British army engineer stumbledupon a complex of the most remarkableHindu temples, constructed between 950and 1050 AD by the later kings of theChandela dynasty. Lost for centuries inremote jungle, these magnificent examplesof Indo-Aryan architecture had escapedthe destruction that Moghul rule inflictedon virtually all other Hindu monuments innorthern India at the time. Today,Khajuraho's temples, boasting exquisite(and many erotic) carvings, are listed as aWorld Heritage Site. Nearby Panna, anational park of 543 square kilometres,consists largely of dry deciduous forestand boasts great scenic beauty through itscombination of rolling hills and plateaux,grassy meadows, gorges and waterfalls.Passing through the park, the River Kenallows us to enjoy wildlife-viewing,abundant waterbirds and many largeMarsh Mugger crocodiles by boat.Primarily though, we will explore the parkon jeep tours, and sometimes on elephantback, encountering abundant SpottedDeer, Sambar, Nilgai, Wild Boar and troupes of Common Langurs, the more elusive Chinkara and Chousinghaantelopes and, with luck, Dhole (Wild Dog)or even a Leopard! Panna also offers amost varied birdlife, with PaintedSandgrouse, and a wide variety of owlsand nightjars likely to be among thehighlights.We next take a long drive, through thefarmlands, villages and hills of MadhyaPradesh, to Bandhavgarh National Park,where we will spend three nights.Bandhavgarh, in the Vindhya Hills, is oneof the very best parks for consistent Tigersightings. It lies in a region steeped inhistory and, in the heart of the reserve,towering 800 metres above the forest,stands the ruin of the magnificent hilltopfort of ancient rulers. Today, thispicturesque park is a haven for Tigers, aswell as for other mammals such asSambar, Spotted Deer, Common Langur,Rhesus Macaque, Wild Boar, GoldenJackal, Jungle Cat and, with luck, perhapseven a Leopard, Dhole or Sloth Bear, notto mention a wealth of birdlife.It is likely that a Tiger sighting will beamong this holiday's highlights, but it isequally likely that the visit we make toAgra, to enjoy the fabulous Taj Mahal andsome of the city's other magnificentMoghul monuments, will rank alongside it!(For those wishing to extend this holiday,we offer a 4-day visit to Corbett NationalPark and Tiger Reserve.) India - Tigers, Taj & Luxury Train!A 14-day holiday including a 5-day sightseeing tour of Rajasthan by luxury train, plus visits to Ranthambore, Panna and Bandhavgarh National Parks as well as the magical Taj Mahal in Agra.Friday 11th November - Thursday 24th November 2011 Cost: £3,975 Tuesday 20th March - Monday 2nd April 2012 Cost: £3,975Tuesday 6th November - Monday 19th November 2012 Cost: £3,975Corbett National Park extension available on all tours Cost: £850Outline itineraryDay 1Depart London.Day 2Sultanpur; overnightDelhi.Day 3/6Royal Rajasthan (luxurytrain).Day 7/8Panna National Park.Day 9/11Bandhavgarh NationalPark.Day 12Bandhavgarh; overnighttrain to Agra.Day 13Agra; train to Delhi.Day 14Fly London.Corbett extensionDay 13Uchagaon.Day 14/16Corbett National Park.Day 17Delhi.Day 18Fly London.Accommodation5-star hotel in Delhi; comfortablecabin aboard the Royal Rajasthanluxury train; and lodges elsewhere.All rooms have private facilities.FoodAll included in the price, except formain meals in Delhi.GradingA. This is a sightseeing and wildlifetour that includes no strenuouswalking.FocusIndia's culture, history andmonuments; luxury rail travel; birdsand mammals.Leader (from Khajuraho) DhanyaVenkatesh, Dilip Saini, BuntyMandhayan or Saravana Kumar.Single room supplement£1,095 (extension: £315).Web quick search: IND16Taj MahalTigerSapphire Room, the Royal Rajasthan trainTIBET NEPAL NEWDELHIAGRAJODHPURUDAIPURJAIPURRANTHAMBORETIGER RESERVEKOLKATABAY OFBENGALINDIAKHAJURAHOPANNATIGER RESERVEBANDHAVGARHTIGER RESERVE(EXTENSION)(EXTENSION)SULTANPURNATIONAL PARKCORBETTNATIONAL PARK