96 F O R R E S E R V A T I O N S C A L L U S O N 0845 130 6982 Asiatic Wild Ass Asiatic Lion Sasangir National Park Sansangir (widely known simply as Gir) is a large park in the Gujarat Peninsula of north-west India. The area is characterised by an arid rugged terrain with low hills and mixed vegetation with beautiful stands of teak, acacia and dhak trees interspersed with grassy plains. The park’s main aim is to preserve the last healthy population of the critically endangered Asiatic Lion. As well as approximately 300 Lions, other smaller members of the cat family are well represented, namely the Jungle Cat, Desert Cat and the Rusty Spotted Cat, and there is also a healthy population of Leopard. Also to be found here are Sambar, Nilgai, Chinkara, Sambar, Black Buck, Four-Horned Antelope, Wild Boar, Indian Flying Fox, Indian Pangolin and Indian Porcupine. For birders an estimated 300 species are found in Gir, with notable species including Paradise Flycatcher, Black-Headed Cuckoo Shrike, Pied Woodpecker and Bonelli's Eagle. The area was not always a park so today the animals and birds of Gir co-exist side by side with the remaining settlements of cattle herders, and it is not unusual to see many head of livestock in the park. Gir is most easily reached by flights from Mumbai to Diu airport, 110 kilometres from the park. Lion Safari Camp consists of 20 luxury safari tents in a beautiful setting in a private Mango Orchard overlooking the Hiran River, each with en-suite facilities. The public areas of camp consist of an open-air river-facing restaurant. Velavadar National Park Velavadar is a peaceful sanctuary comprised of 35 square kilometres of savannah in Gujarat. Set between two rivers and only a few miles from the Gulf of Cambay this park is home to thousands of India’s endemic Blackbuck. In the days of the Maharajas of Bhavnagar these handsome antelope were protected for the occasional royal hunting trips. Other animals of note include the endangered India Wolf, fox, jackal, Jungle Cat and Wild Pig. The birdlife here is also extensive with endangered birds such as Houbara Bustard, Lesser Florican, Common Crane, Sarus White Stork and White Pelican all present. Velavadar lies 70 kilometres north of Bhavnagar airport, and en-route visitors may also wish to visit Palitana, a magnificent complex of 863 ancient temples rising into the air on the Shatrunjaya Hill. Nilambagh Palace is a simple hotel located at Bhavnagar. It is a most attractive building which was original built in 1859 as the residence of the crown prince. It has beautiful lawns, a pillared portico with high arches and is surrounded by forest. Little Rann of Kutch The Little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary is one of India’s largest at a staggering 4,950 square kilometres. It consists of desert plains, arid grasslands, rocky and thorny scrublands, lakes and marshes. This is the last remaining home of the Asiatic Wild Ass it is a conservation success story with the asses have been returned from a population of only 800 in the 1960’s to over 2,000 currently. This is not the only mammal of interest here however as the sanctuary is also home to Chinkara, Black Buck, Nilgai, Wild Boar, Jackal and Jungle Cat. There are so many birds here that the area has been named an official Ramsar site. Birds here include Steppe, Imperial, and Short-toed Eagle, Houbara Bustard, flamingos, pelicans, storks and cranes. The best birding is during the winter months from October to March when waterfowl gather in vast numbers. These are the months when Demoiselle and Common Crane, and Lesser Flamingo are seen in incredibly large numbers. Rann Riders Camp is a cottage camp at Dasada near the Little Rann of Kutch wildlife sanctuary. The camp has 13 self-contained twin air-conditioned cottages each resembling traditional village huts. Itinerary suggestions India’s Big Five Day 1. Depart UK for Dui via Delhi. Day 2. Sasangir National Park, 3-nights [B, L, D] Day 5. Mumbai [B] Day 6. Kanha National Park, 3-nights [B, L, D] Day 9. Nagpur [B] Day 10. Kaziranga, 3-nights [B, L, D] Day 13. Return to the UK [B] Day 14. Arrive home The Wilds of Gujarat Day 1. Depart UK for Bhavnagar via Mumbai Day 2. Velavadar National Park, 3-nights [B, L, D] Day 5. Sasangir National Park, 4-nights [B, L, D] Day 9. Gondal [B, L, D] Day 10. Little Rann of Kutch, 3-nights [B, L, D] Day 13. Mumbai [B] Day 14. Depart Mumbai arrive home same day Cost per person: From £3,450 Single supplement: Available on request What is included: Flights, meals as indicated, transfers & guided activities Accommodation: Hotels & lodges Departure dates: Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays, November to May Cost per person: From £2,495 Single supplement: Available on request What is included: Flights, meals as indicated, transfers & guided activities Accommodation: Hotels & lodges Departure dates: Daily, November to May

S E E U S O N T H E W E B AT wildlifeworldwide.com Delhi Delhi is actually two fascinating cities – old and new. Old Delhi pulses with energy and colour, providing a fascinating insight into the sights, sounds and aromas of the Indian sub-continent; and here you will see the enormous Red Fort (please note that this is closed on Mondays), the Jama Masjid Mosque with its tapering minarets and wonderful marble domes and the bustling bazaar of Chandni Chowk. New Delhi is a complete contrast; it is a landscaped city of wide boulevards, colonial monuments, stately palaces and formal parks. Here you find the Parliament Building - once the aweinspiring residence of the British Viceroys and now the Presidential Palace, the Raj Ghat - cremation site of Mahatama Gandhi, India Gate - a majestic memorial to the Indian Soldiers killed in World War I, the ancient and fascinating Qutab Minar tower, Humanyun's Tomb – graceful Mughal fore-runner of the Taj Mahal and finally the Birla Mandir (a large Hindu Temple built in 1938). To see the major sites of Delhi you should allow at least a day (longer if you want to see things at a more relaxed pace). The Claridges is a first class historic hotel in the heart of New Delhi. All the beautifully appointed rooms are airconditioned and en-suite with a full range of facilities. There is also a swimming pool, four restaurants, and a health club. The Claridges has been a landmark in Lutyen’s Delhi since the colonial period. The Imperial is a five-star hotel in the centre of Delhi with 137 beautifully appointed rooms and suites. The hotel has a swimming pool, shopping arcade, health club, tennis and golf facilities, three restaurants and bar. Built in 1933, the hotel is a spacious mix of Victorian, old colonial and art deco styles, set in four hectares of beautifully landscaped grounds. Uppal’s Orchid has 84 luxurious rooms. This wellappointed and excellent hotel is located close to the airport and is the ideal place for a day-use room or short airport stopover. Agra The northern Indian city of Agra is home to one of the world’s most iconic monuments - the Taj Mahal, a monument built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal. For 22 years, 20,000 men laboured day and night to build this masterpiece in white marble which has held the world awe-struck ever since. A visit to northern India would be incomplete without a visit to this amazing building and the nearby Agra Fort, where Shah Jehan was imprisoned by his son. A short drive from the city you will find the wonderful palaces of the ‘ghost city’ of Fatehpur Sikri. Agra has good rail and road connections from Delhi some 253 kilometres to the north. (Please note that the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.) The Trident Hilton Hotel in Agra is a first-class hotel set in beautiful landscaped gardens just four kilometres from the Taj Mahal. The hotel combines traditional Mughal architecture with all the amenities of a modern hotel. The 138 rooms surround a central courtyard with a swimming pool and elegant fountains. The Oberoi Amarvilas is the most luxurious hotel in Agra, and the only one where you can enjoy the luxury of your own private terrace overlooking the Taj Mahal, just 600 metres away. All the 102 rooms and suites offer full en-suite facilities. Every room in the hotel offers breathtaking views of the monument, and three suites even have bathrooms with Taj views! This hotel is truly in a league of its own and stay at the Amarvilas will never be forgotten. Khajuraho Today Khajuraho is a small village in a remote part of central India, but 1000 years ago it was the magnificent seat of the Chandela Kings who built 85 temples, of which 22 remain in eloquent testimony to the glory of their reign. The world-famous Chandela Dynasty Temples built between 950 and 1050 AD are famous for their sensuous and erotic sculptures which so shocked their Victorian ‘discoverers’. However, the temples also offer a fascinating insight into a more liberal pre-Islamic and pre-Christian life in India, portraying every minutia of daily human life and emotions. We recommend an overnight stay here as the temples are best viewed at dawn or dusk. For the wildlife enthusiast visiting Bandhavgarh or Panna, Khajuraho’s excellent hotels make a convenient, refreshing and interesting stop, and the village is easily worked into a circuit of the central Indian parks. It is just 26 kilometres from Panna National Park and roughly six hours drive from Bandhavgarh National Park. Regular express trains to and from Delhi and Agra depart from Jhansi Station. The Jas Radisson is a five-star deluxe hotel in the village of Khajaraho. Accommodation is in 90 airconditioned rooms and suites, set amidst verdant, landscaped lawns. 97 Asia / India The cities