Board on The Deccan Odyssy (Sawai Madhopur & Ranthambore National Park)
Sawai Madhopur, in Rajasthan is the alighting point for the famous Ranthambore National Park, and India's efforts to conserve the dwindling tiger population can be seen here. The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country and the most likely place to spot one of these majestic animals. Enjoy breakfast before you set out for your morning village safari. The people of Rajasthan's villages are mostly tribals who subsist on farming and hunting. These friendly folk are warm and welcoming, happy to show guests around their villages, giving deep insights into their daily lives. The women here wear bright colours to offset the drab desert, and most people live in mud huts. Visit a local home for a and interact with the family. Post the village tour head back to the comfort of Deccan Odyssey for a sumptuous lunch.
Post lunch, disembark to head for the afternoon safari. Ranthambore is home to several other species as well; you can see herds of Chital and Sambhar deer as well as wild boar, Nilgai antelope and chinkara gazelles. There are also sloth bear, a few leopards and crocodiles. Extensive bird life includes jungle fowl, partridges, quails, the crested serpent eagle, woodpeckers, flycatchers etc. There are also water birds like storks, ducks and geese at the lakes and waterholes. If it's your lucky day, you could spot a tiger lolling around lazily in the sun, or feverishly hunting down deer around the lakes!
After a fulfilling afternoon, proceed for high tea at the Sawai Madhopur Lodge, the former hunting lodge of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur. Feel free to share the spoils (of your photo-shoots!) over a leisurely hi tea.
After high tea, it is time to head back to the Deccan Odyssey where you can relax with a drink before dinner on board, as the Deccan Odyssey sets off for Agra, the city of Taj Mahal.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on board, High tea at Taj Sawai Madhopur Lodge