MV Bhitarkanika

PM: Arrive at the village of Gupti, which is approx. 3.5 hours drive from Bhubaneswar and a short distance from the nearby town of Rajnagar.

You are welcomed on board with a refreshing beverage followed by a safety briefing. Enjoy sundowner as you gently traverse the Pathsala River enjoying a curated Hi-Tea. The sight of distant Bay of Bengal has breathtaking views. A multi course traditional meal awaits you in the evening giving you the flavours of the region.

Overnight onboard Catamaran.

AM: After breakfast, full day sailing into the rich and unique mangrove ecosystem with creeks, mudflats, and estuaries to arrive in Dangamal, en route looking for Estuarian Crocodile, Spotted Deer, Monitor Lizard, Wild Boar, Indian Python, Rhesus Macaque and variety of birds. Time permitting, visit the Orientation Centre.

PM: Later sail back to Gupti, where the view of the forest and the setting sun are simply mesmerizing. Dinner followed by a relaxed evening. Dinner & overnight onboard Catamaran at Gupti.

AM: Following breakfast disembark the catamaran and proceed for your onward journey.

Important note: Final operational program will be as per the local tide timings and as such subject to change.

PM: Arrive at the village of Gupti, which is approx. 3.5 hours drive from Bhubaneswar and a short distance from the nearby town of Rajnagar.

You are welcomed on board with a refreshing beverage followed by a safety briefing. Enjoy sundowner as you gently traverse the Pathsala River enjoying a curated Hi-Tea. The sight of distant Bay of Bengal has breathtaking views. A multi course traditional meal awaits you in the evening giving you the flavours of the region.

Overnight onboard Catamaran.

AM: Today sail into the rich and unique mangrove ecosystem with creeks, mudflats and estuaries to arrive in Dangamal. Disembark and visit the Orientation Centre. Then you also explore the park on foot to observe and learn about the mangrove forest on trails. Bhitarkanika was declared a sanctuary in 1975, in order to protect the estuarine crocodile and the turtles in their rare mangrove habitat. Other residents of the sanctuary include water monitor lizards, king cobras, and migrating birds. About 62 different kinds of mangroves are found here. The virgin stretched beaches, meandering water courses, and tranquil surroundings intercepted by the chirping of birds, will surely enchant you.

PM: Enjoy a sundowner from the top deck of your cruise ship while cruising back to Gupti where the views of the forest and the setting sun are simply mesmerizing. Dinner at leisure followed by a relaxed evening.

Overnight onboard Catamaran.

AM: After breakfast, set sail again to Dangamal. Ride the country boat in the narrow channel to Khola for birdwatching and viewing other animals along the river.

PM: Return to the Catamaran for lunch. Thereafter explore the park on foot on a different trail to observe and learn about the forest with birding watching opportunities. Cruise back to Gupti Jetty.

Overnight onboard Catamaran.

AM: Enjoy the sunrise and feel the fresh clear crisp air that is so invigorating. Relish the landscapes and beauty of the river and the life alongside. Disembark cruise at Gupti Jetty early morning post breakfast.

AM & PM: Arrive Delhi. After clearing immigrations and customs, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Meal: -

AM: After an early morning breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Raipur.

PM: On arrival in Raipur, drive to Kanha (approx. 4 hrs) and check in your resort. 

Kanha National Park, is amongst the most famous wildlife sanctuaries of India. This park is situated in the Mandla district of Central India in Madhya Pradesh. The main wildlife attractions in the park are tiger, leopard, bison, gaur, sambhar, chital, Barasingha, barking deer, black deer, blackbuck, Chousingha, nilgai, mouse deer, sloth bear, jackal fox, porcupine, hyena, jungle cat, python, peafowl, hare, monkey, and mongoose. Kanha National Park is the place that has been portrayed by Rudyard Kipling in his great novel "The Jungle Book". 

Dinner and overnight at the resort.

Meals: B, D

AM & PM: Morning and afternoon game drive in the park by jeep.

Lunch, Dinner, and overnight at the resort.

Meals: B, L, D

AM & PM: Morning and afternoon game drive in the park by jeep.

Lunch, Dinner, and overnight at the resort.

Meals: B, L, D

AM & PM: Day at leisure to enjoy your beautiful resort or explore the pristine region.

A walk through a tribal village: An unsoiled authentic India, you find yourself drifting through small villages that have fields of paddy, sugarcane, and other seasonal crops around their periphery. The first thing you notice is the bright smiling faces of little children content with their makeshift toys. Women went about their daily chores: drawing water either from the hand pump or the village well, and men returning from the fields or attending to odd jobs around the house. The houses of the village are mostly built with handmade mud bricks, plastered with mud, and cow dung with a layer of limestone used as paint.

OR

Leisure & Nature Walk: Although Safari remains the prime attraction of the jungle, Nature Trails are for those who wish to explore nature closely on foot and for those who find joy in every little wonder of the jungle. Accompanied by a trained naturalist this is an amazing way to know about flora, butterflies, insects, birds, and small mammals that come across your walk.

Lunch, Dinner, and overnight at the resort.

Meals: B, L, D

AM: After early breakfast, drive to Raipur airport (approx. 4-hrs) for your flight to Bhubaneswar. Arrive and transfer to your hotel.

PM: Afternoon visit the Lingaraj and Mukteshwara temples. Lingaraj Temple (c. 11th century AD) is the biggest of all the temples in Bhubaneswar, soaring above the city of Bhubaneswar and dominating the landscape as far as 15-kms away. It represents Orissa temple architecture at its most mature and fully developed stage. Mukteshwara Temple (c. 10th century AD) often called the 'Gem of Orissa architecture'. With its ornate carvings and renditions of stories from the Panchatantra tales, it shows an excellent combination of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain features. 

Overnight at the hotel.

Meal: B

AM & PM: After an early breakfast, an excursion to Chilika (approx. 2.5 hrs- One Way) to see the bird life. 

Chilika has the highest diversity of wintering water birds of any site in the Orient. This enormous brackish water lagoon is one of the most important wetlands in Asia. The shallow water with islands, mud flats, marshes, and sandy sea shores offers good conditions for wintering ducks, waders, gulls, and terns. At times Chilika supports important populations of spot-billed Pelican, Asian Openbill, Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Bar Headed Goose, and Red-crested Pochard. The Lake has a regular wintering population of the rare and endangered Asian Dowitcher, a bird not easily found in India, while rarities such as the Goliath Heron, Baer’s Pochard, and Spoon-billed Sandpiper have been recorded. Also, there are waterfowl and waders.

Afternoon return back to Bhubaneswar, visiting en route the Khandagiri & Udayagiri Jain Caves, formerly called Kattaka Caves or Cuttack caves, are partly natural and partly artificial caves situated on two adjacent hills. They have a number of ornately carved caves built during the 1st century BCE.

Overnight at the hotel.

Meal: B

AM & PM: Morning drive to Gupti Jetty (approx. 3.5-4 hrs drive). En route visit the Lalitgiri Buddhist Monastery.

Lalitgiri a major Buddhist complex in Odisha. It is home to stupas, ‘esoteric’ Buddha images, and monasteries (viharas), which are the oldest site in the region. Significant finds at this complex include Buddha’s relics. Tantric Buddhism was practiced at this site.

Continue drive to arrive at the village of Gupti and embark the Catamaran. Familiarize yourself with the Catamaran vessel. Time permitting, enjoy a walk along the river. A multi-course traditional meal awaits you in the evening giving you flavours of the region. 

Overnight onboard the Catamaran at Gupti.

Meals: B, L, D

AM: After breakfast, full day sailing into the rich and unique mangrove ecosystem with creeks, mudflats, and estuaries to arrive in Dangamal, en route looking for Estuarian Crocodile, Spotted Deer, Monitor Lizard, Wild Boar, Indian Python, Rhesus Macaque and variety of birds. 

PM: Time permitting, visit the Orientation Centre. Later sail back to Gupti, where the view of the forest and the setting sun are simply mesmerizing. Dinner followed by a relaxed evening. 

Overnight onboard the Catamaran at Gupti.

Meals: B, L, D

AM & PM: After breakfast, sail on the Mahipura river towards Bay of Bengal and enjoy the landscape. Time/Tide condition permitting, you may visit Habali Kathi which involves a one hour walk through the mangrove forest to the beach. According to the tide schedule, sail back to Gupti jetty.

Overnight onboard Catamaran at Gupti.

Meals: B, L, D

AM & PM: After an early breakfast, drive back to Bhubaneswar (approx.-3.5 hrs). Upon arrival transfer to the airport and fly to Delhi.  Arrive and check-in at the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel.

Meal: B

AM: Breakfast. Today transfer to the airport and fly on your onward journey.

Meal: B