Central India Tiger trail

Start point atA - Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport,Nagpur, MH

End point atX - Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport,Nagpur, MH

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Day : 1 - Pench National Park

Halt B1 - Pench National Park, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Distance from days start -82 Kms.

Activities - Jungle Safari at pench

Factors at the Halt include : Forests,Wildlife.

Pench National Park is just about 2 hours drive from Nagpur. It is a national park with an area of 257 km2 and includes Pench Tiger Reserve. It derives its name from the Pench River that flows through the park from north to south dividing the park into almost equal western and eastern halves, the well-forested areas of Seoni and Chhindwara districts respectively. At Pench we shall go on Wildlife safari which lasts for approx 2 hours and then check into our forest resort for the night stay.

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Pench is the land of Mowgli in Jungle Book
Safari Gates
Shot of a tiger in the reserve

Day : 2 - Kanha National Park

Halt C1 - Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India
Distance from days start -162 Kms.

Activities - Jungle Safari at Kanha

Factors at the Halt include : Forests,Wildlife.

Kanha national park is 4.5 hours drive from Pench national park. Kanha Tiger Reserve is one of the largest national park of the India. The present-day Kanha area is divided into two protected areas, Hallon and Banjar, of 250 and 300 km2, respectively. Together with a surrounding buffer zone of 1,067 km2 and the neighboring 110 km2 Phen Sanctuary, it forms the Kanha Tiger Reserve. This makes it the largest national park in central India. Kanha is a haven for tiger spotting as the chances of spotting a tiger in the jungles here are very high. For the same reason, Kanha is extremely popular with wildlife especially the big cat's photographers and enthusiasts in the world. We will be doing a wildlife safari in Kanha that lasts for 2 hours and then we shall check into our resort, to spend the night in the forest.

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Road to Kanha
Popular with wildlife photographers

Day : 3 - A day at Jabalpur

Halt D1 - Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
Distance from days start -113 Kms.

Activities - Visit Dhuandar Waterfalls, Boating at Marble Rocks, Ropeway ride through Marble Rocks Gorge, Visit Madan Mahal Fort

Factors at the Halt include :

Jabalpur is a city in Madhya Pradesh and it is 3.5 hours drive from Kanha national park. Jabalpur has some very interesting sites around which we can visit a few as per our time availability. The first attraction being Dhuander falls and the world-famous Marble rocks. Both are located in the same area making it convenient for us to club both the activities together. The Narmada River, making its way through the Marble Rocks, narrows down and then plunges in a waterfall known as Dhuandhaar. The plunge, which creates a bouncing mass of mist, is so powerful that its roar is heard from a far distance. The Marble Rocks are a gorge along part of the Narmada River. We can do a Ropeway ride and boating along the Narmada river through the Gorge of Marble Rocks. After visiting the Marble Rocks region we shall head to another wonderful site in Jabalpur, which is the Madan Mahal Fort. Situated atop a hill in Jabalpur city is a small but enchanting fort of the Rajgond rulers. The fort dates back to 11th century AD. The fort is well associated with Rani Durgavati the Gond Queen and her son Veer Narayan. Rani Durgavati eventually died fighting the Mughals and is hailed as a martyr in Indian history. The fort is characterized by the intrigue of ancient monuments in India. The structure generates an aura of awe being compact and yet fully equipped for martial encounters. The stable, war rooms, small reservoir, and main pleasure chamber of the rulers offer visitors much to see and admire. The monument is situated at a height of about five hundred meters on the hill of the same name. The Balancing Rock is a huge stone balanced on the tip of another. It is a geological wonder on the way to the fort. There are many myths floating about the fort of the Gonds. It is said to harbor gold bricks and Gond treasures are hidden somewhere in its inaccessible underground folds. A tunnel covering a long distance is said to be located somewhere around the precinct - a possible escape route and transportation artery of the Gonds. After visiting both the sites we shall be ready to check into our hotel to spend the night in this wonderful city.

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Jabalpur City
Dhuandhar Falls
Marble Rocks Gorge
Dhuandhar falls and Marble Rocks Gorgle
Madan Mahal Fort
Madan Mahal Fort
Balancing Rock at Madan Mahal fort

Day : 4 - Bandhavgarh National Park

Halt E1 - Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Kila Bandhogarh, Madhya Pradesh, India
Distance from days start -121 Kms.

Activities - Jungle Safari at Bandavgarh

Factors at the Halt include : Wildlife,Forests.

A 4 hour drive from Jabalpur will get us to the Bandhavgarh National Park. The national park is located in the Umaria district, with the current core area spread over 716 square kilometres. The three main zones of the national park are Tala, Magdhi and Khitauli. Tala is the richest zone in terms of biodiversity, mainly tigers. Altogether, these three ranges comprise the 'Core' of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. As expected the highlight of the trip to the national parks, we shall do the wildlife safari to keep spotting more and more of the big cats. The 3 hour safari typically finishes by 6 PM, after which we shall check into our resort.

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Hilly terrain of the Bandhavgarh national park
Bandhavgarh national park landscape
Sightings at the park

Day : 5 - Panna National Park

Halt F1 - Karnavati Retreat, Mandla, Madhya Pradesh, India
Distance from days start -152 Kms.

Activities - Wildlife safari at Panna Wild life sanctuary

Factors at the Halt include : Rivers / Lakes,Forests,Wildlife.

From Bandhagarh we shall head to Panna national park, which is about 5 hours drive. Panna National Park is located in Panna and Chhatarpur districts of Madhya Pradesh and it has an area of 542 sq kms. Among the animals found here are the tiger, leopard, chital, chinkara, nilgai, sambhar and sloth bear. The park is home to more than 200 species of birds. As expected on reaching Panna we shall catch up with the 2.30 PM safari which gets over by 5.30 PM. After finishing the safari we shall drive to a beautiful riverside resort bordering the northern end of the national park, to spend the night.

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Panna National Park Lanscapes
Panna National Park Lanscapes
Panna Wildlife Safari

Day : 6 - Khajuraho Temples

Halt G1 - Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, India
Distance from days start -13 Kms.

Activities - Visit Khajuraho temples

Factors at the Halt include : Spiritual.

Halt H2 - Raneh Water Falls, Raneh Falls Road, Dhoguwan, Madhya Pradesh, India
Distance from days start -16 Kms.

Activities - Raneh waterfalls and canyons

Factors at the Halt include :

Halt I3 - Pandav Caves and Fall, National Highway 39, Nahri, Madhya Pradesh, India
Distance from days start -5 Kms.

Activities - Visit the Pandav Caves and falls, Panna

Factors at the Halt include :

Halt J4 - Barua Sagar Fort, Talarmanna, Uttar Pradesh, India
Distance from days start -146 Kms.

Activities - Visit Barua Sagar Fort

Factors at the Halt include :

Halt K5 - Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Distance from days start -165 Kms.

Activities - Visit Barua Sagar Fort

Factors at the Halt include :

This day is packed with activities. Our first visit would be the Pandav Caves and waterfalls just 10 mins away from our resort. About 30 metres high, Pandav falls is located on a tributary of the Ken River, as it plunges over the falls to join it. Surrounded by lush green forests, the falls are spectacular and accessed even during peak monsoon season. The serenity, purity, and mystic atmosphere of Pandav Falls attract both the locals and tourists. At the foot of falls, there are some ancient caves overlooking a large pool of water. The Pandavas of the Mahabharata are believed to have spent a part of their exile here. Just north of Panna about 30 mins drive is the Raneh Canyons and waterfalls. The Ken River forms a 5 kilometers long, and 30 meters deep canyon made of pure crystalline granite in varying shades of colors ranging from pink and red to grey. There is a series of waterfalls in the canyon. The larger and smaller falls run all through the year. Other seasonal falls appear during monsoons. A 20-minute drive from Raneh will get us to the world-famous UNESCO site of Khajuraho temples. The Khajuraho Group of Monuments are a group of Hindu and Jain temples that is famous for their nagara-style architectural symbolism and their erotic sculptures. Most Khajuraho temples were built between 885 AD and 1050 AD by the Chandela dynasty. Historical records note that the Khajuraho temple site had 85 temples by the 12th century, spread over 20 square kilometers. Of these, only about 25 temples have survived, spread over six square kilometers. Of the surviving temples, the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is decorated with a profusion of sculptures with intricate details, symbolism, and expressiveness of ancient Indian art. When these monuments were built, the boys in the place lived in hermitages, by being brahmcharis (bachelors) until they attained manhood and these sculptures helped them to learn about the worldly role of 'householder'. The Khajuraho group of temples were built together but were dedicated to two religions, Hinduism and Jainism, suggesting a tradition of acceptance and respect for diverse religious views among Hindus and Jains in the region. After visiting the temples and monuments we shall be ready to move to Jhansi where we shall be exploring the Orcha temples and monuments the next day. En route as the sun is setting, we shall visit Barua Sagar fort on the way. The place is named after the Barua Sagar Tal, a large lake created about 260 years ago when Raja Udit Singh of Orchha built the embankment. This fort, picturesquely located at a height, commands an excellent view of the lake and surrounding landscape.

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Pandav Falls
Around Pandav Falls
Pandav Caves
Raneh Canyons
Raneh Waterfalls
Khajuraho Temples
Khajuraho Temples
Khajuraho Temples and monuments
The erotic sculptures of Khajuraho
The erotic sculptures of Khajuraho
Barua Sagar Fort and Lake
Barua Sagar Fort

Day : 7 - Amazing Orcha and Jhansi

Halt L1 - Órcha, Madhya Pradesh, India
Distance from days start -10 Kms.

Activities - Visit Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Visit Chatur Bhuj Temple, Orcha, Visit Orcha Fort, Visit Jahangir Mahal Orcha,

Factors at the Halt include : Spiritual,Cultural / History.

Orcha is a town that is famous for its temples, Cenotaphs, and forts. It is historically very rich and provides enough monuments to keep a traveler engaged for at least 3 days. However, we shall have to try to accommodate the sights that impress you the most within a day. Our first stop would be to the amazing Orcha fort complex. The Orchha Fort complex, which houses a large number of ancient monuments consisting of the fort, palaces, temple, and other edifices. The fort and other structures within it were built by the Bundela Rajputs starting from the early 16th century by King Rudra Pratap Singh of the Orchha State and others who followed him. The fort complex, which is accessed from an arched causeway, leads to a large gateway. This is followed by a large quadrangular open yard surrounded by palaces. These are Raja Mahal or Raja Mandir, Sheesh Mahal, Jahangir Mahal, a temple, gardens, and pavilions. The battlements of the fort have ornamentation. Interestingly Jahangir Mahal is a palace that was exclusively built by Bir Singh Deo in 1605 to humor the Mughal emperor Jahangir who was a guest of the Maharaja for one night only. The palace is built on four levels with architectural features of both Muslim and Rajput architecture. Lakshmi Narayan Temple is a unique Octagonal shaped huge structure of a temple in Orchha. Built by Bir Singh Deo in 1622, Lakshmi Narayan Temple is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and is a blend of temple and fort architecture. The altar of this temple is constructed in the shape of a vulva while its inner sanctum is similar to a Tantric cult. Though the temple is dedicated to the Goddess Lakshmi, there is no idol of the Goddess kept inside the temple. Chaturbhuj Temple, dedicated to Vishnu, is also situated at Orchha. The temple has a complex multi-storied structural view which is a blend of temple, fort, and palace architectural features. Orcha is also famous for its cenotaphs called the Chatris. There are fourteen 'Chatris' or memorials to the rulers of Orchha, grouped along the Kanchana Ghat of the river Betwa. There are the 17th and 18th centuries beautiful cenotaphs of the rulers of Orchha. Amidst this group of cubical structures with temple-like spires, Bir Singh’s cenotaph alone has explicit Islamic features. In short, Orcha looks straight out of an Indiana Jones movie and is the epitome of the rich culture and heritage of India during the era. After showing the best of justice we can to the sights of Orcha we shall return to Jhansi city hardly 15 km away to catch up with some important sights there. In Jhansi we can visit the Jhansi fort. Jhansi Fort, a fortress situated on a large hilltop called Bangira. It served as a stronghold of the Chandela Kings in Balwant Nagar from the 11th through the 17th century.

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Orcha Fort
Jahangir Mahal
Raja mahal
Lakshmi Narayan temple
Lakshmi Narayan temple
ChaturBhuj temple
ChaturBhuj temple
The cenotaphs of Orcha by the Betwa river
Jhansi Fort
Jhansi Fort

Day : 8 - The Regal city Gwalior

Halt N1 - Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India
Distance from days start -93 Kms.

Activities - Visit Gwalior Fort, Visit Man Singh Palace, Visit Gujari Mahal, Visit Jai Vilas Palace and Museum, Visit Gopachal Parvat Cave temples, Visit Tansens tomb monument.

Factors at the Halt include : Spiritual,Cultural / History.

On day 8 we shall set on a 2 hour drive from Jhansi to the historical city of Gwalior to explore the monuments of Gwalior. We will start with the spectacular hill fort, Gwalior fort . The fort has existed at least since the 10th century, and the inscriptions and monuments found within what is now the fort campus indicate that it may have existed as early as the beginning of the 6th century. And then we shall visit the Sasbahu Temple, an 11th-century twin temple in Gwalior. Then we shall visit the Jai Vilas palace, a nineteenth century palace right in Gwalior city. Our next stop would be Gujari Mahal a historic palace-turned-museum exhibiting archaeological finds such as sculptures & weapons. It comprises of 3 palaces within the compound, namely the Gujari Mahal, Jahangir palace and the Man Singh palace. And finally by afternoon we shall head to the beautiful Gopachal parvat, the spectacular Rock cut Jain temple. Before ending the day we can also visit the tomb of the greatest musician and singer ever lived in India, Tansen. We possibly can not pack any more history for a day though the city is reeking with a lot more of it with historical monuments, palaces and buildings of archaeological importance. But we shall retire to our hotel for the day.

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Gujari mahal monuments
The rock cut temples of Gopachal Parvat
The rock cut temples of Gopachal Parvat
The rock cut temples of Gopachal Parvat
Gwalior Fort
Gwalior fort a closer look
Gujari Mahal
The Jai Vilas Palace
Jai Vilas Palace
A peek inside the Jai Vilas Palace
A peek inside the Jai Vilas Palace
SasBahu temple complex
SasBahu temple
Tansens Tomb
Tansens Tomb

Day : 9 - The wild Ranthambhore

Halt O1 - Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan, India
Distance from days start -169 Kms.

Activities - Wild life safari at Ranthambhore National Park, Visit Ranthambhore fort

Factors at the Halt include : Forests,Wildlife.

On Day 9 we shall set out on a long 6 hour drive from Gwalior to Ranthambore national park, in an effort of not to miss out on one of Indias most famous and finest Tiger reserves. With a massive area of 1,334 km2, it is bounded to the north by the Banas River and to the south by the Chambal River. It is named after the historic Ranthambore Fort, which lies within the park. The fort and the tiger territory has been an inspiration and setting for various movies including some from Hollywood. Ranthambore National Park harbours dry deciduous forests and open grassy meadow. The flora of the park includes 539 species of flowering plants. Ranthambore Fort was built in the 10th century at 210 m (700 ft) above the surrounding plain. Inside the fort are three red Karauli stone temples devoted to Ganesh, Shiva and Ramlalaji. There is a Digamber Jain temple of Lord Sumatinath and Lord Sambhavanath. The temples were constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries. Padam Talao is the largest of the many lakes in the park. A red sandstone Jogi Mahal is at the edge of the lake. A gigantic Banyan tree, considered to be India's second largest, is also near the lake. We shall catch up for the 3 PM safari that goes on till 6 PM. In case we miss to catch the after noon safari we can hope to catch up on the next day morning safari. However we can drive up through the national park to the fascinating Ranthambore Fort and visit its splendours. After the safari we shall retire to our jungle resort for the much required relaxation after such a long day.

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Ranthambhore Safari
King of Ranthambhore National Park
View from Ranthambore Fort
Ranthambhore Fort
Ranthambhore Fort
Ruins of Ranthambhore Fort

Day : 10 - Garadia Mahadev & Gagron

Halt P1 - Garadia Mahadev Temple, Garadiya Mahadev Rd, Daulatganj at, Rajasthan, India
Distance from days start -126 Kms.

Activities - Visit the lost Garadia Mahadev hill temple

Factors at the Halt include : Spiritual,Great Views.

Halt Q2 - Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India
Distance from days start -161 Kms.

Activities - Visit Gagron Fort

Factors at the Halt include :

On Day 10 we shall set out from Ranthambhore to reach Jhalawar in Rajasthan state, which is about 5 and half hour drive. En route just out of Kota city we shall visit the enchanting hill temple of Garadia Mahadev which is situated in a cliff that lies a gorge through which runs the river Chambal. It involves a short trek to reach the temple but the sights of the gorge on the river and the cliff where the temple sits is rewarding enough. On reaching Jhalawar we shall visit the Gagron Fort which is situated with in the city limits in Gagron. Gagron Fort is a hill and water fort and it was built by Bijaldev in the twelfth century. Later, the fort has also been controlled by Sher Shah and Akbar. The fort is constructed on the confluence of Ahu River and Kali Sindh River. The fort is surrounded by water on three sides and a moat on the forth side. The spectacular fort has been designated as a UNESCO world heritage site. After visiting the fort we shall check into a resort where you can relax for the rest of day and evening.

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The spectacular View of Garadia Mahadev Gorge
Garadia Mahadev Temple
Garadia Mahadev Temple sights
Gagron Fort
Gagron Fort
Gagron Fort

Day : 11 - Sanchi and Bhopal

Halt R1 - Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
Distance from days start -195 Kms.

Activities - Boating in Upper lake, Buddhist monuments at Sanchi

Factors at the Halt include : Spiritual,Cultural / History.

On Day 11 we shall leave from Jhalawar and head towards Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh state. Before Bhopal we shall take a deviation and head towards Sanchi stupas which is about 50 kms away from Bhopal and about 5 and half hours away from our Origin. Sanchi is a Buddhist complex, famous for its Great Stupa, on a hilltop at Sanchi Town. The Great Stupa at Sanchi is one of the oldest stone structures in India, and an important monument of Indian Architecture. It was originally commissioned by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka the great in the 3rd century BCE. Its nucleus was a simple hemispherical brick structure built over the relics of the Buddha. The original construction work of this stupa was overseen by the king Ashoka the great. Sanchi is the center of a region with a number of stupas, all within a few miles of Sanchi, the total comprising to about 40 stupas. After visting the stupas we shall head towards Bhopal where we shall do boating in the upper lake in Bhopal city.

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Sanchi Stupas Aerial view
Sanchi Stupa
Sanchi Stupa
Boating in Upper Lake Bhopal
Upper Lake Bhopal
Bhopal City
Bhopal a city by the lakes

Day : 12 - Bimbetka and Satpuras

Halt S1 - Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhai, Suplai, Madhya Pradesh, India
Distance from days start -108 Kms.

Activities - Jungle safari at Satpura Tiger Reserve

Factors at the Halt include : Wildlife.

On day 13 we shall leave Bhopal city and head south towards the Satpura hills. On the way we shall stop at the Unesco heritage site of Bimbetka caves. The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological site in central India that spans the prehistoric Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods, as well as the historic period. It exhibits the earliest traces of human life in India and evidence of Stone Age starting at the site in Acheulian times. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that consists of seven hills and over 750 rock shelters distributed over 10 km. At least some of the shelters were inhabited more than 100,000 years ago. Some of the Bhimbetka rock shelters feature prehistoric cave paintings and the earliest are about 10,000 years old (c. 8,000 BCE), corresponding to the Indian Mesolithic. These cave paintings show themes such as animals, early evidence of dance and hunting. The Bhimbetka site has the oldest-known rock art in India, as well as is one of the largest prehistoric complexes. Bhimbetka rock art is considered oldest petroglyphs in the whole world. After Bimbetka we shall go further south towards the Satpura range of mountains and just in the foothills is one of the finest Tiger sanctuary in the whole of India, the Satpura Tiger Reserve. We can reach in time for the afternoon wildlife safari where there are high chances of spotting some big cats. After the safari we shall ascend the hills to reach Pachmarhi hill station the only hill station in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

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Bimbetka caves
Bimbetka caves
Bimbetka caves
The prehistoric Rock paintings at Bimbetka
The prehistoric Rock paintings at Bimbetka
Satpura Tiger reserve
Satpura Tiger reserve
Satpura hills at Pachmarhi
Satpura hills at Pachmarhi

Day : 13 - The Pachmarhi Hillstation

Halt U1 - Panchmarhi Hill Station, Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh, India
Distance from days start -0 Kms.

Activities - Visit Pandav Caves, Dutchess falls, Abode of Bears, Vist Bee Falls

Factors at the Halt include : Hills,Great Views.

Day 13 can be entirely spend in exploring the hill station of Pachmarhi. The most interesting sites to see in Pachmarhi can be explored with in a day. The Pandava Caves are a group of five caves in a small hillock in Pachmarhi. It is believed that the Pandavas during their period of exile took shelter in these caves. The archaeological evidences claim that the caves where constructed by Buddhist monks during the 1st century as they used them as a place of refuge. Next in lne we can visit the most famous waterfalls in Pachmarhi the Bee falls where the water falls from a height. There is a trek involved to get to the falls including stepping down a 100 steps. But the waterfalls is worth the trek for sure. The there is the Jata Shankar Caves in Pachmarhi are considered sacred as they are popularly believed to be the place where Lord Shiva concealed himself from the wrath of Bhasmasur. The caves boast of a natural Shivalingam under the shadow of a massive rock and the stone formation in the cave closely resemble the mythological hundred headed snake Seshnag. Jatashankar is located in a deep ravine with enormous boulders perched above. The cave contains stalagmites which are revered as naturally formed lingams. The cave serves as a shrine to the God Shiva and is a popular destination for pilgrims. Jata means hair and Shankar is another name of Lord Shiva. There are two ponds fed by springs found in the locality, one of cold water and the other one of hot water. Next stop would be Dhupgarh the highest point in the Satpura hills at 1350 meters above the sea level, it is a great spot for the views. The last spot where we can visit and probably the best spot for you to have a swim in the water would be the Duchess falls. It again involves a bit of trek which is again well worth it especially when you can end the days trip with a refreshing bath in the pool made by the falls.

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Panch Pandav Caves, Pachmarhi
Panch Pandav Caves, Pachmarhi
Bee falls
Bee falls
Jata Shankar Caves
Jata Shankar Caves
Dieties inside Jata Shankar Caves
Duchess Falls
Duchess Falls
Dhupgarh hill
View from Dhupgarh
Sunset point Dhupgarh

Day : 14 - A day in Nagpur

Halt V1 - Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Distance from days start -324 Kms.

Activities - Food tour - Savji Jagdish

Factors at the Halt include : Shopping,Iconic Food Outlets.

On day 14 we shall head to Nagpur city from where we started the trip. Nagpur is 6 hours of drive from Pachmarhi and we should reach by afternoon to Nagpur. While in Nagpur we shall try out the most popular food joint in the city, Savji Jagdish Bhojanalay restaurant which is very famous for the authentic taste called Savji cuisine. After that we shall check int our hotel for you to relax the rest of the afternoon.

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Nagpur city
Nagpur city
Savji Jagdish Bhojanalay

Day : 15 - The last day of the trip

The last day of the trip can be spend in shopping and visiting the city's hot spots. And when its time for your return flights we can drop you to the airport.