It is very important for us to understand and gauge how you feel as a tourist who is travelling to India. Are you here simply to observe, delve in, deep dive, or to be one with nature? The difference (even though you feel it is minor) is humongous. Some people only want a cultural immersion, some a wilderness one, and others…just a happy mix of both.
1. A destination/country explorer (first time to India):
If you’re here for the first time, I am sure you are aware of and read about the Taj Mahal. But as iconic as that is, it is only 0.1% of India. We pay homage to biodiversity that spreads across at least 2000 sq. kms with endemics that shine through the species lists.
The narrowest lanes of Old Delhi, combined with the Khasta Chaat in Agra, to the Biryani from 4 different states competing against each other, plus the East Indian Architecture…..This nation will always want you coming back for more. We have history that dates back to 5000 BC and modern city architecture that is pure glass….India, we promise, has something for everyone.
2. A second timer to India:
If you are coming to India for the second time, you have already witnessed the “wow factors”. Taj in Agra, Himalayan Wellness Retreats, bob heading music and dance of Mumbai, busiest Chandni Chowk streets in Delhi, the age-old forts of Jaipur and the temples of Varanasi that suddenly all the religious beliefs have fallen pray to.
But as you said, you are here now for a different reason. You are here for life in India that lies beyond what you read on the Internet. You are here for…maybe the wildlife (probably the growling of Sher Khan or the hiss of Kaa) maybe the cuisine and the myths that surround reality, or the luxury holidays that YouTube tries to justify. And if you are truly adventurous, you might even want to see a village or two…the roots of Bharat.
3. A serious discerning traveler focused on nature and wildlife encounters only:
Wildlife in India is unlike Africa. No frequent open meadows, no prides to photograph, migrations are also a myth here….but I am sure you already know this. The dense Indian jungles are full of animals (herbivores, reptiles, mammals and birds alike by the way) that are eager to be witnessed by you. However, your mind is still set on the Tiger. Rightly so too!
You know what his aura is and he so beautifully aura farms all of that and more (and he knows that!!!). The stripes of black on gold, the breath that only smells of stale meat and scat that lets us know what he ate for dinner! This is exactly what you’re after! Beyond the physical aspects, you wanted to look at the actual tiger.
After the poaching ended and after the medicinal value probably diminished, India worked toward ensuring you have a destination to witness this mighty creature, in open grasslands, in the Himalayan foothills, alongside riverbeds (sometimes even crossing it) and amidst thick Sal/Bamboo/Evergreen jungles of course. Every capacity you wanted to witness the tiger in, India is here to serve that. And we are here to cater to just that.
So, don’t think twice and write to us at [email protected] to get in touch with a tiger expert (I should be honest though, nobody is an expert on Tigers but himself!)
4. A repeat Indian wildlife lover:
We know we know…you have already seen a lot of India…a lot of stripey beasts….but I know there is a Rhino somewhere waiting for you to greet it’s one horn. Also, an Asian Elephant shining it’s white tusk. If you stretch from North to the South, India spreads across about 3200 kms, and across West to East, about 2900 kms, but I must tell you one thing, wildlife amidst all of this space has always been constant, true and existential.
Checkout our Tigers & Rhino Safari tour in India.
Therefore, before feeling extremely bored of the same Sal jungle or the golden grasslands, head over to the Gibbon Sanctuary and say hello across the tree. You might be surprised to find a cute endangered species smiling back! If not, go across to meet the Asiatic Lion that is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, or if you’re feeling adventurous…Phish in the world of Phishing Cats!
You also know for a fact that jeep safaris are not your only option. I know they are comfortable (who does not like good back support!), but boats, canoes or simply walking in nature are equally fabulous (this comes from someone who has walked her share in the Western Ghats).
The boats that you take or the canoe that you are guided on have not only a way around the river but are easier for the marine wildlife as well. A lot of tourists like to witness wildlife that stretches beyond the tiger. Every crane, bar headed geese or even a ruddy shell duck is going to pose for you…(for your dedication of waking up during the misty 1°Celsius winter mornings). All we need you to do is, keep an open mind toward India as a wildlife destination and appreciate minute to magnanimous.
5. A repeat Indian wildlife lover but wanting to see species and parks not seen before:
You have seen tigers and some wildlife but now wish to see maybe leopards, one-horned rhinos, elephants, lions, snow leopards, cheetahs, red pandas, or some lifers. Apart from regular vehicle safaris, you also would be keen to do a walking safari, a boat safari, and birding walks.
6. An amateur or a serious amateur photographer:
You wish to click; you wish to have the right settings too. But who is telling you which right setting and when? Indian jungles are different. You might just get a split-second view from the naked eye, and poof, gone!
This is where our expert naturalists walk in. They are tremendous when it comes to field knowledge (the jungle was practically their backyard growing up), narrating tales of yesteryear grasslands and iconic tigers that gave birth to family trees without even realizing it. But beyond all of that, they are photographers themselves. They know what lighting, which season, gypsy placement, wide angle, or eye-level portrait will give you the best memories from this trip. And boy do they ace it.
Our storytellers are not only experts when it comes to the tale or two, or even photography, but most of all, they are respected in the national parks for the abundance of knowledge they carry.
7. A professional photographer:
Your gear will always be by your side, come what may the setting. For pros like you, we recommend not only regular jeep safari, but full day safaris. Safaris that you collate minute to minute in the national park. Where every second (from pre dusk to post-dawn) is spent meandering through the thickets, waiting in hushed tones, almost getting off your seat for the perfect B roll even, and of course, the lighting.
When you have this, when you have professionals like our team of naturalists to guide you through this setting, you know you are in the right hands. When the final edit cuts to post production and that translates into a YouTube short/Video, our naturalists will silently await a chivalrous “Thank You”. A gesture for not only choosing to travel with us, but for trusting our instinct that we have so lovingly polished over the last 25+ years.
Therefore, if you are ready, we are ready too! Be curious toward our country, and we would love to help!
We regularly arrange tours for all of the above seven categories. Before we suggest a program, it is important for our team to understand what kind of tourist you are!
We regularly arrange tours for all above seven categories. Before we suggest a program, it is important for our team to understand the guest requirement, and only then do we suggest some alternatives.
We look forward to knowing your type and arranging a tour for you.
See you in India soon.
Sharad Vats
