Gwalior to BandhavgarhMadhya Pradesh in 8 nights

From Gwalior through Orchha and Khajuraho to two nights in a Bandhavgarh jungle lodge, ending in Jabalpur by way of Bhedaghat.

Day 1

Arrive Gwalior, City Sightseeing

Welcome to Madhya Pradesh. Your driver meets you at Gwalior airport or railway station and takes you to your hotel. Later, Gwalior Fort on its sandstone hill, with Man Singh Tomar's Man Mandir palace and the Gujari Mahal from around 1500; the tomb of Tansen, the great singer of Akbar's court; and the Sun Temple.

No meals included today Overnight: Gwalior

Day 2

Gwalior – Morena – Gwalior

About 2 hrs each way

After breakfast, the Jai Vilas Palace Museum, the Scindias' palace of 1874 in European style, part of it still their home. Then drive to Morena (about 2 hours) for three old sites: the circular Chausath Yogini temple at Mitawali, said to have inspired the design of Delhi's old Parliament House; Padavali, a carved temple inside a later fort; and Bateshwar, a group of about 200 sandstone temples from the 8th to 10th centuries. Back to Gwalior in the evening.

Breakfast Overnight: Gwalior

Day 3

Gwalior – Datia – Jhansi – Orchha

About 4 hrs

After breakfast, drive towards Orchha, stopping at Datia, for Bir Singh Deo's seven-storey palace on a rock, never lived in by the royal family, and Jhansi Fort, the Bundela stronghold of 1613. Then on to Orchha and check in.

Breakfast Overnight: Orchha

Day 4

Orchha Sightseeing – Khajuraho

About 3 hrs

After breakfast, check out for Orchha Fort, founded by the Bundela king Rudra Pratap Singh in 1501: Jahangir Mahal, built to host the Mughal emperor for a single night; the painted Raja Mahal; Sheesh Mahal; and the Ram Raja Temple, where Rama is worshipped as a king. Then drive to Khajuraho and check in.

Breakfast Overnight: Khajuraho

Day 5

Khajuraho Sightseeing

After an early breakfast, the temples of Khajuraho, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by the Chandela kings between about 950 and 1050: the Western Group, with the great Kandariya Mahadev, and the Eastern Group of Hindu and Jain temples, famous for their sculpture. In the afternoon, Raneh Falls, where the Ken river runs through a gorge of granite and dolomite, and the Ken Gharial Sanctuary, set up in 1981 to protect gharials and mugger crocodiles.

Breakfast Overnight: Khajuraho

Day 6

Khajuraho – Bandhavgarh National Park

About 6 to 7 hrs

After breakfast, check out and drive to Bandhavgarh and check in at your jungle lodge. In the evening, a nature walk.

Breakfast and dinner Overnight: Bandhavgarh

Day 7

Bandhavgarh Safari

A morning or afternoon jeep safari in Bandhavgarh National Park, a tiger reserve since 1993, known for its tigers and leopards; it was near here, in 1951, that the Maharaja of Rewa captured Mohan, the first known white tiger, in a private Gypsy (at extra cost, booked in advance). The rest of the day is at your lodge.

• Note: Afternoon safaris do not run on Wednesdays.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner Overnight: Bandhavgarh

Day 8

Bandhavgarh – Bhedaghat – Jabalpur

About 3 to 4 hrs

After an early breakfast, check out and drive to Bhedaghat, where the Narmada flows between white marble cliffs. Take a boat through the gorge (paid directly) and see Dhuandhar Falls, where the river drops about 30 m in a cloud of spray; the ropeway over the falls is optional. Then on to Jabalpur and check in. If time allows, see the Narmada aarti at Gwarighat in the evening.

Breakfast Overnight: Jabalpur

Day 9

Jabalpur, Departure

After breakfast, check out and transfer to Jabalpur airport or railway station for your journey home. If time allows, see Madan Mahal, the Balancing Rock and the Kachnar City Shiva statue first.

Breakfast

Tour details

Accommodation

Choose the hotel category. The same route and sightseeing in every category.

Hotels are listed or similar, subject to availability. Breakfast in Gwalior, Orchha, Khajuraho and Jabalpur; all meals at the jungle lodge in Bandhavgarh.

Package cost

Price per adult on twin sharing, by the number of adults travelling together. Land only.

Private car with driver: sedan for 2, Ertiga or Innova Crysta for 4, Innova Crysta for 6, Tempo Traveller for 8.

Rates in INR per person, GST included. The extra-person rate applies to a third adult or a child above 5 sharing the room.

Tour information

Read this to prepare for your holiday.

Good to know

• Valid until 31 Mar 2027 for bookings confirmed at least 15 days before arrival. Dussehra, Diwali, Christmas–New Year, long weekends and city exhibition dates are priced on request.
• Hotel levels: Standard is roughly a 2-star-plus hotel, Deluxe 3 to 4 stars, Premium 4 to 5 stars. Tell us if you need a lift, a heated pool or special food, and we check before booking.
• Your car: a sedan for 2, an Ertiga or Innova Crysta for 4, an Innova Crysta for 6 and a Tempo Traveller for 8. An Innova Crysta legally seats 6 including children, so please travel light. The A/C runs while the car is moving and is switched off on steep climbs.
• National parks are open from 1 October to 30 June, and afternoon safaris do not run on Wednesdays. Safaris are booked with full payment and the name, age, gender and photo ID of each guest (max 6 per Gypsy). Once booked they cannot be changed or refunded, and we cannot promise a particular gate.
• Jungle lodges have little or no Wi-Fi, TV or mobile signal. Wear muted colours, carry warm layers for winter mornings, and keep noise down in the park.
• Guides make the big sites far richer (Sanchi, Bhimbetka, Mandu, Khajuraho, Gwalior, Orchha); we can book them at extra cost.

When to go

October to March. October to March is cool and dry, the best time for forts, temples and the Pachmarhi hills. The national parks open on 1 October and close on 30 June; winter mornings in the parks are cold, and the forest thins out towards spring. April to June is very hot.

Our favourite months

Cancellation policy & payment terms

• Flights, trains and houseboats are paid in full at the time of ticketing or confirmation.
• Payments by bank transfer (NEFT / RTGS / IMPS), UPI or cheque in favour of TripRoutes. Card payments may carry a convenience fee.
• GST 5% is charged on the package cost as per government rules. On international holidays, TCS also applies as per government rules.
• Cancellation charges are per person, counted from the date of departure.
• Cancellations must be sent in writing by email or WhatsApp; the date we receive it is the cancellation date.
• Air and train tickets are refunded as per the airline / railway rules, plus our service charge.
• Visa fees, insurance premiums and non-refundable hotel or houseboat bookings (peak dates, special events) are not refundable.
• Refunds are processed within 15 working days of receiving supplier refunds.
• There is no refund for services not used during the holiday.
• Hotels may ask for a refundable security deposit at check-in, paid directly to the hotel.
• Prices are subject to availability at the time of booking.
• TripRoutes is not liable for changes caused by weather, strikes, roadblocks, flight delays or government orders; extra costs arising are payable by the guest.

Questions about this holiday