Home > Destinations > Central India

For over 25 years Pettitts have been arranging tailor-made journeys for discerning travellers. Our website offers a selection of suggested itineraries, but by combining your ideas with our knowledge and experience we can help you create your own unique journey. Once you have formulated your ideas, or require some advice, please call us on 01892 515966 or simply 'Request a Quote' by clicking here.

• 

  INTO INDIA
  PRIVATE JOURNEY – 15 DAYS – From £3,915
  Despite being one of India’s most rural states, Madhya Pradesh is the cradle of Indian civilisation with a strong Hindu–Buddhist culture, abundance of historical sites and plethora of wildlife unrivalled throughout the subcontinent. After an exploration of Delhi, fly to Bhopal and visit the ancient Buddhist sanctuary of Sanchi. From here drive to the nearby Raj hill station of Pachmarhi, a bird lover’s paradise, and then continue onto Satpura — one of the finest wildlife reserves in India. End with a relaxing stay at the beautiful Ahilya Fort located high above the serene Narmada River.

• 

  CLASSICAL INDIA
  PRIVATE JOURNEY – 19 DAYS – From £4,175
  As one of the world's great nations, India has an unrivalled historic tradition with this itinerary exploring the ages of Indian history through religion, architecture and people. Leaving the Victorian grandeur of Mumbai, journey to central India, home to the cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora, the ‘lost city’ of Mandu, holy Ujjain and the ancient Buddhist remains at Sanchi close to Bhopal. Continuing north, visit the dramatic forts at Datia and Gwalior before driving to Agra and its famed sites. Conclude the journey in Old and New Delhi, the modern–day capital of India.

• 

  LAND OF THE TIGER
  PRIVATE JOURNEY – 11 DAYS – From £3,600
  Forever associated with this great land, the central Indian wildlife parks of Bandhavgarh and Kanha offer the best opportunity to meet the Royal Bengal tiger face to face. Starting with a day of sightseeing in India’s capital Delhi, fly to Jabalpur for a spectacular six days of tiger and general wildlife viewing in these most distinguished of reserves. Considered two of the finest of their kind in Asia, both are renowned for their natural beauty and the staggering variety and quantity of their flora and fauna.

• 

  THE SOUL OF INDIA
  PRIVATE JOURNEY – 15 DAYS – From £3,890
  Covering some of the greatest historical and religious centres, not only of India but of the wider world, this unique itinerary brings together the two most important spiritual centres of both the Hindu and Buddhist faiths. Starting in the Mughal city of Lucknow, the tour continues east to Patna, state capital of Bihar and the Buddhist sites of Nalanda, Rajgir and Bodh Gaya — the later one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centres where Buddha achieved enlightenment. The tour ends in sacred Varanasi, Hinduism’s holiest city and a centre of learning and pilgrimage for over 2,000 years.

• 

  THE SONEPUR CATTLE FAIR
  PRIVATE JOURNEY – 8 DAYS – From £1,470
  A unique opportunity to experience one of the great events of the Indian subcontinent, this itinerary visits the vibrant Sonepur Cattle Fair in rural Bihar. Travelling on an excellent Assam Bengal Navigation ship, ample time is spent at both the fair and surrounding sights. Taking place for approximately a month each year, usually during November, the fair is held at the confluence of the Rivers Ganges and Gandak and is Asia’s largest cattle market. With magic shows, handicrafts and traditional folk dancing to keep the crowds entertained, this colourful event is one of India’s finest.

• 

  TRIBAL ORISSA
  PRIVATE JOURNEY - 16 DAYS - From £2,990
  This exploratory tour introduces the intrepid traveller to the little-visited predominately tribal state of Orissa in eastern India. Travel from cosmopolitan Kolkata to Visakhapatnam before heading deep into the countryside villages to meet members of the Bonda, Gadaba, Desia Kondh and Paroja tribes before ending at the remarkable Sun Temple at Konark. Please note that this tour is designed to coincide with the tribal markets days in Orissa which are the main highlight of this itinerary.

• 

  1857 - THE INDIAN MUTINY
  PRIVATE JOURNEY – 13 DAYS – From £2,500
  The Indian Mutiny of 1857 was the bloodiest insurrection in the history of the British Empire when, for a time, the very fate of British India hung in the balance. This unique journey covers the three main centres of resistance – Old Delhi, Lucknow and Kanpur as well as Meerut, where the mutiny began, Agra where the British were besieged for three months, Gwalior where the last major battle was fought, and Jhansi, the home of the celebrated Rani who died in battle and is still revered in India today. End the tour in Delhi with a specialist heritage walk of the city’s main mutiny sites.

• 

  CALL OF THE JUNGLE
  PRIVATE JOURNEY – 16 DAYS – From £3,410
  India is synonymous with wildlife and the country is blessed with numerous excellent reserves. This itinerary combines three of the best with a break en-route in Agra to visit the wonderful Taj Mahal. Starting in Delhi, travel by road to Corbett National Park which is named after the legendary hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett. From here travel south via Garmukteshwar and Agra to the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh for stays in Bandhavgarh and Kanha national parks, both of which are rich in birdlife and home to tiger, leopard, sambar, chital, gaur and nilgai.