The Rhinos of Kaziranga

Touch down in the bustling megalopolis of Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta. A cultural hotspot brimming with history, Kolkata is peppered with colonial architecture and rare book shops. Visit the colourful flower market and the stunning Dakshineswar Kali Temple, then join the locals for a chat over a coffee in a cosy café. This unique experience will give you an insight into the Bengali custom of ‘adda’, meaning ‘intellectual exchange’, a casual meeting with friends to while away the time discussing life, the universe and everything over a hot cuppa.

Board your flight to remote Kaziranga National Park, a World Heritage site carpeted with thick forests and elephant grass, dotted with swampy marshlands, and criss-crossed by winding rivers. This out-of-the-way reserve is home to herds of Asian elephants and over three quarters of the world’s population of the rare Indian one-horned rhinoceros. Head out on an exhilarating early-morning safari in search of these majestic creatures, a truly memorable experience. Take to the Brahmaputra River and see if you can spot the endangered Gangetic dolphin and perhaps an otter or two. Twitchers will be in their element here – the park is home to over 400 bird species, including the blue-bearded bee-eater and the great hornbill.

Return to Kolkata for one last night, stock up on those last-minute keep-sakes and look back over your time in this fascinating country.