Luxury Cruise On River Ganges & New Delhi To Rajasthan With Goa By Train [24 Days Trip]
- 24 Days
- Maximum Capacity: 20
- If Cancelled, Please Refer To Our Cancellation Policy
Adult
Description
This Journey By Land, River And Train Will Touch All Of Your Senses.
How about a tour that mixes history with luxurious riverboat on mighty / holy river Ganges, then travelling by Indian trains to explore tombs and fortresses with museums and churches?
This 24-day trip will be a trip to La La Land will take your breath away even as you will be sailing to villages lining the Ganges river and wandering around the destination’s ancient tradition and practice of yoga. From the awe-inspiring Hindu temple complexes of Kalna to the colorful flower markets of Kolkata, your Ganges voyage delves deeply into the myriad charms of India’s culture.
Then your voyage continues through the pristine beaches of Goa and dwindling down the cacophonic streets of Delhi, marvelling at the mammoth Amer Fort at Jaipur and lazing by the lakes of Udaipur and doing photo-shoots at Mumbai’s Gateway of India. Full of fun and frolic, we promise you some most exquisite memories with once-in-a-lifetime cruise through India.
Duration
24 Days, 22 Nights
Language
English
HIGHLIGHTS
Explore Kolkata's colonial architecture
Visit Mother Teresa's home and tomb
Sail the sacred Ganges and visit temples
Experience traditional brass crafting
Discover the French legacy in Chandernagore
Included
- 23 Nights’ Of Accommodation In 3 Star Hotels As Per Desire With Base Category Of Rooms At Each Place
- Daily Breakfast At All The Hotels
- All Transportation, Driver And Sightseeing Tours Using An AC Medium Car.
- Sightseeing As Per Tour Program.
- Explore Kolkata's colonial architecture
- Visit Mother Teresa's home and tomb
- Sail the sacred Ganges and visit temples
- Experience traditional brass crafting
- Discover the French legacy in Chandernagore
- All Pick-Ups & Drop-Offs As Per Itinerary.
- All Taxes, Parking, Toll Charges, Driver Allowance, And Service Charges
Excluded
- Medical Insurance Of Any Kind
- Any Domestic / International Flight Fares
- Any Meals ( Unless Specified )
- Anything Except In Inclusions.
- Any Guide Services & Monument Fees As Per Tour Plan
- Any Expenses Arising Out Of Unforeseen Circumstances Like Flight Delay/Cancellation/Fare Hike, Strike Or Any Other Natural Calamities.
- Personal Nature Expenses I.E. Telephone Calls, Laundry, Soft / Hard Drinks, Meals, And Tipping
Travel Itinerary
1 - Arrive Kolkata
On arrival at the airport, be met and transferred to your hotel. Night stay is in Kolkata
2 - Embarkation on Luxury Cruise
Morning embark the ship at the Jetty in Kolkata and enjoy lunch on board.
The afternoon excursion includes a visit to Mother Teresa’s Home and Tomb (closed on Thursdays). Mother Teresa started the Missionary of Charity in 1952, then lived and worked here until her death in 1997. The permanent exhibition includes a visit to her personal room, we learn her life story, and see her
charity that is still active.
Optional: We continue by foot a short distance to her orphanage, Sishu Bhawan (Children's Home), where one of the sisters will lead us on a tour.
Then we return to the ship for overnight. Enjoy cultural performance onboard.
Today you will be welcomed to the Big City of Kolkata, often regarded as the Cultural Capital of India and is also the gateway to the journey along the world’s holiest river, the sacred Ganges, known in this region as the Hooghly.
Be entertained onboard by Baul musicians, whose music represents a long heritage of preaching mysticism through songs in Bengal. Although Bauls constitute only a small fraction of the Bengali population, their influence on the culture of Bengal (Both in India & Bangladesh) is considerable. The Baul tradition has been included in the list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
Overnight onboard.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
3 - Kolkata - Bandel – Kalna
Guests embark on an early-morning city tour, featuring a panoramic Tour of the well-preserved British colonial buildings in Kolkata: Writer's Building, General Post Office, High Court, Raj Bhawan (Governor's House), Town Hall, Council House, Treasury Building, Reserve Bank of India and Dalhousie Square.
The day continues with a visit to St. John's Church, the oldest Anglican Church in Kolkata, built in 1756. The tour features the oldest functioning pipe organ in India and several tombs of British Generals who died during the Siege of Kolkata by Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula in 1756.
Then we visit the recently renovated Victoria Memorial Museum, which houses the largest collection of British colonial historical artifacts in India.
We set sail upstream to Bandel, meaning port in Bengali. It was founded by Portuguese settlers who built the Church and a Monastery around 1660.
Afternoon, visit the Hooghly Imambara, one of the famous Shiya pilgrimage centres in West Bengal, built in 1841 by Haji Mohammad Mahasin. The two-story building and surrounding rooms provide housing for pilgrims as well as classrooms, or Madrasa that teach the Koran. The structure contains a Victorian-era clock with a winding key weighing 20kg. Large Persian chandeliers and lamps light the Imambara's stunning hallways and passages.
We sail onward to Kalna.
Overnight onboard.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
4 - Kalna – Matiari
In the morning enjoy a rickshaw ride through the town centre of Kalna to visit the enchanting Rajbari Temple Complex, which has the highest concentration of temples in the region.
Visit the Nabakailas Temple, built in 1809 by the Bardhaman Maharaja, which contains 108 eight slope-roofed shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. Other temples in the complex feature diverse architecture and terra cotta plaques depict themes of Hindu epics, mythical life of Sree Chaitanya, images of Durga, and various aspects of day-to-day life in the region.
We also visit a local Weaver’s home to see the traditional Weaving of Muslin Cloth. Muslin or “malmal” is a cotton fabric of plain weave made in a wide range of weights from delicate sheers to coarse sheeting. Early muslin was handwoven of uncommonly delicate hand-spun yarn.
Return to the ship walking through the local market and sail onward to arrive at the shore-side village of Matiari.
The day is to admire the terracotta art and temple architecture of the region and get an insight into the weaving heritage of Bengal.
Overnight onboard.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
5 - Matiari - Khushbagh
Early this morning enjoy a walk in the village to see and experience the craftsmen at work. The village is known for manufacturing beautiful handcrafted brass items, utilizing traditional methods passed down for generations. These master craftsmen utilize recycled copper to create exquisite pots, platters and more
from their workshops in the village.
Sail onward to the village of Plassey, which was the site of the famous battlefield, where Robert Clive of British East India Company defeated the Mogul Nawabs in 1757. The rulers of Bengal and their French allies established the company rule in India, which spread through much of South Asia for the next 190 years.
Early evening we visit Khushbagh, a charming riverside village surrounded by scenic fields. Walk through the farmland to visit the peaceful Khush Bagh, the Moghul-style garden built by Nawab Ali- Wardi-Khan. The complex houses his family's private mosque and the tomb of the last Nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-Daula who was defeated by the British East India Company at the Battle of Plassey.
Overnight onboard.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
6 - Khushbagh – Baranagar – Murshidabad
Today we sail to the sleepy village of Baranagar where we take a walk to experience rural India at its most idyllic. A lovely example of life in rural India, this village is home to several temples dating from the 18th century (1714-1793). Interact with villagers in Baranagar.
Built by Rani Bhabani, the landlady of Natore (now in Bangladesh), the Char Bangla temple here is considered to be among the best examples of Bengal terra cotta art.
Once you're back on board, enjoy the afternoon to unwind as the ship glides along the Ganges, twisting and turning between banks lined with mustard fields and mango orchards to arrive at Murshidabad, a hidden architectural gem with dramatic whitewashed colonial era structures.
We visit the Hazarduari Palace (closed on Fridays), which dominates the waterfront, built during the reign of Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah (1824-1838 AD) by an English architect, McLeod Duncan, in the Greek “Doric” style. The palace has more than a thousand real and false doors in the vast corridors, and is filled
with colonial era antiques, artwork and manuscripts.
Opposite to the Palace is a vast Imambara – built by the Nawab for worship.
Ride the local buggy (horse cart) to the Katra mosque. Built by the first Nawab of Murshidabad – Murshid Quli Khan in the 1724-25, this mosque has distinctive minarets from which the muezzin calls the faithful to Friday prayers.
Overnight onboard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
7 - Murshidabad – Mayapur
After a restful morning, observing the local life along the riverbanks, we stop in the village of Mayapur.
Known as the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486) and considered an incarnation of Lord Krishna. Mayapur is also the headquarters of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) movement with a new temple comparable in size to the Vatican and largely funded by Alfred B. Ford, the great grandson of car maker Henry Ford.
Meet Krishna followers and walk through the pilgrim’s bazaar.
Overnight onboard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
8 - Mayapur – Chandernagore – Kolkata
Morning sail to Chandernagore, established as a French colony in 1673. The French obtained permission from Ibrahim Khan, the Nawab of Bengal to establish a trading post on the riverbanks of this city, which became a permanent French settlement in 1688.
Explore the French colonial buildings along the promenade, including the former French governor's residence, now converted into the Dupleix Museum (closed on Thursdays & Saturdays) that features an exhibition of items that depict life during this period. Also visit the Sacred Heart Church, designed by French Architect Jacques Duchatz. The church was inaugurated in 1884 and stands for over two centuries to mark the beauty of the architecture during the French period.
We then return to the ship and continue our journey to Kolkata.
Overnight onboard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
9 - Kolkata Disembark & Get transferred to your hotel
After enjoying breakfast disembark and proceed for overnight stay in Kolkata.
Meals: Breakfast.
10 - Kolkata – Varanasi [By Air] - River Ganges
Morning checkout and get transferred to Kolkata airport to board your flight for Varanasi. On arrival at Varanasi get transferred, then check in at pre booked hotel.
Situated on the banks of the massive Ganges, the holy city of Varanasi, one of the ancient in India, symbolizes much of the mythos and culture of Hinduism and has been a center for the devotion of Shiva for over 1,200 years.
Many trusts that this is the site where the divine and significant worlds collide, offering it a mystical property that is heightened by the countless thousands of believers who voyage here to bathe in the sanctified waters of the River Ganges.
In the evening join a memorable aarti ceremony on the banks of the river Ganges. The stunning ceremony comprises rituals accomplished by numerous priests, to the sound of bells, drums, cymbals, and Sanskrit mantras. Your opinion on Hinduism and the worship of the River Ganges will be much richer after the ritual and it is not to be ignored.
Night stay is in Varanasi
Meals: Breakfast
11 - Varanasi - River Ganges –Sarnath - New Delhi [By India’s Fastest Train]
A spectacular along the holy Ganges past some of the numerous ghats that line the banks, involving some that are used exclusively for public cremations.
Return to your hotel for breakfast.
Later visit the Buddhist places at Sarnath where Buddha conveyed his first sermon after getting enlightenment. In time you will be transferred to Varanasi railway station to board your day train journey for New Delhi. On arrival at New Delhi you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight stay is in New Delhi
Meals: Breakfast
12 - Old & New Delhi
After breakfast take sightseeing tour of historic city visiting Old Delhi by passing the majestic Red Fort, a marvel in red sandstone, visiting Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, both built by emperor Shah Jahan of Taj Mahal fame,
Later sightseeing continues to visit New Delhi include Rashtrapati Bhawan, one-time imperial residence of the British viceroys; the India Gate, a memorial raised in honour of the Indian soldiers martyred during the Afghan war; Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, built by Qutub-ud-din Aibek of the Slave Dynasty;
Meals: Breakfast
13 - Delhi – Agra [By Morning Train]
Morning board the fastest train of India as Gatiman Express
Enjoy a guided tour of the impressive Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Time permitting, opt to visit the Baby Taj. Built by the emperor Shah Jahan to honour the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz, it is built of marble and decorated with the most delicate inlay work, the Taj Mahal needed the labours of 20,000 men and is assessed to have cost something in the region of 3 million rupees (at today’s prices that equates to around $70 million).
We then pay a break to the splendor of Agra Fort. Built by Emperor Akbar and then elaborated by his grandson, Shah Jahan, the fort was once a great city, with palaces, mosques and halls all lying behind the protective clinch of 20m high walls.
Meals: Breakfast
14 - Agra – Jaipur [By Evening Train]
After breakfast, there will be some leisure time to wander the city, possibly taking in the rich classiness of the beautiful Itimad-ud-Daulah, a 17th century tomb constructed for the Emperor Jehangir’s chief minister that reflects the marble majesty of the more famous Taj Mahal (hence its rather apt title of ‘Baby Taj).
In the evening board your train for Jaipur. Night stay is in Jaipur
Meals: Breakfast
15 - In Jaipur
Today explore the pleasures of this royal city which highlights India’s most important cultural treasures.
We will start by viewing the facade of the Hawa Mahal, the famous ‘ Palace of the Winds’, whose astonishing frontage of red and pink sandstone towers some 5 storeys over the city streets. Constructed at the end of the 18th century its 935 windows were planned to allow the women of the harem to stare out on the city scene below without themselves being seen, the openings offering the added bonus of generating a refreshing breeze (hawa), which kept the palace cool even in the hot summer months.
Carry on to visit the mighty Rajput capital of Amber and its outstanding fortress. Overseeing Maotha Lake, the fort is a spectacular creation of white marble and red sandstone that contains a dazzling mix of Hindu and Muslim embellishment, embracing the magnificent mirrored halls of the Sheesh Mahal. It was from these lofty walls that the Kachchawahas ruled over their kingdom for around 7 centuries, until its prominence was eclipsed by nearby Jaipur.
This afternoon visit the amazing observatory of Jantar Mantar. Our added visit is to the luxurious grandeur of the City Palace, a stunning complex of gardens and courtyards that presents a rich blend of Mughal and Rajasthani design and houses an armory and a museum that is home to a stunning array of costumes, manuscripts and inlaid splendor. Spend your night in Jaipur
Meals: Breakfast
16 - Jaipur – Udaipur ;By Afteroon Train Journey]
Full day is for leisure and rest. If you want then you can enjoy the day on your own. See more of Rajasthan city. Opt for Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir. Visit this impressive cinema and watch a song-and-dance Bollywood film.
Later in afternoon you shall be transferred to Jaipur railway station to board your train for Udaipur. It will be a 6 -7 hours train ride to Udaipur. On arrival at Udaipur you shall be transferred to your hotel for overnight stay. Night stay si in Udaipur
17 - In Udaipur
After breakfast discover Jagdish Temple and the City Palace, one of the largest royal palaces in India. Evening enjoy Rajasthani dance show in Udaipur. Night stay is in Udaipur
Meals: Breakfast
18 - Udaipur – Free Time – Evening train for Bundi
Enjoy a free day in Udaipur. There’s loads to explore and do in Udaipur, and we sought to make sure that you had some time to take it all in.
Feel free to rest or try optional happenings such as discovering the Monsoon Palace, and visiting the Saheliyon-ki-Bari Garden.
In the evening board your train for Bundi. On arrival at Bundi check in at your hotel for overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast
19 - Bundi – Mumbai [By Overnight Train Journey]
One of the unexplored cities with a rich historical wealth. Bundi is surrounded by the Aravalli hills on the three sides and is circumscribed by a massive wall with four gateways. Interesting monuments including impressive medieval forts, palaces, havelis, temples with beautiful stone idols and chattris with carved pillars, along with a picturesque lake in the heart of the town, add to its charm.
Bundi is very famous for its intricate carvings and murals.
Visit Step-wells of Bundi:
For anyone who wants to see the beauty of different types of stepwells, a visit to the township of Bundi is recommended. A number of stepwells have been made over a period of three centuries by members of the royal families as well as the people of Bundi who took interest in a worthwhile cause.
Out of around 20 stepwells in the area, those worth a mention are Naval Sagar, Sisodiaji ki Baori, Purushottam ki Baori, Sukhi Baori, Manoharji ki Baori and Rami ki Baori.
Taragarh Fort:
The serpentine Taragarh Fort and its palace is what immediately strike visitors on arrival in Bundi. Rudyard Kipling who visited here a century ago wrote, “No human hand can create such a splendour; for only angels have that skill”. Taragarh is Bundi’s pride. This imposing fort was raised at a height of 500 meters atop a hill by Rao Bar Singh in the 13th century.
In time get transferred a near by station which is 1.5 hours drive and board your overnight train for Mumbai. Night is on board.
Meals: Breakfast
20 - Arrive Mumbai
Made up of seven islands on the eastern periphery of the Arabian Sea, Mumbai attracts people from all over the country to its prosperous streets.
Mumbai is also the abode of ‘Bollywood’, an industry that creates more films per year than any other city in the world.
After freshen up we will be exploring city this morning, watching the honey-coloured Gateway of India arch and the macabre Towers of Silence. Built by the Parsis escaping persecution in Persia during the 17th century, the Towers were a mortuary for the dead. Being Zoroastrians the Parsis were not allowed to bury or cremate their dead, so in its place they were left in these towers to allow nature to dispose of them. We also visit the Prince of Wales Museum, which has an outstanding compilation of Indian miniatures from the Mughals and Rajasthan schools, whilst at the Mahatma Gandhi Museum we’ll learn a slight of the great man’s life and ideas, because of an notable collection of books, photographs and letters.
Meals: Breakfast
21 - Mumbai – Goa [By Morning Train]
Leaving the city timely this morning we travel by train to Goa, following the Konkan Railway to the station at Thivim. Travelling along this line offers us an occasion to rightly realize some of the most stunning scenery tendered by any of the Indian rail networks as we surpass through the amazing scenery of the Western Ghats.
The palm fringed shores of Goa were colonised by the Portuguese in the 16th century, who seized the original Arab trade settlement and began building a city on the Arabian Sea sprinkled with houses, gardens monasteries and churches, lots of which unluckily no longer remain.
Goa ultimately became the commercial centre for East and West, where traders could purchase pearls, coral, rubies, golden jewellery, silks, China porcelain, lacquered furniture, ambergris and exotic spices. The Portuguese influence is still very much apparent – the main religion is still Roman Catholic and siestas are still widely applied in the hot afternoons. Like most parts in India, Goa also has its own food specialities, the most well-liked is pork vindaloo! You may also want to sample the locally prepared spirit feni – a spine-tingling drink made from coconut or cashew apples.
Meals: Breakfast
22 - In Goa
We have a comfortable start to the day with the free morning. If you wish to spend some time on the beach it is just a short ride away.
23 - In Goa
Today we take a walk around the city of Panjim. While Goa is mainly known for the beaches that lure tourists during the year, the wide streets of Panjim are worth discovering. The buildings are noticeably European in style with shutters, balconies and red tiled roofs though they are assorted with more traditional temples to form a rather unusual style.
Later we will go to a local spice plantation, to learn a little of the spices and plants that grow between these fertile landscapes. This part of India has long been famous for its plentiful array of spices; indeed Christopher Columbus was en route to the spice rich Malabar Coast when he bounced into America by mistake. A journey of the gardens with a local guide will disclose the massive wealth of Goa’s aromatic treasures, containing pepper and nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon.
Night stay is in Goa
Meals: Breakfast
24 - Goa Depart
Day is at leisure. In time you shall be transferred to Goa Airport to board your flight for onwards journey
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Book
Have your breakfast and get prepared for a full day excursion tour. Start your day with visit to Gateway of India and the very famous Taj Hotel. You can further proceed to the Prince of Wales Museum and en route to Mumbai High Court and University. You can go for the picturesque view of Marine Drive and Hanging Garden. Pay a visit to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station from outside to get the exquisite beauty of the monuments. Later, visit Tower of Silence from outside and Mani Bhavan (which tends to be the house of Mahatma Gandhi). Pay a visit to Jain Temple, World Trade Centre, and Jehangir Art Gallery. You can cover Nehru Planetarium and Haji Ali.
Welcome
Have your breakfast and get prepared for a full day excursion tour. Start your day with visit to Gateway of India and the very famous Taj Hotel. You can further proceed to the Prince of Wales Museum and en route to Mumbai High Court and University. You can go for the picturesque view of Marine Drive and Hanging Garden. Pay a visit to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station from outside to get the exquisite beauty of the monuments. Later, visit Tower of Silence from outside and Mani Bhavan (which tends to be the house of Mahatma Gandhi). Pay a visit to Jain Temple, World Trade Centre, and Jehangir Art Gallery. You can cover Nehru Planetarium and Haji Ali.
Tour Terms & Conditions
- Until 90 days prior to arrival – 30% of the deposited amount
- Between 89 days to 60 days prior to arrival – 40% of the deposited amount
- Between 59 days to 0 days prior to arrival – NO REFUND
For more details click here
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