Golden Triangle & Ganges

On arrival at Delhi international airport after midday, you are met and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight at The Oberoi hotel or similar.

Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed to visit Old Delhi for a Cycle Rickshaw ride to witness daily activities in the bustling alleyways of Chandni Chowk market, the heart, and soul of Old Delhi – a patchwork of eight different cities built by a succession of rulers and a center of Muslim India between the 13th and 19th centuries.

Following this, visit the Raj Ghat a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. It is a black marble platform that marks the spot of Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation. It is left open to the sky while an eternal flame burns at one end.

Then visit the Humayun’s Tomb (WHS), the mausoleum of Mughal Emperor Humayun, commissioned by his wife during 1569-70, which is the first Persian style garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. Structurally it set a precedent for subsequent Mughal architecture, which reached its zenith with the Taj Mahal at Agra.

Thereafter we drive past India Gate, a prominent landmark of Delhi, built in 1931 to commemorate the soldiers of the British Indian Army who lost their lives in World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War.

After having lunch at a local restaurant, we continue the city tour and visit the World Heritage Site of Qutab Minar. The Tower and other structures in this complex date from the Slave Dynasty (1206-1290) and reflect the beginnings of Islamic architecture in India. The complex initially housed about 27 Hindu temples that were destroyed and their material was reused for constructing the Tower and the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque adjacent to it.

Dinner and overnight at The Oberoi hotel or similar.

(B/L/D)

After breakfast at the hotel we drive to Agra (approx. 4-hrs drive via the Expressway)

On arriving in Agra, we visit another World Heritage Site, the formidable Agra Fort, built by Emperor Akbar, which is perhaps the best-preserved fort in India. Construction of this crescent-shaped fort 2.5km in circumference commenced in 1565. Contained within the huge double outer walls up to 20m high and broken by a series of huge gates, the fort is almost a city within a city.

Transfer to hotel and check in. Settle in and have your lunch at the hotel.

Later during the day, we’ll visit the highlight of any India vacation, the incredible Taj Mahal, and stay until sunset. Built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Begum, construction took 22 years and was completed in 1653 at a speculated cost of 3 million rupees, equivalent to around 70 million US Dollars today.

Dinner and overnight at The Oberoi Amarvilas or similar.

(B/L/D)

This morning rise early for a breathtaking sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal to view the marble sparkle in the dawn light.

Return to the hotel for breakfast and spend your time in the hotel on your own.

After lunch, we drive to Jaipur (approx 5 hrs drive) and check in to the hotel and have dinner.

Overnight at The Oberoi Rajvilas or similar.

(B/L/D)

After breakfast at the hotel, we visit the Amber Fort, located on the outskirts of the city (approx. 11km). High above the town and surrounded by defensive fortification walls, the impressive fort was built by Raja Man Singh in the early 17th century. It houses mighty gates, temples, huge ornate halls, palaces, pavilions, and gardens.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Later we visit the Pink City, the old part of Jaipur named after its pink hue coloration. Visit the City Palace, an imposing blend of traditional Rajasthan and Mughal architecture. The vast palace complex occupies one-seventh of the walled city of Jaipur. Originally built by Maharaja Jai Singh, additions have been made to the palace complex by many of his successors. The complex is divided into a series of courtyards, sprawling gardens, and buildings.

Adjacent to the city palace is the Jantar Mantar Observatory. Built between 1728 and 1734 on a grand scale, the 17 astronomical instruments were built in stone and marble. The collection, built by Jai Singh includes a 27.4m high sundial accurate to 2 seconds!

Finally, we visit the colorful bazaar from where we can view the Hawa Mahal. This unique building also known as the “Palace of the Winds” is a Jaipur landmark and was once used by the ladies of the court to watch the daily goings-on in the street below.

Back to the hotel & spend your time on your own. Have your dinner at the hotel.

Overnight at The Oberoi Rajvilas hotel or similar.

(B/L/D)

After breakfast, fly from Jaipur to Kolkata to embark the awaiting Ganges Voyager 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 there 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 overnight. Enjoy cultural performances onboard.

The Highlight of the Day: Welcome to the Big City of Kolkata, often regarded as the Cultural Capital of India and the gateway to our 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 Ganges Voyager.

(L/D)

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 centers 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 Madrasas that teach the Koran. The structure contains a Victorian-era clock with a winding key weighing 20kg. Large Persian chandeliers and lamps light Imambara’s stunning hallways and passages.

We sail onward to Kalna.

The Highlight of the Day: We sail through areas where various European settlers had established East Indian Companies, leaving many remnants of their settlements from the 17th through 19th Centuries.

Overnight onboard Ganges Voyager.

(B/L/D)

In the morning enjoy a rickshaw ride through the town center 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 depicting themes of Hindu epics, the 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 walk through the local market and sail onward to arrive at the shore-side village of Matiari.

The Highlight of the Day: Admire the terracotta art and temple architecture of the region and get an insight into the weaving heritage of Bengal.

Overnight onboard Ganges Voyager.

(B/L/D)

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 the 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

The Highlights of the Day: Marvel at the deft hands of the brass smiths at work creating wonders on metal. Walk through the farmland to the peaceful garden tomb.

Overnight onboard Ganges Voyager.

(B/L/D)

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). 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 Lower 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 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 1724-25, this mosque has distinctive minarets from which the muezzin calls the faithful to Friday prayers.

The Highlight of the Day: Interact with villagers in Baranagar. View the grandeur of colonial heritage in Murshidabad.

Overnight onboard Ganges Voyager.

(B/L/D)

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 is 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.

The Highlight of the Day: Let your soul mingle in the chants of Hare Rama Hare Krishna!

Overnight onboard Ganges Voyager.

(B/L/D)

Morning sail to Chandernagore was 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) which 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 downstream to Kolkata.

The Highlight of the Day: An insight into French colonial heritage.

Overnight onboard Ganges Voyager.

(B/L/D)

The following breakfast disembarks the ship and transfers for your onward journey.

Important Note:

The itinerary may be readjusted due to local conditions and days of the week, in order to avoid the closure of monuments/museums. Last-minute sailing adjustments may also occur. The schedule may shift due to the weather or to take advantage of unexpected opportunities. The exact time for each activity will be announced or posted by the onboard tour staff.