Route: DELHI(2N)-KOLKATA–7 DAY CRUISE(8N)–DELHI
Date: You choose (between October and April)
Note: This itinerary is fully customizable as per your wish.
River cruises on the Ganges and Lower Ganges (the Hooghly) provide an opportunity to experience everyday life in villages and towns located on the riverbanks, as well as marvel at ornate historic temples and monuments. This culturally rich and fascinating part of India is not widely recognized. Travelling by boat offers access to areas that are otherwise difficult to reach.
Lower Ganges cruises run throughout the year, whereas Ganges cruises operate only during the winter. Choose between different itineraries to cruise for three to 15 nights. We can only sail to Varanasi during August and September because of river conditions. Join us for one of the best cruise holidays in the world, rated by The Guardian UK.
Your Itinerary for 8 nights UPSTREAM THE HOLY GANGES
These trips sail along the main stretch of the Ganges river, running between Farakka and Patna, or vice versa. You can stroll among the Mughal ruins at Rajmahal, investigate East India Company relics at Patna and Munger, and find the landmarks of Buddha’s homeland, including Bodh Gaya. With its treasure trove of cultural, historical, and religious sites, the area provides a glimpse into India’s richly diverse character and is a thrilling journey through mostly unexplored terrain.
Code: CARC2
Arrive Delhi by International flight . Meeting and assist at the International Airport and transfer to hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
Breakfast at hotel.
of Delhi, a huge tower of victory started in 1199 and completed in 1368. The minar is 72.5m high with a diameter at the base 14.4m and 2.7m at the top. Drive past to the Rashtrapati Bhawan once the Viceroy’s residence is now the official residence of the President of India. Designed by Lutyens, it combines western and eastern styles – the dome reflects the Buddhist stupa, the chattris Hindu and the graceful Morning proceed for Delhi City sightseeing. visit the 7th city of Delhi, Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi), built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1639-48 AD) after he shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi. Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) made of red sandstone and white marble, completed in 1656. It is India’s largest mosque where more than 20.000 people can kneel in prayer. Visit Raj Ghat on the banks of the river Yamuna, Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial, where he was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. An eternal flame burns 24 hours.
Also visit New Delhi. Visit Qutub Minar – the landmark colonnades very British. The Government Buildings designed by Baker, are topped by baroque domes and decorated with lotus motifs and elephants, while the north and south gateways are Mughal in design. The northern building has an inscription with “Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty. It is a blessing which must be earned before it can be enjoyed”. The Parliament House, designed by Baker is 173m in diameter. The India Gate (42m), commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war. 13516 names of British and Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan War of 1919 are engraved on the arch and foundations. Under the arch, the Amar Jawan Jyoti commemorating Indian armed forces’ losses in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971.
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport to connect the flight to Kolkata.
Take a four-hour train journey from Kolkata to Farakka in the afternoon and then a brief road transfer to the ship.
You'll enjoy a full-day road trip to Gaur. This calm, empty location was previously one of India's major cities, initially as a Hindu city in the 12th century and subsequently as the Muslim centre of Eastern India from the 14th to 16th century. The abundant remnants of mosques, palaces and entryways stand as proof of this multifaceted past. Later, continue your journey by travelling to Pandua through Malda, also known as English Bazar. Here, you can visit the magnificent 14th-century Adina Mosque. Finally, return to Farakka where your ship will have traversed the lock at the barrage.
This morning, you will depart from Farakka and sail into the Ganges above the Farakka Barrage. You will sail upstream for most of the morning and anchor at Rajmahal, a place rich in culture and ambiance but often left out of guidebooks. Akbarnagar, the town's previous name, was built by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar as his eastern capital. Shah Jehan, the Taj Mahal's creator, also spent much of his youth here. Explore the remnants of palaces, forts, and mosques hidden in greenery before continuing your journey as far as Manihari Ghat.
This morning you will keep moving upstream and reach where the Kosi river converges. This river flows from Nepal. After this, you will arrive at the peaceful Bateshwar. There are carvings from the 6th century AD, Hindu in origin. When you're there, you will observe some remains which survived from an 8th century Buddhist temple and monastery located in Vikramshila. Next, you'll head to Kehilgaon or Colganj and the ship will be waiting for you there. While sailing, you'll pass near an island shrine. It has both Hindu and Buddhist cave temples. This used to be the headquarters of the Thug cult, which was responsible for many killings.
Embark this morning to travel down the riverbank where you may have the chance to spot the endangered Gangetic Dolphin. Disembark at Bhagalpur, a hub of silk production, to explore the silk-weaving village and visit an exquisite 18th century mansion constructed by Augustus Clevland, the colonial administrator of the city in the past. Afterward, proceed to Jahangira Island in Sultanganj, a pilgrimage site featuring ancient Hindu rock carvings. At the shoreline, there's a lovely rock with a mosque on top, and the place allows for a walk around the lively nearby market.
Today you'll sail to Munger, which has a big Mughal fort and an East India Company cemetery where villagers live among grand tombs. You'll also see Pirpahar Hill with a splendid old house and the Sita Kund hot springs before continuing your upstream cruise.
This morning, you will go under the large bridge at Mokameh, where Jim Corbett, a naturalist, worked as the ferry operator many years ago. You will stop on land and visit a village near the river before continuing your journey to Barh, where you will arrive by evening and have a chance to rest.
Today, we will visit Nalanda, which has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The site includes a great Buddhist monastery and stupa, both of which have been excavated. Additionally, visitors can explore the adjoining museum. Nalanda is known as the oldest seat of learning in the world. At its peak, it welcomed more than 10,000 students. Later on, we will visit the marbled Pawapuri Jain temple. The temple is situated in the middle of a lake. After the excursion, we will return to Barh in the evening to reboard the ship.
Today, we'll sail upstream, read, chat with new friends, and observe the riverbank. We'll stop at a village by the river where you can walk around and explore the rural area. In the evening, we will arrive at Patna, the capital of Bihar, a state of India. We will dock near the old warehouses owned by the East India Company, where opium was stored.
This morning, you will go on a tour of Patna. You'll visit the Gola Ghar granary from the 18th century, the impressive Sikh gurdwara, and see the extensive State Museum collection. Afterward transfer to the airport to catch the flight to Delhi and after dinner in Delhi connect the international flight back home.
If you want, you can add this fantastic Extension programme of Bodh Gaya and Varanasi at the end of the cruise.
Or an extension to Nepal is also possible. Let us know and we will create a suitable itinerary of Nepal for you.
Patna-Bodh Gaya
After leaving the ship in Patna drive to Bodh Gaya. Arrival in Bodhgaya, check in.
Rest of the day is free at leisure to get acquainted to this holy place of enlightment of Buddha
Dinner and overnight at hotel.
After breakfast at the hotel, we go on an excursion to Rajgir. For Buddhists, this is the place of especially great sanctity and importance.
In the afternoon we visit Gridhkutta Hill, Bimbisarjail & Ajatashatrun's Fort.
Lunch (to be paid directly) at Rajgir and then a 15 minute drive (12km) to Nalanda. It was one of the oldest universities in the world and an international centre for Buddhist studies.
Nalanda was one of the largest monastic universities in the ancient world. It was established in the 5th century BC.
It is believed that Lord Buddha and also the founder of the Jain religion, Lord Mahavir, taught at this university for years.
There is still a monument to the Chinese travelling monk and writer
Huen Tsang, who studied here in the 7th century AD.
After sightseeing, we drive back to Bodhgaya for dinner and overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast we have a 250km drive to Varanasi.
On the way we visit Sasaram , known as the birthplace of Sher Shah Suri. It is located in Bihar. We continue via Sarnath. There we visit the Dhamekha Stupa and a wildlife park.
Back in Varanasi, check in, dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Early in the morning we leave for a boat trip on the holy river Ganges, which will give us picturesque images of the sunrise.
After the boat ride, we enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then continue our sightseeing with beautiful temples and bustling bazaars.
In the evening we witness a ritual Aarti at the Dasashwamedh ghat.
Breakfast at the hotel and then transfer to the airport to fly to Khajuraho. On arrival there check in and overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel, then sightseeing tour of Khajuraho. We can admire the temple architecture and the elaborately carved statues of the gods and goddesses from Indian mythology. They are artistically carved out of the stone and have different colours from skin-coloured to pink, yellow and brown. Various sensual representations of the human body are particularly common and diverse here. We also visit the largest temple Kandariya Hahodeo, dedicated to the god Shiva.
Overnight stay at the hotel
After breakfast we drive to Orcha, famous for its fort and temples. We visit Ramji Mandir, Raj Mandir and Jahangir Mahal, all of which are examples of a style of architecture of unusual expression - and vitality and display delicate ornamentation.
Evening Train from Jhansi to Agra.
Today we visit the world-famous Taj Mahal at Sunrise, one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Shah Jahan created this magnificent tomb of luminous marble and precious gemstones for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. We then visit the Red Fort, which was originally built as a fortress and later converted into a magnificent palace. The huge area contains numerous representative buildings and the Pearl Mosque made of marble with almost perfect proportions.
Thereafter 4 hrs drive to Delhi airport to connect your international flight back home.
Good to know:
This programme , including the cruise and estimated driving times, could vary due to river and weather conditions. The terrain in Kaziranga National Park consists of grassy plains that may be closed during periods of near-flooding.
Get to know your Ship: ABN Rajmahal
ABN Rajmahal is a 50-metre vessel that has 3 engines, enabling her to travel further upstream than her competitors due to her shallow draught and lower profile compared to traditional models.
There's a cosy lounge, a bar, a dining room, and a large sundeck with a canopy. An onboard spa provides various treatments. All our cabins and public spaces have air conditioning.
The meals served on the airplane consist of a blend of Assamese (which is less spicy than typical Indian food), North Indian and Continental dishes. Wines, beer and spirits are available on payment
ABN Rajmahal has 22 cabins, including 18 spacious twin/double cabins and four single cabins for solo travellers. This boutique and modern ship's decoration reflects a sense of belonging to the Bengal region with hand-blocked cotton fabrics in Indian-inspired designs, Bengali antiques and objets d'art, and locally made furniture. All cabins come with French balconies, providing panoramic views of the lively river.
ONBOARD AMENITIES:
Included in the Price on the ship:
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