Holy Ganges

Day 1 Namaste, India

In the morning, you will be warmly welcomed by your tour guide at Kolkata Airport and transferred to your beautiful hotel. Today you will plunge into the hustle and bustle of the Bengali metropolis, a fascinating mixture of colourful chaos and spiritual beauty. Kolkata is still India’s intellectual and artistic centre and was the capital of British India until 1911. This is evidenced by the huge Victoria Memorial made entirely of white marble and the magnificent colonial buildings on the BBD Bagh. At the Mother House, you’ll follow in the footsteps of the city’s most famous daughter, Mother Teresa.

Overnight: ITC Sonar or similar (D)

Day 2 Oh Kolkata!

The day begins with a true fireworks display of colour as you make your way to the famous flower market below Howrah Bridge, the city’s landmark. From here you will drive to the pottery district of Kumartuli, where Hindu idols are created for various celebrations.
At the quay on the Hooghly, the MV Ganga Vila awaits, your floating home for the next 10 nights. After a warm welcome from the crew, you will make yourself comfortable on board.

Overnight on board. (BLD)

Day 3 Off leash on the Ganges!

Enjoying Breakfast and Lunch on board, your ship will set sail on the Hooghly, an approximately 260-km-long branch of the Ganges. Soon you’ll pass the imposing Howrah Bridge, leaving Kolkata’s suburbs behind. Magnificent colonial buildings appear again and again on the shore, because the river delta of the Ganges was the gateway of the European powers to India.

Overnight on board. (BLD)

Day 4 1000 Domes

Today we will explore with e-rickshaws. Kalna resembles an open-air museum of Bengali terracotta architecture from the 17th to 19th centuries. Unique in all of India is the building complex of the 108 Shiva Mandirs or Nava Kailash, which consists of two concentric rings with 34 and 74 consecutive temple shrines. Other temples are adorned with heroes of Hindu mythology, but also with scenes of daily life. Back in the here and now, you can stroll through the hustle and bustle of the vegetable market. In the afternoon, your ship continues upstream.

Overnight on board. (BLD)

Day 5 Copper and Brass

This morning you will go ashore in the artisan village of Matiari and look over the shoulders of the masters at work. Exquisite pots, plates and bowls are made from recycled copper. While walking through the village, there are many opportunities to chat, because the curiosity is quite mutual. On your journey north, the rural life of the densely populated province of West Bengal will pass you by. Fishing boats and barges cross your path, women wash on the shore in colourful saris.

Overnight on board. (BLD)

Day 6 In Hazarduari Palace

Murshidabad was the capital city of independent Bengal Subah in the 18th century. This is evidenced by numerous historic buildings such as the ruins of the Katra Masjid with its many domes, which can be reached via rickshaw. The magnificent Hazarduari Palace, seat of the last Nawab of Bengal, dominates the river panorama. Greek columns, over 1000 real and fake doors, and numerous antiques reflect the growing influence of European colonial powers. Murshidabad was considered one of the centres for ivory carving in West Bengal. Since the ban on ivory, many of the craftsmen have turned to carving rosewood or sandalwood.

Overnight on board. (BLD)

Day 7 At the Farakka Lock

Today’s river section captivates with its scenic beauty. Bird lovers will also get their money’s worth, as many migratory bird species rest here between October and February. First, you will pass the lock of Farakka. The construction of the Farakka Dam allows passage from the Ganges to the sea. You leave the Hooghly and reach the main arm of the Ganges in the state of Jharkhand via a connecting channel.

Overnight on board. (BLD)

Day 8 Everyday life on the river

In the afternoon we travel upstream. Sit back and relax on board and enjoy the scenery of rural India passing by on the shore. If you’re lucky, you might spot one of the rare Ganges dolphins. You can get in the mood for the upcoming adventures with interesting on-board lectures. Soon you will leave the state of Jharkhand and reach the state of Bihar.

Overnight on board. (BLD)

Day 9 A Shelter of Scholarship

From the town of Bateshwarsthan, a fascinating excursion through green hills leads to the ruins of Vikramshila, one of India’s most important monastic universities since the 8th century AD. The largest single structure found of the ruin site, built entirely of bricks, is a 330 m long square building with 208 rooms.

Overnight on board. (BLD)

Day 10 Living Hinduism

Today you anchor in the town of Munger with its imposing fort and the cemetery of the East India Company. Here you will visit the Chandika Sthan Temple, which appears in many Hindu legends, and experience first-hand how deeply Hinduism is still anchored in the countryside today. After dinner, you’ll pass under the mighty Mokameh Ghat steel bridge.

Overnight on board. (BLD)

Day 11 Ganges Idyll

In the morning, stop in the village of Simaria and, surrounded by the villagers, take a walk through India’s country life. In the afternoon you will reach Patna, the end destination of your cruise and capital of the province of Bihar. The farewell dinner on board will enchant you with Indian sounds.

Overnight on board. (BLD)

Day 12 Where Buddha attained enlightenment

In the morning it is time to say goodbye to MV Ganga Vilas and her crew. Enjoy a short visit of Kumrahar Park in Patna – it is an archaeological site located in Patna and is famous for its ancient remains, particularly the remains of the Mauryan Empire. From Patna, you head south to Bodh Gaya, one of Buddhism’s most important pilgrimage sites. Buddhists from all over Asia make pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya and have built 45 monasteries and temples. Because here, around the year 534 BC, Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree. The descendant of that tree grows in the Mahabodhi Temple, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight: Hyatt Palace or similar (BD)

Day 13 Holy City of Varanasi

From Bodh Gaya, continue through the Indo-Gangetic Plain and reach Varanasi. One rubs one’s eyes in amazement: Is this a mirage, a film set or a reality? Pilgrims cleanse themselves of sins in the murky floods, yogis meditate, mourners scatter ashes. In the evening you will witness the Aarti ceremony, where pilgrims and priests conjure up the holy Ganges with flickering oil lamps. In the distance, the fires of the dead dressed in gold – simply magical! You will also enjoy a Boat Ride on the sacred Ganges.

Overnight: Radisson Hotel or similar (BD)

Day 14 At the foot of the Himalayas

Still inspired by these impressions, you drive to the airport and fly across the Indo-Gangetic Plain to Delhi. In the afternoon you plunge into the hustle and bustle of the old town with a rickshaw. Pass silversmiths and confectioners on your way to the Jama Masjid mosque. Delhi shines with several UNESCO sites: you pass the Red Fort and walk through the green gardens at the Humayun’s Tomb. At Raj Ghat, you will commemorate India’s great soul, Mahatma Gandhi. Finally, Victorian grandeur awaits you on New Delhi’s boulevards.

Overnight: The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel Delhi or similar (D)

Day 15 Taj Mahal – love turned to stone

Enjoy a day off in India’s capital. Time for last-minute shopping for loved ones back home or a trip to Qutub Minar, Delhi’s third UNESCO World Heritage Site. Or take an optional day trip to Agra. The entrance gates open and a snow-white monument of infinite dimension emerges on the horizon: this is a moment you will never forget. The majestic Taj Mahal is rightly one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Mughal ruler Shah Jahan had the building built entirely from white marble in memory of his late favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal. Precious inlays of sparkling semi-precious stones are reflected in deep blue basins. Another detour to the magnificent Red Fort will whisk you back to Delhi on the express train from Agra.

Overnight: The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel Delhi or similar (BD)

Day 16 Farewell to India

In the morning, drive to Delhi Airport and fly back home. (B)

(B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner

This epic voyage aboard the comfortable ship RV Ganga Vilas follows the course of the Ganges all the way to the vast Ganges Delta, the largest in the world. You will experience the hustle and bustle of the metropolises of Kolkata and Delhi, be enchanted by the magical sea of lights of the evening Aarti ceremonies in Varanasi and meditate in the shade of the Bodhi tree, under which Buddha attained enlightenment. On the relaxing cruise through India’s provinces of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar, you will get an insight into everyday life on the big river and meet fishermen, craftsmen and monks. And if you like, a trip to the world-famous Taj Mahal will put the icing on the cake.

Rates Include

• Domestic flight from Delhi to Varanasi
• 10 nights on board the comfortable river cruise ship RV Ganga Vilas in the booked cabin category
• 4 nights in deluxe hotels in Delhi, Bodh Gaya and Kolkata
• 1 night in a comfort hotel in Varanasi
• Meals according to the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
• Experienced English-speaking tour guide from Delhi to Kolkata
• Rickshaw rides in Delhi, Murshidabad and Kalna
• Sunset Cruise in Varanasi
• All group transfers, excursions and entries according to the itinerary
• Transfers and excursions in air-conditioned coaches
• Excursions with local boats
• Detailed information material before departure

Planned Hotels

Kolkata: 1 night, ITC Sonar
Bodh Gaya: 1 night, Hyatt Palace
Varanasi: 1 night, Radisson Hotel
Delhi: 2 nights, The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel Delhi

Not Included

• Visa
• Gratuities
• International flights
• Optional excursions
• Personal expenses

Entry Requirements

• Passport and visas required
• No vaccinations are prescribed

Important Notes

We regret that due to the intricate logistics of this tour, itinerary changes are sometimes unavoidable
This journey is generally not for guests with limited mobility or who depend on CPAP machines. Please contact us for more information about your specific requirements before booking
Minimum number of tour participants: 20
Maximum number of tour participants: 36
Please make sure to check anticipated flight details with us prior to booking.