A luxury INDIA cruise Tour – Delhi, Agra, jaipur, kolkata, ganges river cruise, Varanasi

Day 1: Delhi
Arrive in Delhi and transfer to your hotel for your next 2 nights’ accommodations.

Day 2: Delhi 
Enjoy a morning tour of Old Delhi starting with the Red Fort, the 300-year-old walled city built of red sandstone that dates back to the very peak of the Mughal power.  Opposite the fort are the black and white onion dome and minarets of the Jama Masjid, the largest and most elegant mosque in India. Drive past Kotla Firoze Shah, ruins of an old fort of the 14th century with the 13 meter high Ashoka Pillar, dating back to the 3rd century BC. Visit Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948. Next, enjoy a stroll or rickshaw ride around Chandni Chowk, one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi lined with stalls of spices, dried fruit, silver jewelry and vivid saris. 

In the afternoon, proceed to New Delhi. Drive past the Presidential Palace, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the secretariat buildings, the impressive Rajpath to the World War I memorial arch, the India Gate, the High Court Building and the Old Fort. Visit Humayun’s Tomb, ruins of Quwat-ul-Eslam (Light of Islam) Mosque and Iron Pillar, which dates back to the 4th century AD. Finish the day with a visit to Qutab Minar – the 72 meter high ruins of Quwat-ul-Islam Mosque dating back to the 4th century that still stands today. (B) 

Day 3: Delhi / Agra
After breakfast, travel overland to Jaipur by private car (approx. 4 hours). Agra was the capital of the Mughal court during the 16th and 17th centuries and its sublime monuments date from that era. The emperors Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jehan governed their vast empires from here and as prolific builders; artisans of Persia, Central Asia and other parts of India were attracted by their patronage. The resulting luxurious palaces, tombs, forts and gardens dot the picturesque riverside region along the Yamuna River; three of which, the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Upon arriving in Agra, visit the magnificent Taj Mahal (Closed on Friday), built by Emperor Shahjahan in white marble in the early 1600’s for his beloved Queen Mumtaz Mahal. With its incredible lacy white grandeur, the Taj Mahal is perhaps the most perfect architectural monument in the world. Time permitting, proceed to Agra Fort. Situated on the banks of the River Yamuna, Agra Fort is comprised of palaces, mosques and audience halls, all contained within its massive wall of red sandstone. It is a perfect example of blending Islamic and Hindu traditions. Check-in at your hotel and enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure. (B) 

Day 4: Agra / Jaipur
After breakfast, travel overland to Jaipur by private car (approx. 5 hours) visiting Fatehpur Sikri en-route. Fatehpur Sikri, is an abandoned red sandstone city built in the 16th century with an architecture that combines Hindu and Muslim styles. Continue your overland jouney to Jaipur, popularly known as the Pink City built by Raja Jai Singh in the 18th century. It is surrounded by hills topped with rugged fortresses, dotted with fairy-tale palaces. Ambling camels and brightly-dressed peasants, reflect Jaipur’s desert heritage. Check-in to your hotel in Jaipur and enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure. (B)

Day 5: Jaipur
Today, enjoy a full-day tour of Jaipur by Jeep. The day begins with a visit to the Amber Fort, where you’ll wander around the beautiful palace and see the Shiladevi temple. Next, visit Hawa Mahal, a prominent landmark of Jaipur affectionately known as the “Palace of Winds.” It is a five-story structure of plastered pink sandstone, encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. In the afternoon proceed to City Palace, which boasts a delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture and houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum. We end the day with a visit to Jantar Mantar, the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories consisting of outsized astronomical instruments that are still in use today. Return to your hotel for a brief rest and relaxation. This evening, enjoy a visit to a middle-class family’s home. Here, you’ll have a chance to mingle with the local people and learn about their customs and traditions.  Enjoy a cooking demonstration followed by dinner together with the local family. (B,D)

Day 6: Jaipur / Kolkata 
Transfer to Jaipur airport for your early morning flight to Kolkata. Until the 17th century, Calcutta was nothing more than a village but later became India’s capital under British rule.  Today, it is one of the major metropolitan cities of India and dubbed City of Joy.  Upon arrival, be met and transferred to your hotel. Later this afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of the city visiting local markets and other interesting spots around your hotel. Overnight in Kolkata. (B) 

Day 7: Kolkata 
Today, enjoy a morning tour of Kolkata. Visits include Victoria Memorial, National Museum, Fort William and Howrah Bridge. Afterward, enjoy time at leisure to relax or take time to explore the bustling local market. Overnight in Kolkata. (B) 

Day 8: Kolkata/ Farakka / Historic Hooghly Cruise 
Morning at leisure. Transfer to the rail station by private car for your 4-hour train ride to Farakka. Upon arrival, be met and transferred to the ABN Rajmahal Cruise for your river journey downstream. Dinner is served on board this evening. (B,D)

Day 9: Historic Hooghly Cruise (Malda – Janngipur) 
Today, enjoy a full day shore excursion to Gaur. This quiet, deserted place was once one of India’s great cities, first under the Hindus in 12th century, then as the Muslim capital of Eastern India from the 14th to the 16th century. Visit the remains of mosques, palaces and gateways and learn about their history. Afterward, travel by road to Jangipur and board your ship for your scenic river journey with banks lined with mustard fields and mango orchards. The ship will moor at Baranagar for the night. (B,L,D) 

Day 10: Historic Hooghly Cruise (Baranagar – Murshidabad) 
This morning, visit the delightfully sleepy village of Baranagar with three gorgeous miniature terracotta temples to which you walk through the fields. This is rural India at its most idyllic. Continue on down past Azimganj, boasting some fine riverside mansions, to Murshidabad where the Nawab’s great Hazarduari Palace dominates the waterfront. Built by an English architect in 1837, the palace hosts an extensive collection of pictures, china, weapons and other objects. Carry on to visit the great Katra Mosque before driving out to see the Katgola Palace. Built in classical Georgian style by rich local merchants, Katgola Palace represents the other side of the coin of the ‘White Mughal’ period when English and Indian cultures came close to fusion. Moor overnight on the riverbank across from town. (B,L,D)

Day 11: Historic Hooghly Cruise (Kushbagh – Behrampur – Katwa) 
Today, sail downstream a short distance then travel by foot to Khushbagh, a peaceful Mughul-style garden enclosing the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah – the last independent Nawab of Bengal – and his family. Return to the ship and continue downstream past the old British cantonment of Berhampur to a rural mooring close to the battlefield of Plassey where, in 1757, Robert Clive, the Commander-in-Chief of British India, defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, to change the course of Indian history. You can walk through the fields to the commemorative obelisk. Cruise on to a mooring near Katwa, a market town with narrow bustling bazaars. (B,L,D)

Day 12: Historic Hooghly Cruise (Matiari – Mayapur) 
Morning visit to the brassworking village of Matiari where you can see the whole primitive process of beating out brass water pots and other vessels. Continue on through the countryside to Mayapur to visit the vast new ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple which dominates the skyline. As the headquarters of ISKCON or the Hare Krishna movement, the temple receives over a million singing and dancing devotees a year from around the world. Return to your ship and continue sailing southward. (B,L,D)

Day 13: Historic Hooghly Cruise (Kalna – Bandel – Chandernagore ) 
Continue on to the country town of Kalna. Here, enjoy a rickshaw ride to see a group of some of Bengal’s most attractive terracotta temples, as well as the unique Shiva temple with concentric rings made up of 108 shrinelets. Sail on, leaving fields behind and arrive at the outskirts of Kolkata. Visit the imposing Imambara at Hooghly near Bendal. With verses from the Koran written on its walls, the Imambara is an opportunity to step back in time and relive a slice of Islamic history in Bengal. Sail downstream past fine waterfront buildings and the old Dutch settlement at Chinsura. The ship will moor at Chandernagore for the night. (B,L,D) 

Day 13: Historic Hooghly Cruise / Varanasi  
Upon disembarkation, transfer to Kolkata Airport by shared coach for your morning flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival, be met and transferred to your hotel. Later this afternoon, observe Ganga Aarti, a ceremony that takes place every evening where devotees pay their homage to the Gods on the banks of the Ganges. Overnight in Varanasi. (B) 

Day 7: Varanasi
Today, enjoy an early morning boat trip on the holy River Ganges. The Ganges is the river of India, which has held India’s heart captive and drawn uncounted millions to her banks since the dawn of history. It has long been considered the holiest of all rivers by Hindus and worshiped as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism, where many former provincial and imperial capitals have been located on its banks throughout India’s history. Your two-hour journey spans three miles down the Ganges, offering an inspiring glimpse of rural life in India. Here, you will witness the daily rituals prevalent throughout India during the Aryan age dating back 3,000 years. Return to Varanasi city for additional sightseeing. Visit Bharat Mata Temple, Emperor Aurangazeb’s Mosque, Vishwanath Temple (Golden Temple), and Durga (Goddess of Power) Temple, popularly known as the Monkey Temple. End the day with a visit to  Sarnath, a large complex of ruined monasteries covering the area north of the stupas, belonging to the Kushan and Gupta period, some dating back to 3rd B.C. Overnight in Varanasi. (B)

Day 8: Depart Varanasi 
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight to Delhi. Passengers on own arrangements upon arrival at Delhi Airport. (B)

**Note: normal hotel checkout required. Additional hotel or ground arrangements can be made at an additional cost. 

• Prices are per person, based on double occupancy
• *Taj Mahal closed on Fridays.
• Price excludes international airfares, meals not specified, personal expenses, gratuities to guides and drivers
• Visas are required to enter India(India eVisa can be applied for here). NOT included in package.
• Full board included during cruise but excludes beverages
• Hotels and cruise are subject to availability at time of reservation