SAMPLE
ITINERARY
Click to view Reverse Itinerary
Day
1 Arrive in Calcutta
Upon your arrival, transfer to your 5 star hotel by private air-conditioned
vehicle and English-speaking guide. No activities are planned for today.
Day
2 Barrackpore/Embarkation
You will be picked up from your hotel in the late morning. Embark midday
and sail past the old Danish colony of Serampore to Barrackpore, where
you take a walk past the Semaphore Tower, Government House, the Temple
of Fame, and the Flagstaff House, its garden housing many of the British
statues removed from central Calcutta. (B, D)
Day
3 Chandernagore
Sail on to Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950, and visit the
18th century church and Dupleix’s House containing a small museum.
Drive on to visit the Dutch cemetery at Chinsura, the Imambara at Hugli
and the Portuguese church at Bandel where you reboard your ship and cruise
upstream, leaving urban sprawl and cruising through the night to a mooring
near Kalna. (B, L, D)
Day
4 Kalna
Dock at the countryside town of Kalna and take cycle rickshaws to see
some of Bengal’s most attractive terracotta temples, as well as
the unique Shiva temple. Continue through the countryside to Mayapur,
its skyline dominated by the vast new ISKCON temple. On the opposite
bank, visit the older and humbler temples entwined within a giant banyan
tree before sailing on through the night to a mooring near Matiari. (B,
L, D)
Day
5 Matiari
This morning visit the brassworking village of Matiari where you can
see the entire process of beating out brass water pots. Later cruise
past the battlefield of Plassey where in 1757 Clive’s defeat of
Siraj-ud-Daulah changed the course of Indian history. Moor at Murshidabad.
(B, L, D)
Day
6 Kushbagh
Travel by cycle rickshaw to the Khushbagh, a peaceful Moghul-style garden
enclosing the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah and his family. Continue a little
way upstream to where the Nawab’s great Hazarduari Palace, built
by an English architect in 1837, dominates the waterfront. Inside you
find a vast collection of pictures, china, weapons and other valuable
objects. You will also visit the great Katra Mosque and see two amazing
buildings of the late 18th century, the Nashipara Palace and the Katgola
Palace. Both were built in classical Georgian style by rich local merchants
and represent the other side of the coin of the “White Moghul” period
when English and Indian cultures came close to fusion. Overnight on the
riverbank across from town. (B, L, D)
Day
7 Baranagar
Moor at the delightful sleepy village of Baranagar with three gorgeous
miniature terracotta temples to ehich you walk through the fields. Continue
sailing. At dusk, moor at Jangipur.(B, L, D)
Day
8 Jangipur
From Jangipur, near where the Hugli flows out from the Ganges, a morning
excursion explores native villages where silk is woven and “bidis” (primitive
cigarettes) are rolled. In the afternoon, cruise up a long canal section
to the Farakka Barrage. (B, L, D)
Day
9 Disembark cruise/Calcutta/Delhi
Bid farewell to your floating hotel and transfer to Farakka station for
a 6 hr train journey to Calcutta. Fly on to Delhi where you spend an
overnight in a 5 star hotel. (B)
Day
10 New Delhi
A full day of sightseeing in Delhi includes the 17th century Mughal-built
Red Fort with its exquisite palaces and gardens, India’s largest
mosque the “Friday Mosque,” and Gandhi’s Memorial.
Visit New Delhi in the afternoon with the President’s House, Parliament
House, and the 42-meter high, arched war memorial “India Gate.” Overnight
in Delhi. (B)
Day
11 Delhi/Agra
Travel in air conditioned comfort, arriving in Agra about noon. The city,
rich in medieval monuments, developed as early as 2nd century BC since
it is located on major trade routes and waterways. After hotel check-in,
tour the famous Taj Mahal. Built as a loving tribute to the Mughal Empress
Mumtaz Mahal, the spectacular Taj is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular
buildings in the world and rightly one of the new 7 Wonders of the World!
Also visit Agra Fort, along the Yamuna River before returning to your
hotel. (B)
Day
12 Agra/Jaipur
After breakfast, travel to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri,
a former capital city, was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned
15 years later due to a severe scarcity of water. While Akbar himself
was illiterate, he took a keen interest in literature, architecture and
the arts. The buildings are a pleasing blend of Islamic and Hindu styles.
After lunch at the Laxmi Vilas Palace Hotel in Bharatpur, continue to
Jaipur for overnight. (B,L)
Day
13 Jaipur
“ The Pink City,” Jaipur, was given this pink wash in 1853 to welcome
Prince Albert to the city. En route to the Amber Fort, see the Hawa Mahal (Palace
of Winds), with pink, delicately honeycombed sandstone windows called “jharokhas.” Enjoy
a short elephant ride at the Fort, which is a complex of palaces, halls, pavilions,
gardens, and temples. Next visit the City Palace, an historic landmark with some
of the city’s most magnificent architecture and art. The Palace’s
museum contains a collection of Rajasthani dresses and an armory of Mughal and
Rajput weapons. Return to your hotel for a second night in Jaipur. (B)
Day
14 Jaipur/Delhi
Enjoy the Indian countryside as you make your way back to Delhi. Upon
your afternoon arrival, you are taken to your 5* hotel with the remainder
of the day free to explore the delights of Delhi. (B)
Day
15 Delhi
End of Tour
--------------------------------------------------------------
REVERSE
ITINERARY DAY
1: ARRIVE IN CALCUTTA
Arrive in Calcutta and transfer to your
hotel for your overnight.
DAY 2: CRUISE
EMBARKATION
Enjoy breakfast this morning and check
out of your room. You embark on a 6 hr
train journey from Calcutta to Farakka,
and short road transfer to the ship.
An excursion by road takes you to Gaur.
This quiet, deserted place was once one
of India’s great cities, first
under the Hindus in the 12th century,
then as the muslim capital of Eastern
India from the 14th to the 16th century.
There are plentiful remain of mosques,
palaces and gateways. Later travel on
through the town of Malda, or English
Bazar, to Pandua where you will visit
the great 14th century Adina Mosque before
returning to Farakka where your ship
will have passed through the lock at
the barrage. (B, D)
DAY 3: CRUISE
This morning’s cruise is along
a straight canal section to Jangipur,
where there is time for a brief excursion
to native villages where silk is woven
and “bidis” (primitive cigarettes)
are rolled. In the afternoon, set sail
down the Hooghly proper, a charming waterway
twisting and turning between banks lined
with mustard fields and mango orchards.
Moor at the delightful 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. (B)
DAY 4: CRUISE
Sail on downriver past Azimganj with
some fine riverside mansions to Murshidabad
where the Nawab’s great Hazarduari
Palace, built by an English architect
in 1837, dominates the waterfront.
Inside are an extensive collection
of pictures, china, weapons and other
objects. You also visit the great Katra
Mosque and drive out to two amazing
buildings of the late 18th century,
the Nashipara Palace and the Katgola
Palace. Both were built in classical
Georgian style by rich local merchants
and represent the other side of the
coin of the “White Moghul” period
when English and Indian cultures came
close to fusion. Continue downstream
for a short distance, then travel by
cycle rickshaw to the Khushbagh, a
peaceful Moghul-style garden enclosing
the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah and his
family. (B)
DAY 5: CRUISE
Continue downstream past the old British
cantonment of Berhampur to a rural
mooring close to the battlefield of
Plassey where in 1757 Clive’s
defeat of Siraj-ud-Daulah changed the
course of Indian history - you can
walk through the fields to the commemorative
obelisk. Cruise on past Katwa, a market
town with narrow bustling bazaars,
to the brassworking village of Matiari
where you can see the whole primitive
process of beating out brass water
pots and other vessels. (B)
DAY 6: CRUISE
This morning we reach Mayapur, its skyline
dominated by the vast new ISKCON temple
which we are able to visit. Visit also
the older and humbler temples as well
as the giant banyan tree at Nabadwip
on the opposite bank before sailing
on to the country town of Kalna. Here
we take cycle rickshaws 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. (B)
DAY 7: CRUISE
Continue sailing and arrive at the outskirts
of Calcutta. Dock at Bandel to visit
the Portuguese church as well as the
nearby Imambara and the Dutch cemetery
at Chinsura. Then, sail past fine waterfront
buildings before you land at Chandernagore,
a French possession until 1950. There,
you visit the 18th century church and
Dupleix’s House containing a
small museum. (B)
DAY 8: CRUISE
Continue down to Barrackpore, land and
take a walk through the cantonment
past the Semaphore Tower, Government
House, the Temple of Fame, and Flagstaff
House, its garden housing many of the
British statues removed from central
Calcutta. If time permits, cross to
the other bank to visit the old Danish
colony of Serampore, then sail on under
the Howrah Bridge to central Calcutta.
This afternoon take a sightseeing tour
of Calcutta including the Victoria
Memorial, South Park Street Cemetery,
St John’s Church and other colonial
relics. (B)
DAY 9: DISEMBARKATION
Disembark after breakfast and transfer
to Calcutta airport for your mid-day
flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, you
will be met and transferred to your
hotel. (B)
DAY 10: DELHI
In the morning start your sightseeing
with a 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. Red Fort – the
17th century imposing fortress built
in red sandstone is surrounded by a huge
boundary wall 33m high. Inside are exquisite
palaces and beautiful gardens. Opposite
the Red Fort lies 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. In the afternoon, visit New
Delhi. Start with Qutub Minar – the
landmark of Delhi, a huge tower of victory
started in 1199 and completed in 1368.
Proceed to the Rashtrapati Bhawan which
is now the official residence of the
President of India. Designed by Lutyens,
it combines western and eastern styles.
Overnight at the hotel. (B)
DAY 11: DELHI- AGRA
Travel in air conditioned comfort to
Agra. Afternoon tour of the Taj Mahal.
Also referred to as a poem in white
marble, this monument of love was built
by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved
wife, Mumtaj Mahal. Also visit the
Agra fort, built alongside the Yamuna
river stretching almost 2.5 km. The
fort’s colossal double walls
rise 20 m in height and measure 2.5
km in circumference. (B)
DAY 12: AGRA- JAIPUR
After breakfast, check out of the hotel
and depart for Jaipur. En route visit
Fatehpursikri, built by Emperor Akbar
in 1569 and abandoned after 15 years
due to scarcity of water. Visit the
remarkably well-preserved, graceful
buildings within the 'Ghost City' including
the Jama Masjid, tomb of Salim Chisti,
Panch Mahal Palace and other palaces
that speak of the grandeur and splendor
of the Mughal empire at the height
of its power. After visiting Fatehpursikri,
continue your drive to Jaipur. Lunch
will be provided at the Laxmi Vilas
Palace. On arrival, check-in at hotel.
(B, L)
DAY 13: JAIPUR
This morning’s excursion takes
you to Amber Fort. En route, make a photo
stop at the palace of winds the Hawa
Mahal. This 5-storied building with 25cm
thick facade from the 18 century has
windows and niches so that ladies of
royal family could see the processions
and events in the city without being
visible to the people. Proceed to the
Amber Fort situated 130m high, with the
Aravalli hills around. It was the ancient
capital of the Rajputs till 1037. Enjoy
an Elephant ride from the parking to
the entrance of the fort. Then, visit
the `Pink City’ of Jaipur: The
City Palace occupies the center of Jaipur.
It now houses the Royal residence and
museums with collections of textiles
and costumes, armoury, manuscripts, paintings
etc. (B)
DAY 14: JAIPUR- DELHI
After breakfast, depart to Delhi. Upon
arrival, transfer to your hotel and
free time. (B)
DAY 15: DELHI
End of Cruise.
(B
|
02
February 2012