INDIA & THE SACRED GANGES RIVER CRUISE ITINERARY
DAY 1 – NEW DELHI
Arrive at New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport. If your cruise/ tour package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the Oberoi New Delhi hotel.
DAY 2 – NEW DELHI
India’s sprawling capital city is colorful, confounding, and captivating. Your expertly led city tour provides an ideal first foray into this fascinating land. To cap your day taking in the sights of scenic New Delhi, relax this evening over a delicious dinner at the Oberoi.
DAY 3 – NEW DELHI, TRANSFER TO AGRA
This morning you will check out of your New Delhi hotel and head south via motorcoach to Agra, the site of Shah Jahan’s best-known building project, the exquisite Taj Mahal. You’ll visit the Taj Mahal this afternoon and stay for sunset, as the monument’s changing colors draw comparisons to the shifting mood of the late Emperor’s wife.
DAY 4 – AGRA, TRANSFER TO JAIPUR
Is the Taj Mahal best seen at sunset or sunrise? It’s an impossible question to answer, so Uniworld guests have the rare pleasure of experiencing both. Wake up early this morning to see the white marble monument aglow with the rosy tinge of dawn. You’ll spend your next two nights at the beautiful Oberoi Rajvilas. The luxury hotel sits on 32 acres of landscaped gardens and is built around an ancient Shiva temple.
DAY 5 – JAIPUR
Pink is the color of hospitality in Rajasthan, which gives you an idea of what to expect in the “Pink City” of Jaipur.
DAY 6 – JAIPUR, FLY TO KOLKATA (EMBARK), CRUISING THE GANGES RIVER
Settle into your beautifully appointed suite aboard the Ganges Voyager II to begin your India river cruise.
DAY 7 – KALNA
Kalna, once an important trade port on the river, is best known today for the magnificent Hindu temples built by the maharajas of Bardhaman— which you’ll experience today. After marveling at the astonishing Rajbari temple complex, you may opt to walk with your guide through the colorful local market.
DAY 8 – MATIARI
Your ship serves as a time machine today, transporting you hundreds of years into the past, as we travel to the authentic artisan village of Matiari.
DAY 9 – MURSHIDABAD, BARANAGAR
Today’s adventures take you to a duo of Bengali towns—Murshidabad and Baranagar—each one boasting surprising and beautiful architectural monuments closely linked to the ruling families of the area.
DAY 10 – THE GANGES, KHUSBAGH, MAYAPUR
One of the world’s most sacred bodies of water, the Ganges River flows through a myriad of small villages and highly populated cities throughout India and Bangladesh. Take in the remarkable scenery as you sail and be on the lookout for a rare sighting of the endangered Ganges river dolphin.
Also today, watch as a skilled practitioner of mehndi demonstrates how the intricate henna patterns are created, and discover the meanings of the traditional motifs.
DAY 11 – MAYAPUR, CHANDANNAGAR
Few places of worship exist on such a head-spinning scale as what you will witness today in Mayapur, the center of the international Hare Krishna movement and home to the new Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, still under construction. Most students of history know a thing or two about the British colonial powers in India, but few are aware that the French had colonies here as well. You’ll visit this former French outpost today.
DAY 12 – KOLKATA
The city of Kolkata is synonymous with the enduring legacies of Mother Teresa and the colonial-era British Raj, both of which you will get better acquainted with today.
DAY 13 – KOLKATA (DISEMBARK)
Your incredible Indian adventure ends early this morning, as you disembark and transfer to the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport for your flight home or extend your journey with an optional extension to Varanasi.
OPTIONAL EXTENSION – VARANASI, INDIA POST-CRUISE EXTENSION
- 1 night at the Taj Ganges, Varanasi (or similar)
- 1 night at the Roseate House New Delhi (or similar)
- Breakfast daily, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
- All service charges, taxes and porterage
- Varanasi panoramic city tour with private boat viewing of an Aarti ceremony at sunset
- Private boat viewing of life and rituals on the Ganges at sunrise and silk factory visit
- Transfers and transportation throughout the extension are included
- Flight between Kolkata and Varanasi, and Varanasi and New Delhi
Note: The itineraries presented are subject to modification due to water levels, closures because of public holidays or other uncontrollable factors. Every effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but changes may still be necessary throughout the cruise. This day-to-day schedule is subject to change. Your final day-to-day schedule will be provided onboard on the first day of your cruise.
