19 Nights 20 Days
Kolkata To Patna Upstream
With Varanasi
aboard MV Ganga Vilas
The Itinerary
Following the Ganges river’s course upstream from the Hooghly in Kolkata through several tributaries to Patna in Bihar ending with a road trip to the holy city of Varanasi. A journey traversing through historical, archaeological, and cultural sites.
Includes
Fine dining
Meals and complimentary beverages, daily breakfast and fine dining experience served onboard
Excursions
All excursions including exclusive use of the onboard.
Private Guide
A dedicated tour guide, whose itinerary can be tailored towards your preferences
Kolkata
Kolkata, also known as Calcutta
(its official name until 2001), is the
capital and largest city of the Indian state of
West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of
the Hooghly River, 80 km (50 mi) west of the
border with Bangladesh. wikipedia
Kalna
Kalna or Ambika Kalna is a town in the Purba
Bardhaman district of West Bengal, India. It is
the headquarter of the Kalna subdivision, situated
on the western bank of the Bhāgirathi river. The
town is more popularly known as Ambika Kalna,
named after the goddess Kali,Maa Ambika.wikipedia
Matiari
Matiari is a census town and a gram panchayat
in the Kaliganj CD block in the Krishnanagar Sadar
subdivision of the Nadia district in the state of
West Bengal, India. wikipedia
Murshidabad
Murshidabad ,is a town in the
Indian state of West Bengal. This
town is the headquarters of Lalbag subdivision
of Murshidabad district. It is located on the
eastern bank of the Bhagirathi River. During the
18th century, Murshidabad was a prosperous and
cosmopolitan town. wikipedia
Jangipur
Jangipur is a city and a municipality in
Murshidabad district in the state of West Bengal,
India. It is the headquarters of the Jangipur
subdivision. It is situated on the banks of
the Bhagirathi wikipedia
Farakka
Farakka is a town, with a police station and
a post office, not identified in 2011 census as a
separate place, in the Farakka community
development block in the Jangipur subdivision
of Murshidabad district in the state of West Bengal,
India. It is also known as the northernmost point
of Ganga Delta. wikipedia
Bateshwar Sthan
Bateshwar Sthan ( Sanskrit: बटेश्वर स्थान ) is an ancient
site related to the Vedic sage Brahmarshi Vashishtha
at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district of Bihar, India.
It is believed as the Taposthali ( penance place )
of the sage Vashishtha where he established Shivlinga
known as Bateshwar Nath Mahadeva. wikipedia
Munger
Munger, formerly spelt as Monghyr,is a twin city
and a Municipal Corporation situated in the Indian
state of Bihar. It is the administrative headquarters of
Munger district and Munger. Division. Munger was one
of the major< cities in Eastern India and undivided
Bengal during Mughalperiod and British Raj. wikipedia
Nalanda
Nalanda was a renowned Buddhist mahavihara
(great monastery) in medieval Magadha (modern-day
Bihar),eastern India. Widely considered to be among
the greatest centres of learning in the ancient world
and often referred to as "the world's first residential
university wikipedia
Bodh Gaya
Bodh Gayā is a religious site and place of pilgrimage
associated with the Mahabodhi Temple complex,
situated in the Gaya district in the Indian
state of Bihar. It is famous for being the place
where Gautama Buddha is said to have attained
enlightenment (Pali: bodhi) under
what became known as the Bodhi Tree. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodh_Gaya>wikipedia
Varanasi
Varanasi (Hindi pronunciation: also Benares, Banaras
Hindustani pronunciation, or Kashi, is a city
on the Ganges river in northern India that has
a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage,
death, and mourning in the Hindu world. wikipedia
Patna
Patna (Hindi: Paṭanā, pronounced, historically known
as Pāṭaliputra,is the capital and largest city of the
Indian state of Bihar. According to the United
Nations, as of 2018,Patna had a population of
2.35 million, making it the 19th largest city
(97 sq mi) and over 2.5 million people wikipedia
day 1
Arrive Kolkata, Embarkation
Arrival in Kolkata in the morning. Meet and greet at the airport and transfer to the jetty for embarking MV Ganga Vilas. Embarkation by 12:00 hrs. Welcome onboard followed by safety briefing and lunch. Post lunch we visit Mother Teresa’s Home and Tomb.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas.
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 2
Kolkata – Kalna
After breakfast, visit the Flower Market and the potters quarters Kumartuli. Return to the ship for lunch and start sailing upstream, passing below the Howrah Bridge, and seeing various colonial buildings along the Ganges River.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 3
Kalna – Matiari
After breakfast ride e-rickshaws through the town of Kalna to visit the enchanting Rajbari terracotta temple complex. Return to the ship walking through the local vegetable market. Begin sail towards the shore-side village of Matiari, while having lunch onboard.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 4
Matiari - Murshidabad
Early this morning walk in the village to see and experience the craftsmen at work creating exquisite pots, platters, and more in their home workshops. Return to ship for breakfast and sail full day towards Murshidabad, a hidden architectural gem with dramatic whitewashed colonial era structures. Lunch,
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 5
Murshidabad – Jangipur
After breakfast ride the Toto (e-rickshaw) through the countryside to the Katra mosque, which has distinctive minarets. Thereafter visit the Hazarduari Palace, which dominates the waterfront. Built in the Greek “Doric” style, the palace has more than a thousand real and false doors in the vast corridors and is filled with colonial-era antiques. Return to the ship for lunch and sail towards Jangipur.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 6
Jangipur - Farakka
Enjoying breakfast onboard we sail in the morning to cross the historic Farakka Lock Gate. After crossing the Lock Gate, we cruise through the connecting canal to the Ganges revealing vast panoramas.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 7
Farakka – Sahibganj
Today we sail full day towards Sahibganj enjoying breakfast and lunch. You will be fascinated by the passing landscape and the lively life on the river. Sahibganj is a scenic town and a port city where several British and other European people, locally called “sahibs” lived and worked in and around the railway station during the British Raj.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 8
Sahibganj - Bateshwarsthan
Enjoy a walk in the morning in the riverside village. Return to ship and sail towards Bateshwarsthan enjoying lunch onboard. Time permitting, enjoy a walk on the Ghats (embankments).
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 9
Bateshwarsthan - Vikramshila Excursion
After breakfast drive in cars to the 8-9th century excavation site of the Vikramshila University. Spend the day exploring the archaeological ruins. Vikramshila University was an important Buddhist centre of learning.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 10
Bateshwarsthan - Sultanganj - Munger
This morning we sail to Sultanganj. Post breakfast explore Sultanganj, which is notable for two prominent granite rock islands in the river. On one is a mosque and on the other is a Shiva Temple. Return to the ship and sail towards Munger while enjoying Lunch,
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 11
Munger
After breakfast visit the Chandika Sthan Temple, which is dedicated to Goddess Shakti. Return to ship for lunch. Thereafter visit the Munger Fort and enjoy a walking tour and the local market popular for fruits, vegetables, textiles, and readymade garments.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 12
Munger – Barh
Enjoy a full day sailing to Barh, a historic town located on the southern banks of the Ganges. In the evening walk in the riverside village of Barh to see the daily activities of the local people.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 13
Barh – Nalanda Excursion
After breakfast, embark on a full day excursion to archaeological ruins of Nalanda (approx. one-hour drive), which is a World Heritage. A renowned Buddhist monastic university considered by historians to be the world’s first residential university in the ancient world. We continue to nearby Rajgir for lunch at a local restaurant. Return to the ship by evening.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 14
Barh – Patna
Today we sail full day through wonderful countryside to Patna, enjoying breakfast and lunch. Patna is the capital of the State of Bihar and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world founded in 490 BCE as Pataliputra.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 15
Patna - Maner Excursion
After breakfast, excursion to Maner Shrine (approx. an hour drive), which is renowned for the tombs of the 13th century Sufi saints Makhdoom Yahya Maneri and Makhdoom Shah Daulat. Return to ship for Lunch. Thereafter visit the Patna Sahib Gurdwara, a Sikh Temple.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 16
Patna – City Tour
Today we visit the Golghar, a beehive-shaped granary that was built for the prevention of famine in 1784 by Warren Hastings, the British Governor General of India. And, the modern day, Bihar Museum which has several galleries of curated exhibitions. Return to ship for lunch. Rest of the day free for rest and packing for the next day’s long drive.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 17
Disembark Patna - Drive to Varanasi
We disembark after an early breakfast and drive to Varanasi (approx. 5 – 6 hrs drive, depending upon road traffic conditions). Transfer to the hotel for lunch and check-in.
Overnight at Hotel.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 18
Varanasi
Morning is at leisure with breakfast at the hotel. Post lunch enjoy a walk on the Ghats to experience the activities and hustle-bustle in the by-lanes. Continue to the riverside to see the “Ganga Aarti” ritual, performed by a group of priests lined up on the riverbank.
Overnight at Hotel.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 19
Varanasi
Enjoy a Sunrise Boat Tour to witness the incredible scenes along the Holy River. Return to hotel for breakfast. Thereafter visit the excavation site of Sarnath where Gautama Buddha taught his first sermon after attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya. Lunch at a local restaurant in the city with free time for shopping and other activities.
Overnight at Hotel.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
day 20
Varanasi Disembark
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport for your onward journey.
- Breakfast
reservations
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