The Life! Exotic India with Ganges Cruise New Delhi -Jaipur-Ranthambore National Park-Agra-Kolkata

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2 The Life! Exotic India with Ganges Cruise New Delhi -Jaipur-Ranthambore National Park-Agra-Kolkata

3 About Tour Everyone with a desire to travel India knows that that country's history goes back millennia quite fitting for a country that is larger than life with amazing cultural diversity. India is spiritual and colorful, noisy and serene, mystical and majestic and mesmerizing at every turn. This comprehensive journey complete with Ganges River cruise is your opportunity to marvel at bustling Delhi, fortified Jaipur, Ranthambore's tiger-filled national park, and Agra's unparalleled Taj Mahal. A highlight of your experience is bound to be your seven-night Ganges River cruise aboard the brand-new, all-suite RV Ganges Voyager a truly special experience, as Vantage is the first American cruise operator to offer such an exclusive charter itinerary. Hindus believe the Ganges is the most sacred and holy water in the world, and simply touching it is thought to cleanse away all sins. Glimpse local life along this blessed river with excursions to towns, temples, and villages. It's truly a unique Asia river cruise and the ideal way to travel India. Throughout your journey, you have numerous opportunities to interact with the local people and get to know their way of life. As you travel India, you'll ride a rickshaw, join a family for dinner in their home, visit local markets and bazaars, and much more. You'll also enjoy special events on board your Ganges River cruise ship, including lectures, a musical performance, and a cooking demonstration. Don't miss this exciting land-and-river journey through India!

4 Itinerary Day 1Delhi Arrive in Delhi after an overnight flight. After clearing Immigration and Customs, you are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the evening is at leisure, and dinner is on your own. Meals: Day 2Delhi After a Welcome Briefing, set out on a panoramic tour of New Delhi, which includes a drive past the President's Palace and the India Gate. Pause for lunch at a local restaurant, and then tour Qutab Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and India's oldest mosque. Return to the hotel and get better acquainted with your fellow travelers at a Welcome Dinner in the hotel. Day 3Delhi As you travel India, set out on a city tour of Old Delhi that includes Raj Ghat, the memorial to Gandhi; the huge Jama Masjid mosque; and a photo stop at the Red Fort. Cultural Connection: Hop aboard a rickshaw for a ride through the narrow alleys and markets of Chandni Chowk before having lunch in a local restaurant. Afterward, visit a local carpet workshop. Return to the hotel for an evening at leisure and dinner at local restaurant. Day 4Delhi - Jaipur Drive to Jaipur and check in to your hotel. Lunch is on your own, and the afternoon is at leisure. Cultural Connection: This evening, get a glimpse of local life when you attend a home-hosted dinner. Day 5Jaipur Set out today for the Amber Fort, making a photo stop en route at Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). This filigreed façade of hundreds of windows through which women of the harem could watch the world go by without being seen. Arrive at the Mughal-designed Amber Fort. Cultural Connection: Ride an elephant as the maharajas once did. Then, visit a jewelry manufacturer for a gem-cutting demonstration. Return to the hotel for an evening at leisure with dinner on your own. Day 6Jaipur Cultural Connections: Visit the walled Maharaja's City Palace and enjoy lunch there. After lunch, stroll through a local bazaar and go on a Heritage Walk in Jaipur's old quarter for a glimpse of daily life.

5 Itinerary Day 7Jaipur - Ranthambore As you travel India, drive to Ranthambore and check in to your lodge. Cultural Connection: After a buffet lunch at your lodge, listen to a lecture on wildlife in Ranthambore National Park. The remainder of the day is at leisure until you gather tonight for a buffet dinner Day 8Ranthambore One of the largest national parks in northern India, Ranthambore is renowned for its large Bengal tiger population. Head out on a game drive in Ranthambore National Park for an opportunity to view tigers and other wildlife. Return to the hotel. Cultural Connections: Visit Village Woman Craft, a women's cooperative. Dinner tonight is at your lodge. Day 9Ranthambore - Agra Depart for Agra by train and then transfer to your hotel in time for lunch. This afternoon, explore Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterward, return to the hotel for an evening at leisure and dinner at a local restaurant. Day 10Agra This morning, visit the magnificent Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was built by Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Return to the hotel for lunch on your own and an afternoon at leisure. Late this afternoon, you can join an optional "Taj at Sunset" tour. Dinner at a local restaurant. Day 11Agra - Kolkata Leave Agra this morning and go by motorcoach to Delhi, where you board a flight to Kolkata. There, embark the brand-new RV Ganges Voyager to begin your seven-night Ganges River cruise. Cultural Connection: Watch a cultural performance on board during dinner. Day 12Kolkata - Bandel A panoramic city tour of Bandel shows you the British colonial area. View the Writers' Building, General Post Office, High Court, Raj Bhawan (Governor's House), and more. Continue to St. John's Church. Built in 1756, it is the oldest Anglican church in Kolkata. It contains the oldest functioning pipe organ in India. Visit the Victoria Memorial Museum, containing the largest collection of British colonial historical items in India. Return to the ship for lunch, and then visit Bandel by boat. See Hoogly Imambar, one of the famous Shiya pilgrimage centers in West Bengal. Return to the ship. Cultural Connection: Attend a lecture on the former colonial period and its impact on contemporary India.

6 Itinerary Day 13Bandel - Kalna Set out on a morning excursion to the Rajbari complex, where you can find the highest concentration of temples in the region. Return to the ship and enjoy movie night tonight. Day 14Kalna - Matiari Cultural Connection: Early this morning, visit a bazaar on the shore that features exquisite handcrafted copper items. Return to the ship. Cultural Connections: Attend an informative lecture on "The Ganges River: The Environmental Outlook and Socio-economic Impact of the Local Population." Then, an onboard cooking demonstration shows you how to prepare Indian food. Day 15Khushbagh / Baganagar / Mushidabad Very early this morning, set out to visit the charming village of Khushbagh, passing farms along the way to a well-preserved 18th-century mosque complex. Return to the ship for breakfast. Cultural Connection: Explore the village of Baranagar for a look at rural life. See several brick temples considered to be among the best examples of Bengal terra cotta art. After lunch on board, head to historic Mushidabad, a hidden architectural gem poised along the Ganges. See dramatic whitewashed colonial era structures throughout the city. Visit one of them Hazarduari Palace, built by an English architect in in mid-19th century in Greek Doric style. Cultural Connection: Then, hop aboard a buggy for a ride to visit Katra Mosque, the region's oldest. Return to the ship. Cultural Connection: This evening, enjoy a colorful West Bengal music and dance performance. Day 16Mayapur Visit the village of Mayapur, known as the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, born in 1486 and considered an incarnation of Lord Krishna. Day 17Chandenagor Explore Chandenagor, a former French colony that dates back to View the French colonial buildings along the promenade, such as the former French governor's residence that is now a museum. Then, visit the Sacred Heart Church and the old French bakery that still bakes fresh baguettes daily. Cultural Connection: Visit a local school. Return to your Ganges River ship for a Farewell Reception and Dinner. Next Day disembark and fly out of Kolkata to your next destination.

7 Chandni chowk The main street of old Delhi, is a shocking contrast to the wide, orderly streets of New Delhi Hawa Mahal Built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799, the Hawa Mahal is one of Jaipur's major tourist attractions. Shaped like a pyramid, this five-storeyed palace is also known as the Palace of Winds. Rashtrapati Bhawan Rashtrapati Bhawan is the house of the President of India. It is a real masterpiece that was built in the British period. It is the focal point of New Delhi and situated in the Raisina Hills. Humayun's Tomb The famous Humayun's Tomb of Delhi is the first garden tomb in India. A complex commissioned in 1562 CE by Hamida Banu Begum Humayun's wife and designed by Mirak Mirza a Persian architect. Qutub Minar Qutub Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the heart of Old Delhi, is a soaring, 73 m-high tower of victory, built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak immediately after the defeat of Delhi's last Hindu kingdom.

8 Hotels Envisage ITC Rajputana, A Luxury Collection Hotel Taj Palace Hotel ITC Mughal, Agra ITC Rajputana, A Luxury Collection Hotel, ITC Rajputana, A Luxury Collection Hotel Taj Palace Hotel, Taj Palace Hotel ITC Mughal, Agra, ITC Mughal, Agra