Itinerary
- Day 1
Kolkata to Farakka
Start early from Kolkata by train and arrive in Farakka around midday. From there, head to the jetty and board the Ganga Vilas at 1:30 PM. Lunch comes onboard as the ship begins sailing toward Samtaghat along the Ganges River.
- Start point
- Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Rd, Dum Dum, West Bengal 700052, India (Once we receive your arrival details in advance, you will be met & greeted at the airport & transferred to the train station for your train to Farakka where you will board the ship., 06:00 - 07:00)
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch onboard Ganga Vilas), Dinner
Included Activities
- Embark on Ganga Vilas cruise ship at Farakka jetty
- Sail on the main Ganges River toward Samtaghat
Landmarks Ganges River - Day 2
Ganges River Sailing
This entire day you'll be on the water sailing toward Bateshwarsthan. Breakfast and lunch both happen onboard while you watch the landscape drift by and see the activity along the riverbanks. By evening you'll arrive at Bateshwarsthan.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full day sailing on Ganges River toward Bateshwarsthan
- Observe river landscapes and local life along the Ganges
Landmarks Ganges River - Day 3
Bateshwarsthan to Sultanganj
After breakfast, take a car to the Vikramshila University site dating from the 8th-9th century. Walk through the ruins of this important Buddhist learning center. Head back to the ship and sail toward Sultanganj, with lunch served onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch onboard Ganga Vilas), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Vikramshila University excavation site (8th-9th century ruins)
- Walk around Vikramshila University ruins
- Sail on Ganges River toward Sultanganj
Landmarks Vikramshila University Ganges River - Day 4
Sultanganj to Munger
Following breakfast, travel to Sultanganj to see two granite rock islands that are connected by a causeway. Check out the Ajgaibinath Temple on the larger island, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Return to the ship for lunch, then continue sailing toward Munger.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch onboard Ganga Vilas), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Sultanganj granite rock islands
- Visit Ajgaibinath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva
- Sail on Ganges River toward Munger
Landmarks Ajgaibinath Temple Ganges River - Day 5
Munger
After breakfast, visit the Chandika Sthan Temple honoring Goddess Shakti, one of the fifty-one Shakti Peethas. Head back to the ship for lunch. In the afternoon, explore Munger Fort and walk through the local market where you'll find fruits, vegetables, textiles, and clothing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch onboard Ganga Vilas), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Chandika Sthan Temple
- Visit Munger Fort
- Explore local Munger market
Landmarks Chandika Sthan Temple Munger Fort Munger Market - Day 6
Mokameh Ghat to Simaria
Breakfast and lunch both occur onboard as you sail upstream, passing under the bridge at Mokameh Ghat. Arrive in Simaria by late afternoon. Later, take a walk through this riverside village to see how the local people go about their daily routines.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sail under Mokameh Ghat bridge
- Evening village walk in Simaria
- Observe local daily life in Simaria
Landmarks Mokameh Ghat Bridge Ganges River - Day 7
Simaria to Patna
Sail through rural countryside heading toward Patna while eating breakfast and lunch onboard. Patna, Bihar's capital, has been continuously inhabited since 490 BCE when it was founded as Pataliputra, making it one of the world's oldest settlements.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full day sailing through countryside to Patna
- Arrive in Patna
Landmarks Ganges River - Day 8
Patna to Bodhgaya
Get off the ship at 7:00 AM with a packed breakfast. Drive to the World Heritage Site of Nalanda, an important Buddhist university. Stop in Rajgir, where Buddha preached, for lunch at a restaurant. Then head to Bodhgaya, one of four major pilgrimage sites connected to Buddha's life.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Packed breakfast), Lunch (Lunch at a restaurant in Rajgir), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Nalanda World Heritage Site (Buddhist monastic university)
- Visit Rajgir
- Travel to Bodhgaya
Landmarks Nalanda Rajgir - Day 9
Bodhgaya
After hotel breakfast, see the Mahabodhi Temple where Buddha reached Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. This site is a UNESCO World Heritage location. Return for lunch, then spend the afternoon walking through Buddhist temples and monasteries built by different countries, each with their own architectural style.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at hotel), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Mahabodhi Temple World Heritage Site
- Explore Buddhist temples and monasteries from multiple countries (Bhutan, Mongolia, China, Japan, Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam)
Landmarks Mahabodhi Temple Bodhi Tree - Day 10
Bodhgaya to Varanasi
Wake early and drive toward Varanasi, Hinduism's holiest city and an important Buddhist site. Check into your hotel and have lunch. In the evening, explore the ghats and their bustling streets. Head to the riverside to see the evening Ganga Aarti ritual.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Varanasi ghats
- Witness evening Ganga Aarti ritual at the riverside
Landmarks Varanasi Ghats Ganges River - Day 11
Varanasi
Before sunrise, take a boat tour on the Ganges to see the morning scenes along the water. Return for hotel breakfast. Visit Sarnath, the place where Buddha delivered his first teaching to five disciples after his enlightenment. See the Dhamek Stupa, one of eight containing Buddha's ashes. Later, head to the airport for your onward travel.
- End point
- Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport Varanasi (VNS), Babatpur, Pindra, Uttar Pradesh 221006, India (Once we receive your departure details in advance, after fond farewells onboard you will be transferred to the Airport for your onward journey. , 12:00 - 13:00)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sunrise boat tour on Ganges River
- Visit Sarnath archaeological site
- View Dhamek Stupa
Landmarks Ganges River Sarnath Dhamek Stupa
