Embarkation: 04:00 PM

Meet and greet at the airport or hotel and transfer to the jetty in Varanasi for embarkation. Welcome followed by safety briefing. 

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

Morning after breakfast, visit to the excavation site of Sarnath, the seat where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment in Bodhgaya. Thereafter, visit the Ghats by walk to experience the activities and hustle-bustle in the by-lanes. Continue to the riverside and witness the evening “Ganga Aarti” ritual.

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

Today we sail full day towards Ghazipur enjoying breakfast and lunch onboard. Ghazipur was established by the British East India Company in 1820 as an opium factory. It still produces the drug for the global pharmaceutical industry. We anchor en route to Ghazipur.

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

A further sailing in brings us to Ghazipur while we enjoy breakfast and lunch onboard. Post lunch visit to the Tomb of Lord Cornwallis, one of the major figures of Indian and British history

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

Today we sail to Buxar enjoy breakfast and lunch onboard. Upon arrival visit the Ram Rekha Ghat that is associated with a legend from the epic Ramayana that after killing the demoness Tadka, Lord Ram took a bath in the Ganges here to cleanse himself from the sin of killing a woman. Also visit the Sita Ram Upadhyay Museum.

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

Enjoying breakfast on board we sail towards Ghaghra Mod, the confluence where River Ghaghra meets River Ganges. After lunch enjoy a walk in the riverbank village. 

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

Sailing in the morning enjoying breakfast we arrive in Patna, the capital of the State of Bihar. Post lunch proceed to visit the Golghar (from outside as remains closed on Mondays), a beehive-shaped granary built in 1784 by Warren Hastings, the British Governor General of India. Also visit the Patna Sahib Gurudwara that commemorates the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs in 1666.

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

We sail towards Simaria today enjoying breakfast and lunch onboard. In the late afternoon, walk in the riverside village to see the daily activities of the local people.

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

Enjoying breakfast onboard we continue our journey further downstream to arrive in Munger. In the late afternoon visit the Munger Fort and the local market popular for fruits, vegetables, textiles, and readymade garments.

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

After breakfast visit the Chandika Sthan Temple, which is dedicated to Goddess Shakti. Return to ship for lunch and begin sail towards Sultanganj.

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

After breakfast excursion to Sultanganj, which is notable for two prominent granite rock islands in the river connected to the mainland by a causeway. On one island is a mosque and on the other is the Ajgaibinath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. We will visit the Shiva temple. Return to the ship and sail towards Bateshwarsthan while enjoying lunch onboard.

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

After breakfast drive in cars to the 8-9th century excavation site of the Vikramshila University and walk around the ruins. Vikramshila University was an important Buddhist centre of learning. We return to the ship and sail towards Samtaghat. 

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

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 Hooghly River, the lower Ganges. We continue sail towards Jangipur. 

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

We sail full day towards Murshidabad enjoying breakfast and lunch onboard. We arrive in Murshidabad by the evening. Murshidabad is a hidden architectural gem with dramatic whitewashed colonial era structures. 

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

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.

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

We sail full day towards the shore-side village of Matiari enjoying breakfast and lunch onboard. We arrive in Matiari by the evening. 

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

Early this morning walks in the village to see and experience the craftsmen at work. These master craftsmen utilize recycled copper to create exquisite pots, platters, and more from their workshops in the village. Return to ship for breakfast and sail onward to Kalna, arriving by the evening.

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

After breakfast ride e-rickshaws to visit the enchanting Rajbari Temple complex. The Nabakailas Temple contains 108 eight-slope-roofed shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. Other temples in the complex feature diverse architecture. Return to the ship walking through the local vegetable market. Begin sail towards Kolkata and arrive by the evening.

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

After breakfast, visit the Flower Market and Kumartuli, a traditional potters’ quarter renowned for its sculpting prowess. Return to the ship for lunch. Thereafter visit Mother Teresa’s Home and Tomb.  

Dinner & overnight onboard Ganga Vilas

Following breakfast disembark the ship and transfer for your onward journey.

Disembarkation Time: 09:00 AM