Golden Triangle with Brahmaputra River Cruise

Detailed Itinerary

1. Day 1 Arrive Delhi

   Delhi

   After clearing Customs and Immigration, step into the receiving area, where our representative will meet you and escort you to the hotel.

   Overnight at the hotel (No meals)
2. Day 2 Delhi

   Delhi

   After breakfast, depart for sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi.

   On the tour of “Old Delhi,” you will head out to explore this exotic locale with its narrow dirt roads, myriads of people and inexpensive and colourful bazaars that keep alive the traditional workmanship for which Delhi has always been famous. Drive past the Red Fort and take a bicycle rickshaw ride, which will take you into the heart of Chandni Chowk (the silver square - so named because of the silver merchants). Negotiating alleyways, which seemingly get narrower and narrower and end up at Jama Masjid, the largest Muslim mosque in India.

   Visit the Sikh Temple Bangla Sahib and thereafter drive to the outskirts of New Delhi to explore the Qutub Minar, on the way our guide will point out the Raj-era architecture in the city centre, including the renowned India Gate and Edwin Landseer Lutyens’ and Herbert Baker’s monumental governmental buildings on Raisina Hill.

   Qutub Minar is a victory minaret built by the first invading Persian, Qutub-ud-din, a millennium ago in South Delhi. One of Delhi’s most visited and striking monuments, the 72-meter (230 feet) high tower majestically watches over the wide plains of Delhi.

   Overnight at the hotel (B)

   

   Chandni Chowk

   Jama Masjid

   

   Qutub Minar

   

   Red Fort

3. Day 3 Delhi - Agra

   Agra

   Delhi to Agra by road: Approx. 220 Kms. / 136 Mi. / 4 Hrs.

   In the morning post breakfast at the hotel, check-out and drive to Agra. On arrival in Agra, check-in to your hotel.

   In the afternoon visit the Taj Mahal (closed on Friday), the greatest monument of love and one of the wonders of the modern world. Completed in 1652, skilled craftsmen from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and some 20,000 labourers worked for 22 years to build this edifice, constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal.

   Later visit the red sandstone Agra Fort, which stands like a crescent on the banks of the Yamuna River enclosed by forbidding 20-meter high walls, with a 12-meter moat between them. Three successive Mughal emperors - Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan - helped create this massive structure which contains Hindu and Muslim architecture.

   Evening is free at leisure.

   Overnight at the hotel (B)

   

   Taj Mahal in 1884 by Dr Gustave LeBon /

   Taj Mahal

   

   Agra Fort

4. Day 4 Agra - Jaipur

   Jaipur

   Agra to Jaipur by road: Approx. 235 Kms. / 146 Mi. / 5 Hrs.

   In the morning have breakfast at the hotel. Later drive to Jaipur en-route stopping at Bharatpur for a visit to the Bird Sanctuary and lunch at a local restaurant.

   Continue to Jaipur. On arrival in Jaipur, check-in to your hotel.

   Evening is free at leisure.

   Overnight at the hotel (B)
5. Day 5 Jaipur

   Jaipur

   After breakfast, proceed to the Amber Fort, built by the Kachhawah Rajputs as their capital from 1037 to 1728 and considered the pinnacle of Rajput architecture. The impressive room of mirrors, walls of jewel-encrusted marble, and the royal apartments offering beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding valleys.

   Make a photo stop at the Palace of Winds, the Hawa Mahal. A five-story building with 25-cm thick façade, dating from the 18th Century, the Hawa Mahal has 953 windows and niches so that ladies of the royal family could see the procession and events in the city without being visible to the people.

   A visit to the City Palace in the afternoon, which now houses the royal residence and museums with a fine collection of textiles and costumes, armoury, manuscripts and paintings, followed by a stopover at Jantar Mantar, wraps up the day.

   Later in the evening explore the local markets or visit a jeweller’s workshop as Jaipur is most famous for its gems.

   Overnight at the hotel (B)

   

   Amber Fort

   

   Jantar Mantar

   

   The City Palace

6. Day 6 Jaipur - Guwahati by flight

   Guwahati

   Early in the morning, transfer to Jaipur airport to board your flight to Guwahati.

   Arrive at the Guwahati International Airport and with packed lunch, we drive through the busy streets to the Kamakhya Temple. This Temple is devoted to Kama Khya, the eternal Feminine- the goddess of desire.

   After the Temple visit, we drive towards Pandu Port and check-in to the Cruise and gather on the open deck to enjoy the first sail!!!

   A quick orientation and we de-board for a short visit of the picturesque Peacock Island, the smallest island on the Brahmaputra (flight time permitting) famous for the highly endangered Golden Langur. It would be a good idea to have one’s binoculars and cameras at hand.

   Proceed into the evening with a talk on ‘Kamakhya and the occult in Assam’.

   Soon MV Mahabaahu drops anchor and the evening follows into the Welcome Dinner.

   Overnight on-board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)

   

   Kamakhya Temple

7. Day 7 MV Mahabaahu – Village visit & full day sail

   Guwahati

   MV Mahabaahu lifts anchor early. We enjoy Yoga on the deck for an hour and move on for breakfast. We enjoy a talk on 'Assam, its geographical location in the national and international context and how it is acclaiming recognition'. MV Mahabaahu heads on towards an island that is occupied predominantly by a ‘Bangla’ speaking Muslim community who are involved in extensive farming. After visiting this village, we return to the ship for lunch and sail towards the Orang Point.

   Evening sets in and over a cup of tea, we enjoy a talk on 'The River Brahmaputra and the tribal life’. We anchor at a deserted island for the evening and enjoy a bonfire and a barbeque.

   NOTE: (Bonfire may be avoided if a suitable sandbank cannot be found or if we experience inclement weather conditions)

   Overnight on-board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
8. Day 8 MV Mahabaahu – Silghat – Tea factory or Jute Mill

   Kaziranga National Park

   MV Mahabaahu sails early and we enjoy Yoga on the deck and move on for breakfast and for a talk on 'Wild life in Kaziranga with an overview of the wild life in India'.

   We sail on for the next couple of hours and enjoy a relaxed lunch as we reach Silghat. After a talk on ‘Tea, Jute & Silk in Assam’, we take a short drive to Kaliabore Tea Estate which is a vast undulating expanse with tea bushes. We proceed to the tea factory to see the processing of the Assam Tea and getting an insight into all that goes into preparing a cup-of-tea.

   (The tea factory is not operational from mid-December to mid-February as it is time for pruning the tea bushes)

   While returning to the ship, we visit a co-operative Jute Mill which is an interesting place to understand how the Jute fibre takes the form of very eco-friendly gunny bags.

   We enjoy a cultural evening on the ship followed by an early dinner.

   Overnight on-board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)

   

   Tea Estate

9. Day 9 MV Mahabaahu – Kaziranga National Park & Bishwanath – weaver’s village

   Kaziranga National Park

   An early morning wake- up call with Tea/coffee and we set out towards the Kaziranga National Park.

   The most prized inhabitant of Kaziranga is the Greater One-Horned Indian Rhinoceros, but the Park is home to as many as 180 different mammals including wild elephants, tiger, deer, Asiatic wild buffalo and a rich variety of birds.

   We reach the Kohora Mihimukh range of the National Park and are ready to start our morning adventure. An elephant-back safari is an experience, to search for the elusive rhinoceros, tigers, swamp deer and hog deer and more and a large number of very interesting birds. The park never ceases to surprise its visitors!!!

   After breakfast at a resort in Kaziranga, we drive on to Bagori, the Western Range of Kaziranga and get into the open jeeps for some more wildlife adventure and an extensive coverage of this magnificent park.

   Later we return to MV Mahabaahu and start sailing towards Bishwanath Ghat as we enjoy a leisurely lunch and a relaxed afternoon.

   We get into the excursion boats to reach the shores of Bishwanath Ghat. We walk through the village and are struck by the simplicity of life while the weaver women surround us with their silk and cotton weaves. We enjoy some happy interaction with them.

   We return to the ship to enjoy an evening on a deserted island and then proceed for dinner.

   NOTE: (Bonfire may be avoided if a suitable sandbank cannot be found or if we experience inclement weather conditions)

   Overnight on-board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)

   

   Elephant Safari

   

   Jeep Safari

10. Day 10 MV Mahabaahu – Boat safari

    Kaziranga National Park

    Enjoy a relaxed breakfast over a talk on ‘The River Brahmaputra and the life that exists alongside’.

    We proceed for the boat safari viewing roof turtles on protruding drift wood, water lizards, otters, elephants, wild buffaloes, rhinos, darters, herons, pied kingfishers, white throated kingfishers, serpent eagles and many more. (The sightings are determined by the weather conditions)

    We return to the ship for hot lunch. This evening, we enjoy the Chef’s Cooking Demonstration and sample the snacks.

    The evening on a deserted island with bonfire is always exclusive! We enjoy dinner on-board.

    NOTE: (Bonfire may be avoided if a suitable sandbank cannot be found or if we experience inclement weather conditions)

    Overnight on-board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
11. Day 11 MV Mahabaahu – Mishing Village

    Majuli

    After Yoga and breakfast, we enjoy the sail towards the Mishing Village.

    The Mishings live on the banks of river in 'Chang Ghars' -houses with raised platforms. All Mishing women are expert weavers. We can buy the ethnic colorful cotton weaves and indulge in a dhoti tying and Mekhela Chaadar wearing demonstration.

    We return to the ship to enjoy a talk on ‘Sibsagar and the Ahom civilization’ and proceed to get ready for a Traditional Assamese evening.

    Overnight on-board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
12. Day 12 MV Mahabaahu – Majuli Island and Sibsagar

    Sivasagar

    After breakfast, we enjoy a talk on ‘Majuli the seat of Neo –Vaishnav Culture’ and then proceed in our excursion boats to the mainland. Here on, a drive takes us to a scenic corner of a Satra (Monastery) for an interesting cultural performance by Satriya singers and dancers.

    Next, we proceed to Kamlabari Satra to witness the Vaishnavite priests dancing to the rhythm of cymbals, drums and chanting in the temple premise. The humble dwellings of the monks are a revelation of utmost simplicity.

    We enjoy lunch on MV Mahabaahu as we sail towards Neamati Ghat.

    Post lunch, we drive through the countryside to reach Sibsagar, the ancient city, built around a huge man made water tank ordered by the Ahom queen; a town that literally means 'the ocean of Lord Shiva’. We notice the district is strewn with the tell-tale ruins of a powerful empire of the Ahoms. Sibsagar was the capital of the Tai-speaking Ahoms who came in the 13th Century AD to the area from the north-east and were essentially of Tibeto-Burman origin.

    The Shiva Dol, constructed in the year 1734 is believed to be one of the highest Shiva temples in India.

    We visit Talatal or Kareng Ghar which was the palace of the Ahom Kings and after a leisurely stroll in and around the monument, we visit the Rang Ghar which was a place for hosting wrestling bouts and buffalo fights and other entertainment or important meetings of the Royals and their guests.

    We return to MV Mahabaahu by sunset for the Farewell Dinner.

    Overnight on-board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
13. Day 13 Disembark | Flight from Jorhat to Kolkata & departure

    Jorhat

    Morning is at leisure to enjoy, Yoga/ bird-watching or perhaps an early morning indulgence in the spa. A relaxed breakfast awaits all (Baggage down prior to breakfast is requested for easy de-boarding)

    We drive to the Jorhat airport en-route stopping at a tea estate to enjoy a traditional Assamese early lunch.

    Depart for the airport to board the flight to Kolkata.

    Arrive at Kolkata and connect with your onward international flight.

    (B, Packed-L)

    

    Tea tasting- in the Land of Tea Paradise