Indian Panorama with Brahmaputra Cruise - Downstream
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Duration16 Days
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Region
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Best Time
- October - April
Introduction
Far Horizons take you on a special journey showcasing the traditional Indian culture imbibed in the vibrant streets and monuments throughout the Northern region of India with luxury on wheels. This itinerary combines the best of three worlds – the great cultural experience of Khajuraho, the soft adventure of a river cruise on the Brahmaputra River, aboard the M.V. Mahabaahu and experiencing luxury on wheels.
Tour Highlights
- Travel like a Maharaja on the leading luxury train of India “The Maharaja Express”
- Explore the North East India while cruising on the mighty Brahmaputra River
- Sunrise visit of Taj Mahal
- Explore the famous sites of North India
- Visit to Tea Gardens and Tribals of Assam
- Bird watchers’ paradise - Brahmaputra River
- Boat, Jeep and Elephant safari in Kaziranga National Park
- Visit to Majuli island – the Largest River island in the World
- Visit to Umananda island – the smallest inhabitant River island in the World
Destinations Covered
Delhi
The City of GloryDelhi is said to be one of the oldest existing cities in the world, along with Jerusalem and Varanasi. It is the Capital Territory of India and a modern-day citadel that's dotted with ancient monuments.
History and Culture
Legend estimates it to be over 5,000 years old. Over the millennia, Delhi is said to have been built and destroyed 11 times. The oldest alleged incarnation of the city shows up in the Indian mythological epic Mahabharata as Indraprastha.
Jaipur
The Pink CityJaipur is the largest city in Rajasthan and was built in the eighteenth century by Sawai Jai Singh as India's first planned city. Jaipur is a major tourist attraction amongst Indian as well as international travellers. Jaipur is often called the Pink City in reference to its distinctly colored buildings, which were originally painted this color to imitate the red sandstone architecture of Mughal cities. The present earthy red color originates from repainting of the buildings undertaken for a visit by the Prince of Wales in 1876.
Ranthambore
The Great Wildlife Adventure
Agra
The Majesty of the TajAgra is the city of the Taj Mahal, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Agra has three UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort in the city and Fatehpur Sikri on the outskirts of Agra. There are also many other buildings and tombs from Agra's days of glory as the capital of the Mughal Empire.
Varanasi
Sacred, Soulful and SpectacularVaranasi, or Benaras, (also known as Kashi) is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Varanasi is the India of your imagination. This is one of the world's oldest continually inhabited cities, and one of the holiest in Hinduism.
Kolkata
The City of JoyKolkata (formerly Calcutta) is the capital of West Bengal and the second largest city in India (after Mumbai). This city is a daily festival of human existence, simultaneously noble and squalid, cultured decidedly futuristic.
History and Culture
The history of Kolkata is intimately related with its invention during the British rule dating back 300 years ago. Earlier known as Calcutta, it originated as a capital of British India in 1960 when East India Company dominated the country.
Jorhat
Tea Capital of IndiaJorhat is the cultural capital of Assam; home to the largest Tea research station, there are as many as 135 tea gardens in Jorhat.
Sivasagar
Imprints of Ahom DynastySivasagar, previously spelled Sibsagar, is a city in the Sivasagar District of Assam, about 360 kilometres northeast of Guwahati. It is the headquarters of the Sivasagar district. This city is surrounded by the Dehing rainforest, where the Dihing and Lohit rivers meet.
Majuli
World's Largest Fresh Water IslandMājuli or Majoli is a river island in the Brahmaputra River, Assam and in 2016 it became the first island to be made a district in India. It had an area of 880 square kilometres (340 sq mi) at the beginning of the 20th century, but having lost significantly to erosion it covers 352 square kilometres (136 sq mi) as at 2014. Majuli has shrunk as the river surrounding it has grown. Majuli is currently listed as the world's largest river island in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Kaziranga National Park
The haven of one-horned rhinosA UNESCO World Heritage site, Kaziranga is famous as the abode of the one-horned rhinoceros. Made unique with a vibrant, well preserved and sustained ecology this park has a very versatile bio diversity which makes Kaziranga National Park a very important and popular tourist destination.
Guwahati
The Gateway to the North-EastGuwahati is the largest city in Assam and Northeast India. The slow, meandering Brahmaputra River is a focal point of the downtown while the lush hills of the Shillong Plateau provide a verdant backdrop for the suburbs.
History and Culture
There is a magical aura that still lingers over the ever-expanding city. The demon king Narkasura is said to have built this ancient city. Another reason for Guwahati's charm is its being the ancient 'Kamrup', the birthplace of Kamdeva, the God of Love.
Detailed Itinerary
- Day 1 Arrive Delhi
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Day 2
Delhi
Delhi
Today morning after breakfast, proceed to explore the Old Delhi.
Even at the time when Bombay and Madras were mere trading posts and Calcutta was a village of mud huts, Delhi had been the seat of an empire for five hundred years. Through the centuries, eight cities have been built on this site, by the Hindus, the Mughals and the British, each adding their own flavour. Within no time, you can be transported from a sprawling, elegant garden city to the ancient twisting alleyways of Old 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 visit the Jama Masjid, one of the largest Muslim mosques in India.
A bicycle rickshaw would take you into the heart of Chandni Chowk (the silver square - so named because of the silver merchants).
Lunch on own.
We then drive to the outskirts of New Delhi to explore the Qutab 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 building on Raisina Hill.
Qutub Minar, a victory minaret built by the first invading Persian, Qutab-ud-din, a millennium ago in South Delhi. One of Delhi’s most visited and striking monuments, the 72-meter (230 feet) high tower which majestically over the wide plains of Delhi. It is a victory tower built by the slave king Qutubuddin Aibak and later completed by his successor Iltutmish. The construction of the Qutab Minar began in the 12th Century and it was completed in the 13th Century. Beautiful calligraphy adorns the magnificent tower, which is covered with intricate carvings and deeply inscribed verses from the Koran. The first three stories are made of red sandstone, the fourth and fifth of marble and sandstone. The tower marked the eastern extremity of the Islamic faith.
Return to the hotel.
Rest Overnight at the hotel (B)
- Day 3 Board Maharaja Express
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Day 4
Maharaja Express - Jaipur
Jaipur
Wake-up to a delicious on-board breakfast. Later, to take a closer look at the history of Jaipur, guests visit the ancient Amber Fort which is known for its artistic Hindu style elements. Post visiting Amber Fort return to train for lunch. Rest of the day is free at leisure. Evening enjoy dinner on-board as train leaves for Ranthambore.
Overnight on-board Maharajas Express (B, L, D)
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Day 5
Maharaja Express – Ranthambore & Fatehpur Sikri
Ranthambore
Early morning train arrives at Sawai Madhopur and you would then proceed for an exciting game drive at Ranthambore National Park. After an on board breakfast the Maharajas' express departs for the ancient Mughal capital, Fatehpur Sikri.
Post on-board lunch, as train arrives in Fatehpur Sikri, proceed to explore the deserted city, Fatehpur Sikri where once the Mughal emperor, Akbar ruled. Return back to the comfort of Maharaja Express and enjoy dinner on-board.
Overnight on-board Maharajas Express (B, L, D)
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Day 6
Maharaja Express - Agra
Agra
This morning train arrives at Agra and you would then proceed for a visit to Taj Mahal. Later, proceed for a Champagne Breakfast at Taj Khema.
Post on-board lunch, you will have an opportunity En-route to witness Pietra Dura Marble Inlay Work.
Return back to the comfort of Maharaja Express and enjoy dinner on-board.
Overnight on-board Maharajas Express (B, L, D)
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Day 7
Maharaja Express – Varanasi
Varanasi
Enjoy breakfast & lunch on-board as trains continues for Varanasi. Reach Varanasi and visit the Silk weaving centre and Sarnath. Followed by boat-ride on Ganges to witness the magnificent evening Aarti ceremony at Ganges. Post dinner at exclusive venue proceed to Maharaja Express.
Overnight on-board Maharajas Express (B, L, D)
- Day 8 Deboard Maharajas Express in Delhi & flight to Kolkata
- Day 9 Kolkata - Jorhat/Board MV Mahabaahu
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Day 10
Sibsagar/ Home hosted lunch
Sivasagar
After an early breakfast, we start our day-excursion to Sibsagar, the ancient city and 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.
Sibsagar town literally means 'the ocean of Lord Shiva’ as it is built around a huge man made water tank ordered by the Ahom Queen. The Shiva Dol, constructed in the year 1734 is believed to be the highest Shiva temple in India.
We visit The Talatal or Kareng Ghar, the palace of the Ahom Kings and the Rang Ghar, an amphitheatre, a place of entertainment or important meetings for the Royals and their guests.
Thereafter, we drive to a Tea Estate for a relaxed afternoon and a traditional Assamese lunch with the Tea-estate family who have been involved in the tea business for over a century.
We return to MV Mahabaahu by sunset and enjoy a relaxed evening before proceeding for dinner.
Overnight on board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
- Day 11 Majuli island visit/ Mishing village visit
- Day 12 Boat safari
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Day 13
Weaver’s village at Bishwanath Ghat/ Sail to Silghat/ Tea Estate visit and/or Jute Mill
Kaziranga National Park
After Yoga/walk on the deserted island and breakfast on MV Mahabaahu, we enjoy an interesting talk on ‘Kaziranga and the wild life in India’. Then we step into our excursion boats to go to 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 sail on for the next couple of hours and enjoy a relaxed lunch and reach Silghat. Take a short drive to the Kaliabore tea estate, which is a vast undulating expanse of land 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)
We return to where the ship is anchored. Close by a co-operative Jute Mill is an interesting place to understand how the Jute fibre takes the form of very eco-friendly gunny bags. At sunset, we enjoy a cultural evening on the ship followed by an early dinner.
Overnight on board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
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Day 14
Kaziranga National Park/ Sail towards a Deserted Island
Kaziranga National Park
Early morning wakeup call and after a hot cup of tea/coffee, drive 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; once-in-a-lifetime elephant-backed safari where we 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 us.
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 wild life adventure and an extensive coverage of this magnificent park.
We return to MV Mahabaahu for a leisurely lunch and a relaxed afternoon. In the evening, we proceed for a traditional Assamese theme dinner.
Overnight on board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
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Day 15
A village visit/ Full day sail/Peacock Island
Guwahati
We catch up on Yoga on an island or on the deck for an hour and move on to breakfast while MV Mahabaahu lifts anchor and heads on towards an island that is occupied predominantly by a ‘Bangla’ speaking Muslim community who are involved in the extensive farming. After lunch, we enjoy a talk on ‘Kamakhya and the Occult and Peacock Island’. After a visit to this village, we return to the ship for lunch and sail towards the Peacock Island. It would be a good idea to have one’s binoculars and cameras at hand.
We later sail towards Pandu Port.
Get ready for the Farewell Dinner ‘Alvida Bhoj’ and enjoy a relaxed evening.
Overnight on board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
- Day 16 Guwahati fly to Kolkata by flight & connect to International flight
