Duration: 9 Days
Destinations:
Delhi, Allahabad, Lakhiya Ghta, Usmanpur, Murdaghat, Mirzapur, Varanasi
This
is a journey of enlightenment sailing, rowing and sometimes boatman dragging
knee deep through the Mud, down India's holiest river, the Ganges. On the
map, India is shaped something like a heart, and veined diagonally across
its middle is one of the most fascinating thin blue lines in the world. From
its icy origin in a Himalayan glacier to its delta in the Bay of Bengal, the
Ganges is the spiritual lifeblood of India, a river of heaven with 108
names. For a Hindu, it is at once, a physical and a metaphysical
destination. To die on its banks brings release from the tiresome chain of
death and rebirth; to bathe in its waters is to be touched by God. This is a
leisurely tour for those who wish to take in the most authentic sights of
India but at a pace and in a manner that lets them glimpse the real India
behind the monuments and temples. You get to travel by train and to enjoy a
journey by boat down the Ganges, relaxing as the everyday village life of
India passes before you. Staying at the beaches stretching to the horizon,
and it is your task to walk it you shall sometimes sink to your thighs in
mud, exploring these beaches. And sometimes the distance yields a dot, which
in time becomes a man soaping himself in the current.
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As you arrive at Varanasi, the heartbeat of India, arriving by boat
at its sacred Ghats, to encounter funerals on the ghats an ironic contrast
on the banks of the river Ganges, the symbol of fecundity, fertility and
happiness but perhaps the largest cremation grounds in India, thousands
arrive daily to die, to attain nirvana.
Day 1:
Arrive - Delhi You will be met on your arrival at Delhi
International Airport and transferred to the hotel of your choice. Overnight
in Delhi.
Day 2: Delhi - Allahabad Breakfast
at the hotel followed by a full day sight-seeing tour of Old and New Delhi
visiting - The Red Fort, Friday Mosque -- Jama Masjid, The silver street of
Chandni Chowk, Raj Ghat, The Hindu temple -- Birla Mandir, The India Gate,
The Rashtrapati Bhawan -- President's House, Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar and
The Bahai Temple. In the evening board overnight train to Allahabad.
Day
3: Allahabad - Lakhiya Arrive Allahabad. Later proceed to Kilaghat
at Sagam (confluence of River Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati) to start the
sailing to Lakhiya in the Ganges.
Day 4: Lakhiya -
Usmanpur Sail to reach Usmanpur by covering approx 35 km.
Day
5: Usmanpur - Murdaghat Sail to reach Murdaghat covering appox 45
Km in 09 hrs by river.
Day 6: Murdaghat - Mirzapur
Start sailing: towards Mirzapur visiting Vindhyachal Temple enroute
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Day 7: Mirzapur - Varanasi Proceed for last
leg of sailing to Varanasi. Enroute visit Chunar Fort of Medieval India and
Ramnagar Fort which is a 17th century fort with interesting museum
Day
8: Varanasi After an early morning a boat cruise on river Ganga
walk through the narrow lanes of Varanasi visiting Kashi Vishwanatha or
Golden temple. Afternoon visit Sarnath, where Lord Buddha gave his first
sermon.
Day 9: Varanasi - Delhi - Depart Fly
to Delhi and connect with flight to onward destination.