Scenic South & Cruising on Ganges

On arrival at the airport meet your Tour Executive who will assist you to transfer to the hotel for two night stay in Chennai.

Visit Kalakshetra; a school that teaches local art, music, weaving and design, St. Mary’s Church, Sri Parthasarathy Temple and San Thomas Cathedral Basilica, which was rebuilt in 1606.

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Drive to Mahabalipuram, en-route visit 2nd century Kanchipuram, a city with a thousand temples and famous for its silk weavers, who settled around 400 years ago. Stay two nights in Mahabalipuram.

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Go on a sightseeing tour and visit marvellous monuments with sculptured panels, caves and temples built during the Pallava Dynasty. In the evening enjoy a walk and witness the life of locals living in the town.

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Travel by road to Pondicherry and enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city ruled by the French before independence. Stay overnight in Pondicherry.

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Drive to Thanjavur, en-route visit Chidambaram, noted for its dancing Shiva Natraja sculptures that illustrate 108 forms of dance. Also, visit Gangaikonda Cholapuram with its richly carved temples from the Chola Dynasty. Stay two nights in Thanjavur.

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We proceed for a sightseeing tour of the city also known as the “Rice Bowl”, famous for the ancient handicraft making of bronze icons. Visit intricately carved temples dating back to the 10th century and shop for souvenirs.

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Enjoy a short drive to Trichy, claimed to be one of the oldest towns established several centuries before the birth of Christ. Visit Rock Fort and ancient temples and walk around to witness the culture left behind by many rulers. Stay overnight at Trichy.

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Travel to Madurai and relax at the hotel or explore the town, famous for silk weaving. Stay two nights at Madurai.

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Visit the magnificent Meenakshi Temple and experience the stunning architecture. The sculpted pillars tell the story of the beautiful princess of Madurai and her marriage to Lord Shiva.

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After breakfast travel to Thekkady and visit the spice plantation growing cardamom, pepper, coffee, and tea. Later stop at the local market and purchase some fresh spices as souvenirs. Stay two nights at Thekkady.

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This morning we enjoy a boat ride and walk at the Periyar National Park. The remainder of the day is free to relax.

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Drive to Alleppey and embark on your private houseboat. Cruise through the narrow canals and backwaters of Kerala and experience unforgettable panoramic sights. All meals and overnight on board.

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Disembark after breakfast and travel to Cochin, set on a cluster of peninsulas and islands in the Indian Ocean. Enjoy a half day city tour, explore Fort Cochin and conclude your evening with a Kathakali dance show at the local theatre.

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After breakfast transfer to board flight to Kolkata. Evening free to explore this historical city and its culture. Stay overnight.

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After a leisurely breakfast, the morning is free until midday later checkout in time to be transferred to the railway station to board the express train to Farakka followed by transfer to the ship. Stay seven nights on board.

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This morning cruise along a straight canal section to Jangipur, here we enjoy a full-day tour of Gaur. This quiet, deserted place was once one of India’s great cities, first under the Hindus in the 12th century, then as the Muslim capital of Eastern India from the 14- 16th century.

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This morning moor at the delightful sleepy village of Baranagar with three gorgeous miniature terracotta temples to which you walk through the fields. After lunch continue to Murshidabad where the Nawab’s great Hazarduari Palace built-in 1837 dominates the waterfront and later great Katra Mosque and Nashipara Palace before driving out to see the Katgola Palace.

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Sail downstream a short distance then walk to the silk weaving village and Khushbagh, a peaceful Mughul-style garden enclosing the tombs of SirajUd-Daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal and his family. Continue downstream past the old British cantonment of Berhampur to the battlefield of Plassey. You can walk through the fields to the commemorative obelisk and narrow bustling bazaars.

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Visit the brassworking village of Matiari where you can see the whole primitive process of beating out brass water pots and other vessels. Continue through the countryside to Mayapur to visit the vast new ISKCON temple which dominates the skyline.

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Continue down to the country town of Kalna. Take rickshaws to explore the culture and see the unique Shiva temple with concentric rings made up of 108 shrinelets and later visit the imposing Imambara at Hooghly for an opportunity to step back in time and relive a slice of Islamic history in Bengal.

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Sail downstream – past fine waterfront buildings and the old Dutch settlement at Chinsura – to land at Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950. Visit the 18th century church and Dupleix’s House, the erstwhile Governor-General of French India, before continuing down to Barrackpore.

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Early this morning, cruise under the Howrah Bridge to central Kolkata and disembark after breakfast. Tour finish with direct transfer to the airport by afternoon.

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