Day 1. Arrive DelhiOn arrival in the buzzing capital of India, we are met at the airport and transferred to our 5-star hotel in the heart of India’s capital. Big, bold, and busy, Delhi’s sights and sounds are sure to engage and intrigue.Stay: Three Nights: Delhi, Imperial Hotel

Day 2. Delhi, GurgaonThis morning we visit Delhi’s sprawling Laxmi Narayan Temple, before taking a guided tour of Old Delhi. Start at Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque, to pay testament to the vision and power of Shah Jahan, the founder of Old Delhi. Later, set off to explore the labyrinth of tiny lanes of Shahjahanbad in a cycle-rickshaw. We pass 17th-century havelis (Indian mansions), historic shrines and rambunctious bazaars that line Old Delhi’s main strip, Chandni Chowk. Stop at the city’s Red Fort, then enjoy an atmospheric lunch at Chor Bizarre. After an after-noon at leisure, we travel to Gurgaon, just outside Delhi. Enjoy dinner, then continue to the impressive Kingdom of Dreams cultural complex to see its spectacular Bollywood Show. Be dazzled by the colour and spectacle of Bollywood and Indian entertainment during this mem-orable performance.Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 3. Delhi, Freedom of ChoiceThis morning we can choose to go off the beaten track and visit the historic and mysterious Jamali Kamali Mosque, or explore Humayun’s Tomb, described as the predecessor for the Taj Mahal. Later, visit the World Heritage-listed Qutbah Minar, the tallest structure in the world when built in 1193. Then, in the home of a local family, enjoy a cooking class and lunch. On your way back to your hotel, stop at the India Gate, a memorial for the Indian soldiers who died in World War I. This evening we dine at the acclaimed Bukhara Restaurant, famous for its traditional tandoori clay oven.Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 4. Delhi, Agra, Taj MahalLeave Delhi this morning and travel to Agra, home to the iconic Taj Mahal. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided tour of Agra’s Red Fort, a powerful fortress of red sandstone overlooking the gar-dens of the Taj Mahal. Retire to your five-star hotel and unwind in the cool quiet of the after-

Spirit of India Tour & River

Cruise14 Days

noon. Later, set off to experience the stunning Taj Mahal bathed in the golden glow of sunset, before enjoying dinner at your hotel.Stay: Agra, The Oberoi AmarvilasDaily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 5. Agra, Jaipur, Freedom of ChoiceWe wake early this morning and enjoy a sunrise visit to Taj Mahal, whose gleaming domes adopt different colours as the sun rises. After breakfast, continue your journey to Jaipur, where on the way, you’ll take a tour of Fatehpur Sikri, a fortified ghost city that was once the short-lived capital of the Mughal empire. You’ll also stop at Bharatpur, a once-impregnable city that was capital of the Jat kingdom, and enjoy lunch at the impressive Laxmi Vilas Palace Heritage Hotel. Later, arrive in Jaipur, called the ‘Pink City’ for its terracotta-coloured walls, buildings, and temples, and check in to your acclaimed and luxurious hotel. Tonight, enjoy a choice of delicious restaurants for dinner.Stay: Two Nights: Jaipur, Fairmont HotelDaily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 6. Jaipur, Freedom of ChoiceThis morning, we head by jeep to the Amber Fort, a towering fortress overlooking the city. After a guided tour, you have the choice of two sightseeing inclusions. Perhaps learn about block printing at a small textile museum dedicated to the ancient craft, or make your way to Jaigarh Fort for an invigorating walk to enjoy spectacular views of Jaipur. After lunch, explore Jaipur’s City Palace, once the seat of the Maharaja of Jaipur, and visit its many museums, which feature textiles and royal art collections. This evening, delight in an elephant safari in Dera Amer, nestled at the foothill of the Aravali Range behind Jaipur’s Amber Fort. Following the safari, indulge in a buffet dinner.Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 7. Jaipur, Kolkata, Embark Lower Ganges River CruiseThis morning, we take an included flight to Kolkata, once the biggest colonial trade centre in Asia and the former capital of the British Raj. On arrival, transfer to the brand new RV Ganges Voyager for your seven-night journey along the Lower Ganges River. Your cruise will take you away from the tourist trail and offer an authentic glimpse of the real India. Following lunch on board, visit Mother Teresa’s house where she worked and slept from 1953 to 1997, and pay

homage at her tomb, located in the buildings of the Missionaries of Charity. Walk to her near-by orphanage, and learn about the work of the Missionaries during a tour, guided by one of the sisters. Return to the ship and enjoy a Welcome Reception and a cultural performance.Stay: Seven Nights: the RV Ganges VoyagerDaily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 8. Kolkata, BandelThis morning, we experience the rich culture and fascinating colonial influence of Kolkata on a city tour. See a number of the city’s 19th-century heritage buildings, the bustling Dalhousie Square, and St. Paul’s Cathedral Church. At the recently renovated Victoria Memorial Muse-um, you’ll explore the largest collection of British colonial history in India. The Victoria Memo-rial was intended to serve as a tribute to the success of the British Empire in India. After lunch on board, your ship will begin its journey upstream along the Lower Ganges River. Cruise past a number of European colonial settlements, including Dutch, French and Danish colonies, and disembark in Bandel. Visit the 19th-century Hooghly Imambara, a famous pilgrimage centre in West Bengal, built by one of Bengal’s most prolific philanthropists.Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 9. KalnaWe disembark this morning in the town of Kalna, known as the ‘City of Temples’. On a cy-cle-rickshaw tour, visit some of Bengal’s most distinct terracotta temples, including the eye-catching Shiva temple, with two concentric circles made up of 108 double-vaulted shrines. You’ll also explore the Rajbari royal palace complex - boasting splendid gardens and a vista of round-domed temples that’s reminiscent of Russia’s famous onion domes.Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 10. MatiariToday, we enjoy an early-morning shore-side bazaar as you visit the brass-working village of Matiari. Learn about the villagers’ traditional methods of beating brass that has been handed down for generations, and peruse the beautiful pots, platters and other items crafted from recycled copper and brass. Later, guests are invited to join a traditional Henna body painting activity or participate in a local game of cricket. Continue cruising upstream and pass the site of The Battle of Plassey, a decisive victory of the British East India Company over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies in 1757. Learn about how this pivotal battle established the

Company rule in Bengal, which expanded over much of India for the next two hundred years.Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 11. Khushbagh, Baranagar, MurshidabadWe disembark in Khushbagh early this morning, and pass through local farmers’ fields to the peaceful Moghul-style garden enclosing the tomb of the last Nawab of Bengal. Return to your ship for breakfast, and cruise to the sleepy village of Baranagar. Disembark and on a walk through fields and past local temples, you’ll experience rural India at its most idyllic. Once you’re back on board, enjoy the afternoon to unwind as your river ship glides along the Lower Ganges, twisting and turning between banks lined with mustard fields and mango orchards. Later, as you approach the city of Murshidabad, you’ll first notice the Hazarduari Palace, which dominates the waterfront. Built by an English architect in 1837, the palace boasts 1,000 doors, and houses an extensive collection of European paintings, china and weapons. After a tour, you’ll visit the 18th-century Katra Mosque, and learn about the Mohammedan rulers who reigned this region for centuries. Return to your luxurious ship for dinner on board.Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 12. MayapurFollowing a restful morning enjoying the passing local life along the riverbanks, we disembark and visit the village of Mayapur. The birthplace of the 15th-century Hindu saint Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is worshipped by followers as the full incarnation of Lord Krishna, Mayapur is the home of the Krishna Consciousness Movement (ISKON). On a tour, learn about the Hari Krishna community and culture, and view the construction of the nearly completed Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, just slightly smaller in size from the Great Pyramid of Giza. This monu-ment is due to be completed in 2016, and more than 50% of the project has been funded by the great-grandson of the car inventor Henry Ford.Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 13. ChandenagorThis morning, we cruise to the former French colony of Chandenagor. During a walk around the town, you could be forgiven for thinking that the French had never left. Stroll along the Chandenagor Strand, visit its 200-year-old church, enjoy the aroma of freshly baked ba-guettes at a French bakery, and at the house of former French Governor Joseph François Du-pleix, discover an impressive collection of French antiques. This afternoon, continue cruising

downstream to Kolkata, and tonight, enjoy a Farewell Dinner.Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 14. Disembark Lower Ganges River Cruise, KolkataAfter breakfast this morning, we disembark your ship in the bustling city of Kolkata, then learn about Kolkata’s colonial heritage on a ride aboard a private tramcar. Kolkata’s teeming streets offer a celebration of human existence. Later, visit Howrah Bridge, the busiest cantilever bridge in the world. You’ll also explore the nearby flower market, a sensory overload of sights and smells. After lunch, spend the afternoon and evening at leisure at Kolkata’s Oberoi Grand Hotel, then transfer to the airport for your flight home.Daily Meals Included: • Breakfast • Lunch