15-night Cruise & Rail – The Sacred Ganges and the Maharajas' Express

Arrive at Kolkata Airport. If your cruise package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the Ganges Voyager II.

Kalna, once an important trade port on the river, is best known today for the magnificent Hindu temples built by the maharajas of Bardhaman— which you’ll experience today. After marveling at the astonishing Rajbari temple complex, you may opt to walk with your guide through the colorful local market.

Sitting on the western bank of Bhagirathi is a town named after the deity Goddess Kali, Maa Ambika. Ambika Kalna or 'Kalna' is known as the 'City of Temples.' Upholding its title is the 108 Shiva temples built in 1809 and in addition, the Rajbari palace. The beautiful marbles, intricate stone shivlingas, unique steeples and revered sculptures gives the city of Kalna unmatched grace.

Your ship serves as a time machine today, transporting you hundreds of years into the past, as we travel to the authentic artisan village of Matiari.

Matiaria is nicknamed, the "Brass Working Village" where workers traveled to Calcutta to work in factories making brass utensils. Workers would then take that skill back to their village and create brass utensils at home. Matiari is also the location where Indian independent leader Mahatma Gandhi began his Satyagraha, the revolution for passive political resistance. Travelers can also visit the town of one of the oldest temple in Hindu mythology, Someshwar Nath Temple. Discover inner peace in Kesariya Stupa, the largest Buddhist Stupa, a place of meditation for Buddhist monks and nuns.

Today’s adventures take you to a duo of Bengali towns—Murshidabad and Baranagar—each one boasting surprising and beautiful architectural monuments closely linked to the ruling families of the area.

Sitting on the banks of the Bhagirathi, Murshidabad was once the capital of Bangla and Bengal famously known for its silk. Today, the city is a tourist attraction. Both foreign and local visitors flock to the Hazar Duari Palace, also known as the "palace of 1,000 doors"- real and fake. Visitors can also relish in the beauty of the Kathgola Palace with walls intricately designed praising Jain’s unique style and beauty. The Katra Masjid is also a must visit where relics of the mosques are still prayed upon.

One of the world’s most sacred bodies of water, the Ganges River flows through a myriad of small villages and highly populated cities throughout India and Bangladesh. Take in the remarkable scenery as you sail and be on the lookout for a rare sighting of the endangered Ganges river dolphin.

Few places of worship exist on such a head-spinning scale as what you will witness today in Mayapur, the center of the international Hare Krishna movement and home to the new Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, still under construction. Most students of history know a thing or two about the British colonial powers in India, but few are aware that the French had colonies here as well. You’ll visit this former French outpost today.

This beautiful village that sits on the bank of the river Ganges is considered holy by Hindus. It is the birthplace of Sri Krishna Chaitanya who was born in the 15th century and is believed to be the reincarnation of Hindu deity Krishna. In the village of Sri Mayapur, it was Chaitanya who first taught widespread mass chanting and singing mantras. Travelers visiting this city can meditate at the ISKCON Temple or pay homage to the shrine of Srila Pabhupada.

The city of Kolkata is synonymous with the enduring legacies of Mother Teresa and the colonial-era British Raj, both of which you will get better acquainted with today.

Disembark the ship for your flight to Mumbai. Take the afternoon at leisure to rest at your hotel, The Oberoi Mumbai, which is situated right on the coast of the Arabian sea.

Settle into your cabin onboard The Maharajas’ Express as your journey by rail begins.

Sprawling across seven lakes and a range of hillsides, Udaipur has earned itself the moniker “the Venice of the East.” It is certainly amongst the most scenic locales in all of India, and a highlight of our adventures in this many splendored country. During your explorations of Udaipur today, sit for lunch at a local spot in town.

Having seen India’s “Pink City” already, now it’s time for you to visit the “Blue City” of Jodhpur. Swaths of brightly painted blue houses can be found throughout the city’s streets. Once an indication that a Brahmin—a member of India’s priestly class—inhabited a dwelling, the blue color later became emblematic of the city itself and a popular choice amongst its residents.

Gaze out at the countryside while you enjoy breakfast onboard. In the 15th century, what was once a barren desert gave rise to a princely city carved of red sandstone. This city, Bikaner, is the site of your explorations today. Enjoy some free time in the morning to explore on your own or relax onboard before our afternoon explorations. Tonight, a special dinner experience awaits in the deserts outside the city.

Pink is the color of hospitality in northwestern India, which gives you an idea of what to expect in the “Pink City” of Jaipur. Spend the morning visiting the city’s famous Amber Fort, and the evening enjoying dinner out at an exclusive venue.

Today you will visit stunning Ranthambore, home to a national park known for its large population of Bengal tigers.

The Ranthambhore National Park stretches across an area of 1,334 sq km on the eastern edge of the Thar Desert. Once the hunting grounds of the erstwhile ruling family of Jaipur, today it is one of the last sanctuaries of the big cat, the Royal Bengal Tiger. Ranthambore actually consist of not one, but three, wildlife preserves: the Ranthambore National Park itself, the Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary and the Keladevi Sanctuary. Ranthambore is an oasis of dense dry deciduous forests amidst a vast tract of semi arid scrub and thorny desert vegetation surrounded by the hills of the Vindhyas and the Aravalis. An ancient fort lies within the park boundaries of Ranthambore, adding to its charm. Ravines, nallahs, water bodies and waterfalls add to its beauty and offer many natural hideouts for tigers and the other wildlife endemic to this park. Part of Project Tiger (one of Asia's most important conservation efforts), Ranthambore is the favorite haunt of wildlife buffs and professional wildlife photographers from around the world who come to see tigers, panthers, wild cats, hyena, jackal, marsh crocodile, wild boar, bears, many species of deer and a rich birdlife of over 300 species, including the great Indian horned owl. Ranthambore encompasses three lakes: Raj Bagh, Malik Talab and Padam Talab, where aquatic birds can be seen.

Start the day early with a visit to the majestic Taj Mahal, then return to the train as you head towards New Delhi where you will disembark the train and transfer to your luxury hotel, The Oberoi New Delhi.

Check out of your hotel. If your cruise package includes a group departure transfer or if you purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to the airport in New Delhi for your flight home.