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.

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

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.