{"id":581,"date":"2025-08-06T08:23:28","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T08:23:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saffrontravels.org\/wpwebsite\/travels\/?post_type=portfolio_page&p=581"},"modified":"2025-08-06T08:23:28","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T08:23:28","slug":"lucknow-ganges","status":"publish","type":"portfolio_page","link":"https:\/\/saffrontravels.org\/wpwebsite\/portfolio_page\/lucknow-ganges\/","title":{"rendered":"The Taj, Lucknow & the Sacred Ganges"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”8px”][vc_column_text css=””]Cross the Ganges plain from Delhi to Kolkata (Calcutta), taking in the majesty of the Taj Mahal and Amber fort, remarkable wildlife in Ranthambore, the spiritual aura of Varanasi and colonial Lucknow and Kolkata. Extend your tour in the tea plantations of Darjeeling, by the beach in the Andaman Islands, looking for rare one-horned rhinos in Kaziranga National Park or relaxing in the countryside at the heritage hotel Rajbari Bawali.<\/p>\n

14 Days & 12 Nights[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_empty_space height=”8px”][vc_column_text css=””]Day 1: Fly to Delhi<\/strong><\/p>\n

Travel from London (regional connections available) with Jet Airways to Delhi. (N)<\/p>\n

Day 2: Delhi<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arrive in Delhi and transfer to the Trident Gurgaon for an overnight stay. Afternoon at leisure. Optional half-day tour of New Delhi. This evening join the rest of your group and your guide for a welcome drink. (N)<\/p>\n

Day 3: To Jaipur<\/strong><\/p>\n

Travel to Jaipur for a 3-night stay at Khas Bagh, a heritage homestay complete with stables and horses. (B)<\/p>\n

Day 4: Jaipur<\/strong><\/p>\n

Morning visit to the nearby Amber fort; the ancient capital of the Kachwaha Rajputs from 1037. Afternoon at leisure. (B)<\/p>\n

Day 5: Jaipur<\/strong><\/p>\n

Explore the \u2018Pink City\u2019 visiting the sprawling palace complex, still home to the current maharajah, the Jantar Mantar observatory and the local bazaars selling jewellery, silk and traditional Indian crafts. (B)<\/p>\n

Day 6: Ranthambore National Park<\/strong><\/p>\n

Drive to Ranthambhore for 2 nights at Swai Villas (or similar). (B, D)<\/p>\n

Day 7: Ranthambore National Park<\/strong><\/p>\n

Early morning and late afternoon wildlife drives in search of tigers. (B, L, D)[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_empty_space height=”8px”][vc_column_text css=””]Day 8: Agra<\/strong><\/p>\n

Morning train to Bharatpur and drive to Agra. Visit the marble magnificence of the Taj Mahal and explore the imposing Agra fort. Overnight stay at Trident (or similar). (B)<\/p>\n

Day 9: Lucknow<\/strong><\/p>\n

Travel to Lucknow for a 2-night stay at Vivanta by Taj \u2013 Gomti Nagar. Afternoon heritage walk and culinary tour. (B)<\/p>\n

Day 10: Lucknow<\/strong><\/p>\n

Full-day tour of Lucknow, followed by a visit to La Martini\u00e8re College, the Lucknow Residency, Asifi Imambara and the magical Husainabad complex. Rest of the day at leisure before the highlight of a dinner with a royal family of
\nLucknow. Enjoy a live Kathak dance performance before a home-cooked Awadhi dinner. (B, D)<\/p>\n

Day 11: Varanasi<\/strong><\/p>\n

Take the morning train to Varanasi for an overnight stay at the Taj Gateway Varanasi (or similar). This evening watch the mesmerising aarti ceremony on the banks of the River Ganges. (B)<\/p>\n

Day 12: Varanasi \u2022 Fly to Kolkata<\/strong><\/p>\n

Early morning boat ride on the Ganges to see cremation sites and colourful bathing ghats. After breakfast, visit Sarnath, the site of Buddha\u2019s first sermon after receiving enlightenment. Take the evening flight to Kolkata for 2 nights at the centrally located LaLiT Great Eastern Hotel or upgrade to the Oberoi Grand (Deluxe room) from $110. (B)<\/p>\n

Day 13: Kolkata<\/strong><\/p>\n

Half-day tour of Kolkata\u2019s colonial heritage including a ride on one of Kolkata\u2019s historic trams. Optional afternoon visit to the Victoria Memorial, South Park Cemetery and Kumartuli \u2013 the potter\u2019s village where the idols are created for the city\u2019s festivals. (B)<\/p>\n

Day 14: Fly to London<\/strong><\/p>\n

Take the Jet Airways flight to London via Mumbai. (B)[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ut tempor lectus vel magna placerat, vitae sodales magna lobortis. Suspendisse sagittis lacus eget neque rutrum placerat nec eu nisi. Quisque interdum accumsan velit, in vestibulum nisi dictum accumsan. Aliquam non laoreet nulla. Phasellus at enim blandit, aliquam dolor et, varius lacus. Sed ultricies scelerisque mauris. Pellentesque non aliquet massa. Nam tincidunt lectus lacus, eu porttitor lectus consectetur eu. Donec pulvinar enim at eros tempor imperdiet. Nam ultricies, erat id porta sodales, arcu magna finibus nulla, et sodales libero ligula a nunc.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":580,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","portfolio_category":[16],"portfolio_tag":[2,6],"class_list":["post-581","portfolio_page","type-portfolio_page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","portfolio_category-india","portfolio_tag-ancient","portfolio_tag-nature"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/saffrontravels.org\/wpwebsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio_page\/581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/saffrontravels.org\/wpwebsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio_page"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/saffrontravels.org\/wpwebsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/portfolio_page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saffrontravels.org\/wpwebsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saffrontravels.org\/wpwebsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=581"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saffrontravels.org\/wpwebsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/saffrontravels.org\/wpwebsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"portfolio_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saffrontravels.org\/wpwebsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio_category?post=581"},{"taxonomy":"portfolio_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saffrontravels.org\/wpwebsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio_tag?post=581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}