North India, along the Ganges
From sacred chants at sunrise to soulful rituals at dusk, the Ganga is more than a river. It is a goddess, a giver of life, and a keeper of memory. To follow her is to follow the rhythm of India itself – ancient, fluid, and endlessly transformative.
Journey Highlights
This is not just a journey through India. It is a journey through the flow of faith, history, and human spirit. One river. One story. Many awakenings.
Witness the Taj
Before you embark on the journey along the Ganges, steal a moment to witness, perhaps, the most marvelous architectural creation ever
Flow With the Sacred in Rishikesh
Begin your journey with yoga by the Ganga, sacred chants in twilight, and a deep breath in the foothills of the Himalayas.
Experience the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi
Witness the timeless spectacle of priests offering fire and chant to the river, a ritual as ancient as the city itself.
Step Into Living Wisdom
Sit with Vedic scholars, saints, and yogis who interpret India’s spiritual texts as living guidance, not just scripture.
Sail at Sunrise in the World’s Oldest City
Glide on the Ganges at dawn in Varanasi, past ghats that echo with mantras, memory, and morning light.
Explore Hidden Heritage in Kolkata
Wander through colonial lanes, temple courtyards, and riverside ghats that carry stories of trade, transformation, and timeless devotion.
Dine With Purpose and Poetry
From Ayurvedic meals by monks to soul-nourishing thalis in old havelis, every meal on this journey is designed to ground, heal, and delight.
The Route
This 12-day journey traces the Ganga’s sacred arc through India’s spiritual and cultural heartland. From the grandeur of Delhi to the Himalayan foothills of Rishikesh, from the eternal city of Varanasi to the cultural richness of Kolkata, this is a pilgrimage of stories, senses, and stillness.
Each destination offers a new lens into India’s relationship with the Ganga:
- Delhi, where empires rose on her banks and timeless rituals still unfold amid the modern
- Agra, witness India’s wonder of the world on the banks of a sacred river
- Rishikesh, where yogis and seekers gather in the lap of the mountains to find silence and self
- Varanasi, where life and death meet at the ghats, and the sacred is performed every single day
- Kolkata, where colonial grandeur, Bengali soul, and riverine trade shape a city of layered grace
Contact us to begin your journey
| Duration: | 12 Days |
| PRICE (per person): | Starting from USD 2900 |
| Regions Covered: | Delhi, Agra, Rishikesh, Varanasi, Kolkata |
| Trip Themes: | Spirituality, Culture, Wellness, River Journeys |
| Best Time to Travel: | October to March |
| Perfect For: | Seekers of meaning, spiritual travelers, culture lovers, and those drawn to India’s sacred landscapes and living traditions |
Itinerary
DAY
1
Delhi | The capital city where history and modernisation mingle at every corner
Arrive in Delhi and check into your luxurious hotel, an oasis of quiet grandeur in the heart of India’s capital. After a seamless welcome and some rest, your journey begins with an introduction not just to a city, but to an empire that shaped the course of India’s story.
As the golden hour sets in, head to Humayun’s Tomb for a privately guided heritage walk led by a cultural historian. More than just a monument, this garden-tomb is a whisper of the grandeur and refined aesthetics of Mughal India — ideals that left their mark on everything from architecture to food.
In an interesting slice of history, you’ll learn how Emperor Akbar, who commissioned this tomb, revered the River Ganga so deeply that he insisted all his meals be cooked using only her waters. Even in the dry heart of Delhi, the sacred river flows through stories like these.
DAY
2
Agra | The Taj & a Taste of the Mughals
Depart Delhi after breakfast and travel to Agra, the once-glorious capital of the Mughal Empire. Upon arrival, check into your hotel, a timeless symbol of Indian hospitality, echoing the grandeur and refinement of its namesake dynasty. With lush Mughal gardens and quiet courtyards, this heritage retreat offers a tranquil counterpoint to the bustling city outside.
In the late afternoon, step into the marble embrace of the Taj Mahal with a private historian. As sunlight dances on its domes and delicate inlay, uncover the eternal love story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz. Flowing just beside, the River Yamuna glides silently by. A sacred tributary of the Ganga, its presence is more than scenic, linking the Taj’s legacy with the soul of India.
As evening sets in, gather for a traditional dinner. Under soft lights and quiet skies, dine on Mughal delicacies once reserved for emperors, prepared with techniques that carry centuries of memory.
DAY
3
Delhi | The Yamuna’s Twin Tales of Power and Peace
After breakfast in Agra, make your way back to Delhi, where the past and present flow side by side just like the rivers that shaped them. In the afternoon, set off for a guided exploration of the Red Fort. Towering beside the River Yamuna, this red sandstone marvel was once the ceremonial heart of Mughal India. Walk its mighty ramparts and intricately planned courtyards with a historian who brings its stories of emperors, intrigue, and rebellion to life.
Later, shift from the grandeur of empire to the serenity of spirit at the Baháʼí Lotus Temple. A guided experience here introduces you to one of the most unique and peaceful places of worship in the world, also nestled next to the River Yamuna. Designed for all faiths and none, the temple’s petal-shaped marble structure offers stillness, reflection, and a gentle pause in your journey.
Rest well in preparation for tomorrow’s journey upriver.
DAY
4
Rishikesh | Where the River Roars
Leave the plains behind and ascend into the foothills of the Himalayas, where the Ganga first emerges from the mountains. After a short morning flight to Dehradun and a scenic drive through pine-lined roads, arrive in Rishikesh, a town where saints, seekers, and the sacred have met for centuries.
Settle into your serene riverside retreat, where your room opens to the sound of flowing water and distant temple bells. In the afternoon, take a gentle walk from Ram Jhula to Laxman Jhula, soaking in the spiritual energy of this town that pulses with ashrams, sadhus, and slow devotion.
As twilight deepens, join your private guide at Triveni Ghat to witness the Ganga Aarti. Flames flicker on brass lamps, chants rise into the air, and the river glows with floating diyas. It’s not a performance, but a daily act of reverence , one that has welcomed the Ganga every evening for generations.
Close the day with a riverside yoga session or quiet contemplation, allowing your body and breath to find rhythm with the river.
DAY
5
Rishikesh | River Trails and Mountain Whispers
Begin your morning with the wild joy of white-water rafting as you paddle through India’s finest rapids, with the Himalayas rising on one side and ancient ashrams watching silently from the other. The river here is alive, fast, frothing, and untamed, a force that demands your full presence and rewards it with exhilaration.
Afterward, unwind at your hotel’s wellness sanctuary where mountain herbs infuse the oils and stillness becomes part of the therapy.
As the day slows, treat yourself with a well deserved spa. Your body feels tired in the best way, moved by water, nourished by earth, and held by the stories of this land.
DAY
6
Varanasi | Where the Sacred Find its Centre
Leave behind the Himalayan foothills as you fly eastward across the heart of India. By afternoon, you arrive in Varanasi, a city older than legend, where the Ganga slows and spreads, becoming not just a river but a living goddess at the centre of daily life, death, and devotion.
Your hotel, a historic haveli by the river, offers a quiet vantage point to watch the world drift by with saffron-robed sadhus, candle-lit boats, temple bells echoing into dusk.
As evening sets in, gather for an intimate storytelling session led by a cultural expert. Through myth, memory, and metaphor, you begin to see how the Ganga has shaped not only cities but the very idea of India, flowing through its scriptures, songs, and ceremonies.
Let the day end in stillness, with the distant sounds of chanting and river bells, as you prepare to dive deeper into the rituals of the sacred the next day.
DAY
7
Varanasi | Where Rituals meet Rhythm
As dawn begins to shimmer over the Ganga, you’ll take part in a guided sunrise meditation and yoga session along its banks, a deeply grounding practice that mirrors the city’s own slow, sacred rhythms.
From there, step into the spiritual heart of Varanasi with a visit to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of Hinduism’s most revered shrines. Feel the pulse of devotion in its courtyards, where generations have come to offer prayers and seek blessings.
As dusk falls, you’ll be guided to the Dashashwamedh Ghat. Here, the famed Ganga Aarti unfolds in a luminous ceremony of lamps, chants, and rising incense. It is more than a performance, it is a conversation with the divine, a city’s nightly love letter to its sacred river.
DAY
8
Varanasi | Silk and Fire
This morning, step into the ancient alleyways of Varanasi on a guided heritage walk that uncovers the city’s layered history, a past that stretches back to the 11th century BCE. Wander through neighborhoods where generations of artisans have spun magic on looms, and meet the master weavers who continue to craft the famed Banarasi silk, thread by shimmering thread.
As the day ripens, find stillness once again with a special yoga session held within the quiet sanctum of a temple, led by a teacher from the renowned Banaras Yoga school, a practice that blends posture, philosophy, and presence in the very heart of India’s spiritual capital.
Come evening, indulge your senses aboard a private boat ride. As the Ganga Aarti rises in rhythm and flame along the ghats, you’ll savor Varanasi’s legendary chaat, a carnival of sweet, spicy, tangy flavors, with live music playing softly in the background. It’s a moment where taste, tradition, and time flow together like the river below.
For those who wish, an optional late-night walk offers a rare and reflective experience. Led by an expert guide, it explores the deeper spiritual dimensions of Varanasi, from the mysteries of death and rebirth to the Ganga’s role as a cosmic crossing point.
DAY
9
Kolkata | Where Every Word and Bite Carries Sweetness
Fly eastward along with the Ganga, to Kolkata, a city where poetry flows as easily as conversation and every corner hums with old-world charm and quiet rebellion. After settling into your elegant heritage hotel, head out for a gentle afternoon beneath the domes of the Victoria Memorial. With its marble grandeur and lush gardens, this iconic monument tells tales of empire and evolution, of a city constantly remaking itself.
As dusk settles, the city reveals another layer. Enjoy a refined dinner at one of Kolkata’s top restaurants, a modern ode to Bengali cuisine, known for its subtle spices, freshwater fish, and the delicate art of balance in every dish.
DAY
10
Kolkata | A City of Many Worlds
Begin your day in the heart of Kolkata’s historic center, where cultures, eras, and empires collide. On the Melting Pot Walk, a guided journey through the city’s colonial quarters, uncover how a sleepy riverside village became the glittering capital of the British Raj. With every ornate façade and tucked-away courtyard, you’ll sense the city’s layered identity – part East, part West, entirely its own.
As the sun begins its slow descent, board a wooden boat for a colonial-style cruise on the Hooghly. With live storytelling onboard, drift past grand ghats and forgotten warehouses while sipping on local drinks. Hear of Bengal’s storied past, of trade, migration, and how food always followed the river’s course. Dinner is served under open skies, where the city lights shimmer on the water like memories you’ll carry home.
DAY
11
Kolkata | Power, Prayer and Taste of Home
On your final day, explore the spiritual and historical heart of Bengal, walking through the colonial layers of South Kolkata, tracing the footsteps of governors, revolutionaries, and poets who once shaped the city’s soul.
Later, venture north to the soul of Kolkata. In Kumartuli, artists breathe life into straw and clay, shaping divine figures with time-honed skill. Walk through College Street, where books spill over stalls and students gather at the Indian Coffee House, a haven for ideas and adda alike. A stop at a beloved sweet shop rounds out the afternoon, where you’ll taste Bengal’s sweetest legacies, from melt-in-the-mouth sandesh to syrup-soaked rosogolla.
For those seeking one last immersion, opt for an experience rooted in home and hearth. Begin with a market walk, discovering the spices and seasonal produce that make Bengali cuisine so beloved. Then step into a family kitchen, where recipes are handed down like heirlooms, and sit down to a lovingly prepared farewell meal, intimate, flavourful, and steeped in memory.
DAY
12
Farewell
This was never just a journey along a river. It was a passage through the lifeblood of a civilisation, one that flows not just through cities and rituals, but through time itself. You followed the Ganga from its mountain cradle to the deltas of Bengal, tracing stories carved into ghats, temples, kitchens, and hearts. The river will keep flowing, as it always has. But now, within you, it carries a current of stillness, reverence, and quiet transformation that won’t wash away.
Curate your Journey
1
Get in Touch
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2
Receive your Personalised Tour Itinerary
We’ll prepare a tour plan, based on your personal preferences and leveraging our unique local insights.
3
Finalize the Details
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India: One story, one plate, one journey at a time
At Anahat, we craft journeys that go beyond the itinerary. Rooted in luxury, story, and soul, each experience invites you to encounter India as it truly is: layered, intimate, alive. We work with scholars, monks, chefs, naturalists, and artisans to create meaningful immersions, in places both iconic and hidden. Handcrafted journeys designed with utmost care.
What sets us apart
Storytelling at the Core
Every journey is built around a story, not just a route. From rivers to recipes to rituals, we thread meaning into every moment.
Luxury, Redefined
We believe true luxury is space, stillness, and access. Our partners are India’s finest heritage homes, boutique retreats, and soulful hideaways.
Deep Local Wisdom
We work with spiritual teachers, forest guides, cultural anthropologists, and legacy artisans, not tour guides with scripts.
Wellness, Woven In
Whether it’s a guided meditation at dawn or slow, grounding meals, your journey with us nurtures body, mind, and spirit.