DAY 01.   ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive Delhi meet at the airport and transfer to hotel for overnight stay. 

DAY 02.   DELHI – ALLAHABAD TRAIN 5622 DEP. 0640 ARR. 1550  (Daily)                                 Early morning transfer to railway station, board train for Allahabad, arrive by late afternoon and transfer to hotel. After refreshing explore Allahabad Fort, thought to be the largest of Akbar’s forts, its huge bricks are best viewed from the river and an orientation drive. Overnight hotel.

DAY 03.   ALLAHABAD – SITAMARHI / SIRSA GHTA                Drive 50 Km. (proximately)
SIRSA GHAT – MIRZAPUR                                                          Sail
After leisurely breakfast, drive to Sitamarhi / Sirsaghat, through country roads and visit some temples and villages before boarding our (local river craft) sails. After settling down in our boats we will begin our 3 days trip through sacred and fertile Gangetic plain to Varanasi. Observing en route the timeless images of this infinitely varied land as they drift by. The physical and spiritual properties of the Ganges are found in the earliest Hindu text, the Rig-Veda, and are said to flow from the matted strands of Lord Shiva's hair. All Hindus believe the waters will wash away their earthly sins, and cherish the idea of a pilgrimage to the river at least once in their lifetime. At times the river seems almost devoid of activity as we drift quietly and peacefully.At other times the banks can be full of spectacle, the ornate temples and crowded bathing ghats, the fields of wheat and rice paddies, everyday life in countless villages, other river crafts and the marvelous sunsets. The night stops we use may vary according to local conditions, so the exact schedule of Ganges trip cannot be strictly adhered to. However, as a guide this itinerary might be followed. 

Late afternoon, we arrive Mirzapur and camp on a beach along the bank of the river. Our camp crew / cooking staff will set up our two men tents with foam mattresses and bed sheets, simultaneously the afternoon tea with snacks, as well as dinner will be freshly prepared. If time allows, we may visit the Vindachal ‘Thugee’ Temple and some other interesting places.

DAY 04.   MIRZAPUR – CHUNAR          Sail                                                                                 After breakfast, wind up camp and continue the river journey to Chunar. Late afternoon arrive and explore the Chunar fort overlooking the Ganges, this is famous for its ties with Sher Shah Suri who dethroned Humayun in the 16^th century. Overnight camp.

DAY 05.   CHUNAR - VARANASI (ASI GHAT)            Sail
Today again we repeat the practice of winding our camp after breakfast and continue the leisurely sailing. After a short sail we will visit the Maharaja’s Palace / fort of Ramnagar (now a museum) before crossing slowly the river to the holy city of Varanasi. As we come into the city we pass the burning ghats of Manikarnika where funerary pyres burn throughout the day. We will try to spend more time on boat in order to reach the Ghats by sunset. We may disembark at Asi Ghat or any other convenient place and transfer to hotel. 

Note: the sailing roughly will last 6 – 8 Hrs. each day, the sailing time depends on the local conditions, such as water level, weather, wind etc.  

DAY 06.   VARANASI – BHUBANESHWAR Train 2816 Dep. 1800 Arr. 1125 (Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat)  This morning we take a boat trip at sunrise to witness the ritual bathing, here are yogic devotees sitting cross-legged in the ‘Lotus’ position, the burning ghats of Manikarnika, and the great foot print of Vishnu. We return to our hotel for breakfast, then set out for to explore the inner city’s narrow streets, temples and other interesting sites. Varanasi (Benares) has been the center of Hinduism since the dawn of history, it’s age is contemporary with Babylon and Thebes. Often known as ‘Kashi’ (City of Light) by Hindus, it attracts over a million pilgrims each year – many of whom come to spend their last years here in the holy city.

After lunch we check out and drive to nearby Sarnath, the Cradle of Buddhism, where Buddha preached his first sermon (6^th century BC). After exploration of this historic Buddhist site we drive to Mugalsarai railway station in time to catch overnight train to Bhubaneshwar.

DAY 07.   ARRIVE BHUBANESHWAR AT 1125
Arrive Bhubaneshwar at 1125, and transfer to Hotel. Afternoon explore the city of temples. It had 7000 temples at one time of which more than 500 remain today. These temples built over a period of one thousand years, reflect the grandeur of high quality workmanship of Kalinga (ancient name of the state) temple art.

The twin hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri excavated in between 2^nd and 1^st century B.C. by the famous king of Kalinga, was the rain resort of Jain monks. It is one of the earliest specimen of cave architecture of India.

DAY 08.   BUBANESHWAR – PURI VIA KONARK           Drive                                                       After breakfast depart and drive to Puri, en route visit the colorful patch work village of Pipli and Konark, the magnificent Sun Temple of India sheer poetry in stone, is known as Black Pagod. The temple is in the architectural image of the mythical chariot of the sun god. Arrive Puri and check in at hotel for overnight. Puri is famous for its great temple of Lord Jagannath, situated on the cost of Bay of Bengal. Because of the intense religious importance and hallowed tradition, non Hindus are not allowed within the temple complex. 

DAY 09.   PURI – TAPTA PANI                                            Drive 260 Km                                  Morning depart and drive to Taptapani in order to reach the Tribal belt of Orissa. En route visit Chilka Lake, the largest brackish water lake in the country. In winter Chilika aflutter with thousand of migratory birds as far as from Siberia. Arrive Taptapani and check in at guest house for overnight.

DAY 10.   TAPTA PANI – BALIGUDA                                   Drive 180 Km                                   After breakfast we depart and drive into Tribal area and visit the ‘Kondh tribes’, these tribes are exposed to civilization and they live with cultivation. Arrive Baliguda for overnight stay in camp / small guest house with very basic facilities. Dinner will be prepare by our own kitchen staff.

DAY 10.   BALIGUDA – RAYGADA (TUESDAY IS MARKET DAY)   Drive 210 Km.                          After early breakfast proceed to Belgarh area and explore ‘Tattoed Kondh’ and ‘Kuttia Kondh’ tribes. These tribes were once famous in the history of their human sacrifices, they are very simple, frank and hospitable. Their height is average standard, healthy and strong, they are very jolly and do not think of future life. We may be able to visit one of the tribal markets this day. Arrive and check in at guest house for overnight.

DAY 11.   RAYGADA – JEYPORE (WEDNESDAY IS MARKET DAY)     Drive 230 Km.                   After breakfast depart and a 60 km drive will take us to Chatikona, visit the colorful market of ‘Dongaria Kondh’. They are one of the most primitive of Kondh tribes. They live in the high slopes of Niyamagiri hills, are horticulturists and grow fruits like Banana, orange and pineapple. The males pierce their ears and noses, wear earrings and noserings, grow their hair as women. After exploring this colorful tribal market we drive on to Jeypore, arrive and check in at guesthouse. This will be our base for next few days to explore various tribal market and tribes.

DAY 12.   IN JEYPORE (THURSDAY IS MARKET DAY)                        Drive 180 Km 
After breakfast we will proceed to Ankadeli to visit the famous Bonda tribes who comes once every week for their weekly market, it is a unique opportunity to see such a colorful concentration of typical tribal at one place and exciting experience to watch bonda women in their colorful jewelries, with their marketing commodities, most of which they barter. After exploring this interesting market we proceed to Lampatput area and explore the villages around to discover another primitive tribe ‘ the Gadaba’, they are one of the earlier settlers of this country, trace their origin to the time of Ramayana. We may be able to watch / arrange their famous tribal dance. Return to Jeypore guest house. 

DAY 13.   IN JEYPORE                            Drive 200 Km                                                                  After breakfast will yet visit one more weekly market at Kundli. It is one of the biggest market of tribal area where we can find main concentration of the beautiful sana paroja and Mali tribes, from here we may visit some interesting villages and go for a short hike. Return to Jeypore guest house.

DAY 14.   JEYPORE – VIZAG                   Drive 250 Km                                                                  After breakfast check out and drive to Visakhapatnam (Vizag) through Arku valley. This coastal city is the commercial and industrial heart of Andhra Pradesh’s isolated north-east corner and is home to India’s largest shipbuilding yard. Arrive and check in at hotel. Visit Dolphin’s Nose, Vishnu Temple in Orrisan style and other interesting sites. 

DAY 15.   VIZAG – DELHI FLY CD 7478 DEP. 1235 ARR. 1535 ( Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun)               Morning after leisurely breakfast, transfer to Vizag airport in time to catch Delhi bound flight. Arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel. Afternoon combined guided tour of Old and New Delhi includes Jammia Masjid Mosque, Cycle rickshaw ride through Chandni chowk, Red Fort, drive through India Gate and Parliament house, Qutab Minar and Humayuns Tomb. 

DAY 16.   DEPARTURE                                                                                                           Transfer to international airport for onward journey.