• Sonepur Mela
  • Ganges
  • Patna
  • Patna

Ganges Cruise & Sonepur Cattle fair

DELHI (2) - PATNA (1) - CRUISE TO SONEPUR (3) - PATNA (1) - DELHI (1) = 8 nights

India might have progressed a lot but has thankfully not weakened at its roots, it has not lost even a pinch of its old charm, the lively festivals, rituals and not to forget the fairs that have been a regular feature since the ancient times.

Overview

The Sonepur Cattle Fair thus naturally finds an easy mention into the travel list. This cruising experience begins with a two day stay at Delhi which is also the starting point of the tour. From Delhi discovery the focus shifts to another interesting destination in the east-Patna. It is a modern city which is nicely dotted with some temples, museums and an un-disturbing pace that enhances the chances of exploring the town freely. The excitement can take a flight with you reaching Kumarghat, the place where the ship anchors. From here for the next three days one can visit the cattle fair as the venue happens to be at a happy 15mins drive from here. Famous for silk and terracotta products this busy place suddenly begins to vibrate with life in the Hindu month of Kartik (Nov).

The Sonepur Cattle Fair continues for 15 days and attracts people from all over Asia. There are countless stalls to attract your attention, of course the main attraction is the stall selling the elephants and the horses. It is a charming sight to watch baby elephant frolicking with the rest of the herd! Although it has earned the prestigious distinction of being referred to as the second Varanasi, apart from the spiritual attractions like the ancient temples, the place also has the usual material eye catchers like the stalls showcasing garments,  jewellery, weapons, utensils, agricultural equipments, furniture and even toys.

Tired of watching the noisy and boring transactions you can you can slowly dribble your way through excited crowd watching magic shows, jugglery and even traditional games. At times when the river permits the ship anchors near the fair venue too with nicely arranged tents for some respite. Some enthusiasts even take short visits to Maner or a longer one to Vaishali which is of high Buddhist importance. This happens to be the place where Lord Buddha gave his last sermon. It also has the ancient Asoka pillar.

This unique tour is a wonderful mix and match of several elements of Indian culture and so calls for a repeat!!

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Outlined Itinerary

Day 01 - Delhi
Arrive Delhi, meet and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is then at leisure to relax after your flight. Extra sightseeing can be arranged if you would like to explore this afternoon.
Day 02 - Delhi
After breakfast, you will be taken on a private guided tour of Delhi. You will visit the most important sights of the city. Qutub Minar - the 239ft sandstone tower - Humayun’s Tomb; India Gate; Parliament House [exterior] and the President’s Palace. Jama Masjid - The mosque of Friday was built from 1644 to 1658. Raj Ghat where Mahatma Gandhi – The Father of Nation, was cremated; drive past the Red Fort and a chance to wander through Chandni Chowk. Evening will be leisure.
Day 03 - Patna
After breakfast, you will be met and transferred to Delhi domestic airport to connect with your flight to Patna 1250-1420. Arrive Patna and transfer to your hotel. Arrive and check in at the hotel.
Day 04 - Ganges River
After breakfast, at an appropriate time, you will be transferred to embarkation point to board your Cruise for 03 Nts. The yearly Sonepur Cattle Fair outside Patna is the largest in the world, with everything from elephants to songbirds on sale, and is accompanied by every sort of side show and festivity. These two 3-night short cruises allow for visits from the safety and serenity of a ship. FULL BOARD
Day 05 - Ganges River
After breakfast you will be visiting the Sonepur Cattle fair at Vaishali and /or Maner. FULL BOARD
Day 06 - Ganges River
After breakfast you will be visiting the Sonepur Cattle fair at Vaishali and /or Maner. FULL BOARD
Day 07 - Patna
Today, you will sail downstream to Patna. Disembark after breakfast and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day will be at lesiure.
Day 08 - Delhi
After breakfast, you will be transferred to airport to connect with your flight to Delhi 1450-1615. Arrive Delhi and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day will be at lesiure to pursue independent activities.
Day 09 - Delhi
Breakfast is at the Hotel. Today at an appropriate time, you will be met and transferred to Delhi International airport to connect with your homebound or onwards flight... or travel to your next destination if you would like to add to this tour.

All our tours and holidays are tailor made so can be amended to suite your budget. Click on our from prices below to see what hotels you can expect based on the cheapest time to travel in High Season per person based on two people sharing a room. We can design this tour for you at a lower or higher price, basically to suite your budget, style and comfort. Contact a specialist to discuss your requirements. International flights are not included.

What's Included

The prices shown are per person and given as a guide price based on the hotels featured. Twin or Double share on a bed & breakfast basis unless otherwise mentioned in the day to day itinerary. Single supplements or triple share reductions are available on request. All our tours include a local government registered private guide for sightseeing, unless day at leisure is mentioned.

Road Travel

Private luxury vehicle and driver.

Train travel

If mentioned in the tour will be booked in best class available.

Domestic Flights

If mentioned in the tour will be based on economy class.

All our tours are tailor made and can be changed to suite each individual client, so we can design this or any tour to suite your budget.

Contact a member of our team and tell us how much you want to spend, we can then work with you to produce a tour that consists of all that you wish for within reason, at a price that fits within your budget. There will be compromises but we are sure we can help you.

International flights

International flights are not included as we have clients from all over the world that make their own way to India & the subcontinent. Mystic India then comes in to its own with all arrangements on arrival from meet and greet to assistance with departure.

International flights in economy class from the UK start from around £500 - £700 each. This is of course dependent on which airline you choose, your destination in India, how far in advance you book and your travel dates.

We can arrange flights for you, just ask our team for an accurate price for when you wish to travel.

Suggestions to help bring the cost down

  • We can suggest alternative hotels
  • Maybe exchange a few nights in hotels for homestays
  • What about shortening the duration a little
  • If you want to do your own sightseeing and not have a private guide, then this will help bring the price down a little.
  • What about travelling in low season, there are some very good offers around for travel in April and May.

Work with us to help you, we are sure we can design a memorable tour in the budget and duration you would like.

Contact Us - we are here to be of service.

What's Included

The prices shown are per person and given as a guide price based on the hotels featured. Twin or Double share on a bed & breakfast basis unless otherwise mentioned in the day to day itinerary. Single supplements or triple share reductions are available on request. All our tours include a local government registered private guide for sightseeing, unless day at leisure is mentioned.

Road Travel

Private luxury vehicle and driver.

Train travel

If mentioned in the tour will be booked in best class available.

Domestic Flights

If mentioned in the tour will be based on economy class.

All our tours are tailor made and can be changed to suite each individual client, so we can design this or any tour to suite your style and in the mode of luxury you are accustomed too.

Contact a member of our team to discuss the details for the style of luxury tour you would like.

International flights

International flights are not included as we have clients from all over the world that make their own way to India & the subcontinent. Mystic India then comes in to its own with all arrangements on arrival from meet and greet to assistance with departure.

International flights in economy class from the UK start from around £500 - £700 each. This is of course dependent on which airline you choose, your destination in India, how far in advance you book and your travel dates.

We can arrange flights for you, just ask our team for an accurate price for when you wish to travel.

Treat yourself

  • Based on the current hotels, we can arrange higher room grades or suites.
  • We can suggest alternative hotels if a choice is available in any of the locations featured.
  • We can upgrade your private vehicle to eg; a Mercedes for around town sightseeing, but would recommend the more robust Toyota Innova or similar for longer road journeys.
  • For a more in-depth experience we can arrange for a private guide to accompany you throughout your tour, travelling with you.
  • For real luxury, we can organise a private jet instead of the normal domestic carriers.
  • If time allows may we suggest that you add in some extra days to really soak up some of the locations, or perhaps a spell beachside at the end of your tour.

You may have your own ideas on how you would like to upgrade this tour, let us know. Speak to a specialist who can advise how best to design a tour for the ultimate luxurious experience, as each location offers different opportunities.

Work with us to help you - we can design a bespoke itinerary that offers you a memorable trip base around your personal and meticulous style of travel.

Contact Us - we are here to be of service

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