Bangladesh And India Budget Tour

We begin this fascinating adventure in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka, one of the largest and most populous cities on earth. Lying along the banks of the Buriganga River, the city can trace its rich history back to the Buddhist kings of the Pala Empire and, following the partition of India in 1947, it served for a time as the administrative capital of Eastern Pakistan. A city of mosques and rickshaws, today it is one of the fastest growing cities in southern Asia.

Overnight Simple Hotel

Today we have a chance to explore more of this remarkable city on a sightseeing tour around some of its more famous sights. We’ll take in the architectural contrasts of Curzon Hall, the Lalbagh Fort and the city’s distinctive National Parliament building. We also pay a visit to the Dhakeswhwari Hindu temple, the pink palace of Ahsan Manjil and the city’s Liberation War Museum, home to a collection of rare archival photographs and artefacts from the country’s nine month long struggle for independence in 1971.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive to Bogra in northern Bangladesh, one of the oldest towns in the region and one that can trace its history back to the Bengal empire of Emperor Ashoka. On arrival we check in to our hotel and then take an afternoon drive out to Paharpur, to visit the UNESCO World Heritage ruins at Sompura Mahavihara. Site of the remains of a huge an 8th century Buddhist monastery, these remarkable ruins represent one of the most important archaeological sites in the country and one of the most famous Buddhist viharas (monasteries) on the Indian Subcontinent.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we visit the magnificent 18th century Govinda temple at Kanta Nagar. Built by Maharajah Pran Nath this impressive building represents one of the finest examples of terracotta architecture in Bangladesh. We also pay a visit to the ancient site of Mahasthangarh, home to the oldest archaeological remains yet found in Bangladesh. This was once the capital of Pundravardhana and its origins have been dated back to at least the 3rd century BC. After visiting the ancient citadel we drive back to Bogra for a second night.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Driving to Pabna this morning, on the northern banks of the Padma River, we stop at the Hindu ruins of Puthia. The only ones of their kind in the country, these ancient temples span a rich mix of architectural styles and include the largest Shiva temple in Bangladesh and the fading majesty of a grand Govinda Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. From here we continue by road to Pabna, where we have the rest of the afternoon free.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Our destination today is the port city of Khulna, the third largest city in Bangladesh and our gateway into the stunning natural landscapes of the Sunderbans. We travel first by way of Kushtia, where we stop to visit the mausoleum of Fakir Lalon Shah, a 19th century Bengali philosopher whose poems are considered classics of the Bengali language. We also visit the home of the Nobel prize winning poet Rabinranath Tagore in Shilaidaha, the first non-European to win the Nobel laureate. A long drive finally sees us reaching Khulna late this afternoon.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

After breakfast this morning we take a boat ride through the unique landscapes of the Sunderbans. Translating as the ‘beautiful jungle’, this UNESCO World Heritage setting is home to one of the largest mangrove forests on the planet. Set amongst a vast delta that is fed by the waters of the Padma, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers, the area is a haven for Bengal tigers, crocodiles and a remarkable diversity of birds. Following our morning’s cruise, we then visit the impressive 15th century 60 Domed Mosque at Bagerhat, the largest historical mosque in Bangladesh.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

We leave Bangladesh behind today and cross the border into neighbouring India. Driving to the border crossing at Benapole this morning we complete the immigration formalities on the Bangladesh side (which can take between 30-40 minutes) then drive to the Indian border. The customs procedures for entering India can then take up to a further hour, so please be patient. Once across the border we then head for Calcutta (Kolkata), the capital of West Bengal and one of India’s most populous cities.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Once the capital of British India, Kolkata (Calcutta) is a city of striking contrasts. Overwhelming and chaotic, it is a city with a rich heritage and an incredible vibrancy and today we have a chance to explore it on our own. Major sites include the many historic Raj buildings around Dalhousie Square, the Jain and Kali temples and the magnificent marble dome of the Victoria Memorial. Other options for today include visits to the Dakshieswar Kali Temple, the Ramakrishna Mission and the famous orphanage inspired by Mother Theresa, a woman whose very name has become synonymous with the city.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we travel north by train, to the holy city of Varanasi, lying on the banks of the Ganges. Steeped in the lore and traditions of Hinduism, Varanasi has been a principal centre of Shiva worship for some 1,200 years and is believed by many to be the place where the material and spiritual worlds cross. Arriving in the city this evening, we check in to our hotel for a two night stay in this most revered of cities.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we make a short journey north, to the sacred site of Sarnath, the cradle of Buddhism. It was here that the Lord Buddha preached his first sermon following the attainment of enlightenment. We visit the main shrine, the Dharmarajka Stupa and the Dhamekh Stupa. We also see the nearby Ashoka Pillar and the monastery, lying at the heart of probably the most expansive collection of Buddhist temples and monasteries on earth. Returning to Varanasi we then take an evening boat ride along the sacred Ganges itself, to watch the aarti ceremonies being performed beside the riverfront ghats.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

It is possible this morning to take an optional dawn boat ride along the Ganges to watch the pilgrims performing the puja ceremony to the newly rising sun. We then spend the rest of the day exploring old Varanasi before we head to the train station late this afternoon to catch the overnight train to Agra.

Overnight Basic Train

Arriving in Agra early this morning we have some time to relax before the opportunity of joining an optional tour of the city’s magnificent fort. Built by the Mughal emperors, Agra Fort was once a great city, with palaces, mosques and halls, all lying within the protective embrace of 20 metre high walls. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most iconic buildings in the city. The tour also visits the exquisite It-mud-ullah, a 17^th century tomb that mirrors the marble majesty of the more famous Taj Mahal.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we watch the sunrise over the Taj Mahal, one of the most universally recognised buildings on earth, before catching the morning train on to Delhi. This afternoon we are free to explore the historic heart of the Indian capital. Essentially a city divided in two, Delhi is a magnificent monument to the grandiose designs of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and the British Raj of the 1930s. Filled with mosque, memorials, minarets and markets, Delhi is the very essence of an Indian city, and a fitting place to end this remarkable journey.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Included meals: Breakfast