THE SACRED Ganges

VIBRANT festivals, wildlife safaris, secluded beaches, buzzy cities, spiritual awakenings, fascinating history, illustrious landmarks, and some of the highest peaks on the planet — just a handful of reasons India deserves a top spot on any traveler’s bucket list. And don’t forget the food!

The proverbial “something for everyone” destination, India really does offer it all, but it does so authentically. And thanks to Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, the all-inclusive luxury river cruising company known for its many amenities, custom itineraries, and bespoke shore excursions, India is more accessible than ever.

BY AIR AND WATER

Circumnavigating the Golden Triangle — Delhi, Jaipur and Agra — this near two-week itinerary includes a stop at Mother Teresa’s tomb, the Rajbari Temples, Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial, and of course, the world’s grandest tribute to love, the Taj Mahal, which passengers can behold at both sunrise and sunset. This architectural marvel is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Other wonders of romance include a massive red sandstone marble tomb in Delhi and the Pink City of Jaipur, with its ornate royal palace that was painted in a dusty pink to welcome members of the British Royal Family. Guests will stay at three magnificent Oberoi properties: The Oberoi New Delhi, The Oberoi Amarvilas, and The Oberoi Rajvilas.

Spend a day in Kalna. Once an important trade port on the river, today this city is best known for the magnificent Hindu temples built by the maharajas of Bardhaman.

Inhale the fragrant air in Kolkata’s famous Flower Market, and visit the Jantar Mantar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site devoted to astronomy. Here, local astronomers study the heavens and measure celestial phenomena to help determine which days are promising for a wedding.

BY RIVER AND RAIL

The journey begins aboard the Ganges Voyager II , an all-suite vessel with spacious staterooms that offer a cozy sitting area and a French balcony with floor-to-ceiling glass doors. Cruise with no more than 56 fellow passengers along the Ganges River to the colorful villages that line its shores. Feel like you are time traveling back 100 years in Matiari, where artisans craft brass into ornamental vases, lamps, and platters — the same way it’s been done for more than a century.

Following the Ganges, climb onboard The Maharajas’ Express, the most luxurious train in India, and make your way to Agra where you’ll stand in awe of the Taj Mahal. Expect to see tigers, leopards, and marsh crocodile during a game drive in Ranthambore National Park. After visiting the Pink City of Jaipur, head to the “Blue City” of Jodhpur where houses are painted bright blue in a nod to the city’s past indicating a member of India’s priestly class lived there. Revel in the magic of Udaipur, often considered “the Venice of the East,” because of its multiple lakes and rolling hills.