RMS Caronia Timeline

Explore India, Pakistan & Nepal

While the “Caronia” is at Bombay cruise members will have an opportunity to travel by Optional Tours to all parts of India by special train or by air, and also to see Pakistan and Nepal.

These tours will, of course, visit Agra, the “City of the Taj Mahal”; Delhi, the capital of India; and Banaras, the “Holy City of the Hindus”. No one would want to miss seeing these famous places.

And there are many other outstanding features of the tours…

• Darjeeling in the foothills of the Himalayas, where, from Tiger Hill, one views the majestic peak of Mount Everest;
• Pakistan's romantic city of Lahore;
• Peshawar and the Khyber Pass;
• Amritsar of the Golden Temple;
• Calcutta, India's largest city;
• Mysore and Madura in southern India

Other unusual places to be visited are Gwalior, with its extraordinary Maharajah's Palace; and Udaipur, which is called “City of Sunrise”.

The programme in India is the most varied and extensive ever offered for a world cruise.

Special trains, for the exclusive use of “Caronia” passengers, are made up of the best equipment in India. The sleeping cars have showers or baths. Restaurant or saloon cars are attached to the trains, although many meals are served at leading hotels.

The air tours travel by special planes, non-pressurized, and reservations are made at the best hotels for overnight stays. Rooms with private bath are provided wherever obtainable.

European cuisine will prevail on all these Optional Tours, with occasional native dishes.

Important Places Visited

Agra

…the “City of the Taj Mahal”, is situated on the banks of the Yamuna River about 900 miles by rail northeast of Bombay. It was the capital of the Mogul Empire under Akbar, who built the great Fort and ruled India from within its walls.

The Tomb of Akbar at nearby Sikandra, the Tomb of Itmud-udDaula and the Pearl Mosque are among the sights of Agra, but its crowning glory is the Taj Mahal.

Amritsar & Lahore

Amritsar is 278 miles north of Delhi, near India's northern frontier. Lahore is just across the border in Pakistan. Amritsar is famous for its Golden Temple — the most sacred shrine of the Sikhs, and the so-called “Pool of Immortality”.

Lahore was the ancient capital of the Raiput dynasty and later became one of the most important cities of the Mogul Emperors, who rebuilt it during the 16th Century. Its Fort, mosque, beautiful tombs and famous Shalimar Gardens are among the principal sights.

Banaras

… the “Holy City of the Hindus”, sprawls along the left bank of the River Ganges in an array of temples, bathing and burning “ghats”, palaces and shrines.

Reputedly three thousand years old, it is one of the most picturesque cities in the Orient. The Monkey Temple, the Golden Temple, the Well of Knowledge, the bazaars and ghats are among the many important sights to be seen.

Bangalore & Mysore

…are the two principal cities of Mysore (Mysuru) state in southern India, 500 miles from Bombay.

Located on hills, 2,000 feet above sea level, Bangalore has imposing streets and gardens.

Mysore City has the Palace of the Maharajah, one of the most beautiful in India. Its Jagan Mahan Palace has an unusually fine collection of curios.

Calcutta

…with three and a half million inhabitants, is the largest city of India — a great port, commercial and industrial centre. It stands on the Hooghly River near the mouth of the Ganges.

Among the many important sights are the Kali Temple; the Jain Temple; the Victoria Memorial; the Chowringhee, a street of clubs, shops and hotels; the Zoo, Botanical Gardens and bazaars.

Darjeeling

…an attractive hill station 7,000 feet above sea level, stands on a mountain ridge within view of the great range of the Himalayas. From nearby Tiger Hill one can see Mt. Everest, the world's loftiest peak.

Tibetans, Nepalese, and others from the mountainous regions of the north throng the bazaars of Darjeeling, which are unusually interesting.

Delhi

The capital of the Republic of India is a “garden city” with its magnificent new Parliament Building, Central Secretariat, and residence of the President. There are tree-lined avenues, attractive homes and shopping streets.

Next door to New Delhi is the old Mogul capital, with the enormous Red Fort containing many architectural masterpieces of long ago. At Old Delhi are the Chandni Chowk — the famous street of silversmiths, and the lofty Qutub Minar tower.

Gwalior

…south of Agra, is a maharajah's capital rich in history and architectural beauty. Atop a soaring citadel are a walled fort, the Man Mandir Palace, and two small temples with fine views.

In the valley is the Maharajah's Palace, with exquisite chandeliers and the largest carpet in the world.

Hyderabad

…in central India, is the capital of a princely state. Its most splendid buildings are the Osmania University, the High Court, State Library and the fine modern Falaknuma Palace.

Its gardens and zoo are interesting, and its fort of Golconda once stood as a symbol of strength and opulence.

Jaipur

…the “Rose Pink City”, capital of Rajasthan, was founded in 1728. The Rajah's Palace stands in the centre of Jaipur, surrounded by gardens. Houses with latticed windows line the streets, their rose-pink colouring giving the city its special character.

Jaipur is noted for its craftsmen, who are skilled in the art of cutting precious stones and in brass work.

Katmandu

…is the capital of the Kingdom of Nepal, which lies on the slopes of the Himalayas between India and Tibet.

The city is in a fertile valley, 20 miles long and 15 miles wide, which supports a population of nearly half a million, and is noted for 2,700 Hindu shrines--most of which are lavishly decorated examples of Nepalese art.

This strange and remote city is now conveniently reached by air, and offers a most unusual travel experience.

Madura

…is Southern India's religious capital, a city of nearly 400,000 people, famous for its Great Temple dedicated to the goddess Minakshi. This temple, with its golden lily tank, is surrounded by nine pyramidal towers, one of which is 150 feet high.

These towers and the Hall of a Thousand Pillars are ornamented with the most elaborate stone carvings.

Peshawar

…on Pakistan's Northwest Frontier, is located near the Khyber Pass leading into Afghanistan. It is a city of great strategic importance, and a colourful meeting place of many tribesmen, Pathans and Afghans.

The bazaars are especially colourful. The programme at Peshawar includes a drive by automobile into the Khyber Pass as far as Michni Kandao, to view this historic invasion route which has played an important part in shaping the destinies of India since the time of Alexander the Great.

Trivandrum

…is the capital of the unusual state of Travancore on the tropical Malabar Coast. It is situated on small hills near the sea, only thirty miles from the southern tip of India, and has many fine buildings, parks and avenues, plus the colour and bustle of a centre of religious pilgrimage.

Udaipur

…on the edge of the northern desert, is the “City of Sunrise”, built on islands and along the shore of a beautiful lake. Marble palaces of pure white rise beside the water.

Inside the hilltop palace can be seen the magnificence of the East. Parks, green vegetation, and avenues of flowers combine to give fairylike wonder to this city of Maharana royalty.