Explore Kolkata, India's intellectual, artistic, and cultural capital, before taking to the sacred waters of the Lower Ganges for a week aboard a colonial-style riverboat. Sail past the old Danish colony of Serampore towards Barrackpore, and continue upstream to riverside villages with wonderful Jain Temples. After sailing back to Kolkata, fly north to Guwahati, in Assam, to join RV Kindat Pandaw for a magnificent seven days on the mighty Brahmaputra River. The Brahmaputra is in stark contrast to the Ganges, with very little human activity, but profuse with incredible wildlife. Sail through the peaceful Assami countryside, explore villages by rickshaw and join a jeep safari in the Kaziranga National Park. The region is home to the One-Horned Indian Rhinoceros and has the highest density of Bengal Tiger. Complete your epic floating expedition and sail downstream past ancient monasteries and tea pickers at work on traditional tea plantations.
CRUISING ON THE GANGES AND THE BRAHMAPUTRA
HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit the pulsating cultural capital city of Kolkata with its grand architecture and galleries.
- Visit fascinating Jain temples and cruise past mustard fields and mango orchards.
- Join a jeep safari in Kaziranga National Park.
- Travel through the spectacular Assam Valley, with remote rural communities and UNESCO protected national parks.
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Arrive
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Day 1 Arrive Kolkata
Arrive in Kolkata where you will be met and transferred privately to the delightful Glenburn Penthouse. Spend the rest of the day at leisure as you relax into your splendid residence in the heart of this pulsating and vibrant city.
Overnight: Glenburn Penthouse
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Day 2 Exploring Kolkata
Rise early for a three-hour walking tour of Kolkata while it is at its most peaceful. Explore Dalhousie Square taking in the GPO, formerly Fort William and the site of the Black Hole of Calcutta, before continuing to the wonderfully vibrant, chaotic and noisy flower market. Ride the West Bengal ferry back and explore the Governor's Palace, which was modelled on the Curzon family seat of Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire. Enjoy well-earned picnic elevenses before completing your morning's walk at the Metcalfe Museum with its contemporary exhibition. Return to the hotel for lunch, then in the afternoon, transfer to the Victoria Memorial, built between 1906 and 1921 to commemorate Queen Victoria's 25-year reign in India. Your private driver will deliver you back to the hotel for an evening at leisure.
Overnight: Glenburn Penthouse
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Day 3 Board RV Kalaw Pandaw
This morning, board your delightful colonial-style riverboat, the RV Kalaw Pandaw, and set sail for Barrackpore. En route you will pass the old Danish colony of Semaphore. Disembark at Barrackpore where you can stroll past Government House, Flagstaff House and the Temple of Fame. Enjoy an evening on board with a delicious dinner and river life as your backdrop.
Overnight: Board RV Kalaw Pandaw
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Day 4 Kalna
Set sail after breakfast and continue upstream to the culturally rich rural town of Kalna. The town is known as the 'City of Temples' for its many 18th century terracotta temples. The most famous and eye-catching is the 108 Shiva temple, where you will find episodes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, erotica and hunting scenes that are illustrated on the walls. Continue sailing through the night before mooring at Matiara, a charming riverside village.
Overnight: RV Kalaw Pandaw
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Day 5 Matiara
This morning enjoy a stroll around the brass-working village of Matiara, where you will be met by a cacophony of sounds. Peer through almost invisible doorways to discover ancient machinery and see local men stoke roaring furnaces. Listen to the rhythmic clang of bells and witness the shining alloy that is beaten and shaped, just as it has been for hundreds of years. Rejoin the boat and continue sailing to the battlefield of Plassey where Robert Clive, the Commander-in-Chief of British India, defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, changing the course of history in India. This evening, the boat will be moored close to Murshidabad, a town most famous for brass and bell metal ware, and traditional Bengali muslin.
Overnight: RV Kalaw Pandaw
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Day 6 Murshidabad
Enjoy a morning stroll to the Mughal-style garden-cemetery of the Nawabs of Bengal which houses the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah, before you continue your voyage upstream to the great Georgian-style Hazarduari Palace, sitting proudly on the waterfront. Built by Scottish architect Duncan McLeod in 1837, the palace displays an extensive collection of paintings, weapons, costumes, and Persian manuscripts, which are evocative of the region's wealth during the 19th century. Continue to the great Katra Mosque, Nashipara Palace, and the Georgian-Style Katgola Palace which represents a time when Indian and English cultures in this region were intrinsically linked. This evening you will remain in Murshidabad.
Overnight: RV Kalaw Pandaw
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Day 7 Baranagar to Ajimganj
Leave Murshidabad behind and continue up the Hooghly (or Lower Ganges), which transforms into a delightful backwater where the banks are lined with mango orchards and mustard fields. Once on land, stroll through the sleepy village of Baranagar, originally a Portuguese settlement, which became the seat of a Dutch trading station. The city is most famous for jute, cotton milling, ginning, and baling, but also has three exceptional miniature terracotta temples, which are well worth discovering. Continue to the Jain Temples, where one can learn about the fascinating faith of Jainism, before rejoining the boat and continuing downstream back towards Kolkata.
Overnight: RV Kalaw Pandaw
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Day 8 Mayapur
Arrive in Mayapur, home to the ISKCON Temple (head temple of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness) and one of India's holiest places. Inside, marvel at the exquisite deities of Lord Nrisingha Dev, Pancatattva, and Srila Prabhupada, the exceptional memorial shrine and the largest of its kind in India. The tall marble dome dominates the skyline with walls adorned with terracotta displays of Krishna's pastimes. This afternoon, enjoy a stroll through the pilgrim's bazaar with Krishna followers. This vibrant bazaar offers an incredible array of items, from fresh flowers to clothes, prayer tools and books. After time to explore, return to board the RV Kalaw.
Overnight: RV Kalaw Pandaw
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Day 9 Chandernagore – Hooghly
This morning continue sailing downstream before arriving at Hooghly Imambara, an impressive 150-year-old Shia Museum congregation hall and mosque, offering a fascinating insight into the Islamic history of Bengal. The grand entrance is flanked by 80 foot towers, with a clocktower that is evocative of the Muslim raj and the nawabs. Once inside, the rewarding climb to the top affords panoramic views of the Hooghly River and Jubilee Bridge. Continue your journey, sailing past the old Dutch settlement of Chinsura to Chandernagore, a former French colony, before continuing to Kolkata through the night.
Overnight: RV Kalaw Pandaw
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Day 10 Kolkata to Guwahati
Enjoy a final breakfast before you disembark and transfer to Kolkata Airport to fly north to Guwahati to join the RV Kindat Pandaw for a seven day cruise on the mighty Brahmaputra River. In the afternoon, enjoy a gentle stroll around the Assami city and visit the Nilachai hill temple and Commonwealth graves, before casting off upriver, for the second part of your floating expedition.
Overnight: RV Kindat Pandaw
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Day 11 Cruising All Day
Spend the day mostly onboard as you cruise north against the strong currents towards Tezpur. Part way through the day, there will be an opportunity to disembark for a little exercise and wander around some charming village gardens.
Overnight: RV Kindat Pandaw
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Day 12 Tezpur
Arrive in Tezpur this morning, disembark and enjoy time visiting the De Parbatia temple by rickshaw, with its richly carved portals. Continue to Cole Park, also known as Chitralekha Park, well-known for its scenic beauty and serene horse-shaped lake where one can go boating. Rejoin the RV Kindat for some relaxing time onboard and an evening at leisure.
Overnight: RV Kindat Pandaw
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Day 13 Nameri National Park
Rise early to disembark and drive around two hours to the Nameri National Park, in the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh. Enjoy a float trip down the Jia-Bhoreli River where there is some incredible birdlife, including hornbills and the opportunity of sighting wild elephants. Lunch today will be picnic-style before an enjoyable walk through a quaint and rural village, where one can expect to see local life at its best. Travel back by road, then continue upstream and moor at Silghat for the evening.
Overnight: RV Kindat Pandaw
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Day 14 Kaziranga National Park
Journey by car today deep in to the Kaziranga National Park. This area is home to the largest population of the Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros, one of the country's great wildlife emblems. The park contains wetlands, grassland, and forests, along with over 1,000 elephants and 100 Royal Bengal Tigers. It is extremely rich in biodiversity with marshy swamps and elephant grass. It is also a birding paradise, with the rather graceful Oriental Honey Buzzard, White Tailed Eagle, and the Black-Shouldered kite, which are regularly seen.
Overnight: RV Kindat Pandaw
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Day 15 Tea Gardens
This morning, continue downstream and visit a charming tea estate for the opportunity to learn and understand the complex art of tea making in a spectacular setting. Spend the rest of the day relaxing onboard the boat before you set sail for Guwahati in the morning.
Overnight: RV Kindat Pandaw
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Day 16 Sualkuchi Silk Village
After breakfast visiti Sualkuchi Silk Village. The village is well-known for its centuries-old heritage of weaving, and once inside there is a rhythmic click-clack of the traditional throw-shuttle loom. This has been a way of life that has been handed down through generations, and many of the designs are inspired by the wildlife in the Kaziranga National Park. The silk threads are made into exquisite and colourful chadars, saris, & shawls that are worn by Assami women. Return to the RV Kindat for a final afternoon on board.
Overnight: RV Kindat Pandaw
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Day 17 Disembark at Guwahati
After breakfast, disembark and return to Guwahati Airport for your flight home.
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Depart
| October - April | £ 5,765 | $ 8,536 |
INCLUSIONS
- All accommodation as detailed in the itinerary.
- Domestic flight Kolkata to Guwahati including 20kgs checked baggage.
- All meals, group excursions and tips for crew whilst on board the river boat.
- Meals are on full board basis during the cruise.
- Private transfers throughout.
- All sightseeing, entrance fees and guide services as detailed in the itinerary.
EXTRAS
- International flights.
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary.
- Tipping for guides and drivers.
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, gratuities (discretionary.
- Alcoholic beverages such as wines, premium spirits and liqueurs, premium non-alcoholic drinks such as Perrier, espressos and cappuccinos on your river cruise.
- Port fees.
- Travel insurance and visa fees.
- Entrance fees and excursions not specifically mentioned as included.
BOOKING NOTES
- Sailings operate from October 2021 until April 2022, prices do increase on certain sailings.
- No single supplements apply on selected dates.
- River cruising in December and January can be affected by fog, which may impact the schedules.
