CRUISING THE LOWER GANGES

Day 1 Arrive in Kolkata

Arrive in Kolkata from your international flight, 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

Day 2 Explore Kolkata with private guide

Rise early for a three-hour walking tour of the city when it is at its most peaceful. Walk around 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 walking tour 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

Day 3 Board RV Kalaw Pandaw

This morning, board your delightful Pandaw river cruise vessel 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, surrounded the soothing hum of nature on the river.

Overnight: RV Kalaw Pandaw

Day 4 Kalna

Set sail after breakfast and continue upstream to the culturally-rich rural town of Kalna. Known as the 'City of Temples', the town houses many terracotta temples that were built in the 18th century. The most famous and eye-catching temple is the 108 Shiva temple, where one 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

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-looking machinery and see local men stoke roaring furnaces. Listen to the rhythmic clangs of bells and witness the shining alloy that is beaten and shaped, just as it has been done for hundreds of years. Re-join the vessel and continue cruising 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 vessel will be moored close to Murshidabad, a town most famous for brass and bell metal ware, and traditional Bengali muslin.

Overnight: RV Kalaw Pandaw

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 journey 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 where Indian and English cultures in this region were intrinsically linked. This evening you will remain in Murshidabad.

Overnight: RV Kalaw Pandaw

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 you rejoin the vessel and start to cruise downstream, back towards Kolkata.

Overnight: RV Kalaw Pandaw

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 you will return to board the RV Kalaw.

Overnight: RV Kalaw Pandaw

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 and sail past the old Dutch settlement of Chinsura to Chandernagore, a former French colony, and sail on to Kolkata through the night.

Overnight: RV Kalaw Pandaw

Day 10 Disembark Kolkata

Enjoy a final breakfast before you bid farewell and disembark. You will be transferred privately to Kolkata Airport to check in for your flight home.