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Day 3: NALANDA Today there is a choice of excursions, either to the Jain and Buddhist monuments at Rajgir Hill and the Buddhist monasteries at Nalanda, or on further to Boddh Gaya itself, the site of Buddha's enlightenment and of the bodhi tree under which he sat. Surrounding the great Mahabodhi temple are the temples and monasteries of many Buddhist cultures, Japan, Bhutan, Tibet, Thailand, and others. We return in the evening to our ship which will have sailed down to the great bridge at Mokameh, where earlier the naturalist Jim Corbett spent his working life overseeing the ferry crossing.  Day 4: MONGHYRToday we sail down to Monghyr. Monghyr possesses a fine Mughal fort, as well as a big British cemetery dating back to the days when it was a retirement settlement for the East India Company. We shall also visit the Pirpahar Hill, crowned by a fine old mansion, before continuing our cruise downstream to anchor near Sultanganj and Jahangira Island, a place of pilgrimage with early Hindu carvings in the rock. On shore, another picturesque rock is topped with a mosque. Day 5: BHAGALPUR We sail this morning along a stretch of the river where Gangetic Dolphin may be seen, to Bhagalpur, a centre of silk production. We shall hope to locate the massive 18th century monument to Augustus Cleveland before continuing on down to visit the island shrine at Colganj, with both Buddhist and Hindu cave temples, and once a centre of the murderous Thug sect. We anchor for the night near the confluence with the Kosi, coming down from Nepal. Close to here we may be able to visit the village of Antichak and ruins of the 8th century Buddhist monastery of Vikramshila. Day 6: RAJMAHAL We sail downstream this morning to Rajmahal, beneath the Rajmahal Hills. Rajmahal is one of those places, so common in India, which feature in no guidebook and yet offer both interest and atmosphere; once known as Akbarnagar, the town was founded by the Mughal Emperor Akbar as his eastern capital. Shah Jehan, builder of the Taj Mahal, spent much of his youth here. There are remains of palaces, forts and mosques submerged in vegetation which we shall explore before continuing on down to the great Farakka Barrage. Day 7: GAUR A full day excursion by road takes you to Gaur. This quiet, deserted place was once one of India's great cities, first under the Hindus in the 12th century, then as the muslim capital of Eastern India from the 14th to the 16th century. There are plentiful remain of mosques, palaces and gateways. Later travel on through the town of Malda, or English Bazar, to Pandua where you will visit the great 14th century Adina Mosque before returning to Farakka where your ship will have passed through the lock at the barrage. Day 8: JANGIPUR  This morning's cruise is along a straight canal section to Jangipur, where there is time for a brief excursion to native villages where silk is woven and "bidis" (primitive cigarettes) are rolled. PM set sail down the Hugli proper, a charming waterway twisting and turning between banks lined with mustard fields and mango orchards. Moor at the delightful sleepy village of Baranagar with three gorgeous miniature terracotta temples to which you walk through the fields. This is rural India at its most idyllic.A full day excursion by road is also available at extra cost ($50 pp) for those just taking Bengal Despatch 5, 7-night itinerary to Gaur, near the town of Malda, or English Bazar. This quiet, deserted place was once one of India's great cities, first under the Hindus in 12th century, then as the muslim capital of Eastern India from the 14th to the 16th century. There are plentiful remains of mosques, palaces and gateways and you visit a number of the most interesting before rejoining the ship in the evening near Jangipur. Day 9: MURSHIDABAD Sail on down past Azimganj with some fine riverside mansions to Murshidabad where the Nawab's great Hazarduari Palace, built by an English architect in 1837, dominates the waterfront. Inside are an extensive collection of pictures, china, weapons and other objects. Visit also the great Katra Mosque and drive out to two amazing buildings of the late 18th century, the Nashipara Palace and the Katgola Palace. Both were built in classical Georgian style by rich local merchants and represent the other side of the coin of the "White Moghul" period when English and Indian cultures came close to fusion. Later sail downstream a short distance then travel by cycle rickshaw to the Khushbagh, a peaceful Moghul-style garden enclosing the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah and his family. Day 10: BERHAMPUR Continue downstream past the old British cantonment of Berhampur to a rural mooring close to the battlefield of Plassey where in 1757 Clive's defeat of Siraj-ud-Daulah changed the course of Indian history - you can walk through the fields to the commemorative obelisk. Cruise on past Katwa, a market town with narrow bustling bazaars, to the brassworking village of Matiari where you can see the whole primitive process of beating out brass water pots and other vessels. Day 11: MAYAPUR This morning we reach Mayapur, its skyline dominated by the vast new ISKCON temple which we are able to visit. Visit also the older and humbler temples as well as the giant banyan tree at Nabadwip on the opposite bank before sailing on to the country town of Kalna. Here we take cycle rickshaws to see a group of some of Bengal's most attractive terracotta temples, as well as the unique Shiva temple with concentric rings made up of 108 shrinelets.  Day 12: BANDELContinue on, leaving fields behind and arrive at the outskirts of Calcutta. Land at Bandel to visit the Portuguese church as well as the nearby Imambara and the Dutch cemetery at Chinsura. Then sailing past fine waterfront buildings you land at Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950, and visit the 18th century church and Dupleix's House containing a small museum. Day 13: CALCUTTA Continue down to Barrackpore, land and take a walk through the cantonment past the Semaphore Tower, Government House, the Temple of Fame, and Flagstaff House, its garden housing many of the British statues removed from central Calcutta. If time permits, cross to the other bank to visit the old Danish colony of Serampore, then sail on under the Howrah Bridge to central Calcutta. This afternoon take a sightseeing tour of Calcutta including the Victoria Memorial, South Park Street Cemetery, St John's Church and other colonial relics. Day 14: DEPART Disembark after breakfast and transfer to central Calcutta or airport for final departure. * Please note the cruise itinerary may vary slightly depending on local conditions - you will be advised locally if changes are necessary. (END OF OUR SERVICES)  Tour Package Includes: • 13 nights Accommodation on twin sharing basis. • All meals aboard the cruise. • Transfers on arrival and departure. • Entrance Fees and tours as per the itinerary. • All applicable taxes. Tour Package Does not Includes: • Visa costs. • International flights. • Meals not mentioned as being included above. • Bar drinks. • Tips and gratuities. • Items of a personal nature such as laundry. • Early or late check in/out at hotels. • Items not mentioned as being included. • Optional excursions. • Travel insurance. Please Note: River Conditions • The rivers you will sail on are subject to seasonal rises and falls of water level, in some places as much as 30 metres. Water levels can change dramatically overnight and a sudden rise can impede our progress upstream considerably and even prevent us from passing under certain bridges. A sudden fall can result in our being unable to get into certain places or go as far upstream as we would hope. Groundings on sandbars are not infrequent and are part of the excitement of any expedition. Published itineraries are subject to sudden change. In such events alternative itineraries will be provided and we do our best to ensure that if a stop is missed we make up for it with another stop. Passengers are thus forewarned and expected to be flexible and patient. River cruising in Asia can be a dramatic and adventurous experience - not like cruising the controlled waterways of Europe or America. Note also that we operate in areas with little or no developed infrastructure and subject to the strictures of local officialdom. Be prepared for this and it is all more the fun! |
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| An 800 mile Voyage through the cultural heart of India - Ganges Cruise |
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