Background
With tremendous assets in natural resources and an educated population, modern India is fast becoming an economic powerhouse in the world. With a 2016 population of 1.25 billion it will become the largest country within 10 years.
Occupiers through the years have made full use of India's resources, from the Moghuls in the last millennium to the British in the guise of the East India Company. With British rule switched to the Crown, traditions gained from the British are still noticeable in the independent India of today - it has the largest English speaking population in the world!
Food in India
Around 80% of the Indian population are Hindus, many of whom are vegetarian and who revere the cow. It follows that beef is not available in India, and although pork is possible it is not available in more muslim areas. Sheep and goat meat tend to be interchangeable, and many Westerners will therefore find chicken is the most reliably available meat.
Vegetables are of good quality, with lentils in frequent usage. Food can be spiced, from mild to hot. Fish from the Bay of Bengal is common in the Kolkata and Lower Ganges areas.
Rivers of India
The main rivers of India are the Brahmaputra (2900km) which flows through Assam in North East India and the Ganges (2500km) which flows through central India to the sea in the Bay of Bengal.
The Ganges is a holy river, worshipped by Hindus as the goddess Ganga, and along its length Hindus bathe in its holy waters. Some places are particularly holy, with Varanasi one of the most spiritual.
The Farakka Barrage on the India-Bangladesh border regulates the flow of the Ganges southward, into Bangladesh or as the Lower Ganges into West Bengal through Kolkata and to the sea. The land around the Lower Ganges is very fertile, and Ganges waters are used to irrigate crops such as rice, mustard, sugar cane, and potatoes. Clay from the river is used to make bricks, and its waters are also used for drinking, possibly after purification, and for washing.
River Cruises in India
Most Indian river cruises involve the Ganges, and the most common is a 7-night cruise on the Lower Ganges from Kolkata to Mushidabad and back. This gives a good perspective on life on and around the river, and viewing of settlements built by the British, French and Dutch as well as historical sites from the Moghuls and ancient empires. The varied sights include wealthy villages such as Kalna with thriving local markets, specialist metalworking villages like Matiari, and more spiritual locations such as Mayapur with its Krishna connections and Mushidabad.
Some one-way Ganges cruises are available which include the section of the Ganges above the Barrage towards Patna, one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world and associated with Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and Sikh religions.
The Brahmaputra is a fast-flowing river only navigable at certain times of the year, travelling from high in the Himalaya mountains through Tibet. The Assam Valley in North East India is one of its highlights with the World Heritage Kaziranga National Park offering wildlife to match Africa - one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tigers, bison, vultures and a variety of animals. Our cruises on the Bramhaputra include an option to visit Bhutan in the Himalayas.
The Golden Triangle
India is a large country, so cruise tours tend to include the famous 'Golden Triangle' of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Extensions to Varanasi may be possible, and perhaps some time in Kerala with its famous backwaters or the seaside resorts of Goa.
Delhi has ancient sites such as the Red Fort and Qtab Minar, more modern vestiges of the British Raj, and the facilities and trappings of a modern capital city. Agra is home of the Taj Mahal, one of the most famous and romantic buildings in the world, and Jaipur, the 'pink city' due to its terracotta buildings, has the notable Amber Fort and the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) amongst its treasures.
Varanasi is one of the most holy cities for Hindus, and its famous ghats (steps leading down to the water) are used for bathing, the nightly Hindu Aarti ceremony, or laundry. One ghat is reserved for Hindu cremations in this most holy place. Boat trips along the river past the ghats are available at sunset and sunrise.