A river adventure along the sacred Ganges travels through the rural landscapes of West Bengal, past ancient temples, timeless villages and colonial riverside towns.
See the sights of Kalna on a cycle rickshaw ride to the city's magnificent temples then sail to Matiari, a village renowned for producing beautiful handcrafted brass items using traditional methods. The rural village of Baranagar is home to several 18th-century temples, and the great Hazarduari Palace dominates the waterfront.
Experience the fascinating culture of Hare Krishna devotees in Mayapur and visit the impressive new temple. Chandannagar was established in 1673, with French colonial buildings lining the promenade. The Imambara at Hooghly gives the opportunity to relive a slice of Islamic history in Bengal.
PD245 Operated by Pandaw River Adventures
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Lower Ganges Itinerary
Day 1 - Kolkata (India) - Barrackpore
Transfer from the meeting point at the Oberai Grand Hotel and embark your ship. Sail to Barrackpore to walk past the Semaphore Tower, Government House, Flagstaff House and the Temple of Fame.
Day 2 - Kalna
Sail to Kalna and take a cycle rickshaw ride to see some of Bengal's best terracotta temples and the unique Shiva temple whose concentric rings are made up of 108 smaller shrines.
Day 3 - Matiari
In the brass-working village of Matiari you can interact with locals and see the traditional process of creating brass water pots and other vessels.
Day 4 - Murshidabad
Walk to the tranquil Khushbagh garden that surrounds the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah and his family, then visit the impressive Hazarduari Palace, Katra Mosque, Nashipara Palace and Georgian-style Katgola Palace.
Day 5 - Baranagar
Walk through idyllic countryside to visit Baranagar's three miniature terracotta temples. Continue up the lower Ganges past mustard fields and mango orchards.
Day 6 - Mayapur
Discover the village of Mayapur to visit the new International Society for Krishna Consciousness temple, the headquarters of the Hare Krishna movement, meet Krishna followers and walk through the pilgrims' bazaar.
Day 7 - Chandannagar - Hooghly
Sail to Chandannagar to visit the 18th-century church and Dupleix's House then cruise past the former Dutch settlement of Chinsura before exploring the Imambara at Hooghly, a slice of Islamic history in Bengal. Moor overnight near Kalna.
Day 8 - Kolkata
Disembark ship in Kolkata and transfer to Kolkata airport or Oberai Grand Hotel.
For navigational reasons the Captain of the ship reserves the right to modify the cruise itinerary.