| Validity Dates |
02 Jan 2024 to 01 Apr 2025 |
| Start Price |
US $1,695 per person
|
| Cruise |
ABN Rajmahal, 7 night Historic Hooghly Lower Ganges River Cruise - Bengal Despatch 5 - ex Farraka to Kolkata |
| Cruise Line |
Assam Bengal Navigation |
| Ship |
ABN Rajmahal |
| Destination |
India Rivers |
| Brief Description |
Cruise 7 nights from Farakka to Kolkata aboard the ABN Rajmahal by Assam Bengal Navigations. |
| Type of Special |
8 day Cruise Only |
| Departure Date |
10 Apr 2025 |
| Inclusions |
*** ALL PRICES IN USD PER PERSON TWIN SHARE ***
HISTORIC HOOGHLY LOWER GANGES RIVER CRUISE Cruise only fares include:
- 7 night Lower Ganges River Indian cruise aboard the ABN Rajmahal from Farakka to Kolkata
- Shipboard accommodation in the cabin category of your choosing
- All excursions and entry fees as stated in the itinerary below
- All transfers as mentioned in the itinerary below
- All shipboard main meals
- GST of 5% *
- Services of an English-speaking guide onboard and during excursions
7 night Historic Hooghly Lower Ganges River Cruise - Bengal Despatch 5 - ex Farraka to Kolkata aboard ABN Rajmahal.
DOWNSTREAM ITINERARY:
FARAKKA TO KOLKATA
DAY 1
Take a 4hr (approx.) train journey from Kolkata to Farakka in the afternoon, and then a short road transfer to the ship. Guests joining independently at Farakka can board the ship from midday onwards.
Guests joining Bengal Despatch 5 from another cruise will enjoy a full day excursion by road 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, and its plentiful remains of mosques, palaces and gateways are testament to this diverse history. 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 2
This morning`s cruise is along a straight canal section to Jangipur, where the afternoon is free to explore this small country town on foot.
Guests who joined at Farakka will have the opportunity to experience the full day excursion by road to Gaur, near the town of Malda, or English Bazar. Explore the rich tapestry of historical influences in the region, travelling from 12th century Hindu rule to the Muslim capital of Eastern India in just one, quiet and deserted spot. The remains of mosques, palaces, and gateways tell the tale of what was once one of India’s great cities. You rejoin the ship in the evening near Jangipur.
Set sail down the Lower Ganges, a charming waterway twisting and turning between banks lined with mustard fields and mango orchards. Moor at Baranagar for the night.
DAY 3
This morning you`ll visit the delightfully sleepy village of Baranagar and take a tranquil walk through fields to visit three gorgeous miniature terracotta temples. This is certainly rural India at its most idyllic.
Continue on down past Azimganj, boasting some fine riverside mansions, to Murshidabad where the Nawab’s great Hazarduari Palace dominates the waterfront. Built by an English architect in 1837, the palace hosts an extensive collection of pictures, china, weapons and other objects. Carry on to visit the great Katra Mosque before driving out to see the Katgola Palace. Built in classical Georgian style by rich local merchants, Katgola Palace represents the other side of the coin of the 'White Mughal period when English and Indian cultures came close to fusion. Moor overnight on the riverbank across from town.
DAY 4
Sail downstream a short distance then walk to the Khushbagh, a peaceful Mughal-style garden enclosing the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah – the last independent Nawab of Bengal – and his family. Return to the ship and continue downstream past the old British cantonment of Berhampur. You`ll moor at a rural spot close to the battlefield of Plassey where, in 1757, Robert Clive, the Commander-in-Chief of British India, defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah to change the course of Indian history. You can walk through the fields to the commemorative obelisk before cruising on to a mooring near Katwa, a market town with narrow bustling bazaars.
DAY 5
Visit the brassworking village of Matiari where you can see the traditional craft of beating out brass water pots and other vessels. Continue on through the countryside to Mayapur to visit the vast new ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple which dominates the skyline. As the headquarters of ISKCON, or the Hare Krishna movement, the temple receives over a million singing and dancing devotees a year from around the world.
DAY 6
Continue on to the country town of Kalna. Take cycle rickshaws to see some of Bengal’s most attractive terracotta temples, as well as the unique Shiva temple with concentric rings made up of 108 shrinelets. Sailing on, you leave the fields behind and arrive at the outskirts of bustling Kolkata where you land at Hooghly to visit the imposing Imambara. With verses from the Koran written on its walls, the Imambara is an opportunity to step back in time and relive a slice of Islamic history in Bengal. Sail downstream past fine waterfront buildings and the old Dutch settlement at Chinsura to moor at Chandernagore.
DAY 7
At Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950, you’ll visit the 18th century church and Dupleix Palace, former residence of the Governor-General of French India, before continuing down to Barrackpore. Land and take a walk through the cantonment – past the Semaphore Tower, Government House, the Temple of Fame and Flagstaff House – to get a better understanding of India`s journey to independence. Subject to river tide, cruise under the Howrah Bridge to reach central Kolkata.
DAY 8
Disembark and transfer to central Kolkata or the airport.
These itineraries, including cruises and approximate duration, are subject to river and weather conditions. |
| Special Conditions |
*Conditions Apply: All prices shown here are per person share twin (unless stated as single) in USD, based on best available cruise fare at time of publication (02Jan24). Some cabins may have obstructed views. A visa is required to visit India and is not included in the prices listed here. Cruise deposit, amendment and cancellation conditions apply. Travel agent service fees may apply. Special conditions apply - please ask for full details at time of enquiry. All passports, vaccinations and visas are the responsibility of the travelling guest to secure prior to departure from Australia. Please note that the prices shown here are not shown in real time. While we endeavour to keep our pricing as up-to-date as possible, the advertised prices shown here may differ from the prices in our booking system at time of reservation. Offer subject to availability at time of booking. We reserve the right to correct errors without penalty. GST included in prices shown here is subject to governmental changes at any time without notice, but is correct at time of printing - 02Jan24. Not included in your cruise fare: Drinks from the bar, Laundry, Tips, camera fees, Travel or health Insurance (mandatory), Telephone charges or Items of a personal nature.
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| Prices |
| Category |
Twin Per Person |
Single Per Person |
| Twin/Double Main Deck Cabins |
US $1,695 |
Request Price |
| Twin/Double Upper Deck Cabins |
US $2,435 |
Request Price |
|
| Itinerary |
Cruise Itinerary
| Day | Date | Activity | Arrive | Depart |
|---|
| 1 |
10/04 |
Calcutta (Kolkata), India |
|
Rail to Faraka |
| 1 |
10/04 |
Farraka Barrage, West Bengal |
Embark |
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| 2 |
11/04 |
Jangipur, India |
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| 3 |
12/04 |
Baranagar, India |
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| 4 |
13/04 |
Khushbagh, India |
|
|
| 5 |
14/04 |
Matiari, India |
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| 6 |
15/04 |
Kalna, India |
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| 7 |
16/04 |
Chandernagore, West Bengal |
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| 8 |
17/04 |
Calcutta (Kolkata), India |
Disembark |
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All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.
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