Historic Hooghly River Cruise

Upon arrival at Kolkata International Airport, you will be welcomed by your Authentic India Tours representatives who will transfer you to your hotel for a 2 night stay.

The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy the wonderful facilities of your luxury hotel or explore the local area. Just a short walk away is the new Kolkata market.

Accommodation: The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata

Meals included: Breakfast

Today is an opportunity to discover this charming metropolis with a full days sightseeing tour. It’s an early start to visit the colourful flower market, followed by a boat ride on the Hooghly River.

The afternoon’s sightseeing includes the Victoria Memorial, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Indian Museum, one the largest museums in India.

Accommodation: The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata

Meals included: Breakfast

This morning, you will be collected from your hotel to embark your ship by midday. Sail past the old Danish colony of Serampore 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. Sail up to Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950.

Accommodation: ABN Rajmahal or ABN Sukapha

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Visit the 18th century church and Dupleix’s House, the erstwhile Governor-General of French India. Sail upstream past the old Dutch settlement of Chinsura before landing to visit the imposing Imambara at Hooghly. 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 into the night to a mooring near Kalna.

Accommodation: ABN Rajmahal or ABN Sukapha

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After breakfast, land at the country town of Kalna and take rickshaws to see a group of some of Bengal’s most attractive terracotta temples, the unique Shiva temple with concentric rings made up of 108 shrinelets, and a muslin-weaving centre. 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. Sail on through the night to a mooring near Matiari.

Accommodation: ABN Rajmahal or ABN Sukapha

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

This morning visit the brass-working village of Matiari, a charming riverside village. Interact with the locals of Matiari and witness the whole primitive process of beating out brass water pots and other vessels. Later, cruise on and visit the battlefield of Plassey where, in 1757, Robert Clive, the Commander-in-Chief of British India, defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal, to change the course of Indian history. Moor close to Khushbagh for the night.

Accommodation: ABN Rajmahal or ABN Sukapha

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

This morning, walk to the Khushbagh, a peaceful Mughal-style garden that encloses the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah – the last independent Nawab of Bengal – and his family. Continue a little way upstream to where the 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 at Baranagar.

Accommodation: ABN Rajmahal or ABN Sukapha

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

This morning, walk through the fields of the delightfully sleepy village of Baranagar to visit its three gorgeous miniature terracotta temples. This is rural India at its most idyllic. Continue up the lower Ganges (or the Hooghly), which transforms into a charming waterway twisting and turning between banks lined with mustard fields and mango orchards. Carry on up a long canal section to a mooring close to the Farakka Barrage.

Accommodation: ABN Rajmahal or ABN Sukapha

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Disembark and go on a full-day excursion by road 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.

Accommodation: ABN Rajmahal or ABN Sukapha

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Transfer to Farakka station in the morning for a 4 hr (approx.) train journey to Kolkata. You will be met on arrival at railway station and transfer you to the hotel in Kolkata

Accommodation: The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata

Meals included: Breakfast

In plenty of time you will be taken to Kolkata Airport to board your return flight.

Alternatively if you have time you could extend your holiday with a beach extension, a tour of South India or a trip to the Himalayas.

Meals included: Breakfast

Pricing and Inclusions

Price guide for this 11 Day Historic Hooghly with Assam Bengal Navigation:

• £1750 per person on twin sharing basis

The prices do not include flights.

Authentic India Tours is a member of ABTA and ATOL. All the holidays on this website are ABTA protected. If you would like us to arrange your holiday including flights we will be happy to provide a quote and your holiday will also be ATOL protected.

This is a private tour with river cruise. The tour element of the holiday can be tailor-made to meet your exact requirements. Prices will vary depending on the number of people, length of tour, accommodation & season. Reductions are normally available for groups of three or more.

River cruises operate from August to April.

Please get in touch with your dates and we will be pleased to provide you with your personal itinerary and accurate quote.

Included with this tour are the following:

• Meet and greet assistance on all arrivals and departures.
• All internal road travel by a private chauffeur-driven air-conditioned large car.
• All scheduled sightseeing expenses including English speaking guides and entrance fees at monuments.
• Accommodation for 10 nights on double/twin sharing basis.
• Meal Plan: Full Board on cruise; Bed & Breakfast in Kolkata.
• Mineral water on all days of travel

Price does not include:

• International flight tickets
• Travel insurance and visa
• Expenses of personal nature like laundry, tips, beverages etc
• Meals other than mentioned in the above meal plan
• Camera and video fees at national parks, museums & monuments

Prices mentioned above are per person based on two people sharing a twin room. The prices which were valid at the time of publication may be subject to change, based on your date of travel and local market fluctuations. You will be informed of any price differences prior to booking.

For a quote based on your dates of travel, any alternative accommodation or changes to this itinerary, please call us on 01792 315499 or email us at info@aitholidays.com

Please remember all our private tours are designed to meet your exact requirements, and this Historic Hooghly River Cruise is just an example to help inspire you.

For more information please email info@aitholidays.com or call our India specialists on 01792 315499.

ABTA and ATOL Protected Tour Package

Authentic India Tours is a member of ABTA and ATOL. All the holidays on this website are ABTA protected. If you would like us to arrange your holiday including flights we will be happy to provide a quote and your holiday will also be ATOL protected.