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Private Charter

Bengal Ganga

An intimate Indian riverboat reminiscent of the colonial 'Clyde' steamers of the British Empire.

Overview

Built in 2004, the Bengal Ganga’s design is reminiscent of the colonial ships used by the Viceroys of British India at the height of the British Empire. Accommodating just 48 guests in premium luxury, she will take you on a journey along one of the most beautiful river routes in India.

Life on board

Characterized by polished teak and gleaming brass fittings throughout, the RV Bengal Ganga is an intimate ship with just 20 cabins, a high staff-to-guest ratio and personalized butler service. Onboard activities include cooking demonstrations with the head chef, lectures on contemporary Indian life, religion and culture, together with some fascinating documentaries in the evenings.

The beautifully furnished cabins range in size from 145 square feet to 228 square feet and feature paneled Burma teak walls and floors. Each is fitted with modern amenities and a dash of quintessential Indian luxury, complete with an ensuite bathroom with a shower, plenty of storage, and a private balcony to ensure a relaxed space of your own.

With large windows on either side, providing unimpeded riverbank views, the Dining Room is situated on the main deck, and serves delicious Indian delicacies as well as popular cuisines from around the world. It is furnished with a buffet counter, elegant teakwood tables and local textiles. The upper deck is home to the saloon & bar, which is a cozy space for drinks, conversations, and film screenings.

The Sun Deck has an observation area offering yet more magnificent views and is the spot dedicated to morning yoga practice. It also houses an air-conditioned Spa where you can unwind with a variety of Ayurvedic massages and beauty treatments.

On shore excursions

This important trade route is replete with historical landmarks, now mostly hidden among the ubiquitous villages, towns and cities that have grown along the banks. As you meander along the river, you can look forward to being introduced to some of the Indian traditions, art, spirituality and history through the cultural interactions you’ll experience at various stops along the way. You will witness the traditional crafts of the river, from weavers to potters.

Visit Murshidabad’s Palace, the British colonial buildings of Kolkata, the Portuguese settlement of Bandel, and the architectural marvels of Chandernagore town in West Bengal’s Hooghly district, which is dotted with many buildings retaining the French heritage style. Take a rickshaw to the Rajbari Temple Complex and be enthralled by the intricate terracotta tiles that depict mythologies, before paying a visit to Mother Teresa’s home and tomb.

Destinations

The Bengal Ganga cruise sets sail from Kolkata and journeys to some of the most popular destinations and hidden gems along the iconic river, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the heart of Bengal, and feel inspired by the artisans, weavers, writers and poets who influenced the Bengali Renaissance. Voyage to Bandel and Kalna, and discover the settlements founded by the Portuguese and French as you make your way to Mayapur and back to Kolkata.

A cruise aboard the Bengal Ganga offers the perfect way for couples, solo travelers and families or groups to explore this region of India in real style.

Itineraries & Prices

All itineraries are subject to change due to seasonal weather conditions (and resultant variations in river and tributary water levels) affecting accessibility to locations. Thus navigation routes, times and excursions may need to be modified at the cruise captain’s or your guide's discretion.

1 / 2
4-Day A
20-Day B

4 Day - A Mystical Journey : Varanasi Special

itinerary map

Embarkation

AM: Varanasi is considered the holiest city in Hinduism and Jainism. It also played an important role in the development of Buddhism. In the evening ride the country boat to the Dashashwamedh Ghat to see the “Ganga Aarti” performed by a group of priests lined up on the riverbank chanting mantras and performing the prayer ritual with lamps, incense, and traditional instruments to honor the river.

PM: Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Varanasi Special Cruise - Day 1
Location
Varanasi
Day
1 / 4

Varanasi - Cruising Downstream

AM: After breakfast stroll in the Vishwanath Gali (street), and experience the hustle and bustle of devotees and road side vendors. Visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple for “Darshan” and offering prayers to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the city.

PM: Return to the ship by midday and begin cruising downstream viewing the countryside and enjoying lunch onboard.

Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Varanasi Special Cruise - Day 2
Location
Varanasi
Day
2 / 4

Varanasi - Cruising Upstream

AM: After breakfast we sail upstream towards Varanasi, arriving by midday at Ravidas Ghat.

PM: Post lunch visit to Sarnath the seat where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment in Bodhgaya. Visit the local bazaar for shopping the famous “banarasi” silk, muslin, perfumes, and other handicrafts that Varanasi is famous for.

Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Varanasi Special Cruise - Day 3
Location
Varanasi
Day
3 / 4

Disembarkation

AM: Following breakfast disembark the ship and transfer on your onward journey.

Bengal Ganga - Varanasi Special Cruise - Day 4
Location
Varanasi
Day
4 / 4
1 / 4

20 Day - Kolkata to Varanasi

itinerary map

Embarkation

AM: Arrival in Kolkata and transfer to the jetty for embarkation.

PM: Lunch onboard. Thereafter Panoramic Tour of Dalhousie Square’s heritage buildings; St. John's Church, Victoria Memorial, and Mother Teresa’s Home.

Return to ship overnight. Enjoy cultural performance onboard. Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 1
Location
Kolkata
Day
1 / 20

Kolkata – Kalna

AM: After breakfast, visit the Flower Market, where you can see artists creating a variety of garlands, ornaments, and other items made of flowers and leaves for temples, weddings, and other uses. Thereafter, visit Kumartuli, a traditional potters’ quarter renowned for its sculpting prowess.

PM: Return to the ship for lunch and start sailing upstream, passing below the Howrah Bridge, and seeing various colonial buildings along the Ganges River.

Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.


Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 2
Location
Kolkata
Day
2 / 20

Kalna – Matiari

AM: After breakfast ride e-rickshaws through the town of Kalna to visit the enchanting Rajbari Temple complex. The Nabakailas Temple contains 108 eight-slope-roofed shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. Other temples in the complex feature diverse architecture and terracotta plaques depict themes of Hindu epics and various aspects of day-to-day life in the region.

PM: Return to the ship walking through the local vegetable market. Begin sail towards the shore-side village of Matiari, while having lunch onboard. Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 3
Location
Kalna
Day
3 / 20

Matiari – Murshidabad

AM: Early this morning walks in the village to see and experience the craftsmen at work. These master craftsmen utilize recycled copper to create exquisite pots, platters, and more from their workshops in the village. Return to ship for breakfast and sail full day towards Murshidabad, a hidden architectural gem with dramatic whitewashed colonial era structures.

PM: Lunch onboard. Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 4
Location
Matiari
Day
4 / 20

Murshidabad – Jangipur

AM: After breakfast ride the Toto (e-rickshaw) through the countryside to the Katra mosque, which has distinctive minarets. Thereafter visit the Hazarduari Palace, which dominates the waterfront. Built by an English architect, McLeod Duncan, in the Greek "Doric" style, the palace has more than a thousand real and false doors in the vast corridors and is filled with colonial-era antiques.

PM: Return to the ship for lunch and sail towards Jangipur. Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 5
Location
Murshidabad
Day
5 / 20

Jangipur – Farakka – Samtaghat

AM: Enjoying breakfast onboard we sail in the morning to cross the historic Farakka Lock Gate. The travel through the Feeder Canal will give us a chance to see the different birds of the region. After crossing the Lock Gate, we cruise through the connecting canal to the Ganges revealing vast panoramas.

PM: We continue to sail towards Samtaghat. Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 6
Location
Murshidabad
Day
6 / 20

Samtaghat – Bateshwarsthan

AM: Today we sail full day towards Bateshwarsthan enjoying breakfast and lunch. You will be fascinated by the passing landscape and the lively life on the river.

PM: We will arrive in Bateshwarsthan by evening. Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 7
Location
Vikramshila
Day
7 / 20

Bateshwarsthan – Sultanganj

AM: After breakfast drive in cars to the 8-9th century excavation site of the Vikramshila University and walk around the ruins. Vikramshila University was an important Buddhist centre of learning under the rule of the Pala Dynasty. Subjects like theology, philosophy, grammar, metaphysics, and logic were taught here.

PM: We return to the ship and sail towards Sultanganj while enjoying lunch onboard. Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 8
Location
Munger Fort
Day
8 / 20

Sultanganj – Munger

AM: After breakfast excursion to Sultanganj, which is notable for two prominent granite rock islands in the river connected to the mainland by a causeway. On one of the islands is a mosque; on the other larger one is the Ajgaibinath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. We will visit the Shiva temple.

PM: Return to the ship and sail towards Munger while enjoying lunch onboard. Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 9
Location
Kolkata
Day
9 / 20

Munger

AM: After breakfast visit the Chandika Sthan Temple, which is dedicated to Goddess Shakti. It is one of the fifty-one Shakti Peethas, associated with the legend of Lord Vishnu who to save the world from Lord Shiva’s wrath, cut into pieces the corpse of Devi Sati that Shiva was carrying.

PM: Return to ship for lunch. Thereafter visit the Munger Fort that Fort houses several religious and historic monuments such as tombs of saints, a palace and a British cemetery. We also stroll through a local market popular for fruits, vegetables, textiles, and readymade garments. Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 10
Location
Munger
Day
10 / 20

Munger – Simaria

AM: Enjoying our breakfast and lunch onboard, we continue our journey further upstream sailing under the great bridge at Mokameh Ghat.

PM: We will arrive in Simaria by late afternoon. In the evening walk in the riverside village of Simaria to see the daily activities of the local people. Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 11
Location
Simaria
Day
11 / 20

Simaria – Patna

AM: Today we sail full day through wonderful countryside to Patna, enjoying breakfast and lunch. Patna is the capital of the State of Bihar and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world founded in 490 BCE as Pataliputra.

PM: Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 12
Location
Patna
Day
12 / 20

Patna – Ghaghra Mod

AM: After breakfast and proceed to visit the Golghar and Patna Museum. The Golghar, literally meaning "Round house", is a large beehive-shaped granary that was built "for the perpetual prevention of famine in these provinces" in 1784 by Warren Hastings, the British Governor General of India. The Patna Museum was started in April 1917 during the British Raj to house the historical artefacts found in the vicinity of Patna. Items on display in the multipurpose museum include archaeological objects, coins, art objects, paintings, instruments, textiles, paintings, bronze images and sculptures and terra cotta images by Hindu and Buddhist artists.

PM: Return to ship. Lunch onboard. Thereafter sail towards Ghaghra Mod, the confluence where River Ghaghra meets River Ganges. Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 13
Location
Patna
Day
13 / 20

Ghaghra Mod – En Route To Buxar

AM: After breakfast enjoy a walk in the riverbank village. Thereafter sail full day towards Buxar, anchoring en route. Buxar is one of the most prominent towns of western Bihar, bordering the State of Uttar Pradesh.

PM: Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 14
Location
Buxar
Day
14 / 20

Arrival In Buxar

AM: We arrive into Buxar by late morning while enjoying breakfast and lunch onboard.

PM: Post lunch visit the Ram Rekha Ghat. It is associated with a legend from the epic Ramayana that after killing the demoness Tadka, Lord Ram to cleanse himself from the sin of killing a woman, took a bath in the Ganges here. Also visit the Sita Ram Upadhyay Museum, named after a local resident who had donated his personal collection that include archaeological objects, coins and manuscripts. Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 15
Location
Buxar
Day
15 / 20

Buxar – Ghazipur

AM: Today we sail full day towards Ghazipur enjoying breakfast and lunch onboard. Ghazipur in the State of Uttar Pradesh was established by the British East India Company in 1820 as an opium factory. It still produces the drug for the global pharmaceutical industry.

PM: Post lunch visit to the Tomb of Lord Cornwallis, one of the major figures of Indian and British history. Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 16
Location
Ghazipur
Day
16 / 20

Ghazipur – En Route To Varanasi

AM: Today we sail full day further upstream towards Varanasi enjoying breakfast and lunch onboard.

PM: We will moor for the night before Varanasi, subject to river tide conditions. Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 17
Location
Varanasi
Day
17 / 20

Arrival In Varanasi

AM & PM: We sail further upstream through the day to arrive in Varanasi by late afternoon. Varanasi is a major religious hub in India, and is considered the holiest city in Hinduism and Jainism. It also played an important role in the development of Buddhism. The city is known worldwide for its many Ghats, which are embankments made in steps of stone slabs along the river bank where pilgrims perform ritual ablutions. Varanasi is also an important industrial centre, famous for its muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture. Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 18
Location
Varanasi
Day
18 / 20

Varanasi

AM: After breakfast we visit the excavation site of Sarnath, the seat where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment in Bodhgaya. The Dhamek Stupa here marks the precise location where Buddha preached his first discourse to his first five disciples. The Archaeological Museum at Sarnath contains a large collection of sculptures that stand testimony to the fervent artistic and religious activity for more than a thousand years.

PM: Return to the ship for lunch. Thereafter, visit the Ghats by walk to experience the activities and hustlebustle in the by-lanes. Continue to the riverside and witness the “Ganga Aarti” ritual. It is performed by a group of priests lined up on the riverbank chanting mantras and performing the prayer ritual with lamps, incense, bells and traditional Hindu instruments to honour the river. Thousands of devotees throng the riverbank to participate in the ceremony every evening. Dinner & overnight onboard Bengal Ganga.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 19
Location
Sarnath
Day
19 / 20

Disembarkation

AM: Following breakfast disembark the ship and transfer for your onward journey.

Bengal Ganga - Kolkata to Varanasi - Day 20
Location
Varanasi
Day
20 / 20
1 / 20

Accommodations

Social Areas

Dining
HotCounter
Lounge
Spa
Balcony
Sundeck

Suites & Cabins

Bengal Ganga - Superior (Main Deck)
10 Cabins

Signature Suite

Guests
2
Size
13.4 m² / 145 ft²
Beds
Twin

The Main Deck 'Signature Suite' cabins each have an outdoor seating area facing the river, and is furnished with Burma teak floors & walls, original art and fine local textiles.

Bengal Ganga - Premier
2 Cabins

Premier Suite

Guests
2
Size
20.8 m² / 224 ft²
Beds
Double

Also on the Upper Deck but stretched across the stern, the Premier Suite cabins are much larger, with near floor-to-ceiling windows and furnished with solid Burma teak floors & walls, double beds, fine indigenous textiles and original artworks. With all the modern amenities, these rooms bring you closer to experiencing India like a royal.

Bengal Ganga - Deluxe (Upper Deck)
8 Cabins

Deluxe Suite

Guests
2
Size
13.40 m² / 145 ft²
Beds
Twin

The Upper Deck 'Deluxe Suite' cabins are the same specification as the Main Deck's 'Superior' cabins but just on a higher deck. As such, they also have an outdoor seating area facing the river, and are equally elegantly furnished with Burma teak floors & walls, original art and fine local textiles.

Technical Information

Deck Plan

Features

  • Air conditioning
  • Massage room
  • Lecture room
  • WIFI available
  • Spa
  • Souvenir shop
  • Mosquito netting
  • Hot showers
  • Heating
  • Charging areas for electronic equipment

Equipment

  • Yoga mats
  • Flash lights
  • Water canteen/bottle
  • Binoculars
  • Insect repellent
** Use of certain equipment at additional cost, ask for details
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