Kalaw Pandaw

Deals

AM: 11:00 am embarkation at Kolkata Botanical Garden to cruise through the splendours of riverside Kolkata and down the Hooglie River to enter the Sunderbans and explore the mangrove forested backwaters.

PM: During the cruise, lunch will be served and afternoon activities include yoga classes, local speciality cooking demonstrations, a lecture by our on-board naturalist and after dinner a cultural dance programme.

AM: Moor off the Bhagabatpur Island to visit the crocodile project there. These are the largest estuarine crocodiles in the world.

PM: After lunch travel by country boat to the Jharkhali Watchtower and on to Jharkhali Tiger Rehabilitation Centre. It will be possible to trek into the Sunderban Tiger Reserve from here accompanied by a park ranger.

AM: Early rise to travel by country boat to the Sudhanyakhali Watch Tower which is also located in the Sudhanyakhali camp of the Sundarban Tiger Reserve. Return to ship for breakfast and later visit the Dobanki deer rehabilitation center traveling by country boat through swamps.

PM: Visit a local village for a walk ashore to see the unique way of life in the Sunderban and go ashore on ‘Barren Island’ with its white sandy beaches for an evening barbeque and cocktails. Return to Kolkata sailing through the night.

AM: After breakfast disembark by 09:00 am at the Botanical Garden Jetty, Kolkata.

AM: Transfer from your hotel or airport in Kolkata to embark and sail at noon.

PM: Sail past the old Danish colony of Serampore to Barrackpore to land and take a walk through the cantonment - past the Semaphore Tower, Government House, the Temple of Fame, and Flagstaff House.

AM: After breakfast sail upstream and land at the country town of Kalna and take rickshaws to see a group of some of Bengal’s most attractive terracotta temples, as well as the unique Shiva temple with concentric rings made up of 108 lesser shrines.

PM: Sail on through the night to a mooring near Matiari.

AM: 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.

PM: Continue cruising upstream and time permitting 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 Murshidabad for the night.

AM: Early 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. After breakfast, check out of your cabin and join the morning excursion on the way to your train journey in the afternoon. Visit the great Hazarduari Palace, built by an English architect in 1837. The palace hosts an extensive collection of pictures, china, weapons, and other objects.

PM: Continue to visit the great Katra Mosque and Nashipara Palace 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. After the excursion, you will be taken to the train station for your express train to Kolkata. A lunch box will be provided by the ship.

PM: Travel by express train (first class) from Kolkata Howrah to Murshidabad (approx. 4 hours) to board your ship in time for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the great Katra Mosque and Nashipara Palace 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.

AM: Continue up the Hoogly which transforms into a charming waterway twisting and turning between banks lined with mustard fields and mango orchards. Morning walks 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.

PM: Visit the Jain temples at Azimganj and continue downstream.

AM & PM: Explore the village of Mayapur, the headquarters of the ISKCON movement with a new temple comparable in size to the Vatican and largely funded by Alfred B. Ford, the great-grandson of car maker Henry Ford. Meet Krishna followers and walk through the pilgrims’ bazaar.

AM: Continue sailing downstream 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.

PM: Sail past the old Dutch settlement of Chinsura to Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950. Visit the 18th-century church and Dupleix’s House, erstwhile Governor-General of French India. Disembark in the evening and transfer to the hotel.

AM: After breakfast, disembark and receive a group transfer to the disembarkation point hotel for your onward journey.

Transfer from your hotel or airport in Kolkata to embark and sail at noon. Sail past the old Danish colony of Serampore to Barrackpore to land and take a walk through the cantonment - past the Semaphore Tower, Government House, the Temple of Fame, and Flagstaff House.

After breakfast sail upstream and land at the country town of Kalna and take rickshaws to see a group of some of Bengal’s most attractive terracotta temples, as well as the unique Shiva temple with concentric rings made up of 108 lesser shrines. Sail on through the night to a mooring near Matiari.

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. Continue cruising upstream and time permitting 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 Murshidabad for the night.

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 and Nashipara Palace 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.

Continue up the Hooghly which transforms into a charming waterway twisting and turning between banks lined with mustard fields and mango orchards. Morning walks 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. Visit the Jain temples at Azimganj and continue downstream.

Explore the village of Mayapur, the headquarters of the ISKCON movement with a new temple comparable in size to the Vatican and largely funded by Alfred B. Ford, the great-grandson of car maker Henry Ford. Meet Krishna followers and walk through the pilgrims’ bazaar.

Continue sailing downstream 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 past the old Dutch settlement of Chinsura to Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950. Visit the 18th-century church and Dupleix’s House, erstwhile Governor-General of French India. Sail into the night to a mooring near Kolkata.

After breakfast, disembark and receive a group transfer to the disembarkation point hotel for your onward journey.