The Historic Hugli - Downstream
OVERVIEW
This 7-night cruise takes you along the intimate Ganges sidestream, the River Hugli, which flows from Farakka on the main river down to Kolkata. As well as sightseeing of Kolkata itself and the European colonies just outside, the cruise takes in Murshidabad, the capital of the Nawabs of Bengal, the battlefield of Plassey close by, and the many monuments of the mediaeval Islamic capital of Gaur.
Contact us for a detailed itinerary & cost proposal to include luxury river cruises experiences in your client’s itinerary.
ITINERARY
Day 1
Midday 6 hr train journey from Calcutta to Farakka, and short road transfer to the ship. Customers joining independently at Farakka can board from midday onwards.
Day 2
This morning's cruise is along a straight canal section to Jangipur, where there is time for a brief excursion to native villages where silk is woven and "bidis" (primitive cigarettes) are rolled. Later set sail down Hugli, a charming waterway twisting and turning between banks lined with mustard fields and mango orchards. Moor at the delightful sleepy village of Baranagar with three gorgeous miniature terracotta temples to which you walk through the fields. This is rural India at its most idyllic.
Day 3
Sail down Azimganj with some fine riverside mansions to Murshidabad, where the Nawab's great Hazarduari Palace, built by an English architect in 1837, dominates the waterfront. Inside are an extensive collection of pictures, china, weapons and other objects. Visit the great Katra Mosque and drive out to two amazing buildings of the late 18th century, the Nashipara Palace and the Kathgola Palace. Both were built in classical Georgian style by rich local merchants and represent the other side of the coin of the "White Mughal" period when English and Indian cultures came close to fusion. Later sail downstream a short distance, then travel by cycle rickshaw to the Khushbagh, a peaceful Moghul-style garden enclosing the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah and his family.
Day 4
Continue downstream past the old British cantonment of Berhampur to a rural mooring close to the battlefield of Plassey, where in 1757, Clive's defeat of Siraj-ud-Daulah changed the course of Indian history – you can walk through the fields to the commemorative obelisk. Cruise past Katwa, a market town with narrow bustling bazaars, to the brassworking village of Matiari, where you can see the primitive process of beating out brass water pots and other vessels.
Day 5
This morning we will reach Mayapur, its skyline dominated by the vast new ISKCON temple, which we can visit. Visit the older and humbler temples and the giant banyan tree at Nabadwip on the opposite bank before sailing on to the country town of Kalna. Here we take cycle rickshaws to see a group of some of Bengal's most attractive terracotta temples and the unique Shiva temple with concentric rings made up of 108 shrinelets.
Day 6
Continue on, leaving fields behind, and we'll arrive at the outskirts of Calcutta. Land at Bandel to visit the Portuguese church, the nearby Imambara and the Dutch cemetery at Chinsurah. Then sailing past fine waterfront buildings, you land at Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950, and visit the 18th-century church and Dupleix's House containing a small museum.
Day 7
Continue on, leaving fields behind, and we'll arrive at the outskirts of Calcutta. Land at Bandel to visit the Portuguese church, the nearby Imambara and the Dutch cemetery at Chinsurah. Then sailing past fine waterfront buildings, you land at Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950, and visit the 18th-century church and Dupleix's House containing a small museum.
Day 8
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to central Calcutta or the airport.