The All Ganges River - India River Cruise
In 2019 we inaugurated an 'all Ganges' voyage of one thousand miles from Kolkata to Varanasi. Due to the challenges of navigation and the obstruction of numerous pontoon bridges it has been decided to sail as far as Patna and then overland to Varanasi.
The sailing does though cover the best of the Ganges from the colonial splendours of Kolkotta, through the enchanting rural arcadia of West Bengal along the Hoogly and the great expanse of the Ganga itself with its pristine bird and wildlife and cultural treasures dotted along the banks. Though in the days of the British Raj paddle steamers plied this route on a regular basis, with the advent of the railways in India river navigation was abandoned and the rivers were allowed to silt up. Now thanks to a multi-million dollar investment from the Indian Government channels have been dredged and buoyed and hi tech GPS based aids installed enabling seasonal navigation.
Varanasi, said to be the oldest inhabited city on the planet is the most sacred city of Hinduism and a place of overwhelming beauty at the same time poignantly moving with its cremation ghats. Varanasi is surely the goal of any 'passage to India' and at the other end of the holy river stands Kolkata, in all its Raj-like magnificence. Between lies several of the most important Buddhist sites in the country, fascinating cities great and small as well as expanses of empty river teeming with bird life, not to mention the Gangeatic dolphin.
No vessel could be more appropriate for a voyage on 'All the Ganges' than our ultra shallow draft Pandaw K class ships.
Important Notice: The cruise schedule includes the latest information regarding your program, but last minute adjustments may occur. The schedule may shift due to the weather or to take advantage of unexpected opportunities. The exact time for each activity will be announced or posted by the onboard tour staff.
Please Note: This itinerary passes through the state of Bihar. In this state it is illegal to serve any drinks containing alcohol. For this reason we will not be able to serve alcohol onboard the ship while in the state of Bihar. This will affect the Upstream itinerary from day 8 until arrival in Varanasi and for the Downstream itinerary upon arrival to Patna until day 8.
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.
Continue sailing upstream to Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950. Visit the 18th century church and Dupleix’s House, erstwhile Governor-General of French India.
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.
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.
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 Hoogly which transforms into a charming waterway twisting and turning between banks lined with mustard fields and mango orchards. 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. Visit the Jain temples at Azimganj before continuing on to the Farakka Barrage.
Today pass through the Farraka Barrage onto the Ganges proper. In the afternoon we explore the quaint town of Rajmahal.
We sail up the mighty Ganges river toward the confluence with the Koshi river. Stop along the way for a short village walk and enjoy our onboard entertainment.
We sail early morning toward Bhaglapur, a hub of silk production. We witness the silk weaving and explore this small town before returning to the ship for lunch. In the afternoon we visit Sultanganj with its pair of great granite rocks, one crowned with a mosque and the other a small temple dating from the 16th century.
Munger is now a large and industrialised city but has an interesting history. In 1762, Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal, shifted his capital from Murshidabad to Munger, and established a firearms manufacturing centre here. Explore the Mughal fort, East India Company cemetery and step inside the Bihar School of Yoga founded in 1964 by Satyananda Saraswati. One of the leading yoga schools in the country. The institution has developed yogic techniques through a synthesis of traditional yogic, vedantic and tantric practices and contemporary health science.
Stop at Mokama, once home to Jim Corbett the naturalist and protector of the Indian tigers. Surrounded by farmlands, Mokama has the second hightest production of lentils in the country. Learn about the freedom fighters from Mokama such as Lalldin Saheb, whose during the freedom struggle was sentenced to jail during the British rule.
Explore Barh, a town famous for Hindu ritual cremation at Urmanath and the Alakhnath Temple.
Enjoy a city tour of Patna, capital of Bihar state including a visit to The Golghar, a large stupa styled granary built in 1786. Farewell dinner with your crew.
Disembark your Pandaw vessel ready and transfer to Patna station for your 1st class train to Varanasi. Upon arrival to Varanasi, transfer to your hotel or the airport.
Itineraries are subject to change.
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Additional charges:
Port Taxes and Fees: $125 USD
Vessel Type: River Boat
Length: 57 metres
Passenger Capacity: 36
Built / refurbished: 2014
Kalaw Pandaw is a K-class ship. The K-class dated back to the 1880s and were comprised of stern wheelers designed to reduce draft, their boilers placed in the bow to improve trim. Smaller than the great line steamers of the age, the K-class ships were used on the Chindwin and upper reaches of the Irrawaddy. Where possible we have reused the old IFC names and many of these original K-class ships had fascinating histories, through times of war and peace.
ACCOMMODATION
8 upper deck, 10 main deck - 170 square feet, finished in teak and brass - AC with individual control - Premium mattresses
WINING & DINING
Bistro style dining room with outside seating and air-conditioning inside - Local master chef heading an experienced international culinary team - Semi-buffet breakfast, semi-buffet lunch, and seated theme dinners - Daily lean & light menu options - Complimentary coffee, water, tea, local soft drinks, local beer, local spirits - Extensive wine list with premium wines - Series of cultural performances, educational talks, cooking classes, and ship tour - Welcome drink on arrival - Welcome cocktail - Farewell reception - Theme dinners - 24hrs hospitality bar - Onboard bakery with daily freshly baked breads and rolls
ON EXCURSIONS
Admissions - Shoe cleaning after excursions - Bottled drinking water - We give away aluminium water bottles - Cold towel service after excursions - Refreshing drink following excursions - 1st aid trained assistant guide to follow all tours and excursions
SAFETY & SECURITY
All onboard crew is trained and certified as per international marine standards - Fire alarm system in all cabins, public areas and back areas - Fire fighting system in all ship areas - Expert marine superintendant - 24 hrs watch on duty
ONBOARD STAFF
Captain - River Pilot - First Officer - Chief Engineer - 1st Engineer - Electrician - Bosun & nautical crew - Ship manager - Housekeeping - Dining - Bar keeper - Chefs - Local tour guides
PUBLIC SPACES
Guest relation desk - Library with contemporary and classic literature
Vessel Type: River Boat
Length: 40 metres
Passenger Capacity: 32 passengers (28 passengers from Sept 2019)
Built / refurbished: 2011
ACCOMMODATION
6 upper deck, 10 main deck (4 upper deck, 10 main deck from Sept 2019) - 170 square feet, finished in teak and brass - AC with individual control - Premium mattresses
WINING & DINING
Local master chef heading an experienced international culinary team - Semi-buffet breakfast, semi-buffet lunch, and seated theme dinners - Daily lean & light menu options - Complimentary coffee, water, tea, soft drinks, local beer, local spirits, juices - Extensive wine list with premium wines - Series of cultural performances, educational talks, cooking classes, and ship tour - Welcome drink on arrival - Welcome cocktail - Farewell reception - Theme dinners - Open air lounge and bar - 24hrs hospitality bar - Onboard bakery with daily freshly baked breads and rolls
ON EXCURSIONS
Admissions - Shoe cleaning after excursions - Bottled drinking water - We give away aluminium water bottles - Cold towel service after excursions - Refreshing drink following excursions - 1st aid trained assistant guide to follow all tours and excursions
SAFETY & SECURITY
All onboard crew is trained and certified as per international marine standards - Fire alarm system in all cabins, public areas and back areas - Fire fighting system in all ship areas - Expert marine superintendant - 24 hrs watch on duty
ONBOARD STAFF
Captain - River Pilot - First Officer - Chief Engineer - 1st Engineer - Electrician - Bosun & nautical crew - Ship manager - Housekeeping - Dining - Bar keeper - Chefs - Local tour guides
PUBLIC SPACES
Guest relation desk - Shop, supporting fair trade - Library with contemporary and classic literature.
Inclusions
• Voyage on board in selected cabin category
• Welcome cocktail party
• Signature hors d’oeuvres at cocktails each evening
• Afternoon tea with cakes or cookies when cruising
• Celebration cake and gift on birthdays and anniversaries
• Cookery demonstrations and classes using local produce
• All scheduled excursions
• At least two cultural performances per cruise
• Tour of the engine rooms, galley and working parts of the ship
• Film presentations on local culture and history
• Local mineral water
• Cold towels on deck all day
• Jugged coffee, tea and tisanes on deck from sunrise till sunset
• Crew gratuities are included in your cruise program price
Exclusions
• International and domestic flights
• Travel insurance
• Passport and visa costs
• Port taxes where applicable
• Gratuities for land guides/drivers
• Spa service including foot, head and body massages (Mekong only)
• Personal laundry service
• Local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas & tisanes are all complimentary. All other drinks will be charged.
Small Ship Cruise
Highlights
• Barrackpore: Begin your journey in Kolkata, sailing to Barrackpore. Explore the cantonment, including landmarks like the Semaphore Tower, Government House, the Temple of Fame, and Flagstaff House.• Chandenagore: Sail upstream to Chandernagore, a former French possession. Visit the 18th-century church and Dupleix’s House, the residence of the erstwhile Governor-General of French India.
• Mayapur: Explore the village of Mayapur, headquarters of the ISKCON movement, with a temple comparable in size to the Vatican. Interact with Krishna followers and stroll through the pilgrims' bazaar.
• Murshidabad: Visit the Khushbagh, a Mughal-style garden enclosing the tombs of the last independent Nawab of Bengal and his family. Explore the Hazarduari Palace, Katra Mosque, Nashipara Palace, and Katgola Palace, representing the 'White Mughal' period.
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