A Cruise Through History Along the Hooghly: Travellers, Traders and Truth Seekers in India

The Hooghly River is the main artery running through the history of Bengal. The long history of this province leaves a legacy of magnificent temples, buildings and parks, often of astonishing size.

Kolkata was founded on the banks of the river in 1690 as a British trading outpost of the Mughal Empire. Not only was Kolkata the centre of the Raj until 1911, when the capital moved to Delhi, but it has long been a hub of Bengali literature, music and philosophy. Bengal was the richest province in India for a time, its lush soil producing indigo, opium and rice crops, among others, and its exquisite textiles were known as ‘woven wind’.

This progressive, wealthy and cultured land drew people from all over the world - the Portuguese, Dutch, Danish and French all settled on the banks of the Hooghly and Islam, Hinduism, Jainism and Christianity all flourished here. Katie Hickman’s talks throughout the tour will address the theme of ‘Travellers, Traders and Truth Seekers in India.’

Price (sharing a room)

per person

Price (room to yourself)

per person

Reference:

IND0127-1

At a glance

What you need to know

Type of tour

Cultural cruise

Nights

Countries

Tour grade

Gentle

Remaining places

Dates and places

Itinerary at a glance

Kolkata

Monday

January

Arrive and transfer to the Taj Bengal Hotel. At leisure, with an optional stroll along the Colonnade to the Park Street Oxford Bookstore. In the afternoon, board a boat at Prinsep’s Steps for a river trip through the city. Dinner at the hotel.

Kolkata

Tuesday

January

Optional early morning sightseeing walk through old Kolkata, including the Writer’s Building. Return to the hotel for breakfast and then visit the Victoria Memorial, the Maidan and St John’s Church. Visit the Anglican Cathedral, Park Street Cemetery and the office of Warren Hastings. Welcome dinner.

Kolkata

Wednesday

January

Optional early morning visit to the flower market. After breakfast visit Kutamali, the pottery village. See Bazar Rajabarim Tagore House and museum, the Marble Palace, and the double courtyarded palace on both sides of the road of Raja Nabakrishna Deb (1733-97) in Shobabazar. Visit The India Museum. At leisure before dinner at Zaranj local restaurant.

Kolkata / Cruising

Thursday

January

Make a late morning transfer to the river and board the ABN Rajmahal to commence your cruise on the Hooghly. Sail past the old Danish colony of Serampore to Barrackpore and disembark. Take a walk through the cantonment past the Semaphore Tower, Government House, the Temple of Fame and Flagstaff House and its garden .

Cruising

Friday

January

Sail onto Chandernagore, which was a French possession until 1950, and visit the eighteenth century church and Dupleix’s house and museum. Sail on past the old Dutch settlement of Chinsura. Disembark to visit the imposing Imambara at Hooghly. Reboard your ship and cruise upstream, leaving Kolkata’s urban sprawl behind.

Cruising

Saturday

January

Disembark at Kalna and take cycle rickshaws to see some of Bengal’s most attractive terracotta temples, as well as the unique Shiva temple with concentric rings made up of 108 shrinelets. Continue on through the countryside to Mayapur, its skyline dominated by the vast new ISKCON temple, before sailing on through the night.

Cruising

Sunday

January

Disembark at the brassworking village of Matiari, where you can watch the traditional process of beating out brass water pots and other vessels. Cruise to the battlefield of Plassey where in 1757 Clive’s defeat of Siraj-ud-Daulah changed the course of Indian history. Moor for the night close to Murshidabad.

Cruising

Monday

February

Disembark and walk to the Khushbagh, a peaceful Moghul-style garden enclosing the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah and his family. Continue to where the great Hazarduari Palace dominates the waterfront. Inside is an extensive collection of pictures, china, and weapons. Visit the great Katra Mosque and drive out to two classic Georgian merchant buildings, the Nashipara Palace and the Katgola Palace.

Cruising

Tuesday

February

Moor at the sleepy village of Baranagar, rural India at its most idyllic. Walk through fields to visit three beautiful miniature terracotta temples. Return to the ship and continue up a charming waterway twisting and turning between banks lined with mustard fields and mango orchards. Carry on to a mooring close to the Farakka Barrage and overnight.

Cruising

Wednesday

February

Disembark and take a full day excursion by road to Gaur, near the town of Malda. 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. Visit the remains of mosques, palaces and gateways before rejoining the ship in the evening.

Cruising/ Kolkata

Thursday

February

Transfer to Farraka Station for a scenic four hour train journey back to Kolkata. Spend the rest of the day at leisure before a farewell dinner in the evening. Transfer to the airport the next day or extend your stay in Kolkata.

Kolkata

Friday

February

Transfer to the airport or extend at the Taj Kutir.