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The Hooghly
Experience a stunning river cruise on Hooghly, a tributary of the holy Ganges, where History, culture, and spirituality meet you half way. From the lively access roads of Kolkata to the countryside and historical sites along the river, this tour gives a slice of Bengal’s colonial history, artistic legacy and spiritual core. Here’s what to know about this incredible journey.
Itinerary Details
Transfer from your Kolkata hotel or the airport and board by 1200 for lunch then an orientational tour of the city including a walk round Dalhousie Square, the prominent Writers’ Building the former HQ of the East India Company and a step inside St John’s Church where The Last Supper is on display, Take a walk through the beautiful gardens to find peace at the Victoria Memorial. Gaze at the domed white marble hall, constructed in memory of Queen Victoria, and explore Victorian ephemera and British Raj-era paintings. After lunch at a local restaurant, spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure. On embarkation cocktails and briefing.
Early morning visit to colour-splashed flower market, amongst Asia’s biggest. Wend your way through the mountains of marigold and jasmine and observe as vendors sell flowers for temple offerings and prayers. Walk down to the river to see a traditional Akhara! Step inside and you’ll see men of all ages practicing a traditional form of wrestling called kushti. Back on the ship for breakfast.
Indian Museum in the afternoon; free time in New Market before returning to ship for dinner.
Morning market visit and sail at noon across the Hooghli to the old Danish colony of Serampore, established 1676, where we visit the tavern, church and museum. Then, cruise by Kolkata’s iconic landmarks: the Tower, Government House, the Temple of Fame and Flagstaff House.
Following breakfast, enjoy a relaxing upstream cruise to the quaint country town of Kalna. Ride a rickshaw to see a collection of Bengal’s most remarkable terracotta temples, finishing at the rather odd 18th-century Shiva Temple. This temple is surrounded by symmetrically arranged smaller shrines, arranged in rings of 108 shrines each, making it one of the most spectacular temples in the world.
Sail overnight to moor near Maitari.
Step ashore in Matiari, a picaresque riverside village known for its brass-working traditions. Communities are welcoming and friendlyYou can connect with the local people and see exactly how decorative brass water pots and other containers are made. If time allows, take a trip to the historic battlefield of Plassey. In 1757, a year pivotal for Indian history, here Robert Clive, Commander-in-Chief of the British East India Company, defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal.
Moor near Murshidabad overnight.
Take a walk to Khushbagh – a serene Mughal Garden containing the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal, and his family. Further upstream, see the majestic Hazarduari Palace, an architectural wonder built by an English designer, in 1837. Walk through its lavish interiors, which display an interesting assortment of paintings, china, weapons and other objects. Continue to the mighty Katra Mosque and grand Nashipara Palace, an homage to local merchants’ wealth and power during the “White Mughal” period – a time of cultural mingling between the English and Indian. Finally, we stop at Katgola Palace, a fine example of local Georgian architecture, which was built by prosperous local merchants; this era truly created a unique culture.
Moor on the riverbank opposite town overnight.
Cruising upstream on the Hoogly River, a beautiful waterway cutting through lush mustard fields and colorful mango orchards. Get off at the quaint village of Baranagar and take a slow walk in the peaceful village paths. Explore three exquisite 17th- and 18th-century miniature terracotta temples, which are a testament to the region’s rich artistic heritage. Sail downstream to Azimganj to see the intricately carved Jain temple. This itinerary is a small window to the bucolic rural life of Bengal and its rich cultural and architectural heritage.
Experience the spiritual home of the Hare Krishna movement, Mayapur — the worldwide headquarters. A modern architectural wonder in its own right is the ISKCON temple complex built and largely funded by Alfred B. Ford, Henry Ford’s (think Model-T automotive production line) great-grandson and second in size only to Vatican City. Rub elbows with devotees and stroll the colorful pilgrims’ bazaar.
Sail downstream before landing to visit Hooghly’s striking Imambara. Emblazoned around its walls with verses from the Quran, the Imambara is an opportunity to step back in time and experience a piece of Islamic history in Bengal. Sail on past the old Dutch settlement of Chinsura to Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950. Palaniappa’s 18th-century church and Dupleix’s House, once Governor-General of French India. Take a TukTuk journey to the Hangseshwari Temple then set sail into the night bound for a mooring on the outskirts of Kolkata.
Early morning to moor in Kolkata Port and after the transfer to hotels or airport. Night-flying passengers stay in their cabins and there are leisure hours throughout the day with lunch served on board and light supper before departure.