HUGLI DOWNSTREAM ITINERARY

Day 1
Midday transferred from central Calcutta to Howrah station. Take an afternoon 5 hr train journey from Calcutta up to Jangipur, arriving after dark, and make the short drive to the riverside where you will board either "Charaidew" or "Sukapha".

Day 2
A full day excursion by road takes you across the Ganges barrage to Gaur, near the town of Malda, or English Bazaar. 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. There are plentiful remains of mosques, palaces and gateways and you visit a number of the most interesting.

Day 3
Cruise down the Hugli, a charming waterway twisting and turning between banks lined with jute 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. Later sail on down past 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 also the great Katra Mosque and drive out to two amazing buildings of the late 18th century, the Nashipara Palace and Katgola Palace. Both were built in classical Georgian style by rich local merchants and represent the other side of the coin of the "White Moghul" period when English and Indian cultures came close to fusion. Overnight on a riverbank mooring close to Hazarduari Palace.

Day 4
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. Continue downstream past Berhampur to a rural mooring close to the battlefield of Plassey where you will visit the commemorative obelisk. It was here in 1757 that Clive's defeat of Siraj-ud-Daulah changed the course of Indian history. Cruise on to an overnight mooring near Katwa, a market town with narrow bustling bazaars.

Day 5
This morning visit the brassworking village of Matiari where you can see the whole primitive process of beating out brass water pots and other vessels. Later reach Mayapur, its skyline dominated by the vast new ISKCON temple which we are able to visit. Perhaps visit also the older and humbler temples as well as the giant banyan tree at Nabadwip on the opposite bank before sailing on to an overnight mooring.

Day 6
Cruise down to the country town of Kalna and take cycle 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 shrinelets. Continue on down to an overnight anchorage in the outskirts of Calcutta.

Day 7
You land at Bandel to visit the Portuguese church as well as the nearby Imambara and the Dutch cemetery at Chinsura. 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. Continue down to Barrackpore, land and take a walk through the cantonment past the Semaphore Tower, Government House, the Temple of Fame, and Flagstaff House, its garden housing many of the British statues removed from central Calcutta. Cross to the other bank to visit the old Danish colony of Serampore. Sail on to dock just below Howrah Bridge at dusk.

Day 8
Disembark and take a morning sightseeing tour of Calcutta visiting the white marble Victoria Memorial with its fine picture collection, St John's Church, the atmospheric South Park St Cemetery and down Chowringhee past Ochterlony's Column, Government House, Writers' Buildings and other Calcutta landmarks. Transfer to central Calcutta or airport.

HUGLI UPSTREAM ITINERARY

Day 1
You are collected from your hotel after breakfast. A morning sightseeing tour of Calcutta takes you to the white marble Victoria Memorial with its fine picture collection, St John's Church, the atmospheric South Park St Cemetery and down Chowringhee past Ochterlony's Column, Government House, Writers' Buildings and other Calcutta landmarks. Embark midday on either "Charaidew" or "Sukapha" and sail up to visit the old Danish colony of Serampore. Cross to Barrackpore, land and take a walk through the cantonment past the Semaphore Tower, Government House, the Temple of Fame, and Flagstaff House, its garden housing many of the British statues removed from central Calcutta.

Day 2
Sail up to Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950, and visit the 18th century church and Dupleix's House containing a small museum. Drive on to visit the Dutch cemetery at Chinsura and the Portuguese church at Bandel where you reboard your ship and cruise upstream, leaving urban sprawl and cruising through the night to a mooring near Kalna.

Day 3
Land at the country town of Kalna and take cycle 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 shrinelets. Continue on through the countryside to Mayapur, its skyline dominated by the vast new ISKCON temple which we are able to visit. Perhaps visit also the older and humbler temples as well as the giant banyan tree at Nabadwip on the opposite bank before sailing on through the night to a mooring near Matiari.

Day 4
This morning visit the brassworking village of Matiari where you can see the whole primitive process of beating out brass water pots and other vessels. Later cruise on to a rural mooring close to the battlefield of Plassey where you will visit the commemorative obelisk. It was here in 1757 that Clive's defeat of Siraj-ud-Daulah changed the course of Indian history. Cruise on until after dark, to moor at Murshidabad.

Day 5
Land and travel by cycle rickshaw to the Khushbagh, a peaceful Moghul-style garden enclosing the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah and his family. Continue a little way upstream to 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 also the great Katra Mosque and drive out to two amazing buildings of the late 18th century, the Nashipara Palace and Katgola Palace. Both were built in classical Georgian style by rich local merchants and represent the other side of the coin of the "White Moghul" period when English and Indian cultures came close to fusion. Overnight on a riverbank mooring close to Hazarduari Palace.

Day 6
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. Continue up the Hugli, here a charming waterway twisting and turning between banks lined with jute fields and mango orchards. Carry on to moor at Jangipur.

Day 7
A full day excursion by road takes you across the Ganges barrage to Gaur, near the town of Malda, or English Bazaar. 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. There are plentiful remains of mosques, palaces and gateways and you visit a number of the most interesting.

Day 8
Early morning transfer to Jangipur station for a 5 hr train journey to Calcutta. Midday arrival at Howrah and transferred to central Calcutta.

2008 Departures, Saturdays.

Upstream: 19 July, 2 August, 16 August, 30 August, 13 September
Downstream: 26 July, 9 August, 23 August, 6 September, 20 September

PRICE per person sharing twin-bedded cabin: US$1295 + 3.09% tax.

Single occupancy supplement: US$675 + 3.09% tax

Price covers the cruise on full board with all excursions, rail tickets Kolkata-Farakka or vv, and transfers in Kolkata.

Not included are drinks at the bar, laundry, tips, or camera fees at monuments.