TITC LONDON

Day 01 - Flight

Fly to Kolkata
Day 2 & 3 - Kolkata

Arrive into Kolkata, stay at the Grand Hotel or Lalit Great Eastern for two nights – you could also stay on the outskirts at the colonial Rajbari Bawali; visit the sights including Daniels' collection of Indian paintings at the Victoria Memorial, Kumartully or the Potter's Lane where durga idols are made, visit Tagore's home at Jorasanko; take a boat on the Hooghly from Belur Math to Dakhineshwar.
Day 4 - Farakka – Cruise Ship

Transfer to the Howrah Station, crossing the iconic bridge; travel to Farakka on the afternoon Shatabdi Express, transfer to the ABN Rajmahal where a sumptuous meal awaits you.
Day 5 - Cruise

This morning's cruise is along a canal section to Jangipur, where the afternoon is free to explore this small country town on foot. Alternatively, enjoy a full day excursion by road 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 historical sites before rejoining the ship in the evening near Jangipur.
Day 6 - Cruise

Set sail down the Hooghly proper, with banks lined with mustard fields and mango orchards. Moor at Baranagar with three gorgeous miniature terracotta temples to which you walk through the fields. Continue 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 the 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.
Day 7 - Cruise

Sail downstream a short distance then walk to the Khushbagh, a peaceful Moghul-style garden enclosing the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah and his family. Continue downstream past the old British cantonment of Berhampur 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 on to a mooring near Katwa, a market town with narrow bustling bazaars.
Day 8 - Cruise

Visit the brassworking village of Matiari; carry on to Mayapur, its skyline dominated by the vast new ISKCON temple.
Day 9 - Cruise

Continue on down to the country town of Kalna. Here we 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. Sail on, leaving fields behind and arrive at the outskirts of Calcutta; land near Bandel to visit the imposing Imambara.
Day 10 - Cruise

Sailing on downstream past fine waterfront buildings and the old Dutch settlement at Chinsura 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. Sail on up to Bali Bridge.
Day 11 - Kolkata

Early morning cruise under the Howrah Bridge to central Calcutta to disembark. Transfer to your hotel for the night.
Day 12 - Flight

Take the flight home.

Recommended extensions
Darjeeling-Sikkim for the mountains; Kaziranga National Park for rhinos; Odisha for the temples; Andamans for the beaches.

Best Months: Oct to Mar
Note: The cruise may have different routings covering Kolkata, Farakka, Patna and Varanasi;
we have featured one route here.

Indicated Price: From £3895
(On twin-share excluding international flights)