SUGGESTED ITINERARIES:

I. HOOGHLY RIVER CRUISE

HOOGHLY DOWNSTREAM ITINERARY : 26 July, 9 August , 23 August, 6 September, 20 September 2008

Day 01:

Midday transferred from central Calcutta to Howrah station. Take an afternoon 6 hr train journey from Calcutta up to Farakka, arriving after dark, and make the short drive to Farakka Lock where you will board "Sukapha".

Day 02:

A full day excursion by road takes you across the Ganges barrage and past the town of Malda, or English Bazar, to Gaur. 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. Return to the boat by way of Pandua whose Adina Mosque rated comparison with the Great Mosque of Damascus. You rejoin "Sukapha" at Jangipur.

Day 03:

Cruise down the Hooghly, a charming waterway twisting and turning between banks lined with mustard 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 the Palace of Jagat Sett. 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 the riverbank across from town.

Day 04:

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 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 an overnight mooring near Katwa, a market town with narrow bustling bazaars.

Day 05:

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 06:

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 07:

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 08:

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.

HOOGHLY UPSTREAM ITINERARY : 19 July , 16 July, 30 July, 13 September 2008

Day 01:

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 "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 02:

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 "Sukapha" and cruise upstream, leaving urban sprawl and cruising through the night to a mooring near Kalna.

Day 03:

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 04:

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 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 until after dark, to moor at Murshidabad.

Day 05:

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 the Palace of Jagat Sett. 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 the riverbank across from town.

Day 06:

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 Hooghly, here a charming waterway twisting and turning between banks lined with mustard fields and mango orchards. Carry on after dark up a long straight canal section, to moor at Farakka lock.

Day 07:

A full day excursion by road takes you across the Ganges barrage and past the town of Malda, or English Bazar, to Gaur. 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. Return to the boat by way of Pandua whose Adina Mosque rated comparison with the Great Mosque of Damascus.

Day 08:

Dawn transfer to Farakka station for morning 6 hr train journey to Calcutta. Midday arrival at Howrah and transferred to central Calcutta.

END OF TOUR

# TRIBES OF ORISSA

# TEMPLES AND BEACHES

# TEMPLES AND TEXTILES

# ORCHIDS & LAMAS