The All Ganges River Cruise
Overview
Embark on an unforgettable voyage along the sacred Ganges, tracing a thousand-mile journey from the colonial grandeur of Kolkata to the spiritual heart of India, Varanasi. Though modern navigation challenges and pontoon bridges limit the sailing to Patna, this stretch captures the river at its most enchanting. From the stately remnants of the British Raj in Kolkata, the journey winds through the idyllic rural tapestry of West Bengal along the Hooghly, then opens into the vast, life-filled waters of the Ganga. Once plied by paddle steamers in the days of empire, the river fell silent with the rise of the railways—until now.
The voyage is more than a passage—it’s a return to a bygone era. Between Kolkata and Varanasi lie ancient Buddhist sites, vibrant cities, and stretches of untouched river alive with birdlife and the elusive Ganges dolphin. Varanasi, believed to be the oldest living city on Earth, stirs the soul with its sacred ghats and timeless rituals. At the other end, Kolkata stands proud in its Raj-era elegance. No vessel is more fitting for this nostalgic journey than Pandaw’s ultra-shallow draft K-class ships, designed to echo the spirit of river travel’s golden age.
Itinerary
Day 1
Day 1 to 3 – Kolkata. Fly overnight from UK to Kolkata where you'll be met at the airport and transferred to the 5-star Oberoi Grand for an overnight stay. On day 3 transfer to your ship in Kolkata to embark and sail at noon. Sail past the old Danish colony of Serampore to Barrackpore to land and take a walk through the cantonment - past the Semaphore Tower, Government House, the Temple of Fame and Flagstaff House.
Day 2
Day 4 – Chandenagore. Continue sailing upstream to Chandernagore, a French possession until 1950. Visit the 18th century church and Dupleix’s House, erstwhile Governor-General of French India.
Day 3
Day 5 – Kalna. After breakfast sail upstream and land at the country town of Kalna and take 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 lesser shrines. Sail on through the night to a mooring near Matiari.
Day 4
Day 6 – Mayapur. Explore the village of Mayapur, the headquarters of the ISKCON movement with a new temple comparable in size to the Vatican and largely funded by Alfred B. Ford, the great grandson of car maker Henry Ford. Meet Krishna followers and walk through the pilgrims’ bazaar.
Day 5
Day 7 – Matiari. Visit the brass-working village of Matiari, a charming riverside village. Interact with the locals of Matiari and witness the whole primitive process of beating out brass water pots and other vessels. Continue cruising upstream and time permitting visit the battlefield of Plassey where, in 1757, Robert Clive, the Commander-in-Chief of British India, defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal, to change the course of Indian history. Moor close to Murshidabad for the night
Day 6
Day 8 – Murshidabad. his morning, walk to the Khushbagh, a peaceful Mughal-style garden that encloses the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah. Continue a little way upstream to where the great Hazarduari Palace dominates the waterfront. Built by an English architect in 1837, the palace hosts an extensive collection of pictures, china, weapons and other objects. Visit the great Katra Mosque and Nashipara Palace before driving out to see the Katgola Palace. Moor overnight on the riverbank across from town.
Day 7
Day 9 – Ajimganj to Farakka. Continue up the Hoogly which transforms into a charming waterway twisting and turning between banks lined with mustard fields and mango orchards. Morning walk through the fields of the delightfully sleepy village of Baranagar to visit its three gorgeous miniature terracotta temples. This is rural India at its most idyllic. Visit the Jain temples at Azimganj before continuing on to the Farakka Barrage
Day 8
Day 10 – Farakka to Tajmahal. Today pass through the Farraka Barrage onto the Ganges proper. In the afternoon we explore the quaint town of Rajmahal.
Day 9
Day 11 – Sailing. We sail up the mighty Ganges river toward the confluence with the Koshi river. Stop along the way for a short village walk and enjoy our onboard entertainment.
Day 10
Day 12 – Bhaglapur to Sutanganj. We sail early morning toward Bhaglapur, a hub of silk production. We witness the silk weaving and explore this small town before returning to the ship for lunch. In the afternoon we visit Sultanganj with its pair of great granite rocks, one crowned with a mosque and the other a small temple dating from the 16th century.
Day 11
Day 13 – Munger. Munger is now a large and industrialised city but has an interesting history. In 1762, Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal, shifted his capital from Murshidabad to Munger, and established a firearms manufacturing centre here. Explore the Mughal fort, East India Company cemetery and step inside the Bihar School of Yoga founded in 1964 by Satyananda Saraswati. One of the leading yoga schools in the country. The institution has developed yogic techniques through a synthesis of traditional yogic, vedantic and tantric practices and contemporary health science
Day 12
Day 14 – Mokama. Stop at Mokama, once home to Jim Corbett the naturalist and protector of the Indian tigers. Surrounded by farmlands, Mokama has the second hightest production of lentils in the country. Learn about the freedom fighters from Mokama such as Lalldin Saheb, whose during the freedom struggle was sentenced to jail during the British rule.
Day 13
Day 15 – Barh. Explore Barh, a town famous for Hindu ritual cremation at Urmanath and the Alakhnath Temple.
Day 14
Day 16 – Patna. Enjoy a city tour of Patna, capital of Bihar state including a visit to The Golghar, a large stupa styled granary built in 1786. Farewell dinner with your crew.
Day 15
Day 17 - Patna to Varanasi. Disembark your Pandaw vessel ready and transfer to Patna station for your 1st class train to Varanasi. Upon arrival to Varanasi, transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay.
Day 16
Day 18 – Fly Home. Check out of your hotel today, transfer to the airport and fly home