DAY 1 VARANASI TO PATNA
Depart Varanasi in the morning and head to the train station for your journey to Patna where we meet your Pandaw vessel. Relax onboard and meet your crew and fellow passengers for the next 14 nights.
More about Varanasi
DAY 2 BARH
Morning city tour of Patna including a visit to The Golghar, a large stupa styled granary built in 1786. Sail downstream during lunch before arriving to Barh, a town famous for Hindu ritual cremation at Urmanath and the Alakhnath Temple.
DAY 3 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 4 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 5 SULTANGANJ
Continue to Jahanigra Island, a place of pilgrimage with many rock carvings in high relief dating from the eighth century depicting aspects of Siva and Vishnu. In the evening moor off Sultanganj, with its pair of great granite rocks, one crowned with a mosque and the other a small temple dating from the 16th century. In the afternoon land at Bhaglapur, a centre of silk production, and visit the 18th century mansion of the Collector, Augustus Cleveland.
DAY 6 BATESHWARSTAN
Passing the confluence of the Kosi river that flows down from Nepal, moor at the pretty town of Bateshwarsthan to uncover the 8th century Buddhist site of Vikramshila, one of the two most important centres of learning in India during the Pala Empire, along with Nalanda.
DAY 7 FARAKKA
Continue sailing along the Ganges before stopping at Rajmahal, a quaint town on the banks of the Ganges for an afternoon walk.
DAY 8 FARAKKA BARRAGE
Depart Rajmahal and sail down to cross the Farakka barrage, entering the Hooghly River. In the afternoon take a gentle walk through a local village.
DAY 9 MURSHIDABAD
After breakfast, take a 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 our voyage downstream. In the afternoon we enjoy a city tour of Murshidabad, visiting the great Katra Mosque and Nashipara Palace before driving out to see the Katgola Palace. Built in classical Georgian style by rich local merchants, Katgola Palace represents the other side of the coin of the 'White Mughal' period when English and Indian cultures came close to fusion.
More about Murshidabad
DAY 10 KUSHBAGH
This morning, walk to the Khushbagh, a peaceful Mughal-style garden that encloses the tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah – the last independent Nawab of Bengal – and his family. 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. Continue sailing downstream in the afternoon with onboard activities and wildlife watching on the sun deck.
DAY 11 MATIARI
In the morning we 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. After lunch we continue downstream to 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.
DAY 12 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.
More about Mayapur
DAY 13 KALNA
After breakfast visit the country town of Kalna. 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.
More about Kalna
DAY 14 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. In the afternoon we sail toward Barrackpore and take a walk through the cantonment - past the Semaphore Tower, Government House, the Temple of Fame and Flagstaff House. Enjoy a farewell dinner with your crew as we moor in Kolkata for the night.
DAY 15 DISEMBARK KOLKATA
Disembark your Pandaw vessel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Kochi. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure with overnight in a hotel in Kochi.
More about Kolkata
DAY 16 ARRIVE KOCHI
We cordially invite our guests to board the RV Kochi Pandaw at the Arookutty Boat Jetty, a historic region once famous for its role in the spice trade between the coast and the hinterland. Following embarkation and lunch on board, we proceed on an afternoon excursion to the Kerala Folklore Museum. This unique architectural venture is constructed using salvage from historic traditional houses across Kerala, preserving the region's rich heritage. We then explore Fort Kochi, a water-bound region reflecting the colonial influences of the Portuguese, Dutch, and British. Highlights include St. Francis Church (Vasco da Gama Church)—the oldest European church in India—and a walk through Jew Town to view the historic Paradesi Synagogue and the iconic Chinese Fishing Nets, introduced by traders from the court of Kublai Khan in the 14th century. We return to the ship for a Welcome Cocktail and dinner.
DAY 17 VAIKOM - KUMARAKOM
We cast off early toward the Vaikom Terminal. Our morning excursion takes us to the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple, a site of immense archaeological and historical importance known as the "Kashi of the South." Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is a classic example of traditional Kerala architecture and is believed in legend to have been built by Parasurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu. We then sail toward Kumarakom, a cluster of scenic islands located on the backdrop of Vembanad Lake. In the late afternoon, we invite you to witness a performance of Kathakali, a classical Indian dance-drama noted for its elaborate make-up, costumes, and detailed gestures that narrate stories from Indian epics.
DAY 18 NATTAKAM
We sail this morning to Nattakam, a serene village known for its lush greenery. We board a traditional country boat (Shikara) for a relaxed sail to the Munroe Lighthouse. Built in 1885, this historic structure guides ships with its striking beacon and offers panoramic views of the Kerala coastline, the Arabian Sea, and the rich maritime history of the region. In the afternoon, we explore Kumarakom, a renowned bird sanctuary and village on Vembanad Lake. Famous for its mangrove forests and paddy fields, this excursion offers an intimate look at village life in the backwaters.
DAY 19 KAINAKARY - KAVALAM
We cast off toward Kainakary, a picturesque village within the Kuttanad region, often called the "Rice Bowl of Kerala." Our morning visit is to the ancestral home of St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, a 19th-century saint and social reformer who played a pivotal role in the education and social upliftment of the state. Following lunch, we embark on a village walk through Kavalam. The tour includes a visit to St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church, an architectural testament to the ancient Christian traditions that have flourished in Kerala since the 1st century AD. The day concludes with a performance of Mohiniattam, the "Dance of the Enchantress," a classical dance form characterised by graceful, swaying movements traditionally performed by women.
DAY 20 ALAPPUZHA - THOTTAPALLY
We sail toward Alleppey (Alappuzha), colloquially known as the "Venice of the East" due to its vast network of canals. Our morning excursion visits the Revi Karunakaran Memorial Museum. Established by Betty Karan in honour of her husband, a leading coir industrialist, this private museum houses a magnificent collection of Swarovski crystals, ivory, Tanjore paintings, and porcelain. In the afternoon, we take a scenic drive to Thottapally Beach. Here, guests will witness a thrilling demonstration of Kalaripayattu, considered the oldest surviving martial art in the world. We then visit a local fishing community temple to observe evening rituals and take a walk through the unique pine forest that borders the beach.
DAY 21 ALLEPPEY BACKWATERS
We set sail to explore the scenic Alleppey Backwaters. Our morning excursion visits the Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple, an ancient centre of serpent worship nestled in a forest glade. This temple is unique in Hindu culture for having a woman as its chief priestess, a tradition upheld for centuries. In the afternoon, we disembark for a walk through Kuppapuram Village. This offers a genuine opportunity to interact with locals and observe the daily rhythm of life in the Kuttanad region, where farming and fishing are the primary livelihoods.
DAY 22 PALLIPPURAM
We cast off toward Pallippuram, a serene area situated on the shores of Vembanad Lake. We visit the historic St. Mary’s Forane Church in Pallippuram. Founded in AD 427, this is one of the most significant Marian shrines in the state, renowned for its ancient origins and beautiful Portuguese-style architectural influences. The afternoon is dedicated to relaxation as we enjoy a peaceful sailing experience through the backwaters, complemented by a soothing massage service available onboard. In the evening, join us for a Farewell Dinner.
DAY 23 RETURN - KOCHI FOR DISEMBARKATION
After a final breakfast on board, we disembark at the Arookutty Boat Jetty.