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THE INCREDIBLE GANGES

THE UPPER GANGES RIVER

Kolkata - Varanasi

7 NIGHTS

For the first time Pandaw guests will be able to explore the diverse and beautiful Ganges River between Varanasi and Farakka on our new 7 night itinerary. Sailing through the state of Bihar, this splendid journey takes travellers along one of the prettiest sections of the Ganges where Gangeatic dolphins and a host of birdlife and wildlife roam.

Explore the many villages, pilgrimage sites and handicraft havens along the banks of the Upper Ganges as you sail gently aboard Pandaw's specially crafted river vessels. with train tickets included between Kolkata and Farakka as well as Patna to Varanasi, said to be one of the oldest inhabited cities on the planet, there is no better way to explore the wonders of India than with Pandaw.

Please Note: This itinerary passes through the state of Bihar. In this state it is illegal to serve any drinks containing alcohol. For this reason we will not be able to serve alcohol onboard the ship.

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REGISTER YOUR INTEREST FOR THIS EXPEDITION

All departures are currently sold out. We are currently working on new departures to be added soon. To register your interest for this expedition please click the button below and complete your details, we will contact you to discuss your arrangements once departures are available.

Click Here to Register Your Interest

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EXPEDITION MAP

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OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS

PRE CRUISE EXTENSIONS

Varanasi 2 Night Pre Tour

The Golden Triangle - 6 night Pre Tour

OPTIONAL PACKAGE ADDONS

Private Dining

Free Flow Drinks (India - Upper Ganges)

Inclusive Add On
This package is now included free on your cruise for all guests.

ITINERARY

Upstream Downstream

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 7 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 DISEMBARK FARAKKA

After breakfast, depart your Pandaw and transfer to Farakka to your hotel or train journey to Kolkata.

DOWNLOAD ITINERARY
Downstream

WHATS INCLUDED

Cruise Price Includes: Transfer from hotel in Kolkata to train station and 1-way train (best available class) from Kolkata to Farakka (Upstream) or transfer from hotel in Varanasi to train station and 1-way train (best available class) from Varanasi to Patna (Downstream), entrance fees, guide services (English language), gratuities to crew, main meals, local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas & tisanes, 1-way train (best available class) from Patna to Varanasi with transfer from Varanasi train station to hotel or airport (Upstream) or 1-way train (best available class) from Farakka to Kolkata (Downstream).

Price Excludes: International flights, laundry, all visa costs, fuel surcharges (see terms and conditions), all beverages except local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas & tisanes, tipping for guide and drivers.

Please Note:

This itinerary passes through the state of Bihar. In this state it is illegal to serve any drinks containing alcohol. For this reason we will not be able to serve alcohol onboard the ship.
Entry to the Bihar School of Yoga is subject to approval and may not always be possible.
We suggest to change money at a bank at the international airport before exiting (currently there is shortage of new money bills in India).
1st Class train tickets are subject to availability.

Weather Condition Warning

River cruising on the Lower and Upper Ganges can be severely affected by fog during the months of December and January. This may impact the sailing schedules and the planned excursions. While every effort will be made to make up time and include all activities this is not always possible. Similarly temperatures can drop significantly overnight and in the early mornings, though during the day warmer temperatures can be expected. Winter temperatures can be below average with many destinations in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh experiencing long spells of cold.

TRANSFERS & JOINING

DAY 1 VARANASI TO PATNA

Transfer from your hotel or airport in Varanasi in the morning to Varanasi train station. Train to Patna and transfer to your Pandaw ship.

DAY 8 DISEMBARK FARAKKA

After breakfast, transfer to Farakka station for your train to Kolkata. On arrival transfer to any central Kolkata hotel.

VISA INFORMATION

Click here for full visa information.

TESTIMONIALS

I thoroughly recommend Pandaw to experience India away from the main tourist spots - posted by TripAdvisor Review by anntR7647JG

It was an experience we won’t forget - posted by TripAdvisor Review by Markjd123

We enjoyed our time on and off the boat. Cabin was clean and spacious. Indian food was delicious - posted by Marie and Dildar

Overall, we are glad we made this trip, even though enough went wrong for us to wonder at times. But those problems were not, on the whole, of Pandaw’s making - posted by Andrew and Margaret Polmear

This is what we have come to expect from Pandaw after cruises on the Mekong and Irrawaddy - posted by John and Jeanette

Pandaw ships, when you step aboard your "Adventure" begins - posted by Trevor and Gail Harvey

We appreciate that this was a new expedition so we anticipated a few problems - posted by Jim and Margaret Goddard

Overall though it was agreat experience. We have new friends and a lot of memories - posted by Steve Bousfield

TRAVEL BLOGS

Varanasi, India's Spiritual Capital

Varanasi , India's foremost religious destination that also goes by Benaras, Banaras or Kashi, stands on the banks of the river Ganges, held mos.... read more

Issues in India

No one said going back into India would be easy. Having pioneered Ganges cruising ten years ago we had some experience of the challenges o.... read more

THE UPPER GANGES RIVER

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST FOR THIS EXPEDITION

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EXPEDITION MAP

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