Holy Ganges Cruise – ABN Rajmahal Features

ABN Rajmahal, entered service on the Lower Ganges and the Ganges proper on schedule in mid-February 2014.
Built in Kolkata, her length is 51 metres and breadth is 10.40 metres. Powered by 3 engines, her extra-shallow draught and a lower profile than conventional designs allow her to cruise further  upstream than any of her competitors.

The boutique vessel, ABN Rajmahal, has 22 cabins with French balconies. The décor is stylish and fresh with touches of colonial elegance, brought to life by traditional Indian-inspired designs on hand-blocked cotton fabrics.

The excellent cuisine on board is a mixture of Assamese (milder than most Indian cuisine) and continental. Wines, beer and spirits are available.
A small spa onboard offers a wide range of relaxing treatments.

• 22 spacious cabins:
  14 Upper Deck spacious twin/double cabins (196 sq feet)
  4 Main Deck spacious twin/double cabins (196 sq feet)
  4 Main Deck spacious single cabins (160 sq feet)
• Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass window with French balconies
• En suite shower/WC with boutique toiletries
• Tea/coffee making facilities in cabins
• Refrigerators in cabins
• Individual climate control
• Generous cupboard space and under-bed storage
• Hair dryer in each cabin
• In-room electronic safe
• Intercommunication telephone in cabins
• High quality bathrobes and slippers
• High quality linens
• Turndown service in all cabins
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Vast sundeck both open & shaded, with sun loungers or steamer chairs
• Spacious air-conditioned saloon with library and recorded entertainment
• Air conditioned bar and dining room
• Spa with choice of treatments
• Naturalist on board the vessel
• Single seating for buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Acclaimed combination of Indian & Western cuisines
• Expertly trained culinary staff
• Wide choice of wines, spirits and beer (pay locally)
• Maximum 20 guests per guide on all excursions
• Cold towel service after excursions
• Welcome drink after excursions
• Shoe-cleaning after excursions

Holy Ganges Cruise – ABN Rajmahal Photo Gallery

Holy Ganges Cruise – ABN Rajmahal Deck Plan

click to enlarge

Holy Ganges Cruise – ABN Sukapha

With a maximum group size of 24 guests, she was designed to closely resemble ABN Charaidew, both as a result of popular demand and reasons of practicality, retaining many of the features which make our original vessel so popular but adding a small spa.

In an effort to conserve India’s forests, the interiors are bamboo-paneled, air-conditioned and roomy with en suite bathrooms. There is a spa and a saloon with a library. The dining room is on the main deck and a spacious sundeck at the very top. Fabrics on board have been handwoven by Bodo tribal villagers; the comfortable rattan chairs are locally sourced and made; and our gift shop stocks only arts and crafts made by local artisans.

ABN Sukapha – Holy Ganges Cruise – Deck Plan

ABN Sukapha – Deck Plan

• Spacious cabins with individual climate control

• En suite shower/WC with Biotique toiletries

• Generous cupboard space and under-bed storage

• Hair drier in each cabin

• High quality linens

• Large sliding glass windows offering panoramic views of the river

• ​Vast sundeck with sunloungers or steamer chairs

• Spacious air-conditioned saloon with library and recorded entertainment

• Spa with choice of treatments.

 

ABN Sukapha – Holy Ganges Cruise – Cabins

ABN Sukapha – Holy Ganges Cruise – Dining

Holy Ganges Cruise between Farakka and Patna
2023 Dates and Prices (per person) in USD

Farakka to Patna (9 Days)

Patna to Farakka (7 Days)

All prices subject to 9% local tax which will be added to the price (subject to change)

n.b. Children must be 15 years of age or more. Adult prices apply.

Holy Ganges Cruise – Inclusions

• Transfer to rail station
• Train journey to Farakka
• Full board (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
  from Dinner Day 1 to Breakfast Day 7 (Downstream programme)
  from packed Lunch Day 1 to Breakfast Day 9 (Upstream programme)
• Shore excursion programme including all admissions
• Complimentary tea, coffee & mineral water throughout
• Complimentary Wi-Fi onboard
• Welcome reception
• Farewell reception
• Local on-board dance & song performances
• Transfers on shared basis as below:
  • Arrival – Guests are transferred by vehicle from:
    – Central Kolkata hotel/airport to Howrah station by vehicle, rail to New Farakka station, vehicle to the cruise ship
    or
    – Patna hotel/airport to the cruise ship

• • Departure – Guests are transferred by vehicle from:
    – Cruise Ship to Patna airport/hotel
    or
    – By vehicle to NFK station, rail to Kolkata, vehicle to central Kolkata hotel/airport

Not included

• Drinks from the bar
• Laundry
• Tips + Gratuities for crew and guides
• Camera/video fees
• Insurance
• Telephone charges
• Items of a personal nature
• Local service tax

Notes

• Indian visa (please check with your Consulate if you require a visa).
• Airport Information:
  Kolkata Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)
  Patna Jayprakash Narayan Airport (PAT)

How to Book and Pay – Holy Ganges Cruise – Farakka to Patna

• Please complete the booking form adding your credit card details via our secure system.
• We will respond by email with confirmation of your tour.
• Upon confirmation we will collect the non-refundable deposit of  25% of the tour price from the credit card provided.
• The balance payment will be collected 70 days prior to departure date.
• If you book within 70 days of departure date we will collect the full amount due from the credit card provided.
• If your selected date is not available we will offer you an alternative.
• Your card will not be charged until you accept the alternative offered.
• If you have any special requirements please add details in the notes section.
• We will ask you later to provide passport details of passengers booked
• Indian visa (please check with your Consulate if you require a visa).
• After you have paid in full, you will receive a voucher and joining details for the tour.

Holy Ganges Cruise – Farakka to Patna – 9 Days Itinerary (Upstream)

Map of Holy Ganges Rivers in West Bengal

“…Our chef’s talents are much appreciated (taking into account the tropical weather and regional fresh produce), whether for continental dishes usually served at lunch or for the varied Indian cuisine at dinner, subtle and never too spicy…”

Day 1 – Kolkata – Farakka; embarkation

Transfer from your hotel or airport, with our escort, to the bustling main rail station of Kolkata. Enjoy the midday 4 hr train journey from Kolkata to Farakka, then a short road transfer to the ship, where a warm welcome awaits you before dinner onboard. Lunch is provided on the train.
Guests joining independently at Farakka can board from midday onwards.

Day 2 – Rajmahal

This morning we leave Farakka and sail out into the River Ganges proper, almost sea-like here just above the great Farakka Barrage. We sail upstream much of the morning, before anchoring at Rajmahal, beneath the Rajmahal Hills. Rajmahal is one of those places, so common in India, which feature in no guidebook and yet offer both interest and atmosphere; once known as Akbarnagar, the town was founded by the Mughal Emperor Akbar as his eastern capital. Shah Jehan, builder of the Taj Mahal, spent much of his youth here. There are remains of palaces, forts and mosques submerged in vegetation which we shall explore. We sail on as far as Manihari Ghat.
Lunch and Dinner onboard.

Day 3 – Bateshwar

This morning, continue cruising upstream, passing the confluence with the Kosi river which flows down from Nepal. We arrive at idyllic Bateshwar, with its 6th century Hindu carvings, and the nearby ruins of an 8th century Buddhist stupa and monastery at Vikramshila. Later, onwards to Kehilgaon or Colganj, where our ship awaits us. We sail on, passing close to the island shrine with both Buddhist and Hindu cave temples, and once a centre of the murderous Thug sect.

Day 4 – Bhagalpur

Sailing on this morning along a stretch of the river where Gangetic Dolphin may be seen, we reach Bhagalpur, a centre of silk production. We shall visit the elegant 18th century mansion built by Augustus Cleveland as well as a silk-weaving village before continuing on to Jahangira Island at Sultanganj, a place of pilgrimage with early Hindu carvings in the rock. On shore, another picturesque rock is topped with a mosque, while there will be a chance to stroll around the local market.

Day 5 – Monghyr

We sail on to Monghyr. Monghyr possesses a large Mughal fort, as well as an East India Company cemetery, now with villagers living amongst the grandiose tombs. We shall also visit the Pirpahar Hill, crowned by a fine old mansion, as well as the Sita Kund hot springs, before continuing our cruise upstream.

Day 6 – Village visit

This morning we pass under the great bridge at Mokameh, where the naturalist Jim Corbett spent his working life in charge of the ferry which operated here earlier. Nearby we stop to visit a bankside village and stretch our legs. We arrive by evening at Barh.

Day 7 – Nalanda

Today, there is an excursion to Nalanda, recently included as a UNESCO World Heritage site where visits would include the excavated great Buddhist monastery and stupa along with the adjoining museum; Nalanda is also the world’s oldest seat of learning, once welcoming over 10,000 students at its height. Later, visit the marbled Pawapuri Jain temple in the middle of a lake.
Return in the evening to Barh to reboard our ship.

Day 8 – Patna

Today is a day spent cruising upstream. At some stage we shall pause at a bankside village and stretch our legs. We arrive in the evening at the state capital of Patna and berth close to the old East India Company opium warehouses.

Day 9 – Patna; disembarkation

This morning we take a tour of Patna, visiting the extraordinary 18th century Gola Ghar granary, the great Sikh temple and the rich collections of the State Museum. Disembark late morning and transferred to airport or station (transfer included).
Alternatively your own arrangements for road or rail onward travel.

Itinerary subject to river conditions.

Holy Ganges Patna to Farakka – 7 Days Itinerary (Downstream)

Map of Holy Ganges Rivers in West Bengal

“…When family and friends get together to celebrate a milestone occasion, sharing the experience on a Ganges River Cruise is guaranteed to create lasting memories of a trip of a lifetime!..”

Day 1 – Patna; arrival

Arrive Patna by road, rail or air (group transfer from airport, hotel or railway station to ship is included).
Embarkation from 4pm onwards, where you will receive a warm welcome from the crew and enjoy dinner on board.

Day 2 – Patna

This morning we take a tour of Patna, visiting the extraordinary 18th century Gola Ghar granary, the great Sikh temple and the rich collections of the State Museum.
Returning to our ship, we pass near the old East India Company opium warehouses and cruise down to moor for the evening at Barh.

Day 3 – Nalanda

Today, there is an excursion to Nalanda, recently included as a UNESCO World Heritage site where visits would include the excavated great Buddhist monastery and stupa along with the adjoining museum; Nalanda is also the world’s oldest seat of learning, once welcoming over 10,000 students at its height. Later, visit the marbled Pawapuri Jain temple in the middle of a lake. We return in the evening to our ship which will have sailed down to the great bridge at Mokameh, where earlier the naturalist Jim Corbett spent his working life overseeing the ferry crossing.

Day 4 – Monghyr

Today we sail down to Monghyr. Monghyr possesses a fine Mughal fort, as well as an old East India Company Cemetery with interesting headstones, now with villagers living amongst the tombs. We shall also visit the Pirpahar Hill, crowned by a fine old mansion as well as the Sitakund hot springs, before continuing our cruise downstream to anchor near Jahangira Island at Sultanganj, a place of pilgrimage with early Hindu carvings in the rock. On shore, another picturesque rock is topped with a mosque.

Day 5 – Bhagalpur

We sail this morning along a stretch of the river where Gangetic Dolphin may be seen. We sail on passing close to the island shrine at Colganj, with both Buddhist and Hindu cave temples, and once a centre of the murderous Thug sect. Close to here we visit idyllic Bateshwar with 6th century Hindu carvings and the nearby ruins of an 8th century Buddhist stupa and monastery at Vikramshila. We anchor for the night near the confluence with the Kosi, coming down from Nepal.

Day 6 – Rajmahal

We sail downstream this morning to Rajmahal, beneath the Rajmahal Hills. Rajmahal is one of those places, so common in India, which feature in no guidebook and yet offer both interest and atmosphere; once known as Akbarnagar, the town was founded by the Mughal Emperor Akbar as his eastern capital. Shah Jehan, builder of the Taj Mahal, spent much of his youth here. There are remains of palaces, forts and mosques submerged in vegetation which we shall explore before continuing on down to the Farakka Barrage.

Day 7 – Farakka – Kolkata; disembarkation

A dawn transfer is arranged to Farakka station for morning 4 hr (approx.) train journey to Kolkata, then to your central hotel or airport.
Alternatively it is possible to travel on by road or rail to Siliguri and Darjeeling (please ask for details).

Itinerary subject to river conditions.