2017- TM India

26 – www.travelmarvel.com.au – Day 1. Arrive Kolkata. Today you'll arrive in Kolkata, once the biggest colonial trade centre in Asia and the former capital of the British Raj. Be met on arrival at the airport, then transfer to your magnificent hotel. Special Stay – experience a stay at Kolkata's famous Taj Bengal. Stay: Kolkata, Taj Bengal. Day 2. Kolkata, Embark Lower Ganges Cruise, Barrackpore. This morning you'll transfer to the RV Rajmahal for your Lower Ganges River cruise, taking you away from the tourist trail to offer an authentic glimpse of the real India. After lunch on board, you'll cruise past the old Danish colony of Serampore to the former British garrison town of Barrackpore. Here, enjoy a guided walking tour amid the 19th-century buildings and see the riverside Government House with its Semaphore Tower, part of a river signalling system. Then visit the elegant Greek Revival-style Temple of Fame and the gardens of Flagstaff House, which now serves as repository for colonial statues removed from Kolkata. Stay (Seven Nights): the RV Rajmahal. BLD Day 3. Chandannagar, Chinsura, Hooghly. This morning, cruise upstream to the former French colony of Chandannagar. During a walk around the town, you could be forgiven for thinking that the French had never left. Stroll along the Chandannagar Strand and visit its 200-year-old church. Then, on a visit to the house of former French Governor Joseph François Dupleix, discover an impressive collection of French antiques. Later, head to Hooghly and visit the 19th-century Hooghly Imambara, built by one of Bengal's most prolific philanthropists. BLD Day 4. Kalna, Mayapur. Alight in Kalna, known as the 'City of Temples'. Like a Local – take a rickshaw tour and visit some of Bengal's most distinct terracotta temples, including the Shiva Temple, featuring two concentric circles made up of 108 double-vaulted shrines. Continue on to unique Mayapur, its skyline of dominated by the vast ISKCON temple. Sail on through the night to a mooring near Matiari. BLD Day 5. Matiari, Plassey. Like a Local – disembark for a visit to the brass-working village of Matiari. More than a century ago, when leaders of the village grew too old to work in the brass factory in Kolkata they were sent home to the country. Here, they began making their own brass utensils starting a tradition that remains a vital source of income for the villagers today. Continue cruising to the site of The Battle of Plassey – a momentous event of 1757. Learn how this pivotal battle established the British East India Company rule in Bengal. BLD Day 6. Murshidabad. Disembark in Murshidabad this morning and walk to the Khushbagh, a peaceful Mughal-style garden enclosing the tomb of the last Nawab of Bengal. Like a Local – continue along the riverbanks to Hazarduari Palace, which boasts 1,000 doors and houses an extensive collection of European paintings, china and weapons. Following the tour here, you'll visit Feel in tune with the River Ganges in Kalna, home to the hypnotic Shiva Temple YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE INCLUDES § Eight days cruising the Lower Ganges § Services of a Travelmarvel Cruise Director and expert local guides § Transfers, port charges and tipping § 26 fine meals – 9 full breakfasts (B), 8 lunches (L) and 9 dinners (D) § All meals, plus local soft drinks, beers and spirits are included during your cruise, and regional wines are available with lunch and dinner on board § All sightseeing and entertainment aboard the RV Rajmahal INSIDER EXPERIENCES Enjoy an indulgent stay at Taj Bengal in Kolkata Gain an insight into Kalna during a cycle rickshaw tour Visit the ancient brass-working village of Matiari in West Bengal Unlock the secrets of Murshidabad's Hazarduari Palace Ride a local train between Farakka and Kolkata for an insight into local life Sample some of the finest Indian cuisine at Oh! Calcutta in Kolkata CRUISING HIGHLIGHTS § Enjoy a rickshaw tour in Chinsura § Perhaps visit the deserted city of Gaur, a fascinating archaeological site Reflections of the Lower Ganges 10 Days | Kolkata | Lower Ganges River Cruise

• Cover