Assam Bengal Navigation, will operate a series of one-week cruises between Calcutta/Kolkata and the Ganges during July/August 2007. The 250 mile cruise along the delightful River Hooghly/Hugli through rural Bengal passes through a number of sites of historical and architectural interest.

The Hooghly was the route by which the early colonial settlers around Calcutta penetrated inland to reach by water eventually the Mughal capitals of Agra and Delhi , the great cities of Lucknow and Benares, and the opium, rice and indigo warehouses of Patna . On its banks stands Murshidabad, the once great capital of the Nawabs of Bengal, now little more than a village, while nearby are the ruins of earlier Muslim capitals of Gaur and Pandua. You will visit the battlefield of Plassey where Clive laid the foundations of the British empire in India , as well as charming jewel-like Hindu terracotta temples and the remains of Dutch, French, Portuguese and Danish trading settlements. The river is narrow and twisting, the landscape one of mango orchards, palm trees and rice paddies.

The 7-night cruises operate on a one-way basis, either upstream or downstream, with the other leg by day train. Alternatively it is possible to combine with onward road or rail travel towards Darjeeling , Sikkim and the Himalayas .

Four departures are scheduled, upstream on the 28th July and 11^th August 2007, and downstream on the 4^th and 18^th August 2007.

Price for the 7-night cruise is U$1295 + tax per person sharing twin-bedded cabin, covering the cruise on full board with all excursions, together with rail travel from or to Calcutta/Kolkata. Single occupancy supplement is US$675 + tax. Charter rates are also available. 

“Sukapha”’s 12 en-suite cabins are all air-conditioned, as are the saloon and the dining room. Food on board is a mix of Indian and European. Beer, wine and spirits are of course available.