Ganges River Cruise

Embark the ship strictly between 9am to 10am at Outram Ghat, next to Babu Ghat bus stand in Kolkata. Sail upstream past the old Dutch settlement of Chinsura before landing to visit the imposing Imambara at Hooghly. With verses from the Koran written on its walls, the Imambara is an opportunity to step back in time and relive a slice of Islamic history in Bengal. After the visit, reboard your cruise and start sailing, leaving urban sprawl behind.

Your morning is free to relax. Watch the ever-changing scenery from your bedroom or from any lounge area of your ship. Relax with a book or a beverage in hand as the sheer beauty of this majestic river is astounding. The day is spent mostly cruising upstream (with large distances to cover as we cruise only in daylight hours) with jungle-covered hills rising on either side, often battling against strong currents.

Indigenous tribal cuisine demonstration and lunch

Our chef onboard will introduce you to the indigenous cuisine of Assam with a live cooking session. The first thing that strikes a first time foodie sampling the variety of cuisine in Assam is the delicacy of the flavours and the lightness of the food itself. There is a subtlety in the taste and aroma that makes sampling Assamese cuisine an experience of a different kind. Oils and fats in general are used sparingly, while a profusion of freshly plucked herbs enhance the flavour greatly.Vegetables and greens are used profusely, while rice, whether whole or powdered, is a staple.

We will be visiting a beautiful Assam tea plantation today where a special tea-tasting experience will be hosted. The Assam Tea tasting class is a knowledge session that introduces you to the subtle flavours and varieties of Assam tea led by an expert tea taster and connoisseur by profession. The beauty of Assam tea lies in its hidden notes, delicate aromas, and bold flavours.” And it is precisely such beauty that we seek to introduce to our guests over cups of exotic tea and fine blends.

Topic of discussion today - Assam tea plantation history and tea culture

Nearly 200 years ago, a Scottish gentleman called Robert Bruce was wandering in the Upper Brahmaputra Valley, when he came across wild bushes that changed the world forever: Indian tea. Assam is surrounded by the foothills of the Himalayas in the north and south whilst the Brahmaputra River flows from east to west. This topography forms one of the world’s most abundant biodiversity zones. Assam’s tea industry introduced socio-economic growth, including the arrival of planters from Britain and labourers from other parts of India, and a coming together of new customs, food and dastoors (culture). Today, the world’s single largest tea-growing region, Assam’s tea gardens collectively produce over 700 million kgs of tea each year! Assam teas are generally harvested from March until November.

After breakfast, disembark your ship for your privately-arranged transfer to the airport or hotel at Central Kolkata.