EXOTIC RIVER CRUISE -INDIA & BANGLADESH

20 Days

India – A Perfect Destination to explore………..

An in explainable diversity – from snow-dusted mountains to sun-washed beaches, mighty rivers

, tranquil temples to feisty festivals, lantern-lit villages to software supreme cities, it’s hardly

surprising that this country has been dubbed the worlds most multidimensional.

Home to more than one billion people, the subcontinent bristles with an assorted concoction of

ethnic groups, which translates into an intoxicating cultural cocktail for the traveler.

India is not just one of the world’s oldest civilizations, it is also the world’s largest democracy,

and has made astonishing progress among developing nations. India’s impressive variety of

history and culture, from the ancient Gangetic Kingdoms to the present state, harmoniously

blend to form a unique atmosphere in over a million square kilometers of scenic sights. A

continent-sized country, India possesses an amazing wealth of sights and sounds, tastes and

textures.

From a bustling cosmopolitan city to the quiet countryside, hill station or a beach resort, India

has destinations, which offer a backdrop of unmatched beauty for a business meet. You will find

a fascinating amalgam of tradition & culture, beauty & nature, style & splendor, warmth, feelings

& courtesies, comfort & convenience virtually everything for today’s discerning traveler!

BANGLADESH

Itinerary

Day 1 :
Arrive Kolkata
ACTIVITY: SAIL INTO SUNDARBANS MANGROVE FOREST Upon arrival at Kolkata airport , you will be met by our representative and transfer to Botanical Garden Jetty to board MV Mahabaahu Cruise. We sail with the tide towards Namkhana and beyond towards Sundarbans. Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (L, D)
Day 2 :
Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary
ACTIVITY: SAJNEKHALI BIRD SANCTUARY We use a local boat to cruise into the silent creeks and observe the mangrove fauna and flora We visit the Mangrove Interpretation Center for people and their lives entwined with the mangroves. Evening local boat trip - Enjoy an absorbing evening watching Bono Bibir Pala (A folklore of Sundarban) and Live Baul performance (Folk Music). Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 3 :
Sajnekhali / Sudhanyakhali Bird Sanctuary adjacent to Tiger Reserve
ACTIVITY: SAJNEKHALI BIRD SANCTUARY AND SAIL TO HEMNAGAR Before breakfast walk through the villages to experience local rustic life After breakfast enjoy local boat trip inside the creeks. Lunch on board and Sail towards Hemnagar for custom formalities and sail towards Aungtihara. Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 4 :
Cruise Sundarbans
ACTIVITY: ANGTIHARA FOR CUSTOM CLEARANCE, JORSHING, CHALNA AND KOTKA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Shahaber Agla (BGB) and Chilmari for Pilot Hemnagar to Aunstihara Half day sail through the Sundarbans. Page | 5 India Bangladesh Border Waters with Mangrove fauna and flora on either side Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 5 :
Sail towards Kotka and enjoy the Sundarbans all around
ACTIVITY: BOAT SAFARI THROUGH MANGROVES FOR WILDLIFE, NATURE WALK, JAMTOLA BEACH AND HARVARIA FOREST STATION Kotka Wildlife Sanctuary 06:00: Jorshing to Chalna (7 / 8hrs) & Chalna to Kotka wildlife sanctuary (7/8hrs). A day of sailing through the Sunderbans. 20:00: Arrive at Kotka. Anchor the ship near the Forest office. Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 6 :
Kotka wildlife sighting – Harvaria Forest Station
ACTIVITY: SILENT DAWN SAFARI, BOAT RIDE, SUNDARBANS AND BAGERHAT (60- DOMED MOSQUE) 05:30 – 07:30: Cruising by Tender inside narrow creeks to see wildlife and to feel the mangrove eco-system. 09:00 – 11:00: Nature walk behind the Kotka forest office. 12:00 – 13:30: Lunch 14:00 – 16:00: Climbing Watch Tower, exploring Jamtola beach and discover ‘Fresh Pugmark’ of Tiger. 16:00 – 20:00: Ship will cruise to-wards Harvaria Forest Station. Enjoy the cruising through the rivers inside the Sundarbans. Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 7 :
Sundarbans – Mongla
ACTIVITY: SHRIMP AND CRAB MARKET VISIT AND POTTERY VILLAGE VISIT 05:00: Ship will start its voyage to-wards Mongla 07:00 – 08:00: Breakfast 12:00 – 13:30: Lunch on board. *The ship will sail through Shushuk ( Gangetic River Dolphin) sanctuary to witness this very rare dolphin in their natural habitat. *Experience amazing Fishing technique by trained Otter, dating back to 6th century. 14:30 – 16:30: At Mongla, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Sixty domes mosque’, a 15th century Mosque, Tomb of Khan Jahan-builder of the Mosque, 17:00: Back to the Ship 18:00: Enjoy cultural performance ‘POTER GAAN’ by local artist group.. Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 8 :
Inside the Sudarbans
ACTIVITY: BOAT TRIP AND JUNGLE SAFARI 05:00 – 06:00: Early morning Silent Country boat trip through the narrow creeks/Canals to experience the mangrove Eco-System from a close range and wildlife sighting. 06:30 – 07:30: Back to the Ship & breakfast. 08:00 – 10:00: Moderate Jungle Safari/Board walk behind the Kotka Forest office for around 2hrs to see wildlife upclose like; spotted deer, monkeys, wild boar, monitor lizard, etc. 10:30 – 12:30: Climbing watch tower, jungle safari through the Jamtola beach, for wildlife sighting and FRESH PUGMARK OF TIGER. 13:00 – 14:00: Lunch on board 14:30 – 17:00: Watching spotted deer, wild boat, monkeys movement behind the Kotka Forest office 17:30: hrs Back to the ship, afternoon Tea/Coffee, Snacks. 18:00 – 19:30: *Talk on Tiger / Sunderbans, Film clips, presentation followed by Q/A session. *Presentation on human activity inside the Forest followed by Film show on Wild-honey collection. *A silent Country-boat trip at night to experience SILENCE & SOUNDS of the night forest for curious participants. Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 9 :
Mongla – Barisal – Floating Market
ACTIVITY: DHAMRAI VILLAGE FOR METAL CRAFT, NAYARHAT, KAKRAN VILLAGE AND NATIONAL MARTYR’S MONUMENT 07:30 – 08:30: Visit Shrimp & Crab market. 08:30 – 10:00: Breakfast 08:30 – 13:30: Mongla to Barisal. Note: During the cruising we will pass through the rivers and mangrove forest will be on both sides + spotted deer, monkeys may be seen from the ship. If lucky you can come across Crocodile Anchor at Barisal Jetty. 14:00 – 17:00: Visit Pottery village Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 10 :
Barisal – Chandpur – Dhaka
ACTIVITY: SADARGHAT FOR AHSAN MANZIL / PINK PALACE SHAKHARI BAZAAR, LAL BAGH FORT, DHAKESHWARI TEMPLE, LANGUAGE MARTYR’S MONUMENT AND CHAWKBAZAAR 06:00 – 10:00: visit Floating market. 10:30 – 18:30: Sail to Chandpur and start following Buriganga. Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 11 :
Narayanganj / Old Dhaka – Sonargaon – Loknath Ashram – Jamdhani Weaving Village
ACTIVITY: GOALDI MOSQUE AT SONARGAON, THE FOLKLORE MUSEUM, BARODI ASHRAM OF LOKNATH BRAHMCHARI, JAMDHANI WEAVING VILLAGE 06:00 – 07:00: Breakfast. 08:00 – 11:00: Sonargaon sightseeing 11:30 – 12:30: Sri Loknath Brahmachari Ashram 13:00 – 14:00: Lunch at a local restaurant 14:45 – 17:00: Jamdhani weaving village 18:00–18:30: Back to the Cruise Ship Sonargaon belongs to Narayanganj, one of the first and oldest capitals of Bengal. Sonargaon was known as ‘The City of Panam’ and was a focal part of the renowned Deva Dynasty until the thirteenth century. After the thirteenth century Sonargao was made Secondary capital of the Sultanate of Bengal. The Goaldi mosque in the Goaldi village is a wonderful example of a mix of Indian, European and Mughal architecture. The Folklore museum houses a variety of artefacts from all over Bangladesh, representing the many cultural groups that exist in the country. Next visit Barodi ashram to see and pay rituals to the great Sri Sri Loknath Brahmachari followed by lunch. Then drive to Noapara – Jamdhani weaving village, where the whole village is engaged in the craft. Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 12 :
Dhaka – Dhamrai Metal Craft – Pottery Village – National Martyr’s Monument – National Assembly Aarongshop – Ship
ACTIVITY: SAILING 05:30–06:30: Breakfast 07:00: Drive 2hrs to Dhamrai 09:00 – 10:00: Dhamrai Metal Craft village to experience the Brass Artifices made following the Lost Wax method. Few families are keeping up the tradition. Also visit the Wooden Chariot used during the Rath-Jatra 10:00 – 11:30: Move back to Nayarhat, cross a small river by local boat to visit the Kakran pottery village, to experience the traditional Pot making technique. A handful of families are still continuing with the traditional profession. 11:30 – 12:00: Visit National Martyr’s monument-built in memory of millions who sacrificed their lives during the Liberation War in 1971. 12:30 – 13:30: Lunch at a local restaurant. 14:00: Drive to -wards Dhaka city, visit National Assembly building from outside, which is a masterpiece of architecture designed by the celebrity Architect Louis I Kahn. 15:00: Visit Aarong Craft shop to buy some souvenir. 16:00: Move to Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel –Reception & Dinner. Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 13 :
Old Dhaka City
ACTIVITY: SAILING 07:00 – 08:30: Sadarghat river port, one of the largest river port in the world passing around 150,000 passengers every day. 08:30 – 09:00: Pink Palace/Ahsan Manzil ,Ahsan manzil also known as Pink Palace dating back to 1872, was built on the site of an old French Factory by Nawab Abdul Gani,. Some 16 years after it was damaged by a tornado and reconstructed again altering massively and became even grander than before. 09:30 – 10:30: Shakhari Bazar/Hindu Street Artisans here make bangles from Conch Shell , which are worn by Hindu ladies as a sign of being married women. 12:00 – 12:30: Lunch 13:30 – 14:30: Lalbagh Fort, 17 century Mughal Fort started by Prince Mohammad Azam and handed over to Shaista Khan, Governor of Dhaka, who didn’t finish it because of death of his daughter Pari Bibi whose tomb is inside the fort. 14:45 – 15:30: Dhakeswari temple, & Language martyr’s monument: There after drive back to the Ship. 15:45 – 16:30: Chawkbazar, This area takes a festive look with different kinds of food items during Ramadan. 16.30: Drive back to port to board the ship. Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 14 :
Pagla Jetty – Chandpur – Mawa – Aricha / Daulatdia
ACTIVITY: HATI KUMRUL NABARATNA TEMPLE, PACHALIA VILLAGE FOR GAMCHAS, LUNGIS AND SAREES, BANGABANDHU RAIL AND ROAD BRIDGE 06:00: Cruising will resume following the Padma river 07:00 – 08:00: Breakfast, Sailing continue. 10:00 – 10:30: Arrive Mawa & Pilot change & Cruising restarts towards Aricha / Daulatdia 11:00: Disembark & Riverside life style of country people. 18:00: Vessel will arrive at the destination to anchor for overnight at Aricha. Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 15 :
Aricha / Daulatdia – Sirajganj Sightseeing
ACTIVITY: SAILING 05:00: Sail to Kaulia 08:00: Breakfast. Page | 12 Lunch on board 15:00: Tour managers will lead the guests for sightseeing: Hati Kumrul Nabaratna Temple WEAVING VILLAGES for colorful Gamchas, Lungis and Sarees. BANGABANDHU Multipurpose bridge, opened in June 1998 is the longest bridge in Bangladesh, the 5th longest bridge in South Asia and the 92nd longest bridge in the world Dinner on the Ship 19:00: Folk Music Show Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 16 :
Sirajganj – Bahadurabad
ACTIVITY: CHILMARI FOR CUSTOM CLEARANCE AND SHAHABER AGLA (BGB) 07:00 – 08:00: Breakfast. 10:00 – 12:00 Talks on Bangladesh & Tourism industry. 12:30 – 13:30 Lunch on board Sailing continues. 14:00 – 15:00 Tour Manager will brief about Bahadurabad & Sirajganj, 16:00 – 17:00: Afternoon Tea/Coffee, snacks. 18:00: Arrival at Sirajganj via Chandon Boissha completing Bunkering/Pilot change. 18:30: Offer visual Presentation on Bangladesh followed by dinner. Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 17 :
Assam, Bangladesh No-Man’s Land & Water
ACTIVITY: DHUBRI GURUDWARA FOR ARDAS AND LANGAR ASHARIKANDI FOR CLAY AND TERRACOTA Chilmari – (8 Hrs) Shahaber Agla (Bgb) – Shishumara – (5 Hrs) Dhubri Page | 13 Early Morning cruising from Chilmari to Dhubri for custom clearance formalities at both ends. Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 18 :
Dhubri
ACTIVITY: GOALPARA FOR JOGIGHOPA 06:30 – 07:30: Breakfast Visit Shri Damdama Sahib Gurudwara for an early morning Ardas Visit Asharikandi Village for Clay pottery and Terracotta Crafts. Walk through the village community of Kumhars and Hiras who use the Hiramati soil to shape the pots and idols. Sail towards Goalpara. Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 19 :
Towards Guwahati
ACTIVITY: KUKURMARA /HAJO FOR BELL METAL AND SUALKUCHI FOR SILK Sail towards Guwahati We walk through a village in Hajo and interact with Bell Metal Workers We enjoy local snacks at Sualkuchi , a silk weaving hub and enjoy the process of silk weaving. Overnight onboard MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Day 20 :
Guwahati – Departure
ACTIVITY: DE-BOARDING FORMALITIES, VISIT KAMAKHYA TEMPLE & AIRPORT TRANSFER After breakfast disembark and transfer to Guwahati airport with en-route visit to Kamakhya Temple. ***End of our Tour***