ANTARA FLAGSHIP EXPEDITIONS · THE SACRED WATERWAYS COLLECTION · 10 NIGHTS / 11 DAYS
Kolkata – Patna
Special Cruise
- HISTORIC GANGES DOWNSTREAM
- ONLY 18 BOUTIQUE SUITES
FARES
FROM
$9045
/ guest
THE CURATED PASSAGE
Where Sacred Currents
Meet Living History
Embark on a truly immersive river voyage aboard the luxurious MV Ganga Vilas, sailing along the sacred waters of the Ganges and Hooghly rivers from Kolkata to Patna. This 11-day journey blends India’s rich cultural heritage, historic sites, riverside traditions, and scenic landscapes for an unforgettable experience.
From the bustling colonial waterfront of Kolkata and the 108 terracotta temples of Kalna, through the artisan brass workshops of Matiari and Murshidabad’s historic Hazarduari Palace of a thousand doors, every sunrise brings a new page of antiquity. Navigating through the engineering wonder of the Farakka Lock Gate, the voyage ascends into the spiritual sanctuaries of Vikramshila University, Munger’s holy Shakti Peetha, and the venerable grounds of ancient Pataliputra.
CARTOGRAPHIC STUDY
The Upstream Trajectory
Kolkata
Kolkata, also known as Calcutta
(its official name until 2001), is the
capital and largest city of the Indian state of
West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of
the Hooghly River, 80 km (50 mi) west of the
border with Bangladesh. wikipedia
Kalna
Kalna or Ambika Kalna is a town in the Purba
Bardhaman district of West Bengal, India. It is
the headquarter of the Kalna subdivision, situated
on the western bank of the Bhāgirathi river. The
town is more popularly known as Ambika Kalna,
named after the goddess Kali,Maa Ambika.wikipedia
Matiari
Matiari is a census town and a gram panchayat
in the Kaliganj CD block in the Krishnanagar Sadar
subdivision of the Nadia district in the state of
West Bengal, India. wikipedia
Murshidabad
Murshidabad ,is a town in the
Indian state of West Bengal. This
town is the headquarters of Lalbag subdivision
of Murshidabad district. It is located on the
eastern bank of the Bhagirathi River. During the
18th century, Murshidabad was a prosperous and
cosmopolitan town. wikipedia
Farakka
Farakka is a town, with a police station and
a post office, not identified in 2011 census as a
separate place, in the Farakka community development
block in the Jangipur subdivision of Murshidabad
district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is also
known as the northernmost point of Ganga Delta.
wikipedia
Bateshwar Sthan
Bateshwar Sthan ( Sanskrit: बटेश्वर स्थान ) is an ancient site
related to the Vedic sage Brahmarshi Vashishtha at
Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district of Bihar, India.
It is believed as the Taposthali ( penance place ) of the
sage Vashishtha where he established Shivlinga known
as Bateshwar Nath Mahadeva. wikipedia
Munger
Munger, formerly spelt as Monghyr,is a twin city
and a Municipal Corporation situated in the Indian
state of Bihar. It is the administrative headquarters of
Munger district and Munger. Division. Munger was one
of the major< cities in Eastern India and undivided
Bengal during Mughalperiod and British Raj. wikipedia
Patna
Patna (Hindi: Paṭanā, pronounced, historically known
as Pāṭaliputra,is the capital and largest city of the
Indian state of Bihar. According to the United
Nations, as of 2018,Patna had a population of
2.35 million, making it the 19th largest city
(97 sq mi) and over 2.5 million people wikipedia
THE ANTARA STANDARD
Inclusive Expedition Privileges
Every nuance of your passage is discreetly arranged by our bespoke hospitality guild.
Chef-Curated Fine Dining
DAILY CHAMPAGNE & CELLAR SELECTION
Private & Curated Excursions
VIP ACCESS • ZERO CROWDS
Dedicated Historian & Guide
TAILORED PACING & DEEP CONTEXT
THE CULTURAL TAPESTRY
Sanctuaries Along The Current
Eight monumental stops across Bihar and West Bengal, each steeped in sovereign chronicles and spiritual devotion.
Kolkata
ORIGIN
Kalna
Enchanting 108 Shiva Temple complex with exquisite terracotta plaques of
TERRACOTTA
Matiari
Riverside artisan village where master craftsmen shape recycled copper and
CRAFT GUILD
Murshidabad
Nawabs’ cosmopolitan center with the iconic Hazarduari Palace of 1,000 doors.
NAWAB CAPITAL
Farakka
Northernmost point of the Ganga Delta and transit through the Feeder Canal
ENGINEERING
Bateshwar Sthan
Ancient Taposthali of sage Vashishtha and gateway to Vikramshila Buddhist
8TH CENTURY
Munger
Historic twin city on the river bend, home to the sacred Chandika Sthan
SHAKTI PEETHA
Patna
Ancient Pataliputra, the monumental Golghar granary and Takht Sri Patna
DESTINATION
CHRONICLE OF PASSAGE
THE ITINERARY
DAY 1
Arrive Kolkata, Embarkation
Arrival in Kolkata in the morning and transfer to the jetty for embarking MV Ganga Vilas. Welcome onboard followed by safety briefing and lunch. Post lunch, proceed for a Panoramic Tour of Kolkata of Dalhousie Square’s heritage buildings, St. John’s Church and Victoria Memorial.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas
- Lunch
- Dinner
DAY 2
Kolkata – Kalna
After breakfast, visit the Flower Market and the potters’ quarter Kumartuli which is renowned sculpting prowess. Return to the ship and begin sailing upstream to Kalna, passing below the Howrah Bridge, and seeing various colonial buildings along the Ganges River.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
DAY 3
Kalna – Matiari
After breakfast ride e-rickshaws through the town of Kalna to visit the enchanting Rajbari Temple complex. Temples in the complex feature diverse architecture and terracotta plaques depict themes of Hindu epics and various aspects of day-to-day life in the region. Return to the ship walking through the local vegetable market. Begin sail towards the shore-side village of Matiari, while having lunch onboard.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
DAY 4
Matiari - Murshidabad
Early this morning walk in the village to see and experience the craftsmen at work. These master craftsmen utilize recycled copper to create exquisite pots, platters, and more from their workshops in the village. Return to ship for breakfast and sail full day towards Murshidabad, a hidden architectural gem with dramatic whitewashed colonial era structures. Lunch onboard.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
DAY 5
Murshidabad – Jangipur
After breakfast ride the Toto (e-rickshaw) through the countryside to the Katra mosque, which has distinctive minarets. Thereafter visit the Hazarduari Palace, which dominates the waterfront. Built in the Greek “Doric” style, the palace has more than a thousand real and false doors in the vast corridors and is filled with colonial-era antiques. Return to the ship for lunch and sail towards Jangipur.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
DAY 6
Jangipur - Farakka - Samtaghat
Enjoying breakfast onboard we sail in the morning to cross the historic Farakka Lock Gate. The travel through the Feeder Canal will give us a chance to see the different birds of the region. After crossing the Lock Gate, we cruise through the connecting canal to the Ganges and continue to sail towards Samtaghat.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
DAY 7
River day Samtaghat - Bateshwarsthan
Today we sail a full day towards Bateshwarsthan enjoying breakfast and lunch. You will be fascinated by the passing landscape and the lively life on the river. We will arrive in Bateshwarsthan by evening.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
DAY 8
Bateshwarsthan – Munger
After breakfast drive in cars to the 8-9th century excavation site of the Vikramshila University. Spend the day walk around the archaeological ruins. Vikramshila University was an important Buddhist centre of learning where subjects like theology, philosophy, grammar, metaphysics, and logic were taught. We return to the ship and sail towards Munger, anchoring en route. Lunch onboard.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
DAY 9
Munger - Simaria
Arrive in Munger. After breakfast visit the Chandika Sthan Temple, which is dedicated to Goddess Shakti. It is one of the fifty-one Shakti Peethas, associated with the legend of Lord Vishnu who to save the world from Lord Shiva’s wrath, cut into pieces the corpse of Devi Sati that Shiva was carrying. Return to ship and sail towards Simaria while enjoying lunch onboard.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
DAY 10
Simaria - Patna
Morning walks in the riverside village of Simaria to see the daily activities of the local people. Return to the ship and sail through the wonderful countryside to Patna, enjoying breakfast and lunch. Patna is the capital of the State of Bihar and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world founded in 490 BCE as Pataliputra.
Overnight onboard MV Ganga Vilas
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
DAY 11
Disembark Patna
Disembark after breakfast and proceed to visit Golghar, the 18th century beehive-shaped granary that was built for the prevention of famine in 1784 by Warren Hastings, the British Governor General of India. Then visit the Takht Sri Patna Sahib Gurdwara (Sikh Temple) that was built to commemorate the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs in 1666.
Thereafter continue on your onward journey.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
CHRONICLE OF PASSAGE
MV Ganga Vilas
62.5 Meters
LENGTH OVERALL
18 Suites
MAX 36 GUESTS
French Balconies
EVERY SUITE
Ayurvedic Spa
WELLNESS DECK & GYM
reservations
08048673776
UPCOMING DEPARTURES
Winter Cruises 2026–27
MV GANGES VOYAGER • 7N 8D
ARTISAN HERITAGE PASSAGE
Artisans of Bengal 2026–27
MV BENGAL GANGA • 3N 4D
PILGRIMAGE & SACRED SHRINES
Kolkata - Nabadwip
Starting Price From
$9,045 USD
/ Guest
