Threads & Makers | The Textile Cruise
Kolkata – Fulia – Kalna – Jiaganj – Murshidabad – Nabadwip –
Chandernagore – Kolkata
7 nights / 8 days Cruise
22 – 29 Nov 2023
Arrival in Kolkata and transfer to the jetty for embarkation. Lunch onboard. Thereafter visit the Weaver’s Studio, a Textile Study and Resource Centre for an introduction to some of the fabulous fabrics and weaves we will encounter on our travels. Their creations are inspired by historical textiles, Indian trade cloths, seasons, ethnic tribes, across-the-border cultures, and contemporary techniques.
Dinner & overnight onboard Ganges Voyager
After breakfast, visit the Flower Market, where you can see artists creating a variety of garlands, ornaments, and other items made of flowers and leaves for temples, weddings, and other uses. Thereafter Panoramic Tour of Dalhousie Square’s heritage buildings; St. John's Church, and Victoria Memorial. Return to ship for lunch and begin sail upstream to Fulia passing below the Howrah Bridge and seeing various colonial buildings along the Ganges River.
Dinner & overnight onboard Ganges Voyager
After breakfast, an excursion of Fulia, a riverside textile that specializes in a combination of jacquard and jamdani saree weaving. Jamdani is typically handloom woven fabric using a mixture of cotton and gold thread. It is one of the most time and labor-intensive forms of handloom weaving, and the most artistic textile rich in motifs. Return to ship and sail to Kalna. Lunch onboard. Thereafter visit a local weaver’s home to see the traditional weaving of muslin cloth. Visit the Nabakailas Temple which contains 108 eight-slope-roofed shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Dinner & overnight onboard Ganges Voyager
Sailing through the morning and enjoying breakfast and lunch onboard we arrive at Jiaganj, which is renowned for Baluchari weaving. Post lunch ride e-rickshaws to visit the weaving area. Baluchari is a highly decorative silk fabric, notable for its pictorial themes showcasing both social life and traditions. Time permitting visit the Jain Temples and a heritage mansion in Azimganj town located on the opposite bank of the river.
Dinner & overnight onboard Ganges Voyager
Morning sail to Murshidabad. Post breakfast visit the Hazarduari Palace, which dominates the waterfront. Built by an English architect, McLeod Duncan, 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. Thereafter ride e-rickshaws to the Katra mosque, which has distinctive minarets. En route, a stopover to see the process of making raw silk from silkworm cocoons done in the cottages where these skilled workers live.
Dinner & overnight onboard Ganges Voyager
After a restful morning, enjoying breakfast and observing the local life along the riverbanks, we arrive at Nabadwip, the abode of Saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the founder of the Hindu Vaishnav sect and a social reformer. Nabadwip is blessed with numerous old and new temples belonging to different Hindu sects. Post lunch explore the riverbank village by walking to see the local people engaged in handloom weaving of cotton fabric, mainly saris and scarves.
Dinner & overnight onboard Ganges Voyager
Today we sail to Chandernagore which was established as a French colony. Post breakfast explore the French colonial buildings along the promenade, including the former French governor's residence, now converted into a museum that features an exhibition of items that depict life during this period. Also, visit the Sacred Heart Church which marks the beauty of the architecture during the French period. Return to the ship and continue our journey to Kolkata while enjoying lunch onboard. We arrive in Kolkata by evening.
Dinner & overnight onboard Ganges Voyager
Following breakfast disembark the ship and transfer for your onward journey.
Important Note:
- The itinerary may be readjusted due to local conditions and days of the week, to avoid closure of monuments/museums. Last-minute sailing adjustments may also occur. The onboard tour staff will announce or post the exact time for each activity.
- The letters in parentheses indicate the included meal of the day B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner.