Cruises on the Ganges, Luxury River Cruises in India Aboard the ABN Rajmahal

In these all too fast-paced times, there can be no better way to travel for pleasure than by boat and the cruises on the Ganges aboard the ABN Rajmahal, offered here by Secret Retreats, are no exception. A source of life for millions of people down the ages to the present day, the river Ganges, or Ganga, tells the story of life in India and a Ganga cruise will share this story with you in the most luxurious way. Rising in the Himalayas, the Ganges River travels more than 1,500miles through India and Bangladesh, from the world’s highest mountains to the Bay of Bengal, its waters witnessing the passage of time, history unfolding along its banks telling the stories of the people, sharing in the lives of the people as it continues its never-ending journey from the mountains to the sea. So many fascinating stories await to be told to you on a Ganges River cruise. The cruises on the Ganges offered by Assam Bengal Navigation range from 3 nights to 15 nights aboard the ABN Rajmahal cruise ship. Cruises on the Ganges are to some degree seasonal, with navigation to the holy city of Varanasi only possible in summer, August through September. The Varanasi Ganga cruise travels upstream from Patna to Varanasi and the reverse Varanasi to Patna over 7 serene and fascinating nights. Assam Bengal Navigation’s cruises on the lower Ganges however, operate all year round. The lower Ganges River cruise travels between the West Bengal cities of Kolkata and Farakka. Hear the stories of life spanning a thousand years and more, from the 12th century city of Gaur to the 18th century stories of Clive of India and the British Raj, to Mughal gardens and palaces to the stories of belief in the region from Hindu to Muslim to the Hare Krishna movement, fascination and wonder await you at every stop along the way. The Lower Ganges is also known as the Hooghly River. A distributary of the River Ganges, the Hooghly flows off the main branch of the Ganges at Farakka and heads south to Kolkata and then the Bay of Bengal. The ABN Rajmahal cruises on the lower Ganges include a 3-day itinerary from Kolkata to Kolkata, turning downstream at Mayapur. This Hoogly River cruise is a perfect choice for travellers to Kolkata, enjoy a few days staying in this interesting city perhaps at our favourite and perfectly located city residence, The Glenburn Penthouse, and then take a Kolkata to Kolkata 3-night cruise aboard the luxurious river boat, the ABN Rajmahal. Cruises on the Ganges with Assam Bengal Navigation will share all the stories the river has to tell with you, as you relax in the luxury of your ABN Rajmahal river boat, from 3-nights to 6-nights, to 7-nights, to 8-nights, we have a Ganga cruise itinerary to suit every travel plan and budget.

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Board the ABN Rajmahal to Cruise the Ganges River in Luxury

Cruise the Ganges River aboard the ABN Rajmahal and luxury is assured. Launched in 2014 the ABN Rajmahal was designed with cruising the Ganges River in mind. Built in Kolkata, the ABN Rajmahal has an extra shallow draft to allow it to travel much further upstream than any of the similar riverboats offering cruises on the Ganges. The Rajmahal is 50m long with a beam of 10m and is fitted with 22 luxurious air-conditioned cabins. The 18 double cabins are 19sqm and set with twin or double beds, perfect for couples or two friends travelling together. There are also 4 single cabins which at 16sqm are the ideal choice for solo travellers. All of the cabins aboard ABN Rajmahal are air-conditioned and set with private en-suite bathrooms with shower and complimentary designer Ayurveda toiletries. The cabins are set across the Main Deck and the Upper deck with 14 of the twin/double cabins located on the Upper Deck and the remaining 4 twin/double cabins and the 4 single cabins set on the Rajmahal’s Main Deck. All of the cabins enjoy French Balconies sharing panoramic views with guests as they cruise the Ganges River in luxury aboard the ABN Rajmahal. Whether on a lower Ganges River cruise or an upper Ganges River cruise you will have time to enjoy the onboard facilities of the ABN Rajmahal. This riverboat though new, is full of old-world charm and classic, warm hospitality of the style that India does best. Onboard, the Rajmahal features a restaurant offering delicious Assamese, Indian and International cuisine, a bar lounge, a saloon with library, and a spa offering a range of treatments and massage. The uppermost deck of the boat is the sundeck, with a variety of loungers some under shade and some under sun. A Ganges River cruise aboard the ABN Rajmahal is a wonderful opportunity to slow life down, enjoy the charm, elegance and warm hospitality onboard and let the slow pace of the river cruise relax and revive you as only a river cruise can.

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The Varanasi Ganga Cruise and Upper Ganges River Cruises

During the months of August and September the ABN Rajmahal plies the waters of the upper Ganges and shares a Varanasi Ganga cruise with guests. Sailing between the cities of Patna to the east and Varanasi to the west, the Varanasi ganga cruise is 7 nights whether taking the upstream journey from Patna or the downstream journey from Varanasi. Truly a journey through history, it is worth remembering that the holy city of Varanasi dates back more than 3,000years and is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. A centre for pilgrimage for all Hindus, rituals have been held nightly on the Ghats overlooking the Ganges for 1,000s of years, it is a place where time stands still and where Hindus believe they can find salvation. Shore visits also include trips to explore sights from the days of the British Raj, the Maharaja’s Palace and museum at Ramnagar, the great Mughal Fort of Chunar and Sarnath, where the Buddha preached his first sermon to name a few of the highlights of this Varanasi Ganga cruise. Of the other upper Ganges River cruises, there is a choice of either a 6 or 8-night itinerary between Patna and Farakka. It is along this stretch of the river that, if you are lucky, you will see the Gangetic Dolphin. This Ganga cruise takes in a lot of very interesting sights all related to the culture and history of this region. Highlights include learning about the East India Company, visit a silk weaving village, the ancient city of Gaur, the ruins of Nalanda which is considered to be the world’s oldest residential seat of learning dating from over 1,500years ago, the beautiful temple town of Bateshwar home to Jain and Buddhist temples, and not forgetting an off the beaten path stop at the town that is the namesake for our luxurious riverboat, Rajmahal. Founded by the Mughal Emperor, Akbar the Great, this enigmatic town is littered with atmospheric ruins of palaces and temples. A river of life, the holiest river in the world, a region steeped in culture and history and wonderful wildlife, a cruise on the Ganges River is the holiday of a lifetime.

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