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Bangladesh - Ancient Bengal and the Durga Puja Festival Tour Rating: Traveller Building on the success of our popular Discovery tour, this itinerary has been especially designed to highlight some of Bangladesh’s most important ancient treasures and explore a corner of the country very few travellers visit. The north-western division of Rajshahi offers remote towns with a calmer pace than you are likely to find elsewhere in Bangladesh. There is also an enormous variety of historical monuments, including mosques, Hindu temples, as well as Raj and British-era buildings. Before discovering these historical gems you will experience a voyage on the famous ‘Rocket’ paddle steamer, bound for the UNESCO protected Sundarbans mangrove forest. Always popular with our clients, the Rocket is an ideal way to observe rural life float past, whilst you sip tea served by your first class cabin stewards. But the best is yet to come, as this very special tour culminates with the last day of the country’s most important Hindu festival, the colourful Durga Puja. Day 1 - London Dhaka Travel overnight to Dhaka Day 2 - Arrival in Dhaka Airport to Hotel transfer provided. Overnight Centre Point Hotel, Dhaka (BB) Day 3 - Dhaka and the Rocket Time for a short city tour before joining the ‘Rocket’ paddle steamer for your journey south. Overnight aboard the Rocket – Cabin Class (FB) Day 4 - Mongla Arrival in Mongla, the terminating point of your Rocket adventure. Transfer from the Rocket to a local hotel or to our privately chartered boat, ready for departure the next morning, bound for the Sundarbans. Overnight local hotel or aboard Sundarbans boat (BL) Day 5 - Sundarbans Full day excursion to the UNESCO protected Sundarbans, the largest littoral mangrove belt in the world. Wildlife in the forest includes wild deer, otters, monkeys, crocodiles, 50 species of reptiles and numerous river dolphins. Of course it is also the home of the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger. Overnight Hotel Pasur, Mongla or Castle Salaam Hotel, Khulna (BL) Day 6 – Mongla/ Khulna to Rajshahi After breakfast we will make a very scenic drive (5 to 6 hours) to Rajshahi. Time permitting we will visit Puthia home to the largest number of historically important Hindu structures in Bangladesh. Overnight Parjatan Hotel Rajshahi (BL) Day 7 – Rajshahi to Bogora Today we will explore the ancient sites of Bengal. First you will visit Paharpur, which dates from the 8th century AD and was once the single largest Buddhist monastery south of the Himalaya. After lunch you will continue to Mahasthangarh the oldest known city in Bangladesh dating back to at least 4th century BC. Overnight Parjatan Hotel Bogra (BL) Day 8 – Bogora to Srimangal via Dhaka After breakfast we will make a beautiful 5 hour drive to Dhaka, passing through some of the most picturesque countryside in Bangladesh. After lunch transfer to the domestic airport for a scheduled flight to the northern city of Sylhet. After a 2 hour transfer by road through the country’s principle tea growing area we reach the town of Srimangal. Overnight Tea Resort Srimangal (BLD) Day 9 - Tea Estates and Tribal Villages Full day to explore the local area visiting some of the tea estates and nearby tribal villages. The villages of the Khashia tribe are usually located on hilltops surrounded by betel-nut trees which is their cash crop. Overnight Tea Resort, Srimangal (BLD) Day 10 – Srimangal to Cox’s Bazar Early morning transfer by road (3½ hours) to Dhaka airport where we will take a scheduled flight to Cox’s Bazar, the country’s premier beach resort. On arrival transfer to the first class Seagull Hotel. Overnight Seagull Hotel, Cox’s Bazar (BL) Day 11 - Maheskhali Excursion Today you have the option of exploring nearby Maheskhali Island, a predominantly car free oasis, free from much of the hustle and bustle that you experience travelling in Bangladesh. Our tour will be by bicycle rickshaw. Alternatively, simply enjoy the beach and excellent facilities of the Seagull hotel. Overnight Seagull Hotel, Cox's Bazar (BL) Day 12 -Cox’s Bazar to Dhaka Transfer to the airport for a scheduled flight back to the capital. On arrival transfer to our comfortable hotel. Overnight Center Point Hotel, Dhaka (BL) Day 13 – Durga Puja Festival, Dhaka One of the most exciting events in Dhaka’s festival calendar is the colourful Durga Puja, which takes place at the Dhakeswari Temple to commemorate the victory of the mighty warrior goddess, Durga. You will visit the temple in the morning to soak up the atmosphere and witness this amazing spectacle. After lunch you will watch the parade of devotees with their colourful clay-and-bamboo effigies pass through the streets of the capital towards the river front. At nightfall the statues of Durga are immersed in the Buriganga, ending the festivities and marking a fabulous end to this remarkable tour. Overnight Center Point Hotel, Dhaka (BL) Day 14 - Dhaka to London Transfer to Dhaka airport for your flight home Day 15, 23 October - Arrive London Top of page>> |
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