The 1865-founded company, Pandaw, a big name in posh river cruises in Southeast Asia, was revived in 1995. There&rsquos enough colonial heritage that lingers in the beautiful brass-and-teak staterooms, the elegant promenade and observation decks, and even in the very concept of floating past the shores, comfortably insulated from the hustle and bustle of inland life. Pandaw&rsquos ships have &lsquoultra-shallow drafts&rsquo, which means they can travel to remote areas unreachable by other vessels. The cruises pride themselves on being essentially an outdoor experience and so skip comforts like mini-bars and satellite televisions. Their India cruise, titled &lsquoSlowly Down the Ganges&rsquo, sails between Kolkata and Varanasi over a leisurely 15 days, taking in Kalna, Murshidabad, Vikramshila, Nalanda, Bodh Gaya and other major sites. Visit www.pandaw.com.
