Mighty Brahmaputra Cruise (3 Nights Upstream)

Detailed Itinerary

1. Day 1 Arrive Guwahati | Board MV Mahabaahu

   Guwahati

   On arrival at Guwahati Airport, step into the receiving area where our Cruise representative will meet you. We drive through the busy streets to the Kamakhya Temple. This Temple is devoted to Kamakhya, the eternal Feminine- the goddess of desire.

   We drive to Pandu port where we will be welcomed on board the MV Mahabaahu. You will be allotted the cabins and soon after we enjoy lunch on board.

   We sail away from the Saraighat bridge that supports a rail and a road and marks the narrowest stretch of Brahmaputra. We sail past the Peacock Island and notice the hills around Guwahati that make it picturesque.

   We will use the afternoon to settle in, and in the evening, indulge in a short local sail to enjoy the hues of the sun as it dips into the horizon. On the deck we raise a toast to the River Brahmaputra and enjoy this sundowner and look out for the Gangetic Dolphins that hunt in these deep waters.

   After the sun dips, we gather for a safety briefing and a presentation on the ship’s facilities.

   Soon, MV Mahabaahu drops anchor and the evening follows into the welcome dinner at Ship’s Restaurant ‘Mungri Mungram’.

   Overnight on board MV Mahabaahu (L, D)

   

   Kamakhya Temple

   Accomodation

   

   MV Mahabaahu

2. Day 2 Village Visit/ Sail on Brahmaputra

   Guwahati

   Today morning MV Mahabaahu lifts anchor early. We enjoy Yoga on the deck for an hour and move on for breakfast. We enjoy a talk on 'Assam, its geographical location in the national and international context and how it is acclaiming recognition'. MV Mahabaahu heads on towards an island that is occupied predominantly by a ‘Bangla’ speaking Muslim community.

   We interact with the village people to understand their simple and satisfied subsistence life styles. They live off the Brahmaputra river, both for farming and fishing. They understand that they can enjoy the privilege of owning large expanse of land only till the river decides to remain benevolent. The river starts receding from October to mid-Feb and slowly the snow-melt in the Himalayas starts creating volume and an indication to get ready.

   We return to the ship for lunch and enjoy some leisurely time on board or one can indulge in a steam, Sauna, Jacuzzi or an Ayurvedic Massage or any other treatment. You can also enjoy a dip in the swimming pool or be on the sun deck.

   Evening sets in and over a cup of tea, we enjoy a talk on 'The River Brahmaputra and the tribal life’. We anchor at a deserted island for the evening and enjoy a bonfire with barbeque.

   NOTE: (Bonfire may be avoided if a suitable sandbank cannot be found or if we experience inclement weather conditions)

   Overnight on-board MV Mahabaahu Cruise (B, L, D)

   Accomodation

   

   MV Mahabaahu

3. Day 3 Sail To Silghat / Visit Tea Estate and Jute Mill

   Kaziranga National Park

   MV Mahabaahu sails early and we enjoy Yoga on the deck and move on for breakfast and for a talk on 'Wild life in Kaziranga with an overview of the wild life in India'.

   We sail along Singri and Tezpur and under the Kaliabhamura bridge and reach Silghat where the ship docks.

   After an early lunch we walk to the Jute Mill to witness the complete process in a co-operative mill for turning the golden fibre into a gunny bag. All the families in Silghat and the Jute Mill have formed a special eco-system for themselves. From here we take a short drive to Kaliabore Tea Estate which is a vast undulating expanse with tea bushes. We proceed to the tea factory to see the processing of the Assam Tea and getting an insight into all that goes into preparing a cup-of-tea. (The tea-factory is operational till mid Nov and after mid-Feb).

   We enjoy the State Dance of Assam, ‘Bihu’ by young village boys and girls and return to the ship.

   We spend the evening in the lounge and then enjoy a cultural evening on the ship followed by an early dinner.

   Overnight on-board MV Mahabaahu Cruise (B, L, D)

   

   Tea Estate

   Accomodation

   

   MV Mahabaahu

4. Day 4 Deboard MV Mahabaahu & Drive to Kaziranga National Park: Approx. 45 kms/ 1.5 hour

   Kaziranga National Park

   We rise very early today and after a warm cup of tea and some snacks, deboard MV Mahabaahu and drive towards the Kaziranga National Park. The most prized inhabitant of Kaziranga is the Greater One-Horned Indian Rhinoceros, but the Park is home to as many as 180 different mammals including wild elephants, tiger, deer, Asiatic wild buffalo and a rich variety of birds.

   We reach the Kohora Mihimukh range of the Kaziranga National Park and get ready to start our morning adventure; once-in-a-lifetime elephant-backed safari where we search for the elusive rhinoceros, tigers, swamp deer and hog deer and more and a large number of very interesting birds. The park never ceases to surprise us.

   We drive on to Bagori, the Western Range of Kaziranga and get into the open jeeps for some more wildlife adventure and an extensive coverage of this magnificent park.

   We look for the Asiatic Wild Elephants, the striped cats, the Wild Water Buffalo with enormous horn span, the hog deer and the swamp deer and of course the one horned-rhinoceros that this UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for.

   We return to the ship for an early lunch and then depart to our onward destination.

   (B)

   

   Elephant Safari

   Accomodation