MV Mahabaahu (Upstream Cruise)
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Introduction
MV Mahabaahu offers an expedition form of cruising on the mighty Brahmaputra that refuses to be tamed. Guwahati area experiences a surge of 35 ft in height of Brahmaputra waters during monsoons.
- Essentially Wild Life
- Rural
- Cultural
- Tea Tourism
Destinations Covered
Guwahati
The Gateway to the North-EastGuwahati is the largest city in Assam and Northeast India. The slow, meandering Brahmaputra River is a focal point of the downtown while the lush hills of the Shillong Plateau provide a verdant backdrop for the suburbs.
History and Culture
There is a magical aura that still lingers over the ever-expanding city. The demon king Narkasura is said to have built this ancient city. Another reason for Guwahati's charm is its being the ancient 'Kamrup', the birthplace of Kamdeva, the God of Love.
Kaziranga National Park
The haven of one-horned rhinosA UNESCO World Heritage site, Kaziranga is famous as the abode of the one-horned rhinoceros. Made unique with a vibrant, well preserved and sustained ecology this park has a very versatile bio diversity which makes Kaziranga National Park a very important and popular tourist destination.
Sivasagar
Imprints of Ahom DynastySivasagar, previously spelled Sibsagar, is a city in the Sivasagar District of Assam, about 360 kilometres northeast of Guwahati. It is the headquarters of the Sivasagar district. This city is surrounded by the Dehing rainforest, where the Dihing and Lohit rivers meet.
Majuli
World's Largest Fresh Water IslandMājuli or Majoli is a river island in the Brahmaputra River, Assam and in 2016 it became the first island to be made a district in India. It had an area of 880 square kilometres (340 sq mi) at the beginning of the 20th century, but having lost significantly to erosion it covers 352 square kilometres (136 sq mi) as at 2014. Majuli has shrunk as the river surrounding it has grown. Majuli is currently listed as the world's largest river island in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Jorhat
Tea Capital of IndiaJorhat is the cultural capital of Assam; home to the largest Tea research station, there are as many as 135 tea gardens in Jorhat.
Detailed Itinerary
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Day 1
Guwahati – MV Mahabaahu
Guwahati
Arrive at the Guwahati International Airport and with packed lunch, we drive through the busy streets to the Kamakhya Temple. This Temple is devoted to Kama Khya, the eternal Feminine- the goddess of desire.
After the Temple visit, we drive towards Pandu Port and check into the Cruise and gather on the open deck to enjoy the first sail!!!
A quick orientation and we de-board for a short visit of the picturesque Peacock Island, the smallest island on the Brahmaputra (flight time permitting). It would be a good idea to have one’s binoculars and cameras at hand.
Proceed into the evening with a talk on ‘Kamakhya and the occult in Assam’.
Soon MV Mahabaahu drops anchor and the evening follows into the welcome dinner.
Overnight on-board on MV Mahabaahu (Packed-L, D)
Accomodation -
Day 2
MV Mahabaahu – Village visit & full day sail
Guwahati
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 who are involved in extensive farming. After visiting this village, we return to the ship for lunch and sail towards the Orang Point.
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 and a barbeque.
NOTE: (Bonfire may be avoided if a suitable sandbank cannot be found or if we experience inclement weather conditions)
Overnight on-board on MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Accomodation -
Day 3
MV Mahabaahu – Silghat – Tea factory or 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 on for the next couple of hours and enjoy a relaxed lunch as we reach Silghat. After a talk on ‘Tea, Jute & Silk in Assam’, 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 not operational from mid-December to mid-February as it is time for pruning the tea bushes)
While returning to the ship, we visit a co-operative Jute Mill which is an interesting place to understand how the Jute fibre takes the form of very eco-friendly gunny bags.
We enjoy a cultural evening on the ship followed by an early dinner.
Overnight on-board on MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Accomodation -
Day 4
MV Mahabaahu – Kaziranga National Park & Bishwanath – weaver’s village
Kaziranga National Park
An early wake- up call with Tea/coffee and we set out 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 National Park and are ready to start our morning adventure. An elephant-back safari is an experience, to 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 its visitors!!!
After breakfast at a resort in Kaziranga, 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 return to MV Mahabaahu, start sailing towards Bishwanath Ghat as we enjoy a leisurely lunch and a relaxed afternoon.
We get into the excursion boats to reach the shores of Bishwanath Ghat. We walk through the village and are struck by the simplicity of life while the weaver women surround us with their silk and cotton weaves. We enjoy some happy interaction with them.
We return to the ship to enjoy an evening on a deserted island and then proceed for dinner.
NOTE: (Bonfire may be avoided if a suitable sandbank cannot be found or if we experience inclement weather conditions)
Overnight on-board on MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Accomodation -
Day 5
MV Mahabaahu – Boat safari
Sivasagar
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast over a talk on ‘The River Brahmaputra and the life that exists alongside’.
We proceed for the boat safari viewing roof turtles on protruding drift wood, water lizards, otters, elephants, wild buffaloes, rhinos, darters, herons, pied kingfishers, white throated kingfishers, serpent eagles and many more. (The sightings are determined by the weather conditions)
We return to the ship for hot lunch. This evening, we enjoy the Chef’s Cooking Demonstration and sample the snacks. The evening on a deserted island with bonfire is always exclusive! We enjoy dinner on-board.
NOTE: (Bonfire may be avoided if a suitable sandbank cannot be found or if we experience inclement weather conditions)
Overnight on-board on MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Accomodation -
Day 6
MV Mahabaahu – Mishing Village
Sivasagar
After Yoga and breakfast, we enjoy the sail towards the Mishing Village.
The Mishings live on the bank of river in 'Chang Ghars' -houses with raised platforms. All Mishing women are expert weavers. We can buy the ethnic colorful cotton weaves and indulge in a dhoti tying and Mekhela Chaadar wearing demonstration.
We return to the ship to enjoy a talk on ‘Sibsagar and the Ahom civilization’ and proceed to get ready for a Traditional Assamese evening.
Overnight on-board on MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Accomodation -
Day 7
MV Mahabaahu – Majuli Island and Sibsagar
Majuli
After breakfast, we enjoy a talk on ‘Majuli the seat of Neo - Vaishnav Culture’ and then proceed in our excursion boats to the mainland. Here on, a drive takes us to a scenic corner of a Satra (Monastery) for an interesting cultural performance by Satriya singers and dancers.
Next, we proceed to Kamlabari Satra to witness the Vaishnavite priests dancing to the rhythm of cymbals, drums and chanting in the temple premise. The humble dwellings of the monks are a revelation of utmost simplicity.
We enjoy lunch on MV Mahabaahu as we sail towards Neamati Ghat.
Post lunch, we drive through the countryside to reach Sibsagar, the ancient city, built around a huge man made water tank ordered by the Ahom queen. A town that literally means 'the ocean of Lord Shiva’. We notice the district is strewn with the tell-tale ruins of a powerful empire of the Ahoms. Sibsagar was the capital of the Tai-speaking Ahoms who came in the 13th Century AD to the area from the north-east and were essentially of Tibeto-Burman origin.
The Shiva Dol, constructed in the year 1734 is believed to be one of the highest Shiva temple in India.
We visit Talatal or Kareng Ghar which was the palace of the Ahom Kings and after a leisurely stroll in and around the monument, we go on to Rang Ghar which was a place for hosting wrestling bouts and buffalo fights and other entertainment or important meetings of the Royals and their guests.
We return to MV Mahabaahu by sunset for the farewell dinner.
Overnight on-board on MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Accomodation -
Day 8
MV Mahabaahu – Neamati Ghat – Jorhat & Departure
Jorhat
Morning is at leisure to enjoy, Yoga/ bird-watching or perhaps an early morning indulgence in the spa.
A relaxed breakfast awaits all (Baggage down prior to breakfast is requested for easy de-boarding)
We drive to the Jorhat airport en-route stopping at a tea estate to enjoy a traditional Assamese early lunch.
Depart for the airport to board the flight to the onward destination.
(B, Packed-L)
Accomodation
