Brahmaputra River Cruise

You will be received at Guwahati airport and then drive to Kamakhya temple, one of the Shakti peeths and powerful temple of the goddess Sati. Highly revered as an important Hindu pilgrimage, the temple is known for its tantric practices. Thereafter, head to the port and board the ship MV Mahabaahu, where you will receive an Assamese welcome. As you set sail to Peacock island, catch a glimpse of a fleeting endangered river Dolphin. The evening will be dotted by presentation on the Peacock island and its most important inhabitant, the endangered Golden Langur and enjoy a talk on ‘Kamakhya and the Occult of Assam’, followed by the ‘Kamrup Swaagat Bhoj’—a sit down welcome dinner that completes the day.(D)

As the ship sets sail early in the morning, enjoy yoga on the deck for an hour and move on to breakfast, while cruising upstream with jungle-covered hills rising on either side, often battling against strong currents and stopping at an island that is occupied predominantly by Bangla speaking Muslim community who are involved in extensive farming. Thereafter, anchor at a deserted island for the evening and enjoy sitting around a bonfire and barbecue.

Today sail on for the next couple of hours and enjoy a relaxed lunch and reach Silghat. After a talk on ‘Tea and Jute in Assam’, take a short drive to Kaliabor Tea Estate which is a vast expanse of undulating estate with tea bushes and witness tea plucking. Thereafter, proceed to the tea factory to see the production process of Assam Tea. (The tea factory is not operational from mid-December to mid-February as the tea is at its dormant stage during this time of the year). Visit a nearby co-operative Jute Mill, an interesting place to understand how the Jute fibre takes the form of very eco friendly gunny bags. By sunset, enjoy a cultural evening on the ship.

Rise very early in the morning and drive to Kaziranga National Park, home to 70% of the world’s endangered One Horned Rhino and a varied density of other large mammals, apes and birds. The park is also distinguished for a high density of cats including the elusive tiger. The park has three ranges- Central, Eastern and Western and the vegetation ranges from woodlands, tall grasslands to swamps. After reaching the Central range of the park, embark on an elephant ride, which lasts for an hour and look for rhinos, tigers, swamp deer, hog deer and a large number of interesting birds. The park will not cease to surprise you one bit. After breakfast at a resort in the park, drive to the Western range and go on open jeep safaris, which takes you into the further depths of the jungle and wildlife adventure. Return to the ship for lunch and a leisurely afternoon. After the leisurely pace of the day and having recovered the lost sleep, get together for a talk on ‘Silk in Assam’, as the ship reaches the shores of Bishwanath Ghat. Here, visit the Shiva Dol in reverence of Lord Shiva and enjoy a walk through the village and see how this suburban village thrives. Return to the ship to enjoy an evening on a deserted island and then proceed to a scrumptious dinner.

This morning, the ship sails early towards the Eastern Range of Kaziranga for boat Safari. Proceed for the safari in tenders for about two hours. The shores are high but one can see 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 though are determined by the weather conditions. Return for lunch and in the evening enjoy the Chef’s cooking demonstration followed by a talk on ‘Majuli’, the river island and the seat of neo vaishnav culture. The rest of the evening on a deserted island with bonfire and then return to the ship for the night.

After Yoga, as you have your breakfast, sail towards the Mishing Village and further on to Majuli, a cosmos of Assamese culture where various philosophies co-exist and thrive. The island was once the largest river island in the world but it has lost a third of its mass to floods and erosion that happen each year, Set off in our tenders to a Mishing village in the island. The Mishings are the local tribespeople here, who are excellent weavers and witness the rural way of life here, their bamboo stilt huts or just how they go about their lives in the paddy fields or fishing and the womenfolk busy weaving. Return to the ship for lunch and then set off to Kamalabari Sattra, one of the oldest Assamsese monastery and witness a performance of Sattriya dance, a classical dance where the Vaishnavite priests dance to the rhythm of cymbals, drums, and chanting. Return to the ship and enjoy a traditional Assamese evening.

After an early breakfast, start for a day-excursion to Sibsagar, the ancient city and 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. Sibsagar town literally means ‘the ocean of Lord Shiva’ as it is built around a huge man made water tank ordered by the Ahom Queen. The Shiva Dol, constructed in the year 1734 is believed to be the tallest Shiva temple in India.Also visit the Talatal or Kareng Ghar, palace of the Ahom Kings and the Rang Ghar, an amphitheater, a place of entertainment or important meetings for the Royals and their guests. Thereafter, drive to a Tea Estate for a relaxed afternoon and enjoy a traditional Assamese lunch with the family of estate owners, who have been involved in the tea business for over a century. Return to the ship by sunset and enjoy a relaxed evening in the Soma lounge before proceeding for dinner. Your last night on the cruise.

An early start for a 6-hour drive to Shillong, the capital city of the state of Meghalaya and home to the Khasi tribe. Shillong has rightly earned the sobriquet of “Scotland of the East” owing to the rolling hills, beautiful scenery and climate. Here stay at a resort overlooking the picturesque Umiam lake and rest of the day at leisure.

In the morning after breakfast you will visit the Don Bosco museum, which showcases the entire of North East under one roof. You will then visit Shillong peak and get a bird’s eye view of the entire city of Shillong. After lunch visit local Khasi marketplace and then go see a game of ’Tir’ or archery gambling involving archers to shoot over a thousand colourful arrows to get the lucky number and learn about the mythical story behind this game. Evening at the hotel/ lodge. Elephant falls.

In the morning, drive to Cherrapunjee, the erstwhile rainiest place in the world. On the way, experience the beautiful rolling hills, the flora and the waterfalls, most importantly the Nohkalikai or Seven Sisters Falls, a seven segmented waterfall which falls from a height of over a 1000 ft. Upon reaching Cherrapunjee you will check in at Cherrapunjee resort, located amidst clouds, green hills and overlooking the Bangladesh plains at a distance. After lunch go for a short trek around the village and meet the local people. Overnight in hotel at Cherrapunjee.

In the morning after breakfast visit the Living Root Bridges, the War Khasis, the local tribe of the place discovered an indigenous form of making bridges by intertwining the roots of rubber tree and use trunks of bet net tree as root guidance systems. The Double Decker Root bridge is one stacked over the other and is one of its kind in the world. start your exciting hike through meandering paths and thick tropical woods and little villages on the way down to the Double Decker Living Root Bridge. The place provides a perfect setting for a picnic lunch, after which you will start your uphill hike back and return to the resort and relax. You can choose to go for the day long trek or go for a shorter trek and relax in the hotel for the day with magnificent views of waterfalls, gorges and the distant plains of Bangladesh.

Check out of the hotel and drive to Guwahati Airport for your onward journey home.