MV Mahabaahu (Downstream 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Detailed Itinerary
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Day 1
Jorhat – Neamati Ghat – MV Mahabaahu
Jorhat
Arrive at the Jorhat airport and transfer to Neamati Ghat (with packed lunch). After the essential safety briefing, we check into our cabin.
On the sun deck, we raise a traditional toast to the mighty Brahmaputra River that carves the valley of Assam. If Lucky, we catch a fleeting glimpse of the Gangetic dolphins and notice the sky flocked with bar headed geese, egrets and cormorants returning to their abodes on deserted islands as the sun lowers itself in the western horizon.
We enjoy a talk on 'Sibsagar, the seat of Ahom Civilisation' that ruled the north eastern region of India for six centuries. A short talk on 'Tea in Assam' continues over High Tea.
The evening follows into the welcome dinner.
Overnight on-board on MV Mahabaahu (Packed-L, D)
Accomodation -
Day 2
MV Mahabaahu – Sibsagar / Home-hosted lunch
Sivasagar
After an early breakfast, we start our 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 one of the highest Shiva temple in India.
We visit The Talatal or Kareng Ghar, the palace of the Ahom Kings and the Rang Ghar, an amphitheatre, a place of entertainment or important meetings for the Royals and their guests.
Thereafter, we drive to a Tea Estate for a relaxed afternoon and a traditional Assamese lunch with the Tea-estate family who have been involved in the tea business for over a century.
We return to MV Mahabaahu by sunset and enjoy a relaxed evening before proceeding for dinner.
Overnight on-board on MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Accomodation -
Day 3
MV Mahabaahu – Majuli Island & Mishing Village visit
Majuli
We start the day with Yoga or go for a walk along the swamps to catch a sight of owls, orioles, changeable eagles, adjutant storks, sea gulls, kingfishers, swallows and many more.
As we have our breakfast, we sail towards Majuli, a cosmos of Assamese culture where various philosophies co-exist and thrive.
After breakfast, we enjoy a talk on 'Majuli, the seat of Vaishnav culture’ and proceed in the excursion boats to the mainland where 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. We enjoy hot lunch on MV Mahabaahu and sail towards the closest 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 ethnic colourful cotton weaves and indulges in a dhoti tying and Mekhela Chaadar wearing demonstration.
After the Mishing Village visit, MV Mahabaahu heads towards Dhansiri Mukh where the waters of Brahmaputra and Dhansiri meet, while we enjoy a talk on ‘Assam, its geographical location & importance’. We later enjoy the evening under the stars on a deserted island and 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 4
MV Mahabaahu – Boat Safari
Kaziranga National Park
After Yoga/early morning walk on a deserted island, MV Mahabaahu sails towards the Eastern Range of Kaziranga. We enjoy breakfast and a talk on ‘The River Brahmaputra and the life that exists alongside’ and proceed for the boat safari. 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 are always determined by the weather conditions.
We return for lunch. This evening we enjoy the Chef’s Cooking Demonstration followed by a talk on ‘Tea, Silk and Jute in Assam.’
An evening on a deserted island with bonfire is always exclusive. We enjoy dinner on MV Mahabaahu.
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 – Bishwanath Ghat – Weaver’s village and Silghat – Tea Estate or Jute Mill
Kaziranga National Park
After Yoga/walk on the deserted island and breakfast on MV Mahabaahu, we enjoy an interesting talk on ‘Kaziranga and the wild life in India’. Then we step into our excursion boats to go to 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 sail on for the next couple of hours and enjoy a relaxed lunch and reach Silghat. Take a short drive to the Kaliabore tea estate, which is a vast undulating expanse of land 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)
We return to where the ship is anchored. Close by a co-operative Jute Mill is an interesting place to understand how the Jute fibre takes the form of very eco-friendly gunny bags. At sunset, we enjoy a cultural evening on the ship followed by an early dinner.
Overnight on-board on MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Accomodation -
Day 6
MV Mahabaahu – Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga National Park
Early morning wakeup call and after a hot cup of tea/coffee, drive 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; 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.
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 wild life adventure and an extensive coverage of this magnificent park.
We return to MV Mahabaahu for a leisurely lunch and a relaxed afternoon. In the evening, we proceed for a traditional Assamese theme dinner.
Overnight on-board on MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Accomodation -
Day 7
MV Mahabaahu – Village visit & Full day sail and Peacock Island
Guwahati
We catch up on Yoga on an island or on the deck for an hour and move on to breakfast while MV Mahabaahu lifts anchor and heads on towards an island that is occupied predominantly by a ‘bangla’ speaking Muslim community who are involved in the extensive farming. After lunch, we enjoy a talk on ‘Kamakhya and the Occult and Peacock Island’. After a visit to this village, we return to the ship for lunch and sail towards the Peacock Island - It would be a good idea to have one’s binoculars and cameras at hand.
We later sail towards Pandu Port. Get ready for the Farewell Dinner ‘Alvida Bhoj’ and enjoy a relaxed evening.
Overnight on-board on MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)
Accomodation -
Day 8
MV Mahabaahu – Guwahati / Kamakhya Temple
Guwahati
We have a relaxed breakfast. Luggage down, as per the flight schedule. With packed lunch, we drive to the Kamakhya Temple (flight time permitting). This Temple is devoted to the eternal feminine the Kama Khya, goddess of desire.
We bid farewell to the land of Kamakhya and drive to the airport to board our onward flight.
(B, Packed-L)
Accomodation
