Assam Cruise: Dispatch 4 - Downstream

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Detailed Trip Description

The cruises feature visits and attractions such as wildlife viewing (both by jeep and on elephant back), village walks, visits to tea gardens, exploring country towns in cycle rickshaws, barbecues on deserted river islands, dance performances and visits to craft workshops in the state of Assam (North - East India). This 10-night cruise starts in Neamati, reached via either Jorhat or Dibrugarh, and ends in Guwahati. Highlights are the old capital of the Ahom kings at Sibsagar, Majuli Island with its Hindu monasteries, Kaziranga National Park, temples at Tezpur and Madan Kamdev, and the silk weaving village of Sualkuchi.

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Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - Delhi

 
Hotels

Arrive in India at either of the two main connecting cities of Delhi & Kolkata (Calcutta) to Guwahati and you will meet our representative at the airport, who will assist you in checking-in to your hotel.

Delhi Hotels picture

Day 2 - Dibrugarh

 
Commercial Flights

Arrive Dibrugarh, a typical colonial town and major American base in WWII.

Dibrugarh Commercial Flights picture
Buses

Drive 3 hrs to Neamati and embark on RV Charaidew. Alternatively arrive Jorhat airport and drive 30 minutes to embarkation point.

River Cruises

Embark on RV Charaidew.


Day 3 - At Sea

 
Sightseeing

Excursion by road to Sibsagar, the one-time capital of the Ahom kings of Assam. Shan by origin (Assam and Siam share the same derivation) but converted to Hinduism, they ruled Assam for some 700 years until the 1820s, and their culture and architecture is a strange and delightful amalgam of Indian and S.E. Asian. See temples with stupa-like profiles, and palaces of distinctive form - note the crocodiles and rather sexy caryatids that adorn the roof of the Rang Mahal. For the record book, the temple tank here is claimed to be the world's largest hand-excavated reservoir.

River Cruises

After lunch, return to the ship and cruise for 2 hours across the river to Majuli Island, supposedly the world's largest river island.


Day 4 - At Sea

 
Sightseeing

Majuli Island possesses unique Hindu monasteries famous for their dance and drama performances. The whole island is now shortlisted for future UNESCO World Heritage status.

Sightseeing

You will visit a monastery around Kamalabari, and the Tribal Museum at Auniati before re-embarking and cruising downstream for some 4 hours.


Day 5 - At Sea

 
River Cruises

An entire day spent cruising.

National Parks

By the afternoon, Kaziranga National Park will be on our left - wild elephants are sometimes visible form the boat.


Day 6 - At Sea

 
Sightseeing

This morning you will arrive at the little temple town of Vishnath, with a fine Ahom-period temple. Take a walk ashore before continuing the voyage down to a delightful mooring at Silghat, with butterflies abounding in the surrounding jungle.

Safari

We disembark and make a first safari through Kaziranga National Park, taking a jeep ride through its Western Range, with good woodland as well as grassland and look-out towers over the wetlands.


Day 7 - At Sea

 
National Parks

Disembark pre-dawn and drive to Kaziranga's Central Range for an early morning elephant ride, the best way to get really close to the rhino. Kaziranga is a World Heritage site, and with a population of over 1000 rhinoceros is the best place in the world to see these beasts. There are also good populations of tiger, wild elephant, sambar, swamp deer, hog deer, wild pig and many other species. After breakfast, walk through terraced tea gardens and visit a village of the Mising tribe.

Safari

In the afternoon drive to Kaziranga's little-visited Eastern Range for a further jeep safari before returning to the boat.


Day 8 - At Sea

 
River Cruises

Cruise downstream under the seemingly endless new bridge to dock at Tezpur.

Sightseeing

Here you drive out to the remains of the the 6th century Da Parbatia temple, with exquisite carved portals. We will then board cycle rickshaws to take you through the bazaars to Cole Park with its collection of medieval stone carving.

River Cruises

Reboarding again, we cruise downstream, and should reach the little river settlement of Singri Ghat, its main street running alongside a tea garden.


Day 9 - At Sea

 
River Cruises

The day is spent on the river, traversing a lunar landscape of sand islands then closing on the range of hills beyond which lies Guwahati.


Day 10 - Guwahati

 
River Cruises

This morning's voyage is particularly pretty, with jungle-covered hills on the south bank.

Sightseeing

Reaching Guwahati at midday, we moor opposite the city and climb up to the pretty Aswaklanta temple on the hill above before driving out to the beautifully sited temple ruins of Madan Kamdev, their erotic carving an indicator of the strong tantric traditions in the area.


Day 11 - Guwahati

 
Sightseeing

We cross to the main waterfront for a tour of Guwahati, driving up Nilachal Hill to the Kamakhya temple. With its tantric rites and animal sacrifices, the more squeamish may prefer to content themselves with the exterior. Visit the poignant Commonwealth War Graves, the museum and the bazaars before cruising down during lunch to the silkweaving village of Sualkuchi. In the afternoon, we will drive out to Hajo, a place sacred to Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists.

Sightseeing

Visit a Muslim shrine with extensive hilltop views over the surrounding rural landscape, as well as the simple Hindu temple with its frieze of elephants and its sacred tank full of great carp, catfish and turtles.


Day 12 - Guwahati

 
Sightseeing

Walk through Sualkuchi to visit weaving workshops and see the entire process of silk manufacturing, from the early stages of cocoons, to spinning, to dyeing, and finally to handweaving into exquisite saris and dress lengths.

Airport Transfers

Transferring to the airport for final departure.


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