The richly varied tapestry of India ensures even the mundane is extraordinary when you travel across its length and breadth
Words by Sanjay Basu
Cruising the Brahamputra river, one of the world’s great rivers, on the very comfortable MV Mahabaahu is surely one of life’s great pleasures. For many days one does not need to open suitcases and still has new destinations to visit daily.
The Brahmaputra River originates in Tibet, where it is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo and is considered holy by both Hindus and Buddhists alike. Civilisations have lived along the river for thousands of years, many in isolation from each other due to the extensive forests and high Himalayas. The Brahmaputra is the only river in India to be given a male name and travels 2,900km from Tibet, through India to Bangladesh where it flows into the Bay of Bengal.
This is the greatest river island system with the smallest and largest inhabited islands of the world located here. It is the only navigable river of the world under the shadows of over 7,000 meter high, towering snow-covered Himalayan mountains. This is also the only river apart from the Zambezi River in Africa from which elephant, jeep and boat safaris can take place in the Kaziranga National Park, described as the Serengeti of India, although we are not doing elephant safaris unless specifically requested.
Assam is also the origin of Black Tea also known as the English Breakfast Tea or, our very own Chai. With silk weavers villages, tribal villages, temples and monasteries this is a very colourful and diverse land of nature and cultures.
Embark on the world’s richest natural history river cruise, a remarkable journey along the mighty Brahmaputra that seamlessly blends extraordinary wildlife encounters with living culture and timeless traditions. Sailing through the heart of Assam, this immersive expedition explores three protected wilderness areas—including two UNESCO World Heritage National Parks and one renowned wildlife sanctuary—offering the chance to encounter up to 10 species of large mammals, an astonishing 482 species of birds, and the elusive freshwater river dolphins of the Brahmaputra.
The MV Mahabaahu cruise ship has been rated by the Travelinsider Magazine of Qantas Australian Airlines as being one of the Top Ten River Cruise Ships of the World due to the facilities and amenities on-board and the overall cruise experience on the Brahmaputra River has been rated as one of Top Fifty Adventure Experiences of the World by the Sunday Times of UK.
The cruise has also been the winner of the National Tourism Award, the Assam Tourism Award, twice the winner of the CNBC Travel Award and South Asian Travel Awards. The cruise has also been featured in a one hour Dream Cruise program on the Nat Geo People Channel. Mentioned in 149 major publications across the world, the experience was given great endorsements.
It is a 23 cabin ship with four categories, a swimming pool which we will be shortly converting to be a heated pool, a proper boutique SPA, a passenger elevator through four of the five decks for elderly and differently abled, a restaurant, lounge, bar and a small open gym. It is a spacious small expedition style cruise ship with a sun deck that gives a 360 degree view for wildlife spotting. The ship is a class certified vessel, operates with three engines and is a double bottom. The package includes all meals, a welcome and farewell drink, one evening cocktail and all water, soft drinks and tea / coffee. Also included are all excursions, safaris and transfers as an all inclusive voyage with only laundry, tipping and phone calls as extra. Wifi is free of cost. There is a highly qualified naturalist on-board the ship who is the destination manager and works in close coordination with the cruise director.
From the Brahmaputra River, let me take you to Kerala, where we also operate 7-to-10-night cruises on-board the MV Vaikundam. Here, one must first understand her waterways – the lifeline of the entire region. There’s no better way to enrich oneself than to truly comprehend the life of the people of the land. A destination which National Geographic had called the Green Venice of the East.
From cruising in waterways separated from the Arabian Sea by narrow beaches to, cruising in canals 20 feet above the surrounding paddy fields and held together by dykes. From intricate narrow canals where the houses on the banks brush along the sides of the cruise boat to vast open lakes with spectacular sunsets, the cruise is indeed breathtaking in its pristine yet bustling tropical, warm waters!
A very beautiful Seven Nights Kerala Backwaters Cruising experience through these pristine waterways, deeply experiencing the Emerald Waterways. Sailing through the lakes, lagoons, rivers, and canals is a very experiential cruise as you see the beautiful living cultures on the backwaters through narrow canals, along the coastline and through villages and townships dotted with temples, churches, mosques, market places, wooden boat building boatyards, art schools, coir makers and a lot more. Witness the local martial arts that gave birth to Karate, temple dance art schools in villages, Ayurveda and canoe rides through bird sanctuaries and sailing through very narrow canals. This is the Green Venice of the East!
Finally, enter the living Thar Desert at Jamba located between Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Bikaner. This area is home to vibrant tribal communities and the Bishnoi people — guardians of nature for over five centuries and celebrated by National Geographic as the Natural Conservators of the Desert. Stay atop a 100-foot-high sand dune in the unique Dera Dune Retreat luxury lodge, and wander through Khichan, where villagers have lovingly fed thousands of migratory Demoiselle Cranes for more than 70 years — a moving testament to compassion and tradition.
Staying here for up to a week allows for a leisurely desert safari in 4WDs, on camelback, or simply strolling in the sands. Or, take day long excursions to cover Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Pokhran and Phalodi. Or, just laze on the sundeck or, by the swimming pool atop the dune sipping a cocktail gazing over the surrounding sand dunes.
Sanjay Basu is the Chairman of Far Horizon Tours and Adventure Resorts Cruises
