As the country is unlocking in phases, the travel industry is on a gradual road to recovery. For travellers looking to escape the grind with minimal human contact, the Assam Bengal Navigation (ABN) is introducing luxury cruise itineraries over the Brahmaputra and the Ganges for domestic travellers.
Resuming operation in November, the Indo-British company has announced three new river cruise itineraries specifically for Indian travellers to experience the natural and cultural beauty of the two Himalayan rivers with the luxury of a traditional boutique boat. ABN is also a part of the RARE India Community of conscious luxury hotels and travel experiences in India and the subcontinent.
Cruising on Brahmaputra river, ABN has introduced the Brahmaputra River Vignettes, a three night cruise from Guwahati to Silghat with a visit to temples, historic sites and a traditional Assamese village. For the lovers of food, an array of exciting cuisines from Assam with an introduction to indigenous tribal cuisine will also be available. A highlight of this cruise is a barbecue under a starry night on one of the shifting sand islands, which pops up every year and are a unique feature of the Brahmaputra. The departure dates for the cruise are November 13, 17, 29 and December 23.
Another offering on the Brahmaputra river is the Dancing Monks & Riverine Culture, a 4-night cruise from Silghat to Neamati on the luxury vessel ABN Charaidew II. The offerings here include discovering the rural idyll of Majuli&mdashone of the world&rsquos largest river islands and a microcosm of Assamese culture, witnessing the &lsquodancing monks&rsquo of Majuli perform Sattriya&mdasha graceful dance from Assam originating in the 15th century, guided walks into riverside villages of indigenous communities, savouring tribal cuisines and taste various blends of Assam teas. If you are lucky you might spot the endangered Gangetic river dolphin as well. The departure dates are December 3 and December 29.
Cruising over the Ganges is Bengal Memories, covering Kolkata-Mayapur-Kolkata aboard the luxury vessel ABN Rajmahal. The cruise has been specially designed to give travellers a taste of West Bengal's rich heritage along the Lower Ganges or Hooghly river. Travellers can engage in idyllic walks on the river bank, stroll through the Danish colony of Serampore, visit the imposing Shia Imambara, overlooking the river as well the ISKCON temple at Mayapur, or visit the intricately carved terracotta Hindu temples of Kalna and Chandernagore. One of the highlights on the cruise is the wholesome Bengali cuisine. Travellers can choose from the seven scheduled departures on November 13, 17, and 21 and December 11, 15, 23 and 30.
Keeping in mind the pandemic, ABN will ensure safety and social distancing norms as per the directives of the World Health Organisation and the local health authorities. Before boarding the guests and staff will be subjected to routine checks. The guests will required to submit a self-declaration form stating that they are COVID-19 safe to the cruise manager. All passengers and crew members will also have to maintain a physical distance of 2 meters and face masks in public areas and during excursions will also be mandatory.