ASSAM AND SUNDARBANS CRUISE

ASSAM AND SUNDARBANS CRUISE

Destination

Kolkata – Jorhat – Majuli – Jorhat – Kaziranga – Tezpur – Barpeta – Manas- Guawahati –Kolkata

Best Time to Visit : October To April

15 Days / 14 Nights

Trip Highlights

Brahmaputra 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. The coastal active delta of Sunderbans at the mouth of Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh, having a complex geomorphologic and hydrological character with climatic hazards, has a vast area of mangrove forests with a variety of flora and diverse fauna in a unique ecosystem.

 

Highlights:

Kolkata:- Flower Market, Howrah Bridge, The Victoria Memorial, The Saint Paul’S Cathedral Botanical Garden.
Majuli:- Majuli Island, Paalnaam, Salmara Village
Kaziranga:- Elephant Ride, Kaziranga National Park.
Manas:- Manas National Park (Only Tiger Reserve In Assam)
Guwahati:- Kamakhya Temple, Mathanguri Point

 


Day Wise Plan

Day 01: Arrive Kolkata (Fight)

On your arrival at Delhi airport, you will be met by outside the customs enclosure and escorted till your check in at the hotel.

Overnight in Kolkata

Meals: No meal

 

Day 02: Kolkata

Morning after breakfast visit the picturesque flower market of Calcutta. After a short walk across the famous Howrah Bridge you will take a Ferry to the north of the city to an interesting artist’s quarter. After lunch inspection of the Potash TempleThe Victoria Memorial, The Saint Paul’s Cathedral and the Botanical Garden. You will end the day at College Street, the street of the book salesclerks. Overnight in Kolkata

Meals: Breakfast

 

Day 03:  Kolkata – Jorhat -Majuli (Flight + 16 Kms. 40 Min. Drive)

Morning after breakfast. well in time checkout from the hotel and transfer to airport toboard the flight to Jorhat. Our representative will receive you at the airport and transfer to Nimati Ghat (Closest bank to Brahmaputra on Jorhat side). Take a Ferry to Majuli. After approximately one and half hours of sailing we will arrive at Majuli Island. Majuli has been the cultural capital and the cradle of Assamese civilization for the past five hundred years. The world’s largest river islandis famous for its Satras or Vaishnava monasteries which are the centre of learning, art and culture. 

 

Upon arrival, check-in at Tourist Lodge / Monastery Guest House. Evening visit Uttar Kamalabari Satra (Srimanta Sankardeb Established Satra or Vaishnav Monasteries in Majuli to nurture this philosophy and practice of life. Late afternoon enjoy Monastery Dance performed by the monks of Uttarkamalabari Satra. Overnight in Majuli

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.

 

Day 04: Majuli

Today, we will explore the rest of the important sites of Majuli covering Auniati Satra (Founded by Niranjan Pathakdeva, the satra is famous for the “Paalnaam” (Monastery Prayer) and Apsara Dances (Dance of the Angels) and also its extensive assortment of ancient Assamese artefacts, utensils, jewellery and handicrafts.

 

Afternoon we will take you to Salmara Village to show the Art of Pottery Making(Pottery in Majuli is probably the single most important heritage of all. Only the womenfolk in the village labour to shape the pots with hand. Thus Majuli is a living archeological museum in its own right. The day would come to an end with a visit to Dhapak Village of the Mishying Tribes (Mishyings are a plains tribe who prefer to have their settlements next to the Brahmaputra River. They are of the Arunachal hill tribe origin especially of the Adi tribes of the Abor hills of Arunachal. Like some of the Arunachal tribes they worship the Donyi Polo). Overnight in Majuli

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.

 

Day 05: Majuli – Ferry (01-01 and Half Hrs.) – Jorhat – Kaziranga (1 ½ Hrs. Ferry +96 Kms 2 ½ Hrs.

Morning after breakfast, take your Ferry back to Nimati Ghat. Upon arrival, proceed to Kaziranga (Kaziranga is one of the largest Protected Areas in India and one of the most significant conserved forest home to One-Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). On arrival Check in at hotel. Post lunch proceed for a safari to Kaziranga National ParkOvernight in Kaziranga

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

 

Day 06: Kaziranga

Early morning at 0630 Hrs. proceed for an hour of Elephant Ride inside Kaziranga National Park. Post ride return to lodge for breakfast. Afterwards proceed for the Jeep Safari to the Western Range of the Park. Return to your lodge for lunch. Post lunch, we will take you to another Jeep Safari to the Eastern (Agaratuli) Range (Situated towards the eastern part of the park. Evening return to hotel. Overnight in Kaziranga.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

 

Day 07: Kaziranga – Manas (290 Kms. 6 ½ Hrs. Drive)

Post breakfast drive down to Manas National Park. The only Tiger Reserve in Assam. Upon arrival check-in at your Jungle Lodge. Overnight in Manas.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

 

Day 08: Manas

Morning proceed for an Elephant Ride in Manas National Park. Tea/Coffee and Cookies would be provided during your ride inside the jungle. Later return to the lodge for breakfast. Post Breakfast proceed for a jeep Safari to Mathanguri – Uchilla Road (The road cuts through woodland cover and savannah and grassland patches. Sighting of animals in Manas is not as good as Kaziranga but the diversity of the habitat is very high). Return to the lodge for Lunch.

 

Post lunch visit one of the nearby villages to see the culture and tradition of the Bodo Tribe. Later in the afternoon return to your Lodge. Evening enjoy a Traditional Bodo Dance performed by the local artists. Overnight in Manas.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

 

Day 09: Manas – Guwahati (140 Kms. 3 ½ Hrs. Drive)

Morning after breakfast, we would take you to a guided walk to Mathanguri Point on the Bhutan Side in search of golden Langurs. Post lunch drive down to Guwahati. Upon arrival, check-in at your hotel. After a short rest, we will take you for an Assame Speciality Dinner at one of the Finest Local Restaurants. Overnight in Guwahati.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

 

Day 10: Guwahati – Kolkata (140 Kms. 3 ½ Hrs. Drive)

Morning after an early breakfast, we will take you for a guided tour of Guwahati City covering Kamakhya Temple (Kamakhya temple on Nilachal Hill, eight km west of the city is believed to be an ancient ‘Khasi’ sacrificial site. Post sightseeing, well in time transfer to airport to board flight for Kolkata. Shikhar Travels’ Representative would receive you at Kolkata Airport and transfer you to your hotel. Spend the evening at leisure. Overnight at Kolkata

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.

 

Day 11: Kolkata – Vivada Cruise

Morning after a leisurely breakfast transfer to Millennium Park Jetty by 1330 Hrs. M.V.Paramhamsa will cast off at 1400 Hrs. The Cruiser sails along the beautiful Ganges towards the South, passing through various heritage sites. After 7 Hours, it reaches the gateway to Sunderbans-Namkhana, a fishermens’ cove. Guests can unwind,relax,soak in the beauty of the river, read books in the library, interact with artisans or take an ayurvedic massage. The Cruiser drops anchor at Namkhana for the night. Guests can have several choices-watching wild life film shows or chat with a wildilfer before a gala dinner with modern and traditional Bengali music. Overnight on cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 12: On Cruise

At 0530 Hrs. when the Cruiser sets towards the East, one can see the spectacular sunrise. During the day guests experience the lifestyle of people in Sunderbans, their traditions, culture and the rich biodiversity of the region. The busy fishing harbour gives an insight to the lifestyle of fishermen. Guests can buy fresh fish and other sea foods to be cooked in the live kitchen counters. The cruiser than enters Sunderbans to navigate through the narrow creek of Hatania-Doania. It is here that one gets the first glimpse of the dense mangrove and the vast river system with several creeks flowing in to the main rivers.


The 1st excursion is to Lothian Island, a forest trail or a visit to the Crocodile Project at Bhagabatpur. The Cruise then travels North-East. The Exotic Sunderbans Tiger Reserve-with myriads of rivers and creeks will unfold gradually. This is the world’s largest tiger reserve in any single reserve forest. The vessel will drop anchor at some of the exotic islands of Sunderbans like Sajnekhali,Sandeshkhali,Sudanyakhali, Dobanki, Nethidopani, Bonnie Camp for a canopy walk and visits to the watch towers. The wildlife will guide guests to experience the forest, sight animals and birds, explain various mangrove species and narrate interesting stories of the island.


Before sunset, the Cruiser will anchor at Bali, a beautiful Sunderban village. Guests can experience the lifestyle of Sunder ban villages as well as farming, paddy husking, hone packing, fishing and various occupations of the region.
Overnight on cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

 

Day 13: On Cruise

The Cruiser will hear back on its journey to Kolkata travelling from East to West. Before starting the return journey, & depending on the tide, guests will be transferred to a small boat to visit some exotic locales not visited the previous day. Overnight on cruise

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.

 

Day 14: Cruise – Kolkata

The Cruise will reach Kolkata by forenoon. Pick up from the jetty and transfer to pre booked hotel. Spend the day for last minute shopping. Overnight in Kolkata.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.

 

Day 15: Kolkata Departure.

Breakfast at Hotel, later well in time you will be transferred to the International Airport to connect the flight for onward journey.

Meals: Breakfast