Day 2 (Monday):

A Bangla Village Visit,

A video on Kamakhya temple and an orientation on the Bangla Village,

A talk on ‘Assam, its geographical location, the role of River Brahmaputra on tribal life’

This is a very relaxed morning. You can sleep in or be on the top deck to experience a session of Yog and enjoy a peep into the traditional wisdom of the gurus from ancient times. A laid-back relaxed breakfast from 0800 to 1000 hrs, a talk on Kamakhya temple and an orientation on the Bangla Village.

This is a very relaxed morning. You can sleep in or be on the top deck to experience a session of Yog and enjoy a peep into the traditional wisdom of the gurus from ancient times.

Enjoy a relaxed dinner on MV Mahabaahu. After dinner, some of us indulge ourselves in the lounge.

A laid-back relaxed breakfast from 0800 to 1000 hrs, a talk on Kamakhya Temple and an orientation on the Bangla Village. We interact with the village folk and try to understand the simple and satisfied subsistence life styles. These folks who live off the Brahmaputra River, both for farming and fishing make a choice of living on fertile unclaimed sand bars. They understand that they can enjoy the privilege of owning large expanse of land only till the river decides to remain benevolent. The river claims their land during the monsoon and they must return to their haven on mainland or create one. The river starts receding from October to mid-Feb and slowly the snow-melt in the Himalayas starts creating volume and an indication to get ready. April showers add to the water levels.

We return to the ship for lunch and enjoy some leisurely hours reading a book or indulging in a steam, Sauna, Jacuzzi or an Ayurvedic Massage or any other treatment. You can enjoy a dip in the swimming pool or be on the sun deck to enjoy the river in its process of devouring or adding to the sand of the sand bars.

In the evening, along with some ‘chai and pakoras’, an ethnic Indian snack, we enjoy a talk on ‘Assam, its geographical location, the role of River Brahmaputra, the tribal life and commercial Ventures; Tea, Silk & Jute that Assam is famous for’.

Overnight on board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)

Day 3 (Tuesday):

A Jute Mill and a Tea Estate
A talk on ‘Kaziranga and wildlife in India’ and orientation on ‘Kaziranga Park Visit’ along with orientation for visiting the Jute Mill and the Tea Estate.

A relaxed cup of coffee or Assam tea, some Yog and a laid- back leisurely breakfast followed by a talk on ‘Kaziranga and wildlife in India’ and orientation on ‘Kaziranga Park Visit’ along with orientation for visiting the Jute Mill and the Tea Estate.

We sail along Singri and Tezpur and under the Kaliabhamura bridge and reach Silghat where the ship docks.

After an early lunch we walk to the Jute Mill to witness the complete process in a co-operative mill for turning the golden fibre into a gunny bag. All the families in Silghat and the Jute Mill have formed a special eco-system for themselves. From here we drive to the Tea-Estate to see the women plucking tea-leaves and also to the tea-factory to see the leaves turn into grains for packing (The tea-factory is operational till mid Nov and after mid-Feb).

We enjoy the State Dance of Assam, ‘Bihu’ by young village boys and girls and return to the ship.

We enjoy the evening in the lounge and then have a leisurely time in the dining enjoying the cuisine for the day.

The program for the following day is announced. We book our wake-up calls at the reception for the following morning early start.

Overnight on board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)

Day 4 (Wednesday):

World Heritage Site of Kaziranga National Park for Elephant and Jeep Safari

This day we wake up much before the dawn and sip away at a strong cup of Assam tea, some coffee and cookies. Some fresh fruit, juice and some dry fruits are on display too. An hour of drive takes us to a resort in Kaziranga for use of facilities before we get ready for an elephant ride.

We ride into the early morning mist and as the sun rays force the mist to thin, we witness wild life up close and personal; swamp and hog deer, Asiatic water buffaloes and Rhinos; all happily grazing within yards of each other. An hour of elephant back saga through tall elephant grass leaves us non-plussed and wanting.

We drive to a resort where breakfast is waiting. We energies ourselves on regular continental breakfast along with a lavish display of Indian cuisine like dosas, idlis, coconut chutney, poori aaloo, paranthas and much more.

Soon we drive towards the range for jeep safari to explore for more wild life. We look for the Asiatic Wild Elephants, the striped cats, the Wild Water Buffalo with enormous horn span, the hog deer and the swamp deer and of course the one horned-rhinoceros that this UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for. The bird life is an experience in this Park.

The Jeep Safari ends by 1030 hours when we head back to the Cruise witnessing the paddy fields fed by the Brahmaputra as our wheels cautiously maneuver the Karbi Anglong bends.

This afternoon we board the ship at 1200 hrs, enjoy lunch and settle in for a restful afternoon. For those of us who like to watch the world go by, we make ourselves comfortable on the sun-deck as the ship sails towards Diphlu. This perched up position on Deck 5 facilitates the best view and understanding of the river and the sand bars. It is interesting to observe the ever-changing landforms and the migratory birds finding their nesting spots. This section of the sail is especially fascinating as the ship moves in the river’s meanders. We enjoy a cup of tea or coffee on the open deck and watch the sun lowering itself. As the sun sinks into the horizon the navigation team locates an untouched deserted island and the ship is moored for the night. The beverages are set and the seating arranged. The aroma of the barbequed snacks fills the air and soon the guests step out on the island. Drinks in hand we indulge in talks, charades, camp fire songs and story-telling and enjoy the star laden skies with the ambience of water all around. We pay homage to the Brahmaputra River by floating oil lamps. We move to the ship’s restaurant to enjoy a sit-down dinner. After dinner the spirit of the evening moves into the lounge and we watch a documentary/movie for an hour and retire to the comfort of our cabins.

Overnight on board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)

Day 5 (Thursday):

The Weaving Community of Bishwanath Ghat
Boat Safari at the Eastern Range of Kaziranga
An orientation on Bishwanath Ghat, Boat Safari and Mishing Village.

We sail very early towards Bishwanath Ghat. Breakfast and an orientation on Bishwanath Ghat, Boat Safari and Mishing Village. We visit this tiny sub-urban village on the banks of Brahmaputra and sprinkled with temples and is a cosmos of weavers, fishermen, farmers and boat makers. Bishwanath Ghat wakes up once a week to the presence of MV Mahabaahu and the travellers of the world and excitement shoots across.

The sound of the shuttle on tense warp and raised alternate weft moving back and forth is music to the weavers of this community. A Shiva Dol (temple) from the times of Ahoms looms over and a promenade along the outcrop of rocks and swinging country boats adds beauty to the area. The weavers display their stories on their colourfully woven fabric and wait in anticipation. We return to the ship for lunch and sail on towards the Eastern Range (Agoratoli) to explore the Eastern Range of Kaziranga and view the wildlife from the river side.

This afternoon, post lunch; we take our tenders to wander and study the shores of Agoratoli Range of Kaziranga and observe how the river carves and shapes Kaziranga each year; we notice tree trunks in the river that had enjoyed some summers and others that are ready to give way and of course the forest that is holding strong. This evening we return to the Ship at Sunset. The Chef is ready with his cooking demo when we step on the ship. The Program for the following day is announced and some of us glide into the warmth of the lounge and some of us retire for the evening. We spend an hour in the lounge and then on to dinner.

Overnight on board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)

Day 6 (Friday):

Mishing Village/Assamese Theme Evening
A talk on Shivsagar and Majuli along with the orientation on these visits together with the home-hosted lunch

Yog, a good breakfast and leisurely hours of the morning to enjoy the sail. We sail on to the Mishing Village to witness life on Chang Ghars of Bamboo scaffolding, bamboo roofs and matted bamboo walls. The Mishing women arrange their looms beneath their raised homes and weave bright and colourful ethnic designs in their waft and warp. This village provides an opportunity to add Mishing woven fabric to your wardrobe or home décor.

We return to the ship for lunch and the sail continues upstream towards Majuli. After some sail, siesta and sunset we meet for a talk on Shivsagar and Majuli along with the orientation on these visits together with the home-hosted lunch at a tea-estate with a Planter’s family. This evening we enjoy an Assamese theme evening; Assamese freshly caught, fried fish for snacks, Assami Mekhla Chaadar and Dhoti Kurta with Ahomia music and Ahomia dance moves and to top it all an Assamese Dinner Menu.

Overnight on board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)

Day 7 (Saturday):

Majuli for Neo-Vaishnavism
Visit to Shivsagar for Ahom Monuments

An early breakfast and we sail out to Majuli in the tenders to experience the neo-Vaishnav culture of the world’s largest inhabited riverine island. We enjoy Gayan Bayan by the priests. We drive to a different part of Majuli to watch Dashavatar by young Vaishnav girls and an episode from Ramayana-Mukha Bhavana.

These performances are a peep into the varied and rich culture of Assam. We return to MV Mahabaahu for lunch and sail to Neamati Ghat. If we are not too tired, we can undertake another road excursion to Shivsagar to understand the history of Assam through the Ahom monuments or else we can indulge in an hour and a half of nature walk on the bund of Neamati Ghat to discover more rural life and some birds that nest along a rain-fed swamp.

The Group that goes to Shivsagar will return by 1900 hrs. and the others can enjoy an hour in the lounge. We look forward to the Chef’s ‘Alvida Bhoj’, Farewell Dinner on the river Brahmaputra.

Overnight on board MV Mahabaahu (B, L, D)

Day 8 (Sunday):

Nature Walk,
Home-hosted lunch with a Tea Planter’s Family & Airport Departure from Jorhat

This day the nature enthusiasts wake up early to enjoy a walk on the Bund at Neamati Ghat. This is a walk through a narrow village where the huts/homes have sprouted along the two sides of a 12 ft. wide bund. The bund has the Brahmaputra River on one side and a monsoon or rainwater swamp on the other side making it an ideal space for bird life. Owls, owlets, orioles, quails, partridges, adjutant stalks and woodpeckers are an integral part of this space. Star fruit, wild figs, bananas, tamarind trees abound in the area.

At this early hour one can see the village waking up, milking cows, gardening, farming, children in uniform cycling to school and the fishermen fishing out their fresh catch from the net. This walk is an informal way of peeping into the simple unpretentious Assamese village life.

We return to the ship for an early morning breakfast and we de-board the ship at 0900hrs to drive to a tea estate for a home-hosted early lunch prior to boarding the flight.

At the tea estate we meet the Planter’s family that has been in the tea-business for over a century, enjoy a tea-talk with professionals and walk around the Planter’s residence; the tea-estate that supports several herbs.
After a delicious home hosted ethnic Assamese lunch and warm hospitality, we bid farewell to the hosts and drive to the airport to board the flight.

—-Shubh Yatra / Bon Voyage—-

(B, packed L)