Antara Cruises will embark on the world’s longest river expedition, a 51-day cruise along the Ganges and Brahmaputra, which will begin in December.
The epic 51-day trip will sail along the Ganges and the Brahmaputra aboard the beautiful Ganga Vilas from Kashi (Uttar Pradesh) to Dibrugarh (Assam) via the Sundarbans and Bangladesh.
One may now cruise from Kashi (Uttar Pradesh) to Dibrugarh (Assam) via the Sunderbans and Bangladesh, traversing 27 smaller rivers, five states, and two countries.
The Antara Ganga Vilas, Antara’s newest art-deco boutique ship, is a terrific chance for anyone interested in exploring South Asian culture along some of the continent’s most ancient regions and systems on a 51-day journey. The cruise is ideal for leisure travellers, history aficionados, culture enthusiasts, and environment lovers, and it also includes a hop-on/hop-off option for people who simply want to sail on certain segments.
Commenting on this unique itinerary, a pioneer in luxury river tourism and Founder Chairman of Antara Luxury River Cruises, Raj Singh comments, “Each experience has been personally vetted and designed by me for fellow enthusiastic travellers. The historic route has been finalized with the support, assistance and cooperation of the Governments of India and Bangladesh that are working together to ensure a seamless journey between the two countries.” Mr Raj Singh is also a renowned authority on Indian wildlife and has authored well-respected guides on the mammals, birds and aquatic life of the subcontinent.
Each day of the voyage will include an offshore and onshore experience. Starting in Varanasi and stopping at world heritage sites and ancient places in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal for profound insights into colonial influences and regional traditions, the voyage will meander the Ganges’ waters, stopping at world heritage sites and ancient places along the way.
The ship enters Bangladesh after passing through the world’s largest mangrove forest, the UNESCO-protected Sundarbans. Shopping ranges from Barisal’s floating marketplaces to Bagerhat, which is home to the country’s famous 60 dome mosque, to Sonargaon, the country’s heritage town.
The trek will continue from Dhaka into Bangladesh’s Jamuna River, then head east to re-enter India at Dhubri, embracing the Brahmaputra for the Assam portion of the adventure, sailing through the wild and countless cultural sites along the way.
Elaborating on the wealth of experiences the journey offers, Mr. Raj Singh adds, “Our guests visit Matiari where they watch brassware and textiles in the villages being hand-created, they walk on the same grounds on archaeological sites that date to over 2500 years. We go to Vikramshila, one of the largest Buddhist universities alongside Nalanda and Bhagalpur for its centuries-old Tussar silk weaving traditions. The fascinating colonial, Dutch and French influences and architecture across the interiors of Bengal, the raw untouched beauty across the Bangladesh-India border with the Sunderbans, precious arts and artisan visits where guests can engage with and talk to them- we have so carefully curated the entire journey, each stop, and every experience. A real insight into understanding this special region whilst enjoying the phenomenal riverscapes that the revered Ganga and Brahmaputra offer.”
Reflecting upon the artisans and the craft techniques that have lived along these ever-changing yet seemingly eternal riverbanks, Annapurna Garimella, an art historian and Director of Antara Cruises adds, “Life and civilizations began along these rivers, and artistic expression is the most powerful reflection of a culture. The cruise explores so many of these facets whether in food, textiles, architecture or agriculture. Sailing through this vast landscape is to immerse oneself into the culture of this land we now call India.”
The 18-suite Antara Ganga Vilas is a beautiful blend of subtle texture and simple elegance, built in the mid-20th century contemporary style. All fabrics, linens, furniture, and serveware are created in India, and some are even made along the river, and each room is inspired by a colour-square artwork by Bauhaus and Black Mountain designer-teacher Josef Albers. The ship’s expansive rooms are further enhanced by large ceiling-to-floor guillotine windows that bring breathtaking river views inside the ship’s expansive areas, boosting the impression of moving within while yet witnessing a riverscape in motion.
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