The holy city is set to be a part of the world’s longest river voyage with the launch of ‘Ganga Vilas’, a luxury cruise vessel, on January 10, 2023. To be flagged off from Varanasi, the ship will cover a distance of 3,200 km to Dibruagarh in Assam via Bangladesh. Having 18 suites and associated facilities, it will cover the distance in 50 days, traversing through 27 river systems in India and Bangladesh on the way.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, while inaugurating seven community jetties and laying the foundation stone of eight other, released the time table of the cruise at a programme organised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India at Ravidas Ghat here on Friday.
Measuring 62.5 m (length), 12.8 m (width) and 1.35 m (draft), ‘Ganga Vilas’ is the first river ship built in India which will set sail from Varanasi to Dibrugarh on January 10.
A Sanjay Gupta ccording to authorities, it’s the first river ship built in India. During its 50-day journey, it will stop at over 50 architecturally important places, including world heritage sites. The vessel will also pass through national parks and sanctuaries, including the Sundarbans Delta and Kaziranga National Park. The voyage will be the world’s longest by a single river ship and the project has put India and Bangladesh on the world river cruise map. This new horizon of tourism has opened in the Indian subcontinent. This will increase awareness about river cruising in other rivers of India as well. Commanding a unique design and a futuristic vision, this cruise will sail across various prominent destinations that lie along Varanasi’s Ganga to Kolkata’s Hooghly.
Offering more than a mere journey, the cruise offers an experiential voyage into luxury, art, culture, history, spirituality and much more, says an official of Antara Cruises, which will operate it. According to the cruise specification, comprising 18 tastefully adorned suites, ‘Ganga Vilas’ blends cultural and modern amenities with minimalistic designs, and defines the boutique experiences on water. The suites have soothing interiors with dedicated colour palettes. These have been furnished with numerous amenities such as a bathroom with shower, convertible beds, French balcony, LED TV, safe, smoke detectors, life vest, and sprinklers. It has quite a few amenities to facilitate a mellifluous experience for its guests — a restaurant, spa and sundeck. Its 40- seater restaurant, located on the main deck, consists of a few buffet counters serving Continental and Indian delicacies. The al fresco ambience of the upper deck features a bar furnished with real teak steamer chairs and coffee tables.
