The cruise ship “Ganga Vilas” is scheduled to depart from Kolkata on January 6 and reach Varanasi on January 13. The cruise will travel 3200 kilometers, visiting various religious and spiritual places along the way.
The holy city Varanasi is all set to begin the world’s longest river voyage with ‘Ganga Vilas’, a luxury cruise vessel, on January 13, 2023.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, had released the time table of the cruise at a programme organised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India at Ravidas Ghat in Varanasi on November 11.
According to the cruise director, Raj Singh, the cruise left Kolkata on Thursday with 32 Swiss citizens and will reach Varanasi on January 6. It will be flagged off from Varanasi on January 13 to cover a distance of 3,200 km to Dibruagarh in Assam via Bangladesh. “The Swiss guests will visit religious and spiritual places in Varanasi and taste the delicious Banarasi dishes. They will also visit Chunar after which they will go on the country’s longest river voyage,” said Singh.
According to him, it’s the first river ship built in India. Measuring 62.5 m (length), 12.8m (width) and 1.35 m (draft), the Ganga Vilas is the first river ship built in India. Commanding a unique design and a futuristic vision, this cruise will sail across various prominent destinations that lie along Ganga in Varanasi to Hoogly in Kolkata. It will cover the distance in 50 days, traversing through 27 river systems in India and Bangladesh on the way. During its 50-day journey, it will stop at over 50 architecturally important places, including the 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 opening a new horizon of tourism in the Indian subcontinent.
According to the cruise specification, Ganga Vilas comprises 18 tastefully adorned suites, blending 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. Among other facilities for its guests it has 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.
