The world’s longest river cruise set sail on 13 January from the city of Varanasi in India. The ship has a 51-day journey ahead, cruising the holy river of Ganges, and is expected to end the voyage in Dibrugarh, on 1 March.
Antara’s MV Ganga Vilas (the Ganges’ name in Sanskrit is Ganga) was flagged off by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conference for its maiden voyage. The ship will cover 3,200 km along the Ganges and other waterways, sailing in total along 27 river systems. During the journey, it will go through five states in northern India, pass through Bangladesh and end the trip back in India.
The beginning of the world’s longest river cruise service on river Ganga is a landmark moment. It will herald a new age of tourism in India.
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India
The itinerary includes stops at more than 50 tourist attractions, including UNESCO World Heritage sites, national parks, river ghats and major cities like Patna, in Bihar, Sahibganj, in Jharkhand, Kolkata, in West Bengal, Dhaka, in Bangladesh, and Guwahati, in Assam.
Ganga Vilas has a capacity of 36 passengers, but for the first cruise, only 32 tourists, from Switzerland, are on board. Antara plans to organise the journey twice a year, between October and March, when the weather is nicer and the water level higher, director of sales, Kashif Siddiqui, told CNN, adding that two cruises scheduled for 2024 are already fully booked.
For 4.2 million to 4.5 million rupees (about €47,865 to €51,275) per person, guests can enjoy a range of luxury services abroad the ship, including personalised butler services, Michelin inspired menus serving local delicacies made with regional fresh ingredients.
The most luxurious and spacious suite aboard, the 37 square metre Maharaja Suite is embellished with Persian rugs, Burma teak floors and rich tapestry. It also has a flat screen TV, on-demand movie service and a writing desk. Bathrooms are as luxurious as the room and are fitted with both spacious bathtub and shower panels. Additionally, daily butler service and in-room dining are available on request.
Other suites are just as lavish, boasting colonial decors, hand stencilled walls, French balconies, local murals and floor to ceiling glass doors for passengers to enjoy the most astonishing views along their trip. Moreover, a spa offering a wide range of Indian and western treatments, a sundeck, a fitness centre and complimentary Yoga classes also stand available for guests.
