Dancing Monks & Riverine Culture

The Brahmaputra river valley is not only blessed with abundant forest cover, but also a unique culture that’s rooted in a simple, agrarian, self-sufficient way of life for the Assamese people. On this boutique expedition cruise up the Brahmaputra river, discover one of the highlights of Assam - Majuli, one of the world’s largest river islands and a microcosm of Assamese culture that can be accessed only by ferry or country boats. Furthermore, we will be crossing Kaziranga National Park on your right with expansive views of the flora and fauna of this scenic park. Many a time, our cruise guests have been lucky enough to spot wildlife on these banks, especially the royal Bengal tiger who loves to bask in the winter sun. And no trip to Assam can be complete without a taste of its delightful cuisine and tea, so there’ll be plenty of interesting dishes to try from indigenous cuisines and - of course - lots of cups of the finest tea-garden fresh tea!

Day 1

Welcome onboard your river journey

Arrive at Silghat by 10 AM from your hotel in Kaziranga NP. Embark on your expedition ship, ABN Sukapha, your home for the next three nights.

The crew onboard

We believe that tourism should operate in partnership with local people, ultimately providing employment and economic benefits for the community as well as helping to place a value on the cultural and natural heritage of a destination. You will find that our crew onboard are all locals from the region that have been trained in-house and our managers are professionals from the hospitality trade that personally train and skill our crew members. Additionally, 5% of the proceeds from every booked cabin is contributed to ABN Foundation that supports causes in education, environment and community development along the two rivers we operate in.

Day 2

Riverine village lifestyle of Assam

There is time to pause and visit a riverside village, with its lush green fields of vegetables and corn. Your accompanying guide and accompanying naturalist will brief you as you observe the simple riverine lifestyle of locals in Assam on foot.

Day 3

Majuli River Island

Majuli is rich in culture, treasured for its centuries-old neo-Vaishnavite monasteries, known to stage dramas and make the Assamese folk theatre masks of bamboo and clay. Brahmaputra river cruises often stop at the island for village walks and birdwatching. In mid-November, people visit Majuli for raas leela performances over three days. The island covers an area of 880 sq km, ranging between 10-15km in width - it is estimated that about a third of its area has been eroded by the Brahmaputra in the last 40 years. Majuli is home to 1.68 lakh people, most of whom belong to the Mishing tribe, and also the Deori and Sonowal Kachri tribes. The fertile soil yields many varieties of rice, some of which are unique to the island. Majuli is also home to the acclaimed “Forest Man of India”', Jadav Payeng who single handedly planted a forest on a neighbouring eroding island over 40 years to prevent it from further erosion.

Day 4

Disembark your ship for your onward journey

After breakfast, drive for 2 ½ hours to fly out from Dibrugarh airport, passing through this typical colonial town and major base for American flights over 'The Hump' to China in WWII. Alternatively, drive for around 1 hours to fly out from Jorhat airport or 1 ½ to Kaziranga national park.

Assam, which literally means ‘a peerless land’, is the gateway to Northeast India. With its blue rivers that often resemble the sea; green mountains that are home to leopards and elephants; and swathes of aromatic tea gardens forming the world’s largest tea-growing region, it’s easy to understand why this state is a very special place on earth especially when experienced on the majestic river, Brahmaputra

India's Brahmaputra River is the 29th longest river in the world at 2,948 km long, and has a discharge of 19,200 cubic litres per second which puts northern India's great waterway in the top 10 when it comes to volume. This is a massive waterway, being the only river on Earth clearly visible from the moon during the Apollo missions. Flowing down from central Tibet through the legendary Tsangpo gorges, the Brahmaputra river opens out as it enters Assam to flow across that state and then through Bangladesh to flow out through the vast Sundarbans Delta, merging with the Ganges River as they discharge into the Bay of Bengal.

• Watch in delight as the ‘dancing monks’ of Majuli perform Sattriya, a graceful classical dance from Assam originating in the 15th century.
• Immerse yourself in tribal culture on walks to the riverside villages of indigenous communities.
• Savour local Assamese dishes and various blends of Assam teas at a cooking demonstration and tasting session.
• Cruise along the Kaziranga national park and spot wild animals like rhinos, elephants and tigers from the ship.

• 03 nights’ accommodation aboard
• All excursions and entry fees as per the itinerary
• All activity transfers as mentioned in the itinerary on a shared basis
• All meals
• Service of an English-speaking guide onboard and during excursions
• Service of an English-speaking naturalist onboard and during excursions
• GST

• Pick up and drop from airport/hote
• Air or train fare to and from the start of your trip
• Drinks from the bar
• Laundry, telephone charges, mini bar
• Spa treatment
• Tips, camera fees
• Any Insurance
• Items of a personal nature
• Anything which is not mentioned on the includes section

How will I Make the Booking?

To make the booking, fill up the Enquiry form, email us on cruises@mercurtytravels.in or call on 1800 266 2345.

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