Luxury Brahmaputra River Vignettes

Arrive to embark on your ship by 10 AM. The boat will be waiting for you at Pandu Port of the Inland Waterways Authority of India.

Topic of discussion today - Introduction to Assam culture, history & nature

Abundant not just in flora and fauna, the Brahmaputra river valley in Assam has long been home to a multitude of ethno-cultural groups under various political-economic systems throughout history. It’s believed that the source of Assamese culture developed when the Tai-Shans (traced to either the South China or Myanmar regions) established the Ahom kingdom in Assam and ruled it - unbroken - for 600 years, successfully fending off waves upon waves of Mughal invasion until the dawn of the British Raj. Present-day Assam has a hybrid culture that is largely rooted to the simple agrarian way of life that these fertile plains have bestowed on the Assamese people.

Your morning is free to relax. Watch the ever-changing scenery from your bedroom or from any lounge area of your ship. Relax with a book or a beverage in hand as the sheer beauty of this majestic river is astounding. The day is spent mostly cruising upstream (with large distances to cover as we cruise only in daylight hours) with jungle-covered hills rising on either side, often battling against strong currents.

Indigenous tribal cuisine demonstration and lunch

Our chef onboard will introduce you to the indigenous cuisine of Assam with a live cooking session. The first thing that strikes a first time foodie sampling the variety of cuisine in Assam is the delicacy of the flavours and the lightness of the food itself. There is a subtlety in the taste and aroma that makes sampling Assamese cuisine an experience of a different kind. Oils and fats in general are used sparingly, while a profusion of freshly plucked herbs enhance the flavour greatly.Vegetables and greens are used profusely, while rice, whether whole or powdered, is a staple.

We will be visiting a beautiful Assam tea plantation today where a special tea-tasting experience will be hosted. The Assam Tea tasting class is a knowledge session that introduces you to the subtle flavours and varieties of Assam tea led by an expert tea taster and connoisseur by profession. The beauty of Assam tea lies in its hidden notes, delicate aromas, and bold flavours.” And it is precisely such beauty that we seek to introduce to our guests over cups of exotic tea and fine blends.

Topic of discussion today - Assam tea plantation history and tea culture

Nearly 200 years ago, a Scottish gentleman called Robert Bruce was wandering in the Upper Brahmaputra Valley, when he came across wild bushes that changed the world forever: Indian tea. Assam is surrounded by the foothills of the Himalayas in the north and south whilst the Brahmaputra River flows from east to west. This topography forms one of the world’s most abundant biodiversity zones. Assam’s tea industry introduced socio-economic growth, including the arrival of planters from Britain and labourers from other parts of India, and a coming together of new customs, food and dastoors (culture). Today, the world’s single largest tea-growing region, Assam’s tea gardens collectively produce over 700 million kgs of tea each year! Assam teas are generally harvested from March until November.

This morning, check out and drive for approx. 3 hours to Jorhat airport, or 4 hours to Guwahati airport to catch your flight. Or, disembark and drive for 1 hour to Kaziranga National Park.