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Assam Despatch 1 - FRONTIER LANDS (UPSTREAM) - Package Detail

Assam Despatch 1 - FRONTIER LANDS (UPSTREAM)

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Route : Cooch Behar Manas National Park Sualkuchi Guwahati
Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive Cooch Behar, Board cruise (D)


Met at Cooch Behar airport or railway station. If arriving at 1400 hrs or earlier,  visit the great Indo-Saracenic palace of the Maharajahs of Cooch Behar, described by Gayatri Devi in “A Princess Remembers” before being driven 80km to the river port of Dhubri where ABN Charaidew awaits you. While the ship is preparing to sail, take a short trip in gaily-painted cycle rickshaws past the great Sikh temple to pay homage at the town’s statue of Queen Victoria. Sail around dusk and cruise a short way upstream.

Day 2

Full day Cruise (BLD)


A day spent on the river, taking in for the first time the vastness of this empty landscape of water and sand islands. There will be time to stop and walk through a riverside village, to see a side of India that the average tourist never gets to see.

Day 3

To Golpara, visit Sri Surya Pahar (BLD)


We cruise all morning, through a landscape punctuated with odd, abrupt hills and under the bridge at Jogighopa, to reach the town of Goalpara around lunchtime. We travel out by road to see the peaceful archaeological site of Sri Surya Pahar. Here we will see boulders which have been carved into stupas, lingams and bas-reliefs by early Buddhists, Hindus and Jains.

Day 4

To Manas National Park (BLD)


This morning land at Jogighopa and drive 130km to Manas National Park on the borders with Bhutan, and check in to the simple Bansbari Lodge. This Project Tiger Reserve and World Heritage Site is now recovering well from earlier unrest – the tiger count is now estimated at around 30 and wild elephant number some 500. We take an afternoon jeep ride through grassland and forest as far as Mothanguri Lodge, right on the frontier, and see the sun set over the Manas River and the hills of Bhutan.

Returning in the dusk, we should see some wildlife, perhaps including wild buffalo, sambar or gaur. After supper we watch a tribal dance around the camp fire.

Day 5

Visit Manas National Park (BLD)


We take an early morning jeep or elephant ride to see more of the park’s wildlife as well as some of the park’s 380 different species of birds, perhaps including the impressive Great Hornbill. After breakfast, we walk through a local village, visit the nearby tea garden and see Bodo tribal handweaving. After lunch we drive 2 hrs or so to Tarabari Ghat where we re-embark and set off again upstream.

Day 6

Full day Cruise (BLD)


Another day spent mostly cruising, with a chance to enjoy the rich bird life and look out for Gangetic Dolphin. We should be able to stop and visit a bankside village.

Day 7

Visit silk weavers village Sualkuchi (BLD)


We arrive late this morning at the little town of Sualkuchi, disembark and visit its silk weaving workshops. We shall see the whole process of silk manufacture, from cocoon to spinning to dyeing and finally to handweaving into exquisite saris and dress lengths. We drive on to Hajo, a place sacred to Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists. We visit a hilltop Muslim shrine with far-reaching views over the surrounding rural landscape, as well as the simple Hindu temple with its frieze of elephants and its sacred tank full of great carp, catfish and turtles. Later we return to Sualkuchi and reboard.

Day 8

Tour ends, disembark in Guwahati. (B)


We disembark in Guwahati close to the great Saraighat Bridge and take a tour of the city. Drive up Nilachal Hill to see the holy Kamakhya temple. With its tantric rites and animal sacrifices, the more squeamish may prefer to content themselves with the exterior. Visit the poignant Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery and perhaps stroll through the bazaar area before transferring to the airport for final departure. Alternatively remain on board for Assam Despatch 2 cruise.

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