World’s longest cruise to set sail via Bangladesh Jan 13

The river connectivity between Bangladesh and India will come into sharp focus when a 3,200km luxury cruise, the world’s longest, connects the Indian town of Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency, with Diburgarh town in Assam with nearly half of the journey through Bangladesh territory, from January 13.

Modi will flag off the cruise that will cover 50 important tourist destinations including the Kaziranga national park in Assam and the Sundarbans delta, according to Inland Waterways Authority of India.

Named “Ganga Vilas,” the cruise, to be operated by a private company, will take 50 days to complete passing through 27 river systems, including two of the world’s two longest rivers — the Ganges and Brahmaputra, in India and Bangladesh during which tourists will get a chance to visit over 50 key architectural sites including world heritage sites.

The Bangladesh part of the cruise will provide the tourists an opportunity to see Sonargaon and the ornate 1400s-era 60-dome mosque.

As per the official website, Ganga Vilas, having a capacity of 80 passengers, will be equipped with 18 suites with facilities like music, cultural programmes, gym, spa, open-air observation deck and customised butler service.

It will pass through Kolkata and Dhaka before reaching Bogibeel in Dibrugarh district of Assam. After sailing off from Varanasi, the cruise-liner will reach Patna (India) on the eighth day and from there, it will reach Kolkata on the 20th day.