DESCRIPTION:

Tumbling down from the Tibetan Plateau to the Bay of Bengal is one of the world’s greatest rivers, the Brahamputra, among the most important trade and transportation routes of the British Raj. In 1947 Partition divided northeastern India from what is now Bangladesh, all but ending the great river’s status as a centerpiece of Asian commerce. Since that time the Brahmaputra has been ostensibly closed off to foreigners, only the odd ferry left to transport locals and goods between the river’s far-flung outposts. This trip is a passage to the furthest reaches of India along stretches of the Brahmaputra previously inaccessible to the traveler.
 

The landscape through which the river flows is one of the most impressive imaginable: nothing can prepare the traveler for the diversity of the area. Explore ruins of ancient kingdoms, tea estates, Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries, numerous national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage National Park of Kaziranga, home to world’s largest population of Asian rhino and a sizeable number of Bengal tigers. Float past vast wetlands, teeming with birdlife.

While on the river cruise in comfortable riverboats specially designed for the unpredictable conditions of the mighty Brahmaputra. Each ship’s intimate design features comfortably appointed staterooms, with ample storage space, air-conditioning, and private en suite western bathrooms.

The adventure also includes a survey of both Old and New Delhi, the colorful decaying Bengal capital of Kolkata, and a sojourn to the seldom-visited eastern Indian state of Orissa, known for its temples and tribal peoples. Its Sun Temple at Konarak is considered a masterpiece of medieval architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Conservation and development are the broad underlying themes of any tour whose context is India. The medley of prospects, contradictions, and problems unfold larger than life with each passing day.

CONSIDER:

At the lodge in Kaziranga, participants should be prepared for power outages, which temporarily affect hot water supplies, the charging of camera batteries, and use of electrical equipment. The generator at Kaziranga only keeps the lights on.

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS & ADD-ONS:

Please inquire.