In a historic moment for India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off MV Ganga Vilas, the world’s longest river cruise, on 13 January 2023. The Made in India vessel which began its journey from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh will reach Dibrugarh in Assam via Bangladesh, covering a 3,200 km in distance. With this cruise, many places of eastern India will now figure in world tourism map.

MV Ganga Vilas will take tourists across 27 river systems and will cruise through various prominent destinations. It will cover 50 tourist destinations including world heritage sites, national parks, river ghats, and many major cities. Guests onboard the Ganga Vilas Cruise will visit spectacular Indian landmarks ranging from Varanasi — one of the oldest cities on earth and an important site within the Hindu faith — to the abandoned Buddhist monastery Vikramshila. The Bangladesh leg of the trip will give them a chance to soak in the beauty of the ghost city of Sonargaon and the ornate 1400s-era Sixty Dome Mosque, among other historically and culturally significant places. The itinerary of MV Ganga Vilas has been curated to showcase the rich heritage of India with stopovers in spots of historical, cultural and religious importance. From the famous ‘Ganga Aarti’ in Varanasi, it will stop at Sarnath, a place of great reverence for Buddhism. It will also cover Mayong, known for its Tantric craft, and Majuli, the largest river island, and hub of Vaishnavite cultural in Assam. The travellers will also visit the Bihar School of Yoga and Vikramshila University, allowing them to soak in the rich Indian heritage in spirituality and knowledge. The cruise will also traverse through the biodiversity rich World Heritage Sites of Sunderbans in Bay of Bengal delta, famous for Royal Bengal Tigers, as well as Kaziranga National Park, famous for one horn rhino.

Ganga Vilas has quite a few amenities to facilitate a mellifluous experience for its guests — a restaurant, spa and sundeck. Its 40-seater restaurant, located on the Main Deck, consists of buffet counters serving Continental and Indian delicacies. The al fresco ambience of the Upper Deck features a bar furnished with Real Teak Steamer Chairs and coffee tables where you can simply lounge with your folks or enjoy your favourite drink. There’s also an area with comfortable sundecks for you to sunbathe and a well-appointed spa with professional therapists. To make the experience on the cruise enjoyable, there will be facilities like music, cultural programs, a gym, an open-air observation deck, personalized butler service, and more.